Tag Archive | scrapbooking

Embellish It

Scrapbooking embellishments …… stickers, and ribbons and lace oh my!!!!

To me, everywhere I look I see a potential embellishment. I save (and purchase) all kinds of things that I may not have a use for at the moment, but I know one day it will be just the perfect thing on my page. Now some call this being a hoarder. LOL. I prefer to think I’m participating in creative recycling or being frugal with my money. The following is a list of both purchased and recycled embellishments:

Stickers
Stamps
Brads
Buttons (cut the back off and sew on page)
Looks like MY stash
Bling (LOVE bling)
Ribbons
Lace
Yarn
Fabric pieces
Flowers (silk or dried)
Jean pockets (from old jeans-although what’s old these days?)
Paper clips (shop in office store, they’re cheaper)
Shrinky dinks (the kids love to help make these)
Costume jewelry (loose but not too bulky)
Small pins (gathered from new clothes)
Twist ties (from bread – can be used with buttons)
Cardboard from boxes (can be used to make chipboard letters, shapes)
Soda can tabs (can be used with ribbon or cord)
Brochures or memorabilia from an occasion or trip
If you like to stitch as well, create a small pix (see the pumpkins I made)

I purchase supplies when they are on sale, clearance or I have a coupon. I have to really love or need an item to do otherwise. So, when I’m in an office supply store and see something on a clearance table that looks cool, I’ll buy it. For example, who professionally wants paper clips shaped like feet? I do — go figure. LOL.

Fancy Paperclips
I purchased them and low and behold, I can create a beach scrapbook page where I’m able to use my foot paper clip to attach a journaling note. No, I didn’t plan a trip to the beach just to use the clip. LOL. As you can see, I found others as well.

The point is, don’t limit your options. Think outside the page. Embellishments can add interest and depth to your page but don’t get too bulky with them when you’re scrapping in a book. If you need more examples, Close to My Heart (CTMH) has many different options. (Disclosure: I sell CTMH but not actively – I’m addicted) 🙂

Now that you have some ideas, go create!

Comments, Thoughts and Photos of your work are all invited.

~Debbi

Founder of Scrapbooking for Anyone

Christmas Gift Ideas

Dec17

Christmas is almost here. Are you fresh out of ideas? If you’re like me, you have no problem purchasing a gift for a child up to maybe 5 or 6. After that, it’s a struggle. Then once they hit the teen years, phew, it’s nearly impossible. Of course, electronics are always an option. However, it’s not healthy for ANYONE to be glued to these all the time.

OLD Scrapbook

When I was a teen (MANY moons ago), I had a scrapbook and a photograph book.

OLD (ugly) Photo Album

I put all kinds of things in my scrapbook and still love looking at it today even though it’s gone through several moves and is looking a little ratty. Hey, it’s over 40 years old…it can be a little rough.

Mementos

The photo album is pretty ugly — what WERE we thinking back then with those flowers? LOL.

Today, through scrapbooking, we combine these two and add journaling so that we can remember what that special event meant — or why you were making that face — or how beautiful that bouquet of flowers was — or anything else that helps you relive those good times. Face it, we all have bad days when we feel down. I find that going through my scrapbook will cheer me up even though the event happened 40 years ago. It takes me back in time and who doesn’t want that sometimes. LOL.

So, if you have a child on your list past toddler stage but pre teen, you might think about the American Girl scrapbooking kit. Michaels always has the 40% off coupons. They can be purchased there or if you don’t want to venture out, Amazon will ship it to your door.

For those teens on your list, the smash books are popular.

Inside smash book

Smash Book cover

They not only put photos in them, but they draw in them or use them as small scrapbooks. I did one over the summer. I messed it up by talking too much while I was doing it. I started creating the pages then realized I was doing the whole thing upside down. I could just say I planned it that way. That’s the nice thing about creative endeavors — there are no mistakes that can’t be covered somehow. I bet Picasso made a lot of mistakes.

I know these ideas seem a little biased as scrapbooking is my passion but I realized over Thanksgiving that my grandchildren enjoy creating. They get pleasure from seeing what they’ve done and of course, I love watching their eyes light up.

Now matter what you decide, I wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas………..and don’t forget to take photos. LOL.

Please let me know what you think and share your holiday memories with me.

Debbi

Founder of Scrapbooking for Anyone

Storage and Organization

Feb21

Since I was an Accountant by trade, the need to be organized (or as my kids say slightly OCD) is important to me. I know some artists have stuff everywhere (and at this point, I’m not saying that I don’t). When I moved, my space became smaller so I am struggling to fit everything in. It’s still a work in progress. However, I want to share some things that I found helpful.

Pots – found them at the Dollar Store and use them to keep markers and pens.

Flower pots

Jars – can be recycled ones but they’re good for buttons. Don’t forget those extra buttons you get on new clothes.

Baskets – again, can be found in Dollar Store. Use for ribbon scraps.

Box top – I use Xerox box tops to save scraps of paper from layouts. I go through this stash often.

Hanging Jewelry keeper – I bought a couple of these when they were 1/2 off. I guess people didn’t like the patterns, but my stamps don’t care. I can see the stamps through the pockets and they hang so they’re out of the way.

Jewlery keeper

Tool Box – normally men have these in the garage for their screws and bolts, but I love them for small embellishments. Again, I can see through the drawers and everything is in one place.

Pill Box – purchased at Dollar Store, can be used for small embellishments especially if you like to go to crops and scrapbook with other people. Just take the supplies you need.

My normal scrapbooks are 12 x 12 so I have tons (and I mean TONS) of paper. I started out using the Sterilite 12 x 12 boxes (and still like/use them) but I also purchased stackable racks.

Plastic stackable rack

Most people can get by with the boxes or even magazine holders for paper but remember I’ve been collecting for MANY moons!!!

Notebooks w/ plastic inserts – I use these to hold my stencils. They are inexpensive at an office supply store. The supply store will also have the plastic inserts.

Notebook w/inserts

CD rack – If you saw my ribbon page, you saw the CD rack. When the shelves are slanted to the back, the ribbons stay in place.

Dowel / broom handle on 2 hooks or Paper towel holder – can also be used for ribbons as well if you’re not out of control like I am. It’s hard for me to pass up $1 ribbon.

Crate file or you could simply use a box – I use a crate with hanging file folders to gather items for books. I put the developed photos in, papers I want to use, relevant embellishments and brochures or memorabilia. I label the file and just pull everything out when I’m ready to assemble the book. I’m just a TAD behind on my own scrapbooking. LOL. I make too many gift books I guess.

Last but not least, Small plastic bags that buttons come in on new clothes. Once you take the button out and use it on your layout, use the bag for ink/chalk blending pads or small embellishments.

Look around the house. So many things can be used. Some people like to make their storage fancy and decorative but I care more about function than how it looks. Just MY personal opinion but I’d rather do a page than decorate my Xerox box top for scrap paper.

Perhaps an unorganized mind is more creative, but I can’t work in chaos. Everyone is wired differently. So, do whatever works for you but I hope you gathered some ideas.

by Debbi founder of ScrapbookingForAnyone.com

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