Walk into a scrapbook store these days and you can get lost in the maze of tools, paper and embellishments. It’s a lot to take in for a beginner who may be trying to create her first memory book. Whereas I love that the boom in scrapbooking has yielded a deluge of new products, there is something about crafting a basic layout that reminds you of the simple joys of the hobby.
If you are just getting started in the world of scrapbooking, don’t get caught up in the bells and whistles. You will have plenty of time to experiment with the latest and greatest products; rather, take some time to familiarize yourself with some basic items, such as:
Die Cuts: These affordable scrapbook embellishments are among my favorite. They work well with any type of layout and the selection can’t be beat. You can choose from letters, words, phrases, frames, flowers, and seasonal designs, including Christmas trees, Santa, shamrocks, hearts and Easter eggs. Die hard die cut fans often make their own designs by purchasing a die cutting machine.
Rub Ons: Next to stickers, rub ons are the simplest additions to a scrapbook design. They are extremely versatile, but they also require some practice to apply just right. Simply peel off the backing, and use the enclosed Popsicle stick applicator to transfer the design from the sheet to your page. However, you must press firmly to ensure a clean transfer. If the rub on doesn’t transfer completely, you can fill in the wholes with a fine tipped acid-free scrapbooking marker.
Ribbon: I love the way ribbon looks when placed on appropriate layouts. The material adds a welcome texture, plus it’s inexpensive and easy to work with. In addition, the variety of ribbon on the market today is virtually limitless. You can find plain or patterned ribbon in velvet, satin, and cotton mixes. I use ribbon to craft flowers to add to spring-themed layouts, but beginners can easily spice up a page by using ribbons as borders or as decoration for journaling tags.
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