Making Paper Medallions

The Pink Persimmon has a wonderful tutorial on paper medallions. Her pictures and directions make it so easy to follow and I can find alot of ways to use these in my paper crafting. Trying making a few and please share what you do with them I would love to see it !

Printing on Fabric

Printing on fabric is very easy if you follow a few simple steps. It will allow you to place words and images on muslin and other lightweight fabrics to use while scrapbooking

Supplies:
Muslin or light fabric ( should be a light color to see the print)
Scissors
Freezer paper
Printer( your printer must be a inkjet printer do not use a lazer printer it will melt the freezer paper and ruin your printer)

Directions:
Choose you image and set it to the desired size using the photo editor you have on your computer.
Choose your fabric- if you are wanting your fabric tea or coffee stained you must do this before you print on it
Cut a piece of freeze paper and a piece of fabric to 8 ½ x 11inches- the same size as your printer paper
Lay the freezer paper shiny side down on to the fabric and iron with a hot iron but no steam
Trim off any stray threads so they wont get caught in your computer
Place the fabric/freezer sheet you just made fabric side down into your computer and choose the image you have saved onto your computer. Now print using the cardstock setting.
Peel off the freezer paper and heat set the image with a hot dry iron

There are tons of ways you can use the printed fabrics in altered art and on scrapbooking pages so have fun and let your creativity flow.

Making Rub Ons

Rub-ons are a great addition to scrapbook pages but like all scrapbooking supplies can become expensive or just may not be able to find the exact rub-on you had in mind for a scrapbooking page. Follow these simple steps, and you can create your own rub-ons with your computer and use them over and over again!

Supplies:

Transparency paper (purchased at your local office supply store)
Inkject Printer
Popsicle Stick or credit card

Directions

1.Insert the transparency into your inket printer, so that it prints on the SMOOTH side of the transparency be sure you have the smooth side down.

2. Open your favourite word processing or photo program and create the text or image you want to have as a rub on.

3. Format your printer settings so that it is set to print on "plain paper", "best quality" and "mirror image" (the image needs to be reversed especially if you are printing text or it will appear backwards).

4. Print your "rub-on"

5. Let dry for about 3-5 minutes being careful not to touch it or it will smear.

6. Place the transparency smooth side down onto your scrapbooking page exactly where you want the image or text to appear, holding firmly in place, and rub with a popsicle stick or credit card just Press hard and make sure you rub over the entire surface of the image

7. Carefully pull up the transparency and let ink completey dry before touching

8. Use a damp cloth or paper towel to clean off your transparency and get it ready for your next rub-on, you can re-use the transparency over and over and over again.

Be sure to practise first before putting the rub-on your page. Every ink jet printer is different and drying times may vary but with a bit of practise you will be creating rub-ons with very little effort

How to Use Chipboard

Every place you look chip board is being used not just for scrapbooking but on other craft projects and in home decor. The reason I like chipboard is that its cheap, versatile and easy to use. Its a fast and easy way to add texture to a scrapbooking page

What is chipboard ? Its pressed fiber thick paper that is usually made from recycled paper. Now you might say well Ive never seen chipboard but you have it that stuff on the back of notebooks and spiral pads- that brown cardboard we all have laying around.

Here are some great ways you can use chipboard when scrapbooking:

Make number or letter embellishments out of chipboard- place printed paper over the top of chipboard and press hard along the outside of each letter with a pencil or pen, making an impression into the chipboard. Then you just cut it out.

Create a one-of-a-kind chipboard embellishments- cut out shapes such as flowers, stars or even tag shapes and cover with scrapbooking papers distressing the edges. They can also be painted with craft paint or chalked

Frames or photo mats really stand out when made out of chipboard. I like the difference in dimension that chipboard gives to a page layout. Chipboard will help your photos stand out more too. Add eyelets or brads and even rub-ons to make this a unique addition to your page

Making your journal block out of chipboard will make it more noticeable on the page

Chipboard edges can be sanded with an emery board to give them a more vintage look

Designs can be embossed on chipboard for even another effect

Working with chipboard can be fun and will really make things pop out on your scrapboard page and what can be less expensive then the back of an old notepad

How to Make Grubby Tags

Grubby tags are a great addition to any scrapbook page. They can be used as tags on baskets, packages or even as Christmas ornaments too. You can make them as elaborate or as simple as you wish with decorating. The directions below are for the simple basic grubby background to the tag.

Supplies:
3x5 index cards ( You can substitute boughten shipping tags but I like using index cards - they are less expensive and you can make them any shape or size you want.)
3 heaping tablespoons of instant coffee ( the more expensive brands will give you a darker color - if you use a cheaper brand you may want to add more)
1 cup of boiling water
Few drops of vanilla ( I like vanilla for a scent, but do use cinnamon oil at Christmas time...the choice of scents is yours)

Directions:Cut the index cards into the shape you want and punch a hole in the top ( I have used star shapes, Christmas trees, bells, snowflakes besides the standard tag shapes)

Mix the hot water, instant coffee and vanilla well then apply with a sponge brush to both sides of the tag place on a drying rack to dry ( I use an old window screen but a baking rack will work also)

Let the tags dry thoroughly turning them over a couple of times . If they dry to light you can restain them.To hurry up this process place them on a cookie sheet in a low temperature oven for a few minutes

If you would like the tags to have a motley effect spray them with a bit of water before completely dry.Should the tags curl up ( I find this happens more often when I dry them in the oven) press them with a old iron on the cotton setting ( a pressing cloth may be used if you dont have an old iron)

You should also stain the string you use - embroidery thread may also be used as string as well as torn homespun or raffia

Once they are completely dry the fun begins. Writing should be done with a permanent sharpie marker.Embellishments such as mica flakes, buttons, rubber stamping, bottle caps, vintage copies of photos, vintage images can all be used. Also like to paint on the tags with acrylics.If I do more than just write on them I do modge podge them. If the items you add seem to light colored just add some of the staining mixture to them with a q-tip.Let your imagination and creativity run wild and have fun making tags !

Five Things Every Scrapbooking Page Should Have

When scrapbooking as especially as a beginner we often look at a blank page and are completely overwhelmed. Relax this is suppose to be fun and there really is no right or wrong so just let your imagination and creativity flow and remember these five things that every scrapbook page should contain ( well in my opinion)

1.Photos- pick out the best photos that represent the feeling and look you want the page to have - dont try to use every photo

2.Journaling - writing something about the photos. Remember you will be looking at these pictures years from now and wouldnt you like to know who the people in them are, where the picture was taken and when.

3.Use complementary colors- try to cooridinate your colors and patterns so that they are pleasing to the eye

4.Effective designing- dont let the other stuff overpower your photos they are what is important - too much can only distract

5.Lasting- make sure you only use supplies that are going to last that they are archival quality so that they will withstand the test of time

Have fun preserving your memories it really is worth the time !