The ScrapBlog

Question: I love using chipboard letters. I buy them in sets but find that I’m using alot of the same letters (vowels, r, s, t, and l’s) and have alot of the less common ones leftover all the time.  Do you know where I can buy individual chipboard letters?

Answer: A few of my local scrapbooking stores do sell letters alone.  It is hard to find single letters smaller than 3 inches online, but I found a few.  We carry some 2.75″ single chipboard letters from Two Peas in a Bucket, but these sell quick and I notice that many “important” letters are already gone. A Cherry on Top also sells some single letters.

Since I seem to have the same problem as you, I have also found other ways to help me out with the letters I need.  My friends and I get together once a year and “swap” letters (and other supplies) because we all have family members with different names or we use different titles. 

Another way I have saved myself a lot of money is I buy sheets of chipboard and make my own letters.  No - you don’t have to be an artist or perfectionist.  I have several letter stencils, but I also like some of the fonts on my computer, so I print them off the size I want and then lay the sheet of paper over the chipboard and trace over the outline pressing hard.  When the paper is removed you can see the outline on the chipboard. Then just cut it out.  If you sand the edges a bit, it looks amazing!

Question: Robin - I just got started getting into scrapbooking and I received some vellum quote stacks for Christmas and I am unclear as to how they work and how to apply them.  Thanks for you help.

Answer:  There are several ways to use vellum quote stacks.  You can use the whole piece of vellum and apply it directly to your page.   Some of the quote stacks out there have titles too - like one word or a short phrase.  These would be used alone.  You just cut them out carefully and apply them to the page.  **Note that these vellum quote stacks are probably not rub-ons or self-adhesive unless they say there are.  That means you have to use some kind of adhesive other way to attach it.

There are several ways to adhere it to your page.  The simplest way is with glue dots. The clear ones can hide well behind certain letters like ‘e’ or ‘o’ and you can’t even tell they are there.  You could try to use a glue stick or liquid glue, but sometimes these show through.  Double sided tape works well if you just put it under one of the words that you want to stand out in the quote. Eyelets and brads are another simple way to apply your quote (make sure to punch holes first for both of these because the vellum can easily tear).  You can also sew it on (My favorite way is to sew the top like a flap and even put a picture under it). 

Dear Scrapbooking Gang,

Sometimes when I am scrapbooking I wonder if I am going a little too far.  Are my embellishments taking over my photos or are they just enhancing them?  With the new year starting I decided to take inventory of what I use and what I have found to be the most important when it comes to scrapbooking embellishments.  We all want to make our photos the most important part of our page.  Whether you are a seasoned scrapbooker or just starting out, I have found that these basic embellishments help make a page just right.

1. Eyelets - These embellishments now come in many different materials, sizes, and colors.  And they are a super cheap way to add a little punch to a page without taking away from the other important parts of the page.  With just a paper punch and an eyelet tool, you can apply these cute little additions to your page (I actually have a kit from Making Memories.)

2. Brads - I am so glad that brads have become even more popular than eyelets!  They require no special tools (unless you want to get a special hole punch), and are so easy to apply.  I use them to attach other embellishments, like book plates or flowers.  They are also the perfect solution for attaching transparency or vellum.  Don’t forget that they also help hold down ribbon and can become a perfect accent on their own.

3. Ribbon, fibers, string, embroidery floss - I find that I use ribbon on so many pages now.  I use it for bows or knots.  I use it to mat photos or hold on tags or other embellishments.  I sew it on, staple it on, tie it on, and glue it on.  I use embroidery floss to sew a word or sew an edge on photos.  These embellishments are so versatile and cheap!

4. Flowers - These non-fragrant embellishments are not just for the frilly page anymore!  These flowers can be as large as a page or as small as a dime (or even smaller).  These look great in clusters or perfect all alone.  Since they come in any color nowadays and can be attached easily with brads, these flowers are perfect little decorations for any scrapbooker’s page. I like to buy them in bulk in either a tin or bottle.  As a note, you can save money buying these in a strand or bouquet from the craft area of any store and then take the flowers off of the stem.  I usually remove any middle part of the flower because they tend to be too bulky.  I have been able to get 50-100 flowers by only spending $2-3.

