Scrapbook Techniques Tips
Read these 34 Scrapbook Techniques Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Scrapbook tips and hundreds of other topics.
You've Been Inked!
Inking is a scapbooking technique that offers lots of variety. There is no specific way to ink your pages or images. You can't use as little or as much ink as you would like for your project. The creativity is up do you. Ink as much as desired.
You will need:
· Scrapbooking paper (cardstock, B&T paper, vellum, etc.)
· Sponge (dry and clean)
· Ink pads (your choice of colors)
· Other scrapbook supplies of your choice such as stamps, scrapbooking die cuts, stickers, scrapbooking templates, etc.
First, cut out your desired mattes and papers.
Then, dab the paper onto the inkpad turning it in various directions. You will have smudged color on your paper. You can use a sponge to fill in the color in uneven areas if you would like. The easiest route is to rub the edges of your paper against your ink pad, this will make a border around the image or your entire page.
Inking is used to add depth to your pages. It also gives it an "antique" or "weathered" look. It enhances your paper and adds color to the overall layout.
Hints:
You want to make sure you lightly dab the paper onto the pad and don't press too hard or you might get a large, dark ink spot in one isolated area.
Lightly brush the ink across corners and edges of paper. You can also use a stipple brush for a different type of "inking effect".
This technique works best with non-glossy papers.
You can softly ink around your photo mats to give them texture and make them stand out behind your photograph.
Inking your pages or card creations can add a unique twist to your scrapbooking creations. Instead of coloring your images dab them in a little ink for shading and your done.
Ribbon Accordion Album
Accordion albums bound together with ribbon are easy to make by following a few simple steps. The mini-albums are held together by colorful ribbon and the pages fold together like an accordion.
Start by cutting 4 x 8 stripes of cardstock and carefully score them in half (but do not cut them all the way through), then place them side-by-side 3/8” apart. Lay two ribbons that measure 19 ½ “ across the strips, one piece 3/8” from the top and the other 3/8” from the bottom. Now tape one end of each ribbon and secure to your workspace. Use liquid glass to attach the ribbon to your cardstock and let it dry thoroughly. Apply strong adhesive to the top of each cardstock strip, fold the scored section and adhere it to the bottom of the cardstock. Finally trim the ribbons and add photos and journaling.
You can embellish your mini accordion ribbon albums with patterned papers and other embellishments. These make fabulous gifts for teachers, parents, grandparents, mothers-to-be, etc.
Scrapbooking Techniques: Mosaic Borders
Mosaic borders are a great scrapbooking technique, not only to add interest to a page, but as a way to use up scraps of paper. Cut your scraps into equal size squares. One quarter of an inch squares are a good size. I cut mine into inch squares using a trimmer and then cut each into quarters with scissors. Sort the squares by color and store in zip-lock bags. When placing squares onto the page, there are a few scrapbooking techniques to keep in mind. Mount them on contrasting card stock to give the effect of mortar. For adhesion, you can use a continuous piece of photo tape (if the squares are close together). Otherwise a piece of tape runner on the back of each square works well. An inexpensive scrapbooking technique to enhance a page is to create a frame for a photo, border the page or follow a line across a double page spread to connect the two together.
Accenting Scrapbook Pages with Hinges
When you think of hinges you can probably come up with several uses for them in your home, but does scrapbooking come to mind? Hinges have become popular embellishments for scrapbook pages. These unique metal embellishments can help draw attention to your focal point or they can be used to hide a photo or secret message on your layout.
Using hinges for a page decoration is easy. First, determine where you want to place your hinge and mark the holes with a pencil so you can line it up evenly. Then, using a piercing tool or small hole punch, pierce your holes. Now, set your hinge in place and use metal brads to affix it to your page. Hinges can be used to create movable mats and parts or they can serve as strictly an accent for your page.
Printing Your Transparencies
Pre-printed transparencies are available for purchase at scrapbook supply stores and print shops. You can also print on your own transparencies. You can print journaling, or images, or create your own designs.
