Search Results for: blog experimenting 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 →

Combining Techniques

Navigating the world of scrapbooking can be intimidating for newbies, especially since new techniques are being introduced on a regular basis. My advice to beginner scrapbookers is to be patient. There’s no shame in easing into your new hobby. Start of with the basics, and then when you are feeling a bit more confident you can experiment with new trends and possibly combine them to create one-of-a-kind layouts. Lately, I have been experimenting more with black-and-white photography. I love the way colorless photos give page designs a vintage look. However, they can also make a layout look a little blah … Continue reading →

Embellishing Your Dad’s Day Scrapbook

My daughter zeroed in on the package of grill-themed scrapbook stickers like a heat-seeking missile during our trip to the mall yesterday. Ordinarily, I would have passed on the non-sale item, but since all the men in our family love them some BBQ, I decided to splurge on the 3D adhesives, so we could add it to the Father’s Day scrapbook we’re just about done crafting. In addition to the slew of photos and various embellishments, including stickers, stamps and die cuts, we need to insert a few quotes and inspirational poems to round out the album. If you are … Continue reading →

Memorial Day Scrapping

Memorial Day is right around the corner. Are you ready? The unofficial start to summer heralds the arrival of super scrapping. Summertime yields so many memorable moments to document, that avid scrappers often go into overdrive photographing, collecting embellishments, and experimenting with new layouts. I am by no means a super scrapper, but Memorial Day is one holiday that I make a point to document well, so that I can create stand-out page designs. However, crafting a spectacular layout doesn’t come without planning. Before you kick off the Memorial Day weekend festivities, consider the types of images you want to … Continue reading →

Start Simple

Many of the women in my scrapbooking club credit their children for inspiring them to scrapbook. Whereas I created my first scrapbook following a summer-long trip across the United States, the ladies I met through my local scrapbooking club say they would have never dreamed of designing layouts if it were not for the birth of their kids and the desire to document their baby’s milestones. Baby scrapbooks are some of the most popular themed memory albums around. If your first venture into the world of scrapbooking is a baby memory book, then I would suggest keeping it simple. It’s … Continue reading →