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  Unique Holiday Cards

With the holidays right around the corner, it is time to start making your unique cards.

Start with printed paper pack with coordinating alphabet stickers and embellishments.

Form a 6 x 4 folded card from paper; ink edges. Attach ½  strip of sold paper to bottom edge. Adhere a 2 x 3 inch piece of pattern paper to left side of card front. Add stickers.

Look for unique paper and embellishments for your cards today!

http://www.crafts2u.com/scrapbook-supplies.html?cat=279

Stamping

Stamps are very versatile.  Stamping can provide you an ideal way to express yourself.  The collection of stamp designs and inks offer a range of looks and effects for your projects. 

To start stamping:

Make sure you have a solid flat surface to stamp on.

Press or tap the stamp firmly onto the stamp pad several times.

 Large stamps can be inked easily by moving the ink pad around the surface of your stamp. 

Apply firm, even pressure to the stamp.  Do not rock the stamp; it will cause blurring of the image.

Albums

Albums have clear plastic page protectors to keep your scrapbook pages dust and fingerprint free.  As you choose your album look for acid and lignin-free and the page protectors should be made of polypropylene or polyethylene plastics.  These albums will extend the life of your layouts and photos.  Store them upright on a shelf that should be deep enough so that the album does not hang over the edge.  This protects rippling in your scrapbook pages.Albums can range in sizes and they range from 6×6 to 12×12. Try all the sizes and types to find out which you enjoy the most. 

Three ring binder:  Built like the notebooks used in Scholl, the three-ring binders for scrapbooking are archival and come in a rainbow of colors.  Rings that snap apart make inserting and shuffling your pages a breeze.  

Spiral-bound:  Many of these wire/plastic spiral bound albums have permanently attached pages.  They’re best used for a one topic or themed scrapbook, because you can not add pages to this type of album.  Protective page slipcovers are available for some. 

Strap-hinge:  These albums contain a nylon strap that threads through stapes on the reinforced edges of the cardstock pages.  They are expandable and lie flat when opened.  They keep two-page spreads close together. 

Post-bound:  The pages are bound by a set of bolts that are hidden under the flats.  These albums are available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and styles. 

 12×12:   This big square is the larges standard scrapbook size and gives you room to display multiple photos on each page, add embellishments, and be creative.   Cardstock and patterned paper are available in this size since it is the preferred dimension for manufactures.

81/2 x 11:  Printing titles, journaling and other text or clip art is easiest on 81/2 by 11 pages.  Scrapbook paper can be found in this size for ease access.

9×9, 8×8, and 6×6:  The smallest common page sizes you will find.  All are perfect for gift or one themed albums.

Here are a few more albums to choose from:

http://www.crafts2u.com/scrapbook-supplies/scrapbook-albums.html

Cutting Tools

Cutting Tools

One tool rarely works for every situation.  What you cut with depends on what you’re cutting and where. There are a few to choose from…

Paper Trimmer - A paper trimmer is for making long, straight cuts on cardstock, photos, and specialty papers.  They come in many sizes; a 12” trimmer is equipped with a swing-arm ruler, accommodates a variety of paper sizes and is as functional at home as it is on the go. 

Die – Cut Machines - Like a punch, die-cutting tools cut shapes and letters form a variety of materials, but dies allow you to get bigger sizes and more intricate designs.  Personal tabletop and hand held versions are great at home or at a crop.  Use them to cut your titles or create custom embellishments 

Electric cutters –   Electronic cutters have a wide range of creativity.  They allow you to cut creative designs and alphabets with a range of different sizes. Electric cutters can cut a variety of materials including then chipboard.    

Straight-edge scissors – A pair of microptip scissors I a must have for your scrapbook supplies and can make detailed cuts through paper, photos, vellum and more. 

Cutting Mat – You will need a cutting mat when working with a craft knife or shape cutter. They come in a variety of sizes and you can choose one made of glass or self-healing rubber.  Most have a grid that can help you with measurements.

 Craft knife – A craft knife is used when you need control for detailed task such as hand-cutting titles or embellishments. 

Decorative scissors – Available in a plentiful variety of edges such as scalloped, postage-stamp, deckle, wave, and so much more, these scissors are terrific for creating borders or adding a funky touch to photo edges.  It’s easy to get hooked on these fun tools. 

Shape cutters- adjustable tools make it easy to cut circles or ovals out of photos or cardstock.

Ruler- Although 12” plastic or wood varieties work fine for taking measurements, metal is sturdier and acrylic has the added grid to allow you to see your project as you work, making cutting photo masts a chinch.           

 Punches – Ranging in size from ½” to more than 3” and offered in a variety of shapes, using punches is an easy way to create paper embellishments.  Sets of nesting punches let you layer the same shape in a variety of sizes.

Here are a few cutting tools for your craft supplies

http://www.crafts2u.com/scrapbook-supplies/cutting-tools.html?p=2

Tip of the week – Part 2 of 2

Choosing the right adhesive for your next craft project:
Photo Corners, Dots, Foam, Sheet and Remover. 

adhesives

 Dots (permanent bond):  Adhesive dost are perfect for the bulkier objects such as buttons and beads.  You’ll find the dots in a variety of sizes from mini to 3-D.  A must have in your craft supplies! 