5. Buttons -  I used to think these were kind of corny to use.  But now buttons come in any shape, size or color.  They have some that look like antiques and others that are hip and stylish.

6. Letters - I am talking about the alphabet in any shape or form. Just keep to your budget.  These ABC’s come in anything from chipboard to metal to rhinestones.  Just be careful not to go too far on a layout.  I like to use one letter that has dimension and then finish it off with writing or leave it as a monogram.  If you can’t afford to buy a whole alphabet set, which can cost you $7-10 or more, consider going to a scrapbooking store that sells a letter alone.  This is especially cost effective idea if you don’t plan on using the other letters in the set anytime soon.

7. Stamps - For a while there stamps were being replaced with stickers and diecuts.  But now stamps are going full strong with the new acrylic stamps.  These are great because they take up way less space and are cheaper than their counterparts.  I am not saying the wood ones are not useful - I actually bought one last month - but they aren’t as versatile.  I would invest in at least one good set of letter stamps so that you can spell out anything you want.

8. Chipboard - Ok, I know what you are thinking — is chipboard really an embellishment?  Well, of course it is! It comes in many shapes and sizes that are ready to apply to a page.  It is also great to add your own paint or stamp effects.  I love to use chipboard letters (you can buy already cut ones or just get chipboard squares to cut your own). I also make a lot of tags out of chipboard.  You can use this material to bring out your very imaginative self.

9. Metal - Once again, this is more of a material than an embellishment, but I am obsessed with it!  I love the little phrases spelled out in metal. The hinges and paper clips can make a page go from blah to WOW!  It is such a great material to use as a finishing touch to your pages.

10.  Paper - I bet some of you were wondering if I would mention paper here.  I left this one for last because if you used nothing else on your pages but paper, your page could still be perfect.  You can mat pictures, make tags, cut out letters, make designs, etc.  And that is just with solid or patterned paper.  You can buy paper now that already has the whole page layout done for you - you just stick on your pictures and you are done.  So if you are just starting out or want to cut back on the spending, I would suggest getting back to this basic embellishment.  You would be surprised with what you could come up with!

Latest & Greatest Deal of the Day

25% off Titles and Tags (Only $1.50) from Two Peas in a Bucket

(Discount given when you click on “Buy Me”)

Chi-Chi Titles & Tags,        Dapper Titles & Tags,         Spiffy Titles & Tags,           Frou Frou Titles & Tags

I hope you all enjoy getting back to the basics this year.  I know that using basic embellishments will help you become more creative and imaginative.  Happy Scrapping!

Your Scrapbooking Expert,

Robin
robin@scrapbookfinds.com
ScrapbookFinds.com

P.S. Don’t forget - if you have questions about products or scrapbooking ideas, email me or check us out at www.scrapbookfinds.com.

Question:  I was given a scrapbook for Christmas and have never done one so decided to try one today. Anyway I have stickers here from Fraces Meyer. It says 2.5″x4 1/2″ SECTIONS (1SHEET). BUT DOES NOT GIVE ME ANY INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY. THEY ARE NOT STICKERS - YOU JUST PEEL OFF AND STICK ON. It looks like some sort of rub on sticker but I don’t know what I’m suppose to use.  If you can help that would be great!

Answer: If it is a rub-on, there probably is some sort of backing that is like tissue paper or something that is non-sticking.  You just need to peel that off and place the rub-on face down.  You then need to use an object to rub the opposite side of the paper.  You can use your fingernail if you want, but I use popsicle sticks or a rub-on tool.  You should be able to tell if the rub-on is working because the spots that you rub usually look lighter in color because they are no longer attached to the plastic sheet they were attached to.  Just peel the sheet back slightly, while still holding it in place, to make sure that the rub-on is sticking.  Rub-on are very versatile.  You can use them on scrapbooks, but they stick to any surfaces - wood, glass, metal, etc. Have fun!

