Thursday Tip #13

Do you have problems tearing the paper when you dry emboss? Don't push down too hard on the stylus while dry embossing and try rubbing the area you want to emboss with wax paper first. The wax paper helps to "lubricate" the cardstock so that the stylus will flow easily over it and therefore avoid tearing.

Thursday Tip #12

Do you ever find that once you have placed your lumpy pages in your scrapbook, (no matter how hard you try to keep your embellishments from pressing into the other pages) the pages often get damaged? For a quick, cheap, and easy way to keep your scrapbook pages unharmed, pick up a sheet of foam paper. Available at all major crafting stores.

Cut approximately 8-16 strips (1/2 inch-1 inch) lengthwise out of an 8x10 sheet of foam paper. Punch holes in the strips and then place them in between every 5 or so pages of your scrapbook (replacing those flimsy cardboard strips that come with your page refills). This will create an extra space between all your pages and will eliminate damage due to lumpy embellishments.

Foam paper will cost you just pennies for a sheet and, will save you so much by keeping your treasured layouts dent and damage free!

Thursday Tip #11

When you journal, are you at a loss for words? Do you sometimes repeat the same words over and over again? Keeping a small Thesaurus handy near your workspace is a great way to make your writing more eloquent - just look up the word you want to use, find its synonym and soon your journaling will flow like poetry.

Do It Today Challenge #2

Pick up the phone and schedule specifically a cropping time during the next two weeks for you and a friend at a in-home crop or for yourself at a local store.

or

Take the time to cut ATCs from patterned paper you won't use for layouts.

or

Create some inchies.

Scrapbooking on a Budget

With all the expensive scrapbook products on the market, it's easy to think that you can't scrap on a budget. However, with just a few basic tools, it is easy to create plenty of pages for under $2 each. While these layouts do use some generic tools, none of these layouts use a computer die-cut system or other expensive tools. Here are examples of layouts that use less than $2 in supplies.

Thursday Tip #10

Give stickers a rustic look by pulling out your sandpaper and sanding the stickers slightly.

Do It Today Challenge

Pick up 27 things off your scrapbook area and put them away.

or

Create a page layout and finish it.

or

Journal 5 pages that need finishing off by journaling.

Get Creative with Die-Cuts

Spice up your scrapbook pages with fabric, metal, chipboard, and paper die-cuts used as embellishments.

Basic Die-Cut Techniques for Scrapbook Pages
Get Creative with Die-Cuts
Learn How To Die-Cut
Great Die-Cutting Ideas
Stickers and Die Cut Storage

Thursday Tip #9

Has attaching wire to your pages been a problem? A few ways you can attach wired art to your pages are: (1) by sewing your wire down with clear thread, (2) by placing very tiny holes beneath your wired art and create a little "staple" with another small piece of wire--place "staple" over your wire and thread into the small hole beneath spreading the legs of the "staple" on the back apart, and (3) by using photo mounting tape to adhere the wire on the back side of your project. Whichever way you choose, you're sure to get "wired"!

Recipe Challenge #2

Every two weeks we will introduce a Recipe Challenge. You have two weeks to get the challenge done and link back to us. We will give a list of three items that must be used on a card or layout. You are not limited to only the three items listed. You can use as many items on your layout or cards as you wish. But the minimum on it must be what is listed in the recipe.

Create a card or layout using the following items:
2 different pattern papers
Ribbon
Stamp

The topic/theme for your card or layout is up to you.

Projects are due by Wednesday, May 27th. Upload your card or layout to a gallery or to your own blog then sign Mr. Linky below.