Today's Tip!

Too Many Pictures?


On occassion, I create a mini album within my layouts in which to put all of the "extra" photos that you don't want to showcase, but do want to keep within the layout.  Mat the mini album in a coordinating paper and tie together with ribbon or raffia.

Today's Tip!

Journaling Protection


Do you ever find that it is sometimes easy to get journaling tags, etc. caught up on the pockets they are in. People who are looking in the album are not as gentle as we are when putting journaling back in place, and embellishments will fall off or paper frays. So I have started to add a "paper roll" to the edge of pockets.

Cut a strip of some lovely paper, the length of the pocket opening, width about 1"1/2 - 30mm or more.

Roll it lengthwise, it might be easier to do this using a skewer or similar.

Leave about half inch straight, hanging off. This is the bit where you put the glue so you can attach the roll to the inside of the pocket front.

The rolls might flatten over time, but they will still help. You can use the rolls for further embellishments too, eg. drawing fibers through them and all sorts!

Today's Tip!

Hide Journaling and Squeeze More Photos on a Page


Most of us routinely have more pictures than we have space for on a layout, or not enough room left for journaling. One option is to choose one of the photos near the top of the page and turn it into a 'pocket'.

Use adhesive on only the sides and bottom of the photo/matting, use brads on all four corners, and you have an instant and easy photo or journaling pocket!

Simply slip your matted photo or journaling into the pocket, making sure it sticks out enough that you'll notice it's there, attach some ribbon at the top to pull it out, and you're done!

Today's Tip!

Enhancing With Words

A great way to express yourself is through words. Have you ever heard the expression, " A picture is worth a thousand words,". Well it's true! Through using words, you can make even the plainest page look fabulous.

There are many different ways to use words.

1. A definition -- ex. if you are making a baby page, you could put the definition of sweet, baby, mommy, family, love, and more on there. Cut it out of a dictionary or you can copy and paste it onto Word from an on line dictionary . The overall appearances better if you print it out just like it was in the dictionary.
2. A background of words -- ex. if you are doing a page on a sports event, you could go into the newspaper (spray the paper to make it acid-free) and cut out of the Sport's page.
3. Word Collage -- ex. go into the newspaper (spray the paper to make it acid-free) and look at the headlines. Another great place to go is a magazine because their headlines or large fonts are colorful. Cut out (or use the ripped effect) letters for a title on your page. This give a great randomized effect. ** Another great use for magazine collages are borders. You can do a color themed page. For my baby girl page, I choose a pink border using this method. I went through magazines and found little dabs of pink (all around 2in. by 2in. at least)
4. Overlapping -- One way that you can use this tool is if you want to emphasize on the title, you can write it really large and in a light color. Then, on top of that word, write the same word in a darker color. It will really go well with your page and help a lot with the color theme.
5. Emphasize -- If you are adding a poem of any other text into your page, you can use this. ex. I loved my baby the minute I saw her. Go in and choose main and important words: loved, baby, saw her. There are several things that you can do at this point. 1-- outline the words or letters of the words in a different color. 2-- get a different colored sheet of paper, write the same word on it in the same size, and paste it on top. 3-- simply make the word bold-ed by outlining it several times in the original color.
6. OTHER -- crossword, word search, riddle, thoughts, quotes, poems.

Today's Tip!

Outlining a Paper Piecing, the fool proof way!


If you're like me, you have unsteady hands, and the can't draw a straight line to save your life. One trick I've found for making a beautiful piece is to make my outlines BEFORE cutting.

Using a light box, trace your pattern on your paper using a black or white pen (whatever color fits your piece) SLIGHTLY within the lines of the pattern… then when you cut the piece out, cut slightly outside the lines. You can also use stitch marks if you prefer them instead of a solid line.

If you are using a dark color, and can't see the pattern through the paper, simple place your paper on a self healing mat (or other soft surface) and place the pattern on TOP. Using a stylus, and light pressure, trace the pattern like you normally would, and BEFORE cutting, go over the grove your stylus left with your pen!

Today's Tip!

Distress Ink


Try applying distress ink with a cotton ball.  It produces a soft look- and it's CHEAP!!

Today's Tip!

Handwriting!


My favorite tip is to always use a personal touch in scrapbooking and in cards. Even though my handwriting is not perfect or caligraphy, I like to show that what I do is made by me, and couldn't have been made by a machine. It makes the reader or recipiant feel that the item is personalized!

Today's Tip!

White Chipboard Letters


I LOVE white chipboard letters.  They are so easy to sand and use a mixture of paints, inks, or chalks to create a 3-d title that coordinates with my layout every time.

They also look awesome embossed or embellished.

Today's Tip!

Doodling Tips

1. Always, always, always draw your basic shape or swirl FIRST with a pencil. Use a light hand to avoid getting an indent in the paper. Do NOT use the eraser on the pencil to erase the pencil line... use a white eraser or one specifically marketed for art/drafting. Erase with a light hand as well.
2. Whatever marker you choose, draw in the thicker lines first over your pencil marks. Erase the pencil and then add the finer more detailed lines.
3. Inspiration for doodles is everywhere. Do an internet search for "doodles" or check out digital scrapbooking sites for examples of doodles. Picture frames, mirrors, designs on fabric and clothing, book covers, knick-knacks, wallpaper, jewelry, all provide fabulous inspiration !!
4. Don't go overboard. Sometimes a little goes a long way. A flower here, a vine there. Of course, there is the occasional need to doodle on every inch of a layout.
5. Experiment with your handwriting. Get a notebook. If you see a letter that catches your eye, write it down in that style. Practice until you like what you write. You do not have to be a calligrapher to make your handwriting look awesome. Practice keeping your letters the same size with the same spacing.
6. Use those old stencil/shape templates !! A lot of us have them. Those old templates sitting around in a binder or a drawer. They are perfect for the starting point of a doodle. Find a basic shape you like... a star, a heart, a flower. Trace it lightly. If your template has the shape in a few sizes, great, trace the smaller sizes near, on, inside, whatever... next to the first shape. Now you have your basic place to start. Using your marker or pen, write over your pencil lines using dots, lines and dashes, squiggles or whatever makes you happy !!
7. Have fun !!

Today's Tip!

Create a Black Edge Around the 12"x12" Border


If you want a black border around your main 12"x12" background, but don't have a piece of 12"x12" cardstock in black, take a Zig writer, or black marker, and draw one.

You will need to draw straight lines with a ruler, but it's a simple procedure, and it looks as though you have an entire sheet of 12"x12" black cardstock under your background paper.

Try it with colors other than black for a different look!