Fear Not the Patterned Paper

Are you afraid of patterned paper? Do you look at it and wonder how the heck you are going to match it up, let alone try to add other patterns to the mix?! Well, fear no more. Below are some tips for using patterned paper.

Tips for Choosing & Coordinating Patterned Papers

• Select papers from the same range of the Manufacturer (i.e. Basic Grey has Collections where all the papers match)
• This ensures your papers will match. You may not like some of the combinations together…but they would match!
• Try to mix it up – don’t put all of one design type together – mix it up by using one, two or three different designs
• Use your Eyeball
• Mix and match your patterns to please your eye. Not everyone has the same taste, but you will know what patterns you like together.
• Color Schemes
• You can choose patterns that have colors in the same color family OR
• You can choose patterns that have colors that complement each other (i.e. ones across from each other on the color wheel)

• Use as embellishments - cut out individual elements of a patterned paper to use on your layout or use Sizzix or Cricut to create your own embellishments
• Use strips of patterned paper as a background for a photo or create a basket weave pattern
• Mat your photos on Patterned Paper
• Patchwork – great use of scraps
• Use both sides of double-sided paper by creating flowers or folding the paper so you can see both sides.

See the example below, which combines four (4) types of patterned paper from My Mind's Eye Laundry Line Coastal Collection. If you like the My Mind's Eye Laundry Line Coastal Collection, try this Scrapaholix USA Kit which contains six (6) glitterly Coastal Collections sheets, but coordinating cardstock!

EZ Runner Adhesive SALE - Buy 3 and Get 1 FREE

Scrapbook Adhesives EZ Runner by 3L is my FAVORITE dry adhesive. Each package has 33 feet