Scrapbook Embellishments: Folded & Stitched Paper Ribbon

Hi Scrappers,

Just to get the creative part of your brain in gear, have a look at this fascinating technique from http://scrapbooking.about.com/b/a/255756.htm for folding and stitching strips of patterned scrapbooking paper to create "ribbon-look" embellishments.

This is similar to a project I did some time age. It really looks great. Try it!

Scrapbook Pages: Add Value & Uniqueness

You can make your scrapbook pages stand out from the rest by being creative and prepared to try something new. The following article gives an idea using gemstones to make your scrapbook pages a little different:


How To Add Value And Uniqueness To Your Scrapbook Pages

by: Dawn Williams

It is very easy and affordable to add value and uniqueness to your scrapbook pages with loose Gemstones. Gemstones come in so many shapes, sizes and colors, so it is very easy to incorporate them into any theme. I have been using gemstones in my scrapbook pages for quite a while, and I always recommend them to my friends and family. There are many advantages to using gemstones as well. Gemstones are very easy to apply with glue dots, they will never fade or tarnish and it does not take any special techniques to create a very dramatic page.

What I like best about using Gemstones in my craft projects is how easy they can be added to finished pages as well. If you are like most Scrapbookers you already have expensive 3d stickers in your creations that have plastic stones in the design. All you have to do is carefully take the plastic stones off and replace with Genuine Gemstones. Here are a few ideas of ways I have used Gemstones in my pages:

* Square sapphires for butterfly and bee antenna tips
* Super star page with diamonds in the background
* Polk-a-dots on Easter eggs
* Eyes on the 3d animals
* Ornaments on a Christmas tree
* Birthstone Pages
* And much more.

There are many other crafts you can use Gemstones in as well so the possibilities are endless on what you can create. This Christmas I will be giving away shadow box frames with a Scrapbook page with Gemstones accents. They will be a very special and truly unique gift!

I hope you have enjoyed my article and Happy Scrapbooking! And remember be Creative Gemstones are only the beginning to using Jewelry in your Scrapbooking!

About The Author:
Dawn Williams has been using Gemstones in her scrapbooks for quite some time now. She is using her website to help promote the idea of "Gemstones are not just for Collecting" http://www.gemdeals4u.com/

Vary Your Scrapbook Layouts

It is a good idea to vary the way you present photos in your scrapbook layouts and make your scrapbook pages that little bit different.

I found this interesting article by Lisa Andrews at http://scrapbooking.families.com/
that you may find helpful.


Embellish Your Photos

Since photos are the focus of most of our layouts, we should be having some fun with them. It is fun to not just put the photos onto the layout, but to also add embellishments and others elements to the photos.

You can do anything to the surface of a photo that you can do to your paper. Here are a few fun ideas to try out on your photos.

Add a Rub-on. Rub-ons are a fast and easy way to add and accent to a page. You could also add a meaningful rub-on word along the edge of a photo or you could use several rub-on words to create a frame around the edge of the photo. You could also use a rub-on shape to frame something special in the photo. I really like to use scroll style rub-ons right on the photo as a photo corner or decorative edge.

Since photos are the focus of most of our layouts, we should be having some fun with them. It is fun to not just put the photos onto the layout, but to also add embellishments and others elements to the photos.

You can do anything to the surface of a photo that you can do to your paper. Here are a few fun ideas to try out on your photos.

Add a Rub-on. Rub-ons are a fast and easy way to add and accent to a page. You could also add a meaningful rub-on word along the edge of a photo or you could use several rub-on words to create a frame around the edge of the photo. You could also use a rub-on shape to frame something special in the photo. I really like to use scroll style rub-ons right on the photo as a photo corner or decorative edge.

Write on Your Photos. Grab a gel pen and write directly onto your photo. You could draw arrows to draw attention to something specific in the photo, circle something to make a frame or even journal right on the photo.

Stick some stickers to your photos. Adding stickers to your photos is such a fun and fast way to add interest to you page. You could use several stickers to create border along the edge of your page and overlap the stickers onto your photos. You can also place the stickers across the edge of a couple of photos to bring the photos together.

Layer flowers, foam or felt shapes onto your photos. All three of these materials have become more popular lately. Try using some of these materials to create photo frames and even just photo corners. I am sure that you will have fun playing with these materials.

You do not have to keep your photos clear from all of the other elements of the page. Try overlapping embellishments onto photos and I'm sure that you will love the results.