Simple Scrapbook Techniques

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Scrapbook Techniques

The good news is you don't have to use those complicated techniques to create beautiful pages. Remember, the photos should be the stars of your scrapbook page layout. Choose a scrapbook technique that will compliment your pictures, not overpower them.

Let's take a look at some fun techniques to spice up your scrapbook page layouts. You decide how simple or elaborate to make them.

Scrapbook Distressing is a fun way to add visual interest or change the appearance of your scrapbook page layouts. There are many ways to create distressed looks. They can be combined or used alone. Have fun distressing papers, stickers, embellishments and even photos.

These scrapbook techniques are fun, easy and inexpensive. You may already have many of the items needed around the house.

Some of the looks you can create using these techniques are shabby chic, grunge and classic vintage. Lets take a look at some scrapbook techniques that can be used to created distressed looks.

Crumpling and folding papers is a great way to make them look worn, old and shabby. This technique is so simple and it doesn't cost anything extra. Paper can be crumpled wet or dry to create different looks. Folding can also add to the look.

• Crumpling paper dry – Crumple paper into a loose ball. Gently unfold paper. Repeat until desired effect is achieved. A brayer or warm iron can be used to flatten paper.

• Crumpling paper wet – Mist paper with warm water. Crumple paper and gently unfold, take care not to tear paper. Let paper air dry or use a warm iron to flatten. Hint: To iron, place several paper towels underneath and over crumpled paper. Iron until slightly damp. Allow paper to dry completely before using.

• Folding – Folding papers after crumpling them can add to the distressed look. To get the look of an old document, fold the paper and sand the folded edges.

  Paper will shrink slightly when crumpled. Try crumpling the entire sheet of paper, then cut to desired size and shape. For added effect try sanding, inking or chalking after crumpling.

There are so many ways that sanding can be used to create distressed looks. This is another simple scrapbook technique that uses simple things most of us can find around the house, such as sand paper, emery boards and steel wool. Papers with a white or light core give a visually interesting look. Sanding reveals this core.

Items you can sand

• Paper
• Card Stock
• Embellishments
• Stickers
• Chipboard
• Photos

Sanding can create a bit of a mess, so you may want to lay a piece of paper on your work surface. White paper will prevent the transfer of color when sanding.

Different looks can be created by using different grains of sandpaper. Fine grain sand paper will create a slightly distressed look. A medium or coarse grain will give a scratched look. Sand a little or a lot to vary the look. Experiment to create different effects. Here are some ideas

• Sand edges of photos or paper
• Lightly sand crumpled paper
• Sand stickers or embellishments to soften color or distress
• Sand over lettering (computer generated or handwritten)
• Sand in one direction
• Sand in both directions for a cross hatch look
• Sand in a circular motion
• Sand patterned paper
• Sand photos lightly to give an aged look
• Crumple and fold paper, sand folds to create the look of an old document
• Use an emery board for small objects

For added interest try chalking or inking after you have sanded.

Inking and chalking can create an aged look. If you love the worn comfortable feel you get from those vintage photos and memorabilia, you can add that look to anything. Inks and chalks are available at most craft and scrapbook stores. Just make sure they are acid free.

Chalking – Chalk can be applied with a cotton swab or eyeshadow applicator.

• Chalk crumpled or folded paper
• Chalk titles using stencils
• Chalk edges of paper
• Chalk paper to created an aged look. Tear edges, use browns and blacks. Darker at edges and fading into the middle
• Chalk die cuts, stickers and chipboard to give added interest and dimension
• Color in stamps with Chalk
• Chalk images with templates

Inking – Ink pads are simple to use.

• Light brush the edges of papers, stickers or embellishments across the ink pad
• Gently press ink pad on crumpled paper to ink entire paper
• Faux burning – tear edges, then rub with dark brown ink








More Techniques



Scrapbook Tags
Scrapbook tags are a fun page accent. Tags create visual interest, color and texture for your scrapbook page layouts. Size, shape and color are limited only by your imagination. Textures can vary with tags made from fabrics, papers, chipboard, metal and more.


Paper Tearing
Paper tearing adds texture and dimension to your scrapbook page layouts, besides it's a lot of fun. You don't need any special tools, although there are some available. There are different looks that can be created by tearing paper. Find the look that suits your layout.


Scrapbook Tabs
Scrapbook tabs are fun embellishments. They resemble the tabs on file folders, although, they can take much fancier and more whimsical forms. Tabs can be used for labeling pages with names, dates and other bits of text. Let's look at some of the ways we can used this fun scrapbook technique.




Scrapbook Punch Art Ideas
Add a bit of fun to your scrapbook pages with punch art. Scrapbook punches can create simple accents for your pages. With just a bit of imagination, turn those accents into whimsical critters and more.






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