There are some important things to know before you try this, though.
Make sure you have the right kind of transparency for the printer you are using. Since there are different types of transparencies, if you're using an inkjet printer, be sure you have transparencies made for an inkjet.
If there is a “rough” side to the transparency that is the side that you want to print on because it will adhere better. You can print backwards on the rough side. This way, you can have the smooth side up and provide additional protection for the ink on the transparency.
To add appeal to your transparency, sprinkle embossing powder on it while your ink is still “wet,” and heat emboss your lettering. Be careful to keep your heating tool a little bit further away so it doesn't pucker of melt your transparency.
There are many options for using transparencies for scrapbooking. A professional looking transparency will add a unique twist to your scrapbook page layout, so print carefully.
Scrapbooking Technique: Photos for Backgrounds
New scrapbook techniques to keep your pages unique and fresh can be tough to find. If you have taken a particularly good scenic shot, have it blown up and use it as a page background. You can have the image enlarged as is, or you can have the image washed out so it fades into the background. Mat other photos or a smaller version of the same photo over the top.
Scrapbooking Techniques: Pocket Pages
Memorabilia is an important part of any scrapbook but sometimes you have too much to fit nicely on a page. Using pocket pages is a great scrapbook technique for storing bulkier memorabilia such as brochures, booklets and paper clippings. Pocket Pages can be purchased ready made or you can make them up yourself. Simply tape the sides and lower edge of a piece of cardstock directly onto the page. Pocket pages can be decorated to match the theme of the memorabilia.
Scrapbooking Templates
Scrapbooking templates can be used for many tasks. There are several types of templates available. Templates can be used for lettering, tags, envelopes; scrapbooking die cut designs, etc.
Here are some different types of templates you can use for your scrapbooking pages:
Lettering Templates. These templates can assist in creating many different lettering designs and fonts. You can trace the letters onto your page "header" or cut out each letter separately to place in the desired area of your page.
Envelope Templates. These templates can help you create many different sizes of envelopes. You can use small envelopes for decoration on your scrapbook pages. You can create custom envelopes to fit different sizes of cards that you make from your scrapbooking supplies. Envelopes can be used for many things. Envelope templates come in a variety of sizes.
Die Cut Templates. This type of template is usually a picture or image of some sort. Some popular templates include, flowers, hearts, shapes, and many types of silhouettes. Die cut templates are used to add character to your scrapbook pages. These template are also used for paper piercing and other techniques.
Templates can assist you in making perfect designs for your scrapbooking layouts.
Scrapbooking Ultrasound Pictures
If your ultrasound pictures were not printed on acid-free, memory-safe paper than you can preserve them with an archival spray that is available at most scrapbook supply and craft stores.
When using your ultra sound pictures in your scrapbook it is important to be careful you don't crop them too much and use memory-safe paper so they will not deteriorate or yellow in your book.
New Scrapbook Techniques: Marking the Times Page
When documenting the era of your pictures, there are several scrapbooking techniques that can be used besides photos. It can be fun to document interesting facts, such as prices, incomes, fads, popular movies, songs, news items, sports headlines and your favorite things. Ticket stubs, box lids and labels, receipts and bills could also be mounted on this type of page.
Funky Fibers
Fiber strands are quite the rage among avid scrappers. They can be used to accent may aspects of the page layout. You can string them through eyelets, tie them in knots or bows, wrap them around your stamped images or die-cuts, use them as tag toppers, etc.
Dying them with your re-inkers can also customize fibers so they will match your color combinations. Put on some latex gloves so you don't color your fingers and drop some re-inker (in a coordinating color) in a craft jar. Place the fiber strand into the jar and press down until it is fully saturated in the ink. Then, let it sit for one or two minutes depending on how dark you want the color (darker colors take longer). Remove the fiber strand from the jar and squeeze out the excess of ink. Rinse it in cool water and allow it to dry completely.