Question: I have just discovered My Mind’e Eye “transparency frames”. They are 4X6 overlays for photos. After I bought them I realized I didn’t know how to attach them to the photo. What kind of adhesive can I use so it won’t show? thanks.

Answer:  If you want to use an adhesive, I would suggest a liquid glue.  I like to use the glue pens - Zig is a good brand (it’s the one I use). I have found that you can barely see this kind of glue. I never spread it over the whole transparency (unless it is really small) - just a dot in each corner or a light line all around the outer edge of the frame. There are other ways to attach transparencies too.  I like to use brads or eyelets.  Or if you want to frame to stand out a little more, just add an embellishment to one of the corners and then you can use any adhesive under the frame and cover with the scrapbooking embellishment.   Also, if you are into sewing on your pages, you can sew along a side or two or all the way around the frame.  The stiches might even make the frame stand out more!

Dear Scrap Gals,

Don’t you love it when you look at a page and it just looks perfectly finished?  I decided to look through many of my past layouts this week.  I found that the pages I love the best are the ones that look “finished”.  They all just have the final touch that says, “I’m done!”  And you know what many of mine had in common?  They all had some form of distressing involved in the process. 

Distressing seems like maybe a new trend, but it is a new trend based on the past –which is what our photos are all about.  There are several ways to achieve a distressed look on your existing patterned paper, cardstock, photos, embellishments, and more. I would like to challenge you to try a new one this week from my list below.

1.) Sandpaper: Gently sand the edges or areas you want to look more antique.  If you have never done it before, all you really need is a nail file (emery board) or small piece of sand paper.  I actually buy large packs of sand paper at the store for furniture projects and I use the left over pieces for distressing.  Keep in mind that you can do this to any paper or embellishment or even the photos themselves.  Use it on embellishments that you don’t use or like the color of - like colored brads or eyelets - this exposes the metal underneath.

2.) Wrinkle and Crinkle: You can wrinkle and crinkle dry papers and cardstocks with no cost at all.  I like to wrinkle them, ink them lightly or heavily (you can really use any color of ink - I like the browns and blacks or distressing inks), making sure your ink pad just grazes the raised surfaces of the paper, and then spray them with a fine mist of water to spread the ink and help it to blend into the texture of the paper. Allow to dry completely before using. Iron flat on backside of paper on low heat, if needed.

3.) Steel Wool:  This is kind of the same idea as the sand paper, but it works a lot better for distressing embellishments and photos.  You just rub the steel wool across the desired areas to get the effect you want.

4.) Tea or Coffee Staining: Make yourself a cup of regular tea and use the wet tea bag to stain your paper. Lightly dab the paper until it reaches the shade you wish your paper to be. Blow-dry the paper and you’re good to go! For coffee, you can just soak paper in the coffee. Pour coffee into a cake pan and gently lay the paper flat.  Soak a minute and take out.  Or you can crumple it into the coffee cup and carefully lay it flat afterward.  Rubbing dry or damp coffee grounds onto crinkled paper works well too. You can also distress items with colored chalks, colored pencils, ink pens, and household items, such as strawberry/apple juice, and much more.

5.) Tearing & Curling: Yep, tearing is another way to get that distressed look.  To make a more “real” look, try tearing the paper and then inking the edges.  To get the rolled look: just moisten your fingers with water and roll the edges in the direction you want them to go, then let them dry. This is a fantastic way to add texture.

6.) Paint: Craft paint seems to be coming back, but full circle.  Use the paint just like you would distressing inks.  Use a brush, sponge or piece of cloth to apply. 

If want to make distressing easier, Making Memories sells a kit with almost all of the supplies for the above ideas all in one. Make your layouts shabby chic or get an aged/weathered/heritage style. By distressing your scrapbooking endeavors, you will get that “finished” look.

Latest and Greatest - Layouts of the Week

Creating Keepsakes - One Cool Dude
Designer: Amy11
July 1, 2006

Creating Keepsakes -  A & S
Designer: JBgreendawn
May 9, 2006

Your Scrapbooking Expert,

Robin
robin@scrapbookfinds.com
ScrapbookFinds.com

P.S. Don’t forget – if you have questions about products or scrapbooking ideas, email me or check us out at www.scrapbookfinds.com.

