Ideas on Using Brads and Eyelets On Your Scrapbooking Layouts

Brads and Eyelets are an essential part of the Scrapbooking process, as there are so many uses for these little embellishments.  They can be used as a means of attaching things to a layout or simply as embellishments.  The variety and colours that you will be able to get at your hobby store nowadays is endless.

Eyelets were traditionally used to thread things through.  Eyelets are also popular for attaching items to your layout.  This is a non adhesive technique and it creates an understated and contemporary look for your page.  Eyelets are simple to apply if you have the correct tools to work with.

To attached a photograph to a mat you could do the following:

First mat your photograph onto your card stock with double sided tape.  Next lay the *matted photograph onto a cutting mat.  Using an eyelet punch and a weighted hammer to carefully  punch a hole in each corner of the photograph.  Make sure to punch through the photograph and the matting.  Drop a correctly sized eyelet into one of the punched holes.  Hold the eyelet in place and turn the matted photograph over and lay it on the setting mat.  Use the eyelet setter and the weighted hammer to set the eyelet in place.

If attaching eyelets to the corners of your photograph, mark and measure the position with a pencil before punching your holes, or you could end up with it looking uneven.

Try threading ribbon or embroider thread through your eyelets for a pretty frame for your photograph.

Brads are slightly easier to attach than eyelets, and are also a non adhesive way to attach items to your layout.  They can work well for vellum, which is always a problem to stick with adhesive.  You will be able to once again choose from the many different sizes and shapes that are available.

If attaching a photograph with brads, try to use brads to compliment the colors in the photograph.  Once again mat your photograph first.  If you don’t have a punch, you can lay the photograph on your cutting mat and after measuring where you want the brads, push just the tip of your craft knife into each corner to cut a tiny slot.

Next push the arms of the brad through each corner slot.  Turn the page over and open out the arms of the brad so that they lie flat against the back of the photograph.

Every scrap Booker should keep a supply of eyelets and brads in his or her scrap-booking kit.  They always come in handy.

* Matting - Placing a photograph on cardboard or paper and then cutting it out so that the cardboard frames the photograph. 

Mini Albums and Love Letters

Most of us have treasured cards and letters that we have stashed away in boxes somewhere.  Here are some scrapbooking ideas and solutions to store these in a more appropriate way.

We all have treasured cards made by our children and loved ones.  We may even have some old love letters stashed away, that we can’t bear to throw out.  It makes sense to keep all these memories in one place, with no risk of them getting lost.  I tried storing mine in a pretty box, and then moved onto a pretty tin, but this wasn't ideal.

Why not make an envelope album for all your keepsakes.  Here is what you will need to do this. 

Patterned Paper, thin chipboard, fancy punches, flat magnets, A3 papers, ribbon, hole punch, wire and a bind it machine.

Here is a cute mini album that you can make easily to keep all those precious letters and cards.  You can use envelopes for pages, and you can either use standard sized ones, or make your own to individually fit each separate keep sake.  If they are different sizes, try layering them from smallest to largest and you can also tone in some different colors.

You can start by decorating each envelope with either ribbon, embellishments, patterned paper or all of the above.  A spiral binder is a useful thing to have for this project, but if you don’t bind often, rather than the expense, just take it into a copy shop and ask them to bind it for you.  Cut the thin chipboard to size to be the back and front of your mini album, and you can also decorate the chipboard by either painting it or putting patterned paper over it.  A title made of chipboard or thick cardboard would also be fitting for the cover.

If you want your envelopes to close securely, try this idea.  You can purchase flat magnets.  Punch out some plain or scalloped circles.  In half of them punch out little holes all around the edges.  Mount the circles on top of each other with a base color showing up through the circles.  Adhere these circles to your envelope flaps.  Attach a magnet to the back of each circle and another magnet in the corresponding position inside the envelopes to match up.  In this way your envelope will stay closed, until being opened for viewing.

I just love this scrapbooking solution.

How To Store Your Scrapbooking Layouts

If you do a lot of layouts, and you are like me and like to do 'lumpy' layouts, it is imperative that you store your scrapbooking layouts correctly.  Here are some tips for storing your layouts in albums.

First make sure that you use a high quality album.  Make sure that the sleeves are big enough to store your layout as flat as possible.  It should fit into the sleeve with ease.

Don't over load your album with too many pages, or your layouts will be squashed.

Be sure to use some sheet protectors as they'll keep smudges and fingerprints off of your of your photos.  They will also protect the page opposite your 'lumpy' layout.

Store your albums standing upright rather than stacked on to of each other, and in this way your layouts won't go flat.

Tutorial - How To Upload a Photo Book on My Memories Suite

If you are not lucky enough to own My Memories Suite yet, you can purchase this amazing software by using the Promotional Code below when checking out to claim your discount.

STMMMS10034

Using Wire In Your Scrapbooking Layouts

Craft wire is a wonderfully versatile embellishment for your scrap booking layouts, and it comes in many different colors and thicknesses.  Craft wire can be used in many different ways to add decorative effects to your scrapbook pages. Do yourself a favor and stock up on this for your kit.  If you see it there, you will use it more regularly.

