Archive for May, 2011
One of the most essential tools in my scrapbooking supplies is my paper cutter. I’ve tried many different kinds, and finally discovered one that creates a better, more accurate cut. It has a stainless steel blade that cuts some papers that would fray otherwise, making beautiful, clean edges. This cutter can cut thinner strips than its rivals, producing options such as the tiny strips of card stock used to thread the buttons on a card or the confetti used in a box.
The cutter comes with four different tools that I can use to score, perforate, cut, or distress card stock for unique artistic possibilities. The various functions of the cutter helps me to create some very exquisite artwork.
My friends have a tendency to sign me up for crafty things, all the time. I am not a crafty person. They sign me up from anything from quilting, which was tragic. A candle making class, which I ended up melting the table, not the wax. Then there was the so eventful glass blowing class. That was an adventure.
So when they signed me up for a card making class, I was appalled. Did they not remember the travesties of previous classes? But, because I adore my friends, I promised to go. As long as there was no flames, or wax I was prepared. Come to find out that I was pretty great at making cards. Mine were actually the best in the class. The best thing about it is that I was able to come out of it unscathed, and I learned so much.
Whether you walk the dog every day or have pancakes every Sunday for breakfast, traditions make each family unique and often stem from a great legacy as well. You can add variety to your scrapbooks by incorporating your unique traditions, spicing up your pages, and preserving rich family memories at the same time.
When we only scrapbook holiday happenings, we’re missing out on the everyday bits and pieces of our lives. I need to scrapbook everyday traditions to help make my scrapping more appealing and to preserve those important events in time. What are your feelings on this?
There’s something about sparkle that speaks to the kid in me. Whether I’ve poured glitter into a pile of glue or modeled some of my mother’s jewelry, I know that anything that shimmers and shines is simply fun.
Some ideas that I’ve used with sparkles are: affixed glitter to a page title using a heat and stick powder, dyeing glitter using ink refills to give me lively results, and using something that has been inked with a color and then covering it with the same color of glitter. At your next scrapbooking setting, give any of these techniques a try.
Stamps provide incredible versatility in scrapbooking, and I know that’s definitely what drew me into the hobby. I’m always amazed when I look at a stamped card or scrapbook page and appreciate its overall design, then really look at it to see how it was done.
So if I’m ever at a loss for a fresh idea, I just turn to my scrapbooking supplies and my stamps. I’m always adding more stamp kits and inks to my scrapbook cupboard. So watch out craft store! I’m heading your way for more stamps!
You can incorporate journaling into your page layout by including a card in the page design. I’ve written on the front of a card and then opened it and journaled on the inside. I’ve also made a card out of card stock by cutting it to the desired size and folded it over so that it can be opened and closed. I then created a pocket to hold the card by cutting a rectangular piece of coordinating card stock to the size that I wanted and adhered it along the bottom and both sides to the base page. Then I just tucked the card into the pocket.
A card pocket is an example of creating an interactive page that actively engages people with your pages. They love to pull out the card and read what you’ve written on it.
An easy card for me to make is one that reflects on being thankful. I have so much in this world to be greatful for. I’m thankful for my family that is so close and for all of the things that we do together.
I’m thankful for the journeys that we take, whether only a short distance or all of the way across the United States. We always have so much fun along the way.
I’m thankful for my childhood. I often drive by my childhood home and ponder over all of the wonderful things that happened there. My mind skips from room to room, remembering all of the happy times that we enjoyed within its walls. I always thought that my family was rich. Now I know the truth–we were rich with many blessings.
I love designing my cards with these thoughts in mind.
I love to use embellishments because they’re inexpensive, easy to use, and make great design elements. My favorites are the ones made of metals, but they also come in other materials, such as ribbons, hemp, raffia, threads, little beads, sequins, seashells, and buttons. This field is wide open!
Scrapbookers use metal wire, charms, molding strips, cardholders, bookplates, and all kinds of pieces of metal from anywhere and everywhere on their pages. I like using brads and adhering items to pages. I’ve used them to make metal images such as flower shapes. The brads are available in all colors and quite a few sizes ranging from mini brads of 1/16 of an inch to more than 1/2 of an inch. They can be used to make movable parts like wheels, attach vellum, attach tags and notes, and secure ribbon, raffia, and other similar materials.
The sticking that I’m referring to is your use of adhesives. Knowing which type to use and when to use them can mean the difference between a scrapbook that lasts and one that doesn’t.
A lot of first-time scrapbookers generally are more interested in photos than they are in other scrapbook materials. Adhesives are so vital, because everything has to be attached to the scrapbook page. I don’t believe that one type or size of adhesive fits all situations. Different scrapbook items require different kinds of adhesives, and these adhesives are available in many forms and types of dispensers.
This is the part of scrapbooking that I really enjoy. At any family or friend gathering that I attend, I try to capture as many words as I can in writing, on film, on my video camera, or on my tape recorder.
Another way that I collect words from family and friends is by seeking out (and in) the letters that they’ve written. I’ve used page protectors to preserve many more than 25 letters from family members, and I’ve made copies for other members of our family. As a result, the inspiring words are preserved and shared for my children, grandchildren, and for those yet to come.