Question: I’ve been trying to come up with some scrapbooking ideas, but I’m a beginner, and I just can’t think of any good layouts. Can you suggest some? Thanks!

Answer:  There are many ways to get started on a layout.  I tend to look at the photos I want to scrapbook first and see if they have a theme that sparks any ideas for a layout.  I also take a look at the supplies that I have and see what I can come up with.  If you are on a budget and don’t have a lot of supplies, sometimes just laying everything all out can give ideas too.  If that doesn’t help, I usaully “scraplift” ideas from other scrapbookers.  I refer to many different magazines that I subscribe to, but I also check out many layouts online.  Our site will eventually have that feature, but for now here are all the sites I use for great layout ideas:

Scrapbooking Paper

There are many types of paper to use in your scrapbooking and craft projects including vellum, cardstock, labels, and transparencies. Here is a quick bit about understanding these types of paper and ideas of how to use them. When you are buying paper, remember to make sure it is acid and lignin free to protect your pictures against deterioration.

Vellum Scrapbooking Paper

Vellum paper is translucent, meaning light can pass through it, although things cannot be seen clearly through vellum paper.

Vellum paper is categorized by weight. The samller ther number, the light the weight of the paper, and subsequently, the more transparent, or see-through, the paper is. For example 17# is more transparent than 29#. There are many weights and colors of vellum to experiment with.

You can print on vellum using any laser printer. When using an inkjet printer change your settings to economy, draft, or speed depending on yout printer so the least amount of ink possible with be used. This will decrease your chances of smearing the ink. Let the ink dry completly before handling the vellum paper.

If you have only a small piece of vellum to print on, print your message on a regular piece of paper first. Then temporarily tape the vellum over the message on your test paper and run it through the printer again.

To mount your vellum paper to your scrapbooking page, lay your piece of vellum paper up-side-down of newspaper, and lightly spray photo mounting spray on the back. The vellum paper will them mount easily to your scrapbook. Other methods include using clear photo corners, and punching holes in the vellum and using a ribbon or eyelet to attach the vellum to your page.

For scrapbooking, vellum is great for printing titles, and adding embellishments. One simple idea is to stamp or paint a design on vellum paper that is trimmed with a thin metal frame. You can attach the vellum embellishment to the page with a ribbon. This is a good idea for pages where an anitque look is desired.

Vellum Invitations - Great for weddings or other formal events

 
1. Print the information for the event on vellum paper. 
2. Select a piece of heavy cardstock to back your vellum paper. 
3. Cut the cardstock to be about half an inch bigger than your vellum paper in both directions. 
4. Place the vellum on top of the card stock so there is a quarter of an inch of cardstock on each side as a border. 
5. Punch two holes in the top of the vellum paper and cardstock that are about an inch or an inch and a half apart. And use a matching ribbon to tie the papers together.

Hint: To keep the ribbon from comming untied use a dab of clear-drying glue. 

Another option is to decorate the vellum and attach it over the printed invitation. The velum can be embossed or you can add a a dash of glitter to make it sparkle.

Embossing Your Paper - Embossing is a way to really enhance your pages. Vellum looks great embossed, but you can experiment on other types of paper as well. Here is how it is done. 

1. Stamp or print onto your paper and sprinkle embossing powder on the design while it is still wet. 
2. Shake of the excess powder from the paper. 
3. Use you embossing heater or other heating tool to heat the embossing powder.

Cardstock

Carstock is usually thicker than normal paper, and therefore is good to use as a base for your scrapbooking pages especially if you like to add heavy embellishments. It is also good for matting pictures onto. I like to buy smaller pieces of cardtock to mat my pictures on. That way I don’t have to worry about cutting perfectly straight lines. There are many types of cardstock. Two popular types of cardstock are smooth card stock and linen card stock. Both are excellent choices for scrapbooking. Linen card stock is semi-rough and has the look of linen cloth. It is good for adding more texture to your scrapbook pages if you think they are too dull.

There are many grades of cardstock. Remember that the higher the count, the thicker the paper is.