Photo corners (permanent bond): Photo corners give you the most flexibility for your photos to and from your scrapbook, corners are the safest option for one-of-a-kind shots.  Since the photos actually slip into the corners and don’t touch adhesive, they’re a smart option for irreplaceable heritage prints.

Foam (permanent bond): When you’re looking for a little dimension on your page, reach for foam tape, dots, or squares.  They actually lift photos and embellishments off the page for a dimensional effect.  Try this with photos, die cuts, and journaling blocks.

Sheet (temporary or permanent bond):  Found in sheets or rolls, this sticky stuff offers a strong, smooth bond on flat surfaces when you need greater coverage.  It can be applied by hand or with a machine like the Xyron.

Adhesive remover:  Let’s face it, sometimes you want to  unstuck what you stuck, and a photo-safe adhesive remover will do the trick.  A few drops neutralize the adhesive, making it possible to cleanly lift off stickers or anything else adhered to your project. 

A must to have in your scrapbooking supplies.

Click here for more adhesive tool ideas:

http://www.crafts2u.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=adhesive&x=10&y=5&cat=389

 -Come back next week for our tips on choosing the right cutting tools for your next craft project!

Tip of the week  - Part 1 of 2

Choosing the right adhesive for your next craft project:
Tape Runners, Sprays, Liquid Glues, Glue Sticks, and Tabs.

Adhesives Part 1

One thing to keep in mind is there are different adhesives for different projects.  Choose a temporary adhesive when you want to be able to move things around.  Then switch to a permanent glue when you’re sure of the position.  Check out the different types of adhesives below and match with your craft or scrapbooking project.

 Tape runners (temporary or permanent bond):  Continuous roll of double-sided adhesive are a non-messy way to mount the flat parts of a page, like photos and paper.  Just drag a cartridges filled with dots, rectangles, or nonstop strips of sticky stuff along your paper or photo.  Some cartridges are one-time-use, while others are refillable. 

 Sprays (temporary or permanent bond):  Sold in cans like spray paint, spray adhesives are best for quickly and evenly covering large areas.  A couple drawbacks:  You’ll need a well-ventilated area to spray in, and if you don’t cover up properly, you could wind up with sticky residue on your work surface.

 Liquid glues (permanent bond): Bottles, tubes or pens of liquid glue let you dispense any amount down to a tiny drop, which means it’s a good choice for adhering delicate things such as fibers, intricate dies cuts, or tiny embellishments.

 Glue sticks (permanent bond):  While some children’s glue sticks are acid-free, check the label to make sure you’re using one that’s photo safe.  Glue sticks are perfect for attaching ribbon, die cuts, or other flat items to your layout.

 Tabs (permanent bond):  Double-sided adhesive squares can either be dispensed from a roll in evenly spaced rows or added one by one to photos, paper, and other flat accents.

Click here for more adhesive tool ideas:

http://www.crafts2u.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=adhesive&x=10&y=5&cat=389

 Check out next weeks tip.  We will be discussing the right adhesive supplies for your next craft or scrapbooking project part 2.

Tip of the week: Choosing the right writing tools for your next project

ZIG Writer Markers Set

You are going to find several different types of writing tools available for scrapbookers. It is important to choose the right tools for you particular project. Make sure that all of your pens and writing tools are acid-free, fade-resistant and waterproof.

Felt-tip markers: Not only do you have a choice of tip styles (Monoline, Chiselpoint, Brush and Scroll-point) but you also can buy pens that sport different tips on each end. But choosing a tip will be easier than settling on a color. Start with a few neutrals and then add more as you need them.

Gel pens: Chances are you’ve already got a couple of these at home. Their rich, sometimes iridescent or glittery, opaque colors add flair to journaling (especially on darker paper) and really make lettering and embellishments pop. Some scrappers consider a white gel pen mandatory.

Color pencils: A good pick for shading and adding highlights to letters and embellishments. They’re also cool for adding color to stamped images. A blender pen, can smooth and soften pencils lines.

Slick writers: Just like it sounds, these markers are designed to rite on slippery surfaces such as on the fronts or backs of photos, vellum, transparencies, or CDs. They’re also available in a rainbow of colors.

Click here for more writing tool ideas:
http://www.crafts2u.com/scrapbook-supplies/scrapbooking-tools.html?cat=388

-Check out next weeks tip. We will be discussing the right adhesive supplies for your next craft or scrapbooking project.

Tip of the week:  Suggested supplies for beginner scrapbooking

Start your scrapbook journey today. 

Why do you scrapbook? 

There are so many reasons to scrapbook by telling stories about your family and record your feelings that are precious to you.  By scrapbooking you tell your family’s history and are a wonderful way to have creative outlet for your enjoyment. 

 How to get started:  Looking at the “big picture” can be overwhelming.  Take one step at a time.  Get organized and map out your scrapbooking space.  A great way to get started is to look at your space and think about how you are going to organize your space. 

Things to consider regarding your craft space:

Here are a few organizer ideas for your workspace.

Table top
Filing
Light
Power
Shelving
Wall space

Click here for more  scrapbooking  organizer ideas:
http://www.crafts2u.com/scrapbook-supplies/organizers.html

-Come back next week for our tips on choosing the right writing tools for your next project!