You don’t need many fancy tools to start with, unless you start getting really intricate with your designs.  A pair of pliers and wire cutters should be enough for most scrappers.

If you don't fancy making your own embellishments or being creative, or you simply want something more complex, there are wonderful handmade wire embellishments in most craft shops that don't cost an arm and a leg.

When you work with craft wire, especially if it is coated, be careful of using pliers or other tools, as the coating is easily scratched.  If there is a nick in the coating, the metal underneath will show through and spoil the look of your finished piece.

One can use craft wire to thread beads onto, or to twist into various different shapes for your layouts.  Here is an easy technique for you to start with.

The look for this technique is a craft wire running vertically from the top of your page to the bottom with embellishments threaded onto it.


Choose where you would like the wire to start and end on your layout.  Stick a sequin onto each point and punch a small hole with a pin through the middle of each sequin.  From the front, push one end of your wire through the hole, and bend flat against the back of the page.  Tape it in place with masking tape.
Next thread an arrangement of beads and sequins onto the loose end of the wire.  Thread the other end of the wire through the other sequin once you have finished threading, and secure, adjusting the wire so it is firm and straight.

Another scrapbooking idea is to wind the craft wire round a pencil or knitting needle to form coils which you can then thread small beads onto and then flatten to lie flat on your layout.  You can experiment with the thickness of the object that you wrap the craft wire around.
Craft wire can be twisted into all sorts of swirls and curls before adding to your layout as embellishments.

Lots of crafters like to use the wire to mould their own shapes for their layouts.  You can make just about anything you want to, from animals to flowers.  I have some small coat hangers made in this fashion in my kit, just waiting for the right layout to come along.

Ideas To Decorate a Chipboard Daisy

If you have some chipboard daisy's or flowers lying about in your scrapbook kit, here is a great way to decorate them.
 
Firstly decide on your color scheme and then paint the edges of the flower with the color craft paint of your choice.

You will need six contrasting patterned papers.  Once your paint is dry, use your chipboard flower as a stencil and trace and cut out three flowers on different patterned papers.  Chalk the edges of all your cut outs with brown ink.

Using white craft glue, stick one of the flower cut outs to the chipboard flower and allow to dry.  Apply glue to the centre of the second flower and glue to the main daisy.  Do the same with the third flower cut out, making sure to keep the petals loose.

Cut out two circles of thick cardboard, one the same size as the middle of your flower and the other a tad smaller.  Paint the circles in the same color as you painted the edge of the die cut.  Glue the large circle in the centre of the chipboard flower and the smaller one on top.

Cut each petal so that the slit reaches the circles in the centre of the die cut.  Then use a chop stick to curl the two layers of petals inwards towards the centre of the flower. 

Decorate the flower in any way you choose by using things like die cuts, brads, ribbons, buttons, etc.  You can even stick a special photograph in the centre of your finished flower.

Storage Solutions and Some Organizational Tips For Your Scrapbooking

It can be challenging to store all the little bits, pieces and nick knacks that we seem to accumulate while enjoying our scrapbooking.  Here are some simple concepts for storing all the bits and bobs and to help you to be more organized.

Concept No. 1
Try hanging things like punches, small tools and stamps on small hooks in front of you on the wall.  In this way you will be able to see everything you have and find it in an instant.

Concept No. 2
Try hanging a small rod for your ribbons.  Leave one end open so that you can just slide your rolls of ribbon onto it.  In this way you will always be able to see exactly what ribbon you do have.

Concept No. 3
Small colorful bits of ribbon and other small embellishments can be stored in glass jars.  You can use any empty jars like peanut butter bottles, sauce jars, just as long as you can see through them and you will know exactly what is in each jar.

Concept No. 4
Try buying some cubes for your paper that you can mount on the wall and stack.  In this way you will be able to see your different papers in an instant without having to haul them all out.  You should be able to purchase these cubes at any hardware or craft store.

Concept No. 5
If you have space under your cabinets, install rolling drawers, and you can store even more of your supplies neatly.

Concept No. 6
Try lining a drawer with non slip drawer liner, and you can then keep various bits and bobs neatly and within view as you open the drawer.

Concept No. 7
Use small tins to keep your tiny supplies in order.  These could include beads, brads, buttons and various other tiny embellishments.  Many craft shops sell see through and stackable tins, which are a great idea as you will be able to see exactly what is in them without having to open them.

Concept No. 8
Use the inside of your cupboard doors as storage by putting up squares of Velcro.  You can then use see through plastic pencil cases with trips of Velcro stuck to the back.  You simply stick the cases to the Velcro and you will be able to see exactly what you have at a glance.

Concept No. 9
If you have a lot of A4 pages, store them in see through plastic sleeves in a file.  You can place like colors together and you will be able to get at the paper of your choice at a glance.

Concept No. 10
Store tools that you use very often like knives, rulers, cutters etc. in an flat basket on your desk.  In this way you will have everything you need at your fingertips at all times.

So as you can see there are many practical storage solutions for your scrapbooking hobby that needn’t cost the earth.  All it takes is a bit of imagination and know how and you could be super organized in a jiffy.