You can create funky colors and designs with your inks. Try creating a tie dyed effect by tying loose knots in the fiber before you dye it. Also you can use different colors or just color parts of your fiber strands. There are many different things you can do with color and your fibers. Let your imagination loose and see what you come up with, you are sure to make some “funky fibers” that will accent your layouts beautifully.
Hint: If you are in a hurry you can heat your colored fibers in the microwave to speed up the drying process.
Foam Texture Technique
Create unique textures for your scrapbooking pages by using packing foam. Foam texturing is a simple way to make a distinct background design for your page layout. By using your imagination, inks and plain piece of foam you can create appealing patterns with this foam texture technique.
Fold the piece of foam (thin packing foam) into a 3 x 3 square. Then, press the foam firmly into your inkpad until the ink is visible. Now, press the foam onto your cardstock in a rolling motion, starting with your index finger and rolling your hand across the paper ending up with your pinky finger. Do this until the desired texture is achieved. You can foam texture with just one color or many. Use your own creativity and “let loose” for an original design.
The foam pieces are reusable and can be cleaned with an ink cleaner or mild soap. Just allow the foam to dry and it can be used again on another project.
Color for Metal Accessories
Using inks to add eye-catching color can customize metal accessories. Match your accessories to your stamps and cardstock by “inking” them with matching colors. Mix your desired color of ink with liquid glass (which can be purchases from most scrapbook supply stores) and create bold, vibrant colors for your metal embellishments.
Squeeze out a generous amount of liquid glass on to a piece of scrap cardstock and add a drop (or two for darker colors) of re-inker. Stir it with a paintbrush and apply the mixture to your accessories by using the brush or swirling the item in the solution. Let them dry for several hours and then add them to your page layout.
Customize your accessories in advance for quick page assembly. You can make your colors as dark or pale as you would like. This technique allows you to make one-of-a –kind pages for your memory books.
Tissue Inking Stamp Technique
Facial tissue can be a fantastic tool for scrapbook enthusiasts. This simple household item can help give your stamped images texture and color. Apply ink to your stamp and before stamping your image on the paper add additional ink to the stamp by blotting a piece of facial tissue on a coordinating color of ink and then on the stamp. Then you can repeat the process with a third color to create a multicolored picture.
The tissue inking technique works great for accenting scrapbook layouts, cards, mini-albums, etc.
Scrapbooking Techniques: Choosing The Color Of Your Mounting Papers
When laying out a page, the mat color for your photo can have a large impact. One scrapbooking matting technique is to choose a color in the photo itself. The backing paper will then draw the eye to the matching color in the photo. If you want to draw the eye to a face then choose backing paper to match skin tone or eye color. Another good scrapbook technique is to use a double mount. Double mounting using a skin tone based paper directly behind the photo and then a color to match your decor or a layout will work well too.
Paper Piercing with Stamped Images
Paper piercing is becoming almost an essential for scrapbooking pages. This type of art adds the illusion of depth and dimension to page layouts. It helps draw attention to a certain element on your cards or pages.
Stamps can be used for paper piercing to create the dimension you are seeking for your scrapbook pages. You can make your images appear to “pop out” by placing one identically stamped image on top of another. To begin stamp your image twice once on your card or layout and another time on a piece of cardstock. Carefully cut out the stamped image on the separate piece of cardstock and place it on top of the original image. This type of layering adds breadth and appeal to your work.
You can glue the image directly onto the paper (this is called layering) or use 3-D foam squares or pop dots to make a raised image. For example if you are using a teddy bear image you could cut out extra ears, nose, arms and legs to make the image “stand out” on your layout.
Scrapbooking Techniques: DIY Backgrounds
Bored with the background papers you have and want to add some personality? Try some of these scrapbooking techniques. Lightly sponge the paper with acid free, archival inks for a soft effect. Too tame? Try tearing acid free paper into jungle print spots. - Black on gold for Leopard skin, brown on camel for Giraffe skin, or cut black on white irregular stripes for Zebra skin and black on gold for Tiger skin stripes.
Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Silhouette cropping.
It can be tough to come up with creative new scrapbook techniques to keep your pages lively and unique. Try using silhouette cropping. To give a silhouetted photo "oomph", don't cut right to the edge of the subject. Leave about 1-2 millimeters of the background surrounding the subject. Depending on the background color this will give the appearance that the subject is mounted.
Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Cropping No No's
There are several scrapbook techniques and rules to keep in mind when cropping your photos. Never crop out anything that identifies the era. That car or toy in the background will make a photo more interesting in years to come. Do not crop old or important photos. Cropping is irreversible. Have copies done and crop those instead. Never crop Polaroid's as the chemicals will leech out and may cause skin and eye irritation. One scrapbook matting technique is to crop a copy of the photo, or use a frame around the Polaroid on your page.
Scrapbooking Techniques: Tracing Templates
Use this scrapbooking technique when you want to avoid erasing pencil marks. When using a template on photo mounting paper, turn the template over before tracing around it. That way there will be no need to erase any pencil marks not removed while cropping.
Create a 3-D Illusion With Color
A few simple coloring tools can transform a single stamped image into a beautiful work of art in 3-D. You can transform your image dramatically using inkpads, coloring pencils, markers and a stipple brush.
First stamp your image on to the cardstock. Then, using coloring pencils in a shade lighter and a shade darker than the shade of your ink, color the image by going over the edges with a scribbling-like effect. Now, gently trace the picture with a fine tipped black scrapbooking pen or marker to make the image stand out. Using a stipple brush, stipple around the edges of the image in a coordinating color of ink (pat the stipple brush on to your ink pad until you get your desired amount of ink).
Creating dimension for your page layouts is very appealing and 3-D images look great in your memory books.
Scrapbooking Techniques: Turning Scissors Upside Down
New scrapbook techniques can be tough to find for different looks. Try flipping your decorative scissors and rules. Cut out a negative pattern to achieve a different look for your pages.
Using a Stipple Brush for Background Effects
A stipple brush is a coarse bristled brush used to add texture and color to the edges and background of your artwork. Stipple brushes can be used with inkpads or re-inkers to accent scrapbook layouts. Put some ink in a craft jar and gently dip your stipple brush into the ink and touch it on your pages in a swirling motion. You can “pop” the brush on the paper in short strokes for a different kind of background effect. Also holding the bristles together will give you tighter darker stippling. Stippling can be done with one color or multiple colors depending on the background effect you are trying to achieve. You can purchase stipple brushes at scrapbook supply or craft stores.
Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Attaching Photo Corners
Do you have trouble getting photos and memorabilia on straight when you use photo corners? Here is a scrapbooking technique to make the job easier. Using a pencil, lightly draw on your page where you want the photo to go. Place photo mounts in opposite corners on the item, and place it on the page, using the pencil guide. Then apply photo mounts to the two existing corners. Don't forget - if you are using lick and stick corners, use a sponge not your saliva. Saliva is acidic.
Scrapbook Techniques: Cropping Quickies
One of the most important scrapbooking techniques to remember is cropping your photos. When cropping photos, show only the most important parts of the picture. This makes the page more interesting and allows room to place more photos and for journaling. There are several different scrapbook techniques you can use for cropping photos. You can use scrapbook templates, you can try silhouetting, i.e. cutting around the main subject, or bumping part of the picture out beyond the “frame”. Feet, hands, hats, balloons, are ideal - you are limited only by your imagination.
Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Using Decorative Scissors
There are several different scrapbook techniques you can use to add interest to your photo mats. One way is to use decorative scissors. When double or triple matting with decorative edges, start by cutting the smallest mat first. Adhere the smaller layer onto the next larger before making the next cuts. This makes it easier to evenly cut the second mat.