Labels

Before I started scrapbooking I thought that labels were just for business uses like addressing letter and labeling files. I have come to find that they are actually an inexpensive way to make neat stickers. If you have a good printer, you can find pictures you like on the internet and print them onto your label paper. Then just peel them off or cut them into the desired shape and stick them onto your scrapbooking page. If you want to add dimension to your page, mount your sticker onto thick cardstock and use double-sided tape to attach it to your scrapbook.

Transparencies

A transparency is a clear piece of paper. It is competely see-through like glass. You can buy transparencies at office supply stores, and some craft stores. You have likely only seen transparencies used with overhead projectors. But here are some other ways to use them for scrapbooking. Use your imagination, the possibilities are endless.

Transparency Covers

1. Stamp letters on a piece of paper. Cut them out, and glue them right side up onto a transparency. You can also use shapes of any kind instead of letters. 
2. Paint over the transparency on the same side you glued the letters. You can paint using a splattering technique, streaks, or any other way you can think of. Acrylic paint works great. 
3. Once the paint is dry, remove the letters for a cool effect. This technique is great for page titles. 
4. Optional: Attach the transparency using spray adhesive.

Transparency Tile Accents

1. Stamp an image on a transparency with solvent ink. 
2. Trim the transparency around the image. You can also cut the image into equal size squares to create a mosaic look. 
3. Completely cover the image with clear dimensional adhesive until it can’t hold any more. Let the adhesive dry for a few hours. 
4. When the image is competely dry, apply clear-drying adhesive to the back and attach it to your page.

Transparency Accents

1. Cut the desired shape of your accent out of a piece of transparency paper. 
2. Cover the accent with crystl laquer until it can’t hold any more. 
3. Cover the accent with crystl laquer until it can’t hold any more.
4. When the crystal lacquer is dry, peel the transparency off of the back of the accent.

Wonderful scrapbooks can be created with only four supplies; an album, adhesive, paper and a corner rounder.

I remember being invited to a scrapbook party. Inwardly I groaned. I still draw stick figures. I have never possessed artistic ability. I remember almost crying in school when we had to do an art project. I could envision great things, but I could not create them.

I’m a good sport and so I went to the scrapbook party. The gal giving the demonstration had a demo album. Inside were lots of pictures all beautifully arranged. Everyone was oohing and ahhing. Me, I was remembering those stick figures I was so good at drawing.

And then something magical happened. A light bulb went off and I realized that artistic was not necessary. Creativity was not even needed. All that was needed were some basic supplies and I too could create an awesome scrapbook.

Many photos were “framed”. This simply means cutting a square piece of paper a little larger than the photo and attaching the photo to the paper. I could do this. Cutting and pasting was something that did not need an artist. This was actually fun. There are so many papers to choose from. You can mount photos on cardstock or directly on scrapbook paper.

When I discovered a corner rounder, I was worried there would not be enough photos for me to round. A corner rounder literally slices off a sliver of paper making the corner round instead of square. You can use a corner rounder on both the photo and also on the paper you are mounting the photo on.

If you did nothing else but put photos on paper and mounted them, some with the corners rounded, you’d have a scrapbook that looked really nice. If you have a 12×12 album and you put 5 photos on one page, you can arrange them any way you want. You can overlap some of the frames. You can line them up. You can put one photo in each corner and then a rounded corner photo in the middle. Again, we are using nothing but the photo and a frame. You can mix and match colors of the frames to make a really interesting looking page.

I have always used double sided adhesive squares to mount photos to the frames. I find these very easy to use. You put one square on each of the four corners of the photo, pull off the tab to expose the tape and then press the photo on the frame. You then put four more squares on your frame and attach the frame to the paper. If the photo is extra large, I’ll put eight squares on the photo instead of four, and another eight on the frame.

My very first album used only these four supplies, an album, adhesive squares, paper and a corner rounder. It’s an album I still cherish very much. You too can create a great scrapbook album with the same four supplies.

About the author:
Audrey Okaneko has been scrapbooking for several years. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or visited at http://www.scrapping-made-simple.com