It’s no secret that I’m a bit obsessed with fabric. Yet for some reason, I never include it on my cards and layouts. Maybe it’s too hard to work with? I don’t know. But I’m always looking for excuses to buy fabric scraps and for ways to add texture to my paper projects, so I've decided to give it a go.
You can imagine my elation when a couple weeks ago, by a happy accident, I discovered just how awesome fabric stiffener is. Have you tried this stuff? It makes using and cutting fabric for your papercrafting so simple! To use it, lay your fabric over plastic or wax paper and brush on a coat of fabric stiffener (like Aleene’s or Plaid’s). Allow your fabric to dry over night and it’s ready to be cut, punched or otherwise altered as you would paper.
Ready to try using fabric? Check out this sweet framed project (above) over at Sew-Eco. Of course, you can always make this project with your scraps of paper, too. Either way, share your projects here! And download this week's free project for another great way to add texture to a page.
Do you use fabric in your paper crafting? Share your projects in the photo gallery and ideas in the forum!
Whether you’re an all-digital scrapper or like to create hybrid pages, you’ll know that using digital papers and embellishments is pretty simple. But did you know that it’s easy to do more than just layer and crop? I’ve tried a few digital pages myself, but one thing that escaped me until recently was how to change the color of a digital element. Turns out, it’s really easy!
Take this digital paper, for example. With basic software and just a few clicks, you can change it from green to orange.
To change the color using Microsoft Word, insert your paper into a new document and open up the Picture toolbar. Select the Color Adjustment icon (see arrow below). Adjust the settings until you get the color you want.
To change the color in Adobe Photoshop Elements, open your paper file and go to Enhance>Adjust Color>Adjust Hue/Saturation. Click on the Colorize box and then adjust the sliders until you get the color you want.
Note: I used a Mac for coloring my paper. PC instructions may be slightly different.
Easy, peasy! Want more easy-to-learn digital techniques? Download this week’s free project (a how-to for mixing digital papers) and check out Paper + Pixels by May Flaum and Audrey Neal.
Being a papercraft fan it's time I shared some hints for getting your creative juice flowing!
Let it all out in a frenzy - using good quality plain card stock (12 x 12) is perfect for this, take your favourite patterned stamp and make respetitive images again and again. You can add colours or washes, let them dry and you've made your own inspirational background card - store it well - its unique!
Use special occasions and celebrations as the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends and family. Remember you can never send too many cards - its so heart warming to get something in the post other than bills. You've still got time for Easter.
Grab a good book - something like Cards for Lads and Dads (David & Charles) which gives you simple card ideas for the men in your life. Check out book reviews in your favourite papercrafting magazines.
If you’re like me, you’re probably looking for some time-saving ways to get all your photos scrapped. When I’m crafting I find I sometimes spend more time conceptualizing my design than I actually do crafting! That’s why I’m totally digging this new book from master sketch artist Becky Fleck. In Scrapbook Page Maps, she features 60 sketches adaptable to any page theme or style.
But don’t for a minute think this book falls short on tips and techniques. There’s also a wealth of inspiration and ideas for taking your layouts to the next level with creative ways to use brads, paint, seed beads, silk flowers, dimensional medium, fabric and much, much more. You’ll also fall in love with cool digital techniques such as using filters, color conversions, altering the contrast in a photo, mixing fonts and wrapping text around an image.
One of my favorite projects from the book is this masked painting technique, which you can use to create a title or part of your journaling. Gather these materials before you begin:
• A small block of cardstock (trimmed to fit your title) • Letter stickers (choose a type treatment that fits your layout’s theme) • 2-3 acrylic paints in colors of your choice • Acrylic thinner • Old toothbrush • Wax paper or newspaper to protect your work area
Step 1:
Spell out your text in an arrangement of letter stickers. (Tip: Select letters than can be easily removed later and don’t leave a sticky residue.)
Step 2:
Select several colors of acrylic paint that complement your layout. Squirt out a quarter-sized puddle and thin with acrylic thinner or water to an inky consistency.
Step 3:
Dip an old toothbrush into the paint and run your thumb over bristles to spatter the paint over the stickers. The more paint on your brush, the larger your spatters will be; less paint results in fine, smaller spatters. Multiple applications of each color will achieve the best result.
Step 4:
Allow to dry, then carefully remove letter stickers.
Don’t forget to enter our giveaway to win a free copy of Scrapbook Page Maps. To enter the giveaway, check out Kristin’s Monday post by noon (eastern time) this Friday.
And don’t forget about the free techniques and projects available on the S+P homepage. Stop by tomorrow for more fun with sketches!
Are you looking to add a shimmery shine to your paper crafts? Dimensional glaze is one of those tried-and-true products I find myself using anytime I want to add a glossy twinkle or highlight a cool design detail. Available at most scrapbook, art and craft retailers, this versatile medium adds a raised, glass-like finish to paper, stickers, chipboard, stamped designs and more. It can be used alone to add a clear glossy finish or easily colored with acrylic paint, dye ink or alcohol ink for a custom look.
Dimensional glaze can also be used as an adhesive itself. It works wonders for adhering clear items such as beads, acrylic letters, plastic or glass embellishments, vellum and so on, as it won’t be visible once dry. For items that need some extra bonding power, such as metal or wooden embellishments, dimensional glaze is perfect for keeping them in place on a layout or other paper project. Most manufacturers bottle the adhesive with a needlenose tip to allow for precise application. Just be sure to not shake the bottle as this creates air bubbles. Some of my favorite types include Judikins Diamond Glaze, Glossy Accents by Ranger and Aleene’s Paper Glaze.
Go ahead and add a little radiance with dimensional glaze. You’re sure to fall in love with it just like me. And don’t forget about the free techniques and projects available on the S+P homepage. Come back next Tuesday for more tips and techniques.