Scrapbooking Techniques: Using Diecuts
Diecuts are machine cut paper shapes and are a great scrapbooking technique to add interest to your pages. They come in many styles, colors, thicknesses and many are self adhesive. You can use scrapbook diecuts to frame photos, journal on, and/or reinforce the theme of the page. Another scrapbooking technique is to spice up the diecuts. Shade them using chalks or pens and pencils. If the edges are uneven after you press out a diecut just run your thumb nail around the edge. Don't throw away the surround. You can use it as a stencil to make more diecuts, mat a photo or just punch out some shapes. I like to keep some basic shapes among my supplies to fill in gaps if I need them. Basic shapes that may suit several themes include camera, flower, butterfly, sun, or star diecuts.
Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Silhouetting
One of my favorite scrapbooking techniques is silhouetting. While there are exceptions to every rule, this is one I usually recommend croppers follow. Unless you are doing a sequencing of events where the photographer has moved in closer as each shot was taken, silhouettes look best on a page if they are of subjects taken from the same distance. Silhouetting the close-up of a head and placing it beside a silhouetted full length body will, nine times out of ten, look odd.
How to Correct Partially Stamped Images
Stamps are a popular tool for scrapbooking page creations and layouts. There are so many stamping designs and they offers lots of versatility for your pages. Before you start to stamp your pages make sure your inkpads are wet and full of ink.
Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are you may run into some minor problems while stamping your scrapbook pages. One problem stampers stumble upon is partially stamped images.
Here are some solutions to correct your stamping problems.
· Start by re-inking the stamp. Then, hold the layout on a light box or sunny window and line the inked stamp up with the partially stamped image. Now you can re-stamp.
· Use a gel pen to fill in the missing areas of your image. Fill in and outline random portions of the picture to make it blend together.
· Re-stamp the image onto a coordinating piece of paper and place over the original image.
These ideas are just a few solutions to fixing your stamping blunders. You can purchase stamps at scrapbooking supply stores and other retail outlets.
Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Using Corners To Hold Memorabilia
Keeping memorabilia is important, and a unique scrapbook technique to mount them on your pages is the use of decorative photo corners. Use large transparent photo mounting corners to hold a small coin, button, gold nugget or medallion on your album page. The memorabilia will be protected and easily seen.
Scrapbooking Techniques - Wax Pencil on a Page
Every scrapbooker with a wax pencil will someday have the misfortune of getting it on the background of their page. Don't panic, there are a few scrapbook techniques you can try to repair the damage. Hitting it with an eraser first up will only spread the damage. Gently dab the mark with a tissue or gently scratch any blobs away with your finger, then rub with a soft white eraser. (Make sure you clean the eraser when you finish.) If this fails to remove all of the blue from your page you can always put a sticker, journaling box or photo mat over the mark.
Scrapbooking Techniques – Using Eyelets
Eyelets are small metal circles which things can be laced through (such as a pair of shoes). As a scrapbooking technique, eyelets are used to “rivet” components onto a page, such as cardstock. Eyelets should be used only in a scrapbooking system that has good page protectors. Choose eyelets that will not rust and, if possible, place them so that they will not be facing a photo on the opposite page. With any metal components, weight, rust and sharpness (sharp metal edges WILL scratch photos and poke holes in cardstock) should be considered. This scrapbook technique can be a unique way to add texture to your pages.
Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Cropping effects
Cropping effects are a great scrapbooking technique to add character and personality to a page. However, try not to go overboard. It is easy to fall victim to wanting the scrapper's high and try new and exciting effects on every page. Remember you want to get your pictures into a safe album with journaling – not waiting in boxes for years while you cut paper into intricate shapes for ever single shot! For a quick and easy photo cropping effect, try using a decorative photo corner
Scrapbooking Techniques: Adhering punch outs
Find that sticking those small punches onto your paper is somewhat annoying? Try this scrapbook technique. Put a strip of photo tape on the paper (leave the tape backing on) before you punch out the shapes. Remove the backing and adhere the shapes to your page. If the tape makes the punches hard to push out, you can use a small block of wood to increase the pressure, or a power punch.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Christina Chan |
