Search Results for: blog experiment with new embellishments

Experimenting with New Products

I’m a stickers, stamps and die cut kind of scrapper. For years I rarely strayed from my standard combo. My method was safe, effective and looked good enough for me. Then, I was introduced to the magic of vellum and my layouts starting taking on a whole new dimension. So, yes, there are downsides of refusing to experiment with new or new-to-you scrapbook embellishments and accessories. For starters, you simply don’t know how much better your page designs can look if you are too afraid to incorporate different items into your repertoire. My reluctance to work with vellum stemmed from … Continue reading →

Mastering New Techniques

How many times have you seen a stunning scrapbook layout that takes your breath away, and then tried to recreate the same look at home with limited success? Guilty as charged. I constantly drool over fancy page designs, but don’t take the time or neglect to muster up the courage to inquire about the techniques used to create the amazing layouts. Rather, I try to guess at how it all came together, and end up frustrated and disappointed when I can’t duplicate the results on my own. I remember the first time I pressured myself to recreate a layout featuring … Continue reading →

Experimenting with New Embellishments

I am a die hard scrapbook sticker fan. I rarely create a layout without adding at least a few sticky embellishments. However, stickers don’t come cheap. At least not the ones I collect. Elaborate 3-D scrapbook stickers can cost upwards of $8 per pack. Knowing that I scrapbook on a strict budget, my neighbor has been after me to make the switch to rubber stamps. I’ve been thinking of giving my sticker obsession a break for a bit, but didn’t have a detox plan in place. However, things are about to change. Next month I am planning to attend a … Continue reading →

Experiment with New Embellishments

While I am a die hard scrapbook sticker fan, I also enjoy experimenting with different embellishments. However, since I adhere to a strict scrapbook budget, most of my experimenting takes place at workshops sponsored by my local scrapbook shop. During the last workshop I attended I had the chance to work with flocking powder and loved it. Flocking powder is extremely versatile and not too expensive. I had the chance to sample Martha Stewart Crafts’ flocking powder and a few made by Stampendous, Inc. However, you can also find a number of different brands at places such as Hobby Lobby … Continue reading →

Making the Most of Leftovers

Tis the season to go through your scrapbooking stash. The holidays are a great time to assess the type and amount of scrapbook materials you have in stock.  The items that you want can be added to your Christmas wish list, while the leftovers can be used to craft end-of-the-year memory books. Taking inventory of your scrapbooking paper, embellishments and albums may sound like a pain, but in the long run it can prove to be a very cost-effective exercise.  In addition, finding ways to repurpose existing materials is a wonderful way to flex your creative muscle. Here are some … Continue reading →

Don’t Ignore the Details

Thanks to Pinterest I not only know the origins of washi tape, I also know how to incorporate it into my scrapbooking ventures. Printed washi tape is an uber-hot product offered by Queen and Co. which recently debuted a new collection of bright candy colors and prints. The slightly translucent tape adds beauty in an subtle way and truly illustrates how details can make or break a scrapbook layout. Many people think that when you get obsessed with details you lose sight of the big picture. However, you have to choose one over the other. When it comes to crafting … Continue reading →

Bigger Is Not Always Better

When it comes to scrapbooks does size really matter? Traditional memory albums measure 12×12. However, a new survey shows that smaller scrapbooks are gaining in popularity. Among the most sought-after mini albums are: 4×4, 6×6, 8×8, 7.5×4.5 license plate albums, 8.5×11 D-ring albums, and 11×8.5 landscape binders. According to scrapbooking insiders, it will be a long time before the12x12 album gets edged out of the top spot. Despite the influx of smaller books, the 12×12 remains the dominant size in the field. However, mini albums are coming on strong, in large part because an increasing number of crafters are seeing … Continue reading →

Homemade Stickers

Scrapbook stickers are not cheap. I know this for a fact. You could easily drain your wallet shopping for 3D stickers at your local scrapbooking store. I also know this for a fact. My magnetic attraction to themed stickers (and my dwindling bank account) is what prompted me to finally experiment with homemade embellishments. Digital stickers have been a huge money saver for me. A few years ago I would think nothing of dropping $3 to $5 on a sheet of pretty adhesives. Then, I sat down to calculate how much I spent on scrapbooking in a year’s time and … Continue reading →

Adding Unique Touches to Wedding Scrapbooks

February is a huge month for weddings. Valentine’s Day elopements and destination nuptials are major draws for couples looking to begin their lives as husband and wife. Once the pomp and circumstance is over, you’ll want to create a scrapbook to house all of your special memories. Unfortunately, wedding scrapbooks can often look generic if you don’t experiment with different techniques. This doesn’t mean you have to purchase expensive products or spend hours on a single page design in order to achieve an eye-popping layout. Rather, there are many ways you can infuse your book with creative touches with very … Continue reading →

Adding Color to Your Layouts

Is it too early to make a New Year’s resolution? As I look back at the scrapbooks I created in 2011, I’ve noticed that they lack color variations. I tend to use the same shades on different layouts. Whereas I am good at incorporating an array of embellishments, they tend to be in the same color family. Obviously, if you are creating a layout with a theme, such as high school graduation, and you are using your child’s school colors as the focus, then it makes sense to stick with the same hues. However, if you are designing a layout … Continue reading →