Inquiring Minds

I get a lot of questions about scrapbooking. And I always try to find an answer for my readers, friends and family if I don’t know right away. Like when my sister Cait wanted to know what the medieval torture-looking device was in my Scrapbooking bin. It was a We R Memory Keepers® Crop-A-Dile™ – only the very best hole puncher around! Or when my friend Julie looked at me and said, “What’s a brad? Like Brad Pitt? I loved him in ‘Benjamin Button’!" 

So today I’m covering the 5 most frequently asked questions I’ve been asked in the past month:

 

5. Where do I find that adorable strawberry project featured on the cover of the last Oriental Trading catalog?

 

It’s basically created by printing out online templates and then cutting them out and gluing them together. Sort of like paper dolls for adults.  To make your own, go to orientaltrading.com and search keyword PT1400, then click Project Instructions.

 

4. What is a clear stamp and how do I use it?

 

Clear stamps are just wonderful, and anytime I get to show them to someone they are amazed at how easy they are to use! Clear, acrylic stamps come on a clear sheet that is 3-hole punched, so you can store them in a binder (no more lugging around huge bins full of heavy wooden stamps). Peel off the self-adhesive stamp of your choice and apply it to a clear stamp block. You’ll be able to see exactly what and where you are stamping. When you’re finished, just clean the stamp and stick it back on the clear sheet. And because they are acrylic, they leave super crisp images.

 

3. What is a brad?

 

A brad is simply just a metal cutout or shape with two tabs on the back. To use one, punch a hole in the paper or project that you are embellishing. Push the tabs through the hole so the metal cutout is facing out. Turn the paper or project over and bend the tabs so they are flat to the back. Brads are a quick, easy and cost-effective way to add details.

 

And what if you can’t punch a hole but you still want to use a brad? Grab a pair of pliers! Bend the tabs back and forth repeatedly until they snap off. Then Glue Dot® the brad head on!

 

2. What’s your best scrapbooking tip for a newbie?

 

My best tip for anyone new to the wide world of scrapbooking is this: get a paper cutter and get one now! I thought for years that I didn’t need to spend my cash on something that I could do with my plain ol’ scissors at home. Then I got a paper cutter and I realized how very wrong I was. A paper cutter will save you a boat load of time and money and help to avoid costly mistakes when working with precious photos.

1. Scrapbooking can be expensive. Do you have any cost-saving tips?

 

When you scrapbook, you are really creating keepsakes that you and your family will love and cherish for years and years to come, and it’s hard to put a price on that. But there are a few ways to stick to a budget even for your priceless albums:

• Don’t throw anything out. That scrap of paper or ribbon can be just the background or edge you need for the next page. Lay a box next to your workspace and toss in scraps as you work.

• Plan it first, cut and stick second. I will cut out stickers and rub-ons first and lay them on the page instead of sticking them down. No mistakes means no ruined supplies. Same goes for paper and photographs. Make color copies of your own photos if you want to practice cropping or see how something will look before you cut the real thing.

• Buy in bulk. A few sheets of paper can cost as much as a huge paper pack, so why not get more for your money?

• Scrap with friends. Betsy has all the great scissors, Melissa has the embossing heat gun, Laura has the magnetic cutting mat and I have the Crop-A-Dile™. So get together and save on the cost of tools (plus you’ll get to try things out before you make any purchases).

Now it’s your turn!

 

If you’ve got great tips to share or questions to ask your fellow scrapbookers, Oriental Trading has introduced a great community forum called Trading Answers. 

Visit the Scrapbook page and scroll down until you see the Trading Answers banner. I’ll be checking Trading Answers every now and again, so don’t be afraid to ask your toughest questions! By the way, Lori, here’s a close-up shot of a decorated chipboard fence you asked about in the Trading Answers forum. I gnomed this one up with the “In The Garden” line. Click the picture for a larger view.

So bust out your best tips and tricks already, let’s see what you’ve got!

Your friend,

Summer BBQ Windmills

Let’s get fired up for a summer project!

 

Usually when I think of a pinwheel, I think of a little kid enjoying a colorful spinning toy and a summer breeze. But I wanted something a little tastier, a little saucier, a little more lively for my summer barbeque centerpiece…yet still cute and simple, like the pinwheels from my childhood.

 

So I whipped up these super scrapped Summer Windmills in a Tin Pail. I thought they would be a great way to dress up tables at the ole’ family BBQ this year.

