techniques

Need a page embellishment? Want to choose your own image from thousands of images that you probably already have at hand? Want it to all be fast and simple? AND do you want it to be in YOUR choice of colors?

You are in luck! Whether your favorite color palette favors Mary Engelbreit primaries, heritage jewel tones, Martha Stewart pastels, or Native earth tones, you can make any page art to suit your taste. Sound too wonderful to be possible? Yes, you can have terrific full color die cuts of ANY object in the world of clip art for only pennies. And it will only take about 5 to 10 minutes of your time per image. Even if you are not a computer whiz, you can do this!

My husband asked me what I am writing about this month...When he heard my reply, he must have been only half listening because he then gave me a quizzical look and asked, "Why would scrappers want you to write about sliced peaches?" I had to chuckle and explain the real topic....This article is NOT about peaches but rather how to add dimensional pizzazz to your punch art! Want to make your simple punch art POP off the page? No special tools required! It is as easy as taking two snips of a scissors!

How many decorative scissors do you have? Are you using them to the fullest? Ever wonder why you have them? What can you use them for anyway? If you can't seem to get creative with those scissor blades, follow me as we explore the wide world of decorative scissors! This will really get your creative cuttings going again!

Sometimes the most useful tools are the simplest. If you are like me, you may have a binder full of alphabet and shaped templates, rulers, Puzzlemates, and Border Buddies. You also probably have a caddy full of pens. I brainstormed the other day and combined the two types of tools in some new fun ways. I found that I had great versatility with just these basic supplies. Here are a few I came up with for this month.

Someone in a group of scrapbookers recently asked me what new tools I had used lately on my albums. I am sure they expected me to say an oval cutter, Xyron machine, a new adhesive, or a fabulous punch. I stunned them with the reply, "My sewing machine!" I am sure they were not expecting that answer! Are you surprised too? It's true! I have been using my sewing machine in my scrapbooking and I will show you how!

Now, stick with me even if you don't sew! You do NOT need to be a great sewer or even have a fancy machine to do this. If your machine can sew straight lines, zigzag, and maybe even do a few other simple stitches, you are in business!

Springtime gardens, summertime beach and pool fun, and bubble-blowing season are coming around the corner! I thought I'd share a new printing technique for making mats, papers, and frames. These are perfect for our happy warm-weather photos. I will even include a simple variation for your winter snowball-fight photos! :) You have probably got the main ingredients for all these pages in your house right now! You'll never believe it--but bubble wrap can help you make fantastic pages!

Decide the style printing you like.

Click on any of the above for a closer look!