 

They are easy as pie to make using trace and cut Pinwheel and Star templates. Start by tracing a pattern onto paper. Choose stars and stripes paper for a patriotic look, barbeque-themed paper for all your backyard parties or even glow-in-the-dark paper and stickers for nighttime Independence Day fun.

 

Then cut out the traced template and crease according to the fold guidelines on the template. Attach some wooden craft sticks for handles and you’ve got yourself a real firecracker of a craft! For complete instructions, click here.

I hope this project sparks creativity and ignites your senses! Happy 4^th of July my star-spangled readers!

 

Your friend,

Remarkable Ribbons

Hello my fellow scrap fanatics!

I have some fantastic news. My latest and greatest 15-page summer vacations scrapbook is all done! I finally got the very last page scrapped this past weekend. Now of course I’m showing it off to anyone and everyone. I’m sure my mail carrier enjoyed taking a peek, right?

There were a few motifs that I tried to continue throughout the book: yellow, circles and ribbon. I made sure to pull in at least one of these elements on each page. The book’s look turned out cohesive and so put together! But I did realize a few things while trying to pull this off.

First, there is so much cute yellow paper out there! Second, a circle punch was the best investment I made. I used that thing over and over. And third, if you try to use ribbon on every page, you will be forced to come up with some pretty creative techniques! I thought I’d share a few of my faves.

Ribbon Techniques

• Layer it
• Punch it
• Add stickers
• Stamp it
• Emboss it
• Add rub-ons
• Make a border
• Make a bow
• Weave it
• Stitch it
• Bejewel it
• Brad on a flower
• Staple it on in v’s
• Attach it to binder rings
• Wrap chipboard
• Add a bookmark to the biding
• Fringe it

And the pièce de résistance of my ribbon treatments: Using a We R Memory Keepers® Crop-A-Dile II Big Bite, I grommeted yellow ribbon every 3/4”. Then I weaved in a white ribbon through the grommets. Nothing says you love ribbon like a ribboned ribbon! 

Now I have to go visit my hairdresser…she hasn’t seen my scrapbook yet! 

Your friend,
Mary

A Taste of Summer

Summertime is really starting to heat up! One of my favorite no-guilt treats is an ice-cold popsicle, straight out of the freezer. But what’s even better than a chilly cherry treat to beat the summer heat? Maybe a scrapbook page that’s sure to add a little sizzle to your summer. 

Here’s what you’ll need to create your own “Hello Summer” Finished Page:

• Summer Breeze Paper Kit
• Summer Breeze Embossed Flowers
• Seasonal Chipboards
• Monochromatic Blue Buttons
• Stitched Rickrack On Spools
• Spring Brads

A few tips to get the creative juices flowing:

• Affix buttons and ice cream treat cut-outs using a combination of Glue Dots® and Pop-Up Glue Dots®.
• Paint “hello” and “summer” using acrylic paint in teal and yellow.
• Create the circles using orange brads. First, trace a round object in pencil. Then, working around the photo and chipboard letter, make marks at equal equivalents around the circle. Use a We R Memory Keepers® Crop-A-Dile II Big Bite to punch holes at each mark, then erase pencil marks. Finish by poking brads through each hole and bending tabs flat to the page. 
• Ever have an eraser take off more than just the pencil marks? Try using a Kneaded Rubber eraser. It won’t leave behind any streaks on paper.
• Cut colorful strips of paper using fancy edge scissors and paper cutters. Then layer them onto the page along with hot pink rackrack.

Take a delicious bite of summer fun with this too-cute page!

Your friend,
Mary

Handyman Pail Project

There are a few things my father taught me. Number one, never cross the street without looking both ways. Number two, never cut a steak until it has rested for 10 minutes. And finally, anything and everything can be fixed with Duct Tape®.

I took his sage advice when I fixed up this special Father's Day Pail. I think you’ll find this project a fast and simple way to show how much you care.

To start, wrap a tin paint can with dad’s miracle fixer, Duct Tape®. Add ribbon to the handle and a frame with your favorite photo of dad. Plus and minus brads look like screw heads when attached to the top of the tin. Here’s a new way to use brads when it’s difficult to punch a hole: remove the brad tabs and then attach them with mini Glue Dots®.

Fill the finished decked out painter’s can with some of Dad’s favorites, like wrapped chocolate chip cookies, a new set of pliers or even a cold, frosty beverage! Your world’s best dad will one happy papa!

Your friend,

Mary

P.S. – Did you see us in the May/June edition of Scrapbooks Etc.?  Our Family Printed Transparencies were featured!

A Scrapper’s Fairy Tale

Scrapbooker, scrapbooker, let down your hair! After this merry tale, you’ll know everything about being a damsel who can distress with the best of ‘em!

 

Distressing is a fast and popular method for marring the edge or surface of a page element to add a bit of interest. If you want an antiqued, Old World, shabby chic or country look, distressing is the way to go. You can turn any old frog into Prince Charming!

Pieces to Distress

• Paper edges
• Bindings/Book spines
• Chipboard embellishments
• Photo edges
• Vellum

 

Forest of Tools

• Course sandpaper (40-130 Grit)
• Medium sandpaper (120-150 Grit)
• Fine sandpaper (180-240 Grit)
• Nail files
• Emery boards
• Fine cheese graters
• Razor blades
• Scissor edges
• Thread cutter pendants
• Pumice stones
• Steel wool
• BasicGrey™ File Set

 

10 Charming Tips & Tricks

1. Distress in phases. Make several light passes to better control the effect.
2. Use course sandpaper to remove paint or make a bold statement.
3. Use finer sandpaper on photo edges or to lightly distress.
4. After distressing, ink edges with brown or black to make it look antique.
5. Tear edges instead of distressing for a complementary effect.
6. Try tea staining first! Dip paper edges into a cooled cup of tea and allow to dry. Then distress as normal.
7. Fold paper and then distress the folded edge. Unfold and repeat in random patterns to age a background instantly.
8. Sand the entire surface of vellum to darken it.
9. Stabilize the piece you are distressing by holding it along the edge of a clear stamp block.
10. Smooth the edges of paper-covered chipboard with fine sandpaper or a nail file.

 

With this easy method, you’ll get a storybook ending in no time at all!

 

Your fairy scrapmother,

Mary

 

101 Big Ideas for Scrapping Life’s Little Joys

Scrapbook albums don’t just have to be for the big events like birthdays, vacations, weddings and holidays. Find a photo theme, grab an album and scrap the little stuff. It’s a great way to get your feet wet in the scrapbooking world, and albums make wonderful presents. And here’s a tip — try using mini albums for these special little events!

Here’s a heaping helping of ideas to get you thinking about those everyday fun moments that are just as fun to scrap as the big events.

1.      4th of July fireworks displays
2.      50 States, scrap each as you visit it
3.       A year of holiday decorations
4.       A+ report cards
5.       Airplane trips and tickets
6.       All their most favorite things
7.       All your Easter dresses
8.       Anniversaries through the years
9.       Baby bath times
10.     Baby shower presents and gift givers
11.     Bachelorette parties
12.     Baking cookies with Grandma
13.     Band practices on the football field
14.     Before and after home renovations
15.     Best Halloween costumes
16.     Big group shots of family
17.     Boy Scouts camping trips
18.     Building a snow man
19.     Carousel rides
20.     Carving spooky jack-o’-lanterns
21.     Catching lightning bugs
22.     Childs’ artwork
23.     Close-ups of flowers in your garden
24.     College parties and friends
25.     Colorful dance recital costumes
26.     Concerts and ticket stubs
27.     Dad at the grill
28.     Decorating the baby nursery
29.     Decorating the Christmas tree
30.     Diet journal
31.     Doing the limbo
32.     Dressing up for wedding celebrations
33.     Dying Easter eggs
34.     Eating at fancy restaurants
35.     Every first day of school
36.     Family game nights
37.     Favorite golf courses and scores
38.     Favorite stuffed animals
39.     Favorite t-shirts
40.     Fishing with Dad
41.     Funniest family stories
42.     Gathering seashells on the beach
43.     Girls’ Nights Out
44.     Going to garage sales
45.     Graduations and diplomas
46.     Grandma, Mom, and Daughter’s hands
47.     Haircuts through the years
48.     Hand-me-down outfits
49.     Hayrack rides
50.     History of birthday cakes
51.     Hometown Memorial Day Parade
52.     Hosting a cropping party
53.     How you met your best friends
54.     Kids’ favorite summer camp outings
55.     Learning lines for a play
56.     Leisurely Sunday drives
57.     Losing their first tooth
58.     Love letters
59.     Making a patchwork quilt
60.     Mani/pedis with Mom
61.     Moving days
62.     New Year’s Eves
63.     Oldest family photos
64.     Opening presents on Christmas morning
65.     Oscar parties and predictions
66.     People making funny faces
67.     Pet’s first day home
68.     Playing dress up
69.     Playing on the park jungle gym
70.     Practicing cheerleading chants
71.     Prom dresses and corsages
72.     Riding roller coasters
73.     Road trip pit stops
74.     School awards and certificates
75.     School pictures
76.     Secret family recipes
77.     Self-portraits
78.     Selling Girl Scout cookies
79.     Shopping trips with friends
80.     Slumber parties traditions
81.     Special greeting cards
82.     Sports uniforms
83.     Summer carnival food on a stick
84.     Sunsets
85.     Taking a nature hike
86.     Taking Fido to the pet park
87.     Taking summer swimming lessons
88.     Teachers and classrooms
89.     Telling scary stories at a bon fire
90.     The big football game
91.     The family tree
92.     Training for the big race
93.     Ultrasound photos
94.     Underwater photography
95.     Vacation Bible Schools
96.     Vacation scenery shots
97.     Valentine’s cards
98.     Wacky St. Patrick’s Day outfits
99.     Washing the car
100.   Watching baseball games with Grandpa
101.   Your engagement story

Looking for more inspiration?  Discover over 100 free project ideas with easy instructions! 

Ink it up

Grab your pigment pads and try these three new methods for inking!

1. Create a colorful image outline

First, apply a rub-on image or sticker, then ink over the image entirely. Allow to dry. Next, remove the sticker or using Scotch tape, remove the rub-on image. What’s left is an outlined and inked image! Tape off the edges to create a perfect square or go just go free form.

2. Ink up flowers and ribbons

Use ink to stamp page elements like ribbons and flowers, or ink just the edges for an naturally-aged look.

3. Make faux leather

Tear off small pieces of masking tape and layer them onto a sheet of paper. The more rough edges, the better. Then ink the masking tape, rubbing off any excess. Crumble the entire sheet of paper and then lay flat. Get the leather-look in no time flat!

Go ahead and give these new methods a try.   You might just be inspired to invent your own new ways to use classic materials!

Your friend,
Mary

Family Background

Benjamin Franklin once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Well if that’s true, then this method for creating the Family Card background is completely off its rocker!

You can use a stamp you’ve inked up who–knows–how–many times to create something entirely unexpected… a custom background using inexpensive cardstock and a bit of creativity.

Start with plain cardstock and choose an ink color (this works for cards, scrapbook pages and other projects, too). I started with teal paper and used a contrasting blue ink for the circle background and stamped text.

Paper/Ink Variations:
1.    Try using similar ink and paper colors for a subtle tone-on-tone look. 
2.    Use clear embossing ink and powder to create a raised tone-on-tone effect.
3.    Watermark inks will produce subtle stamp designs.
4.    Use pigment ink pads in contrasting colors to make the design really pop.
5.    Experiment with metallic inks for a shimmery look.

Now for my favorite part… picking the stamp! I picked two sizes of a circular stamp with a scalloped edge. Stamp randomly for a modern look (I don’t mind if you steal my design one bit). Create stripes by using a small stamp in vertical or horizontal lines across your paper. Make polka dots. Try turning your stamp 90 degrees each time for a random pattern.

This is a method you can use time and time again and achieve different results each time.   Now that’s not so crazy, is it?

Your friend,
Mary

Creative Photography 101

“Say cheese!”

You’ve heard it a million times, and most of us are guilty of saying it, too! Usually when you “say cheese”, that’s exactly what you’re going to get…a straight-on, cheesy photo. While these photos are usually adorable, it’s fun to switch it up a little. Try a new angle and create a masterpiece!

Simple and fun photography angles:

•    Lay on the ground to shoot at ground level or shoot above you
•    Take a knee to get a little different angle than usual
•    Use a chair or ladder to change perspective
•    Offset your subject to the side of the frame
•    Shoot close up photos of your subject’s face
•    Tilt your camera from side to side, backwards and forwards
•    Shoot your subject in profile
•    Shoot your subject in action

Here are a few examples from my friend who is an amateur photographer. See how she’s captured her daughter from different angles to create fun and dynamic shots? Imagine the great scrapbooking pages she’ll be able to create with these!

Get creative with your photography and I promise you’ll enhance your pages and projects. Just don’t forget to put on your best smile for the camera!

Your friend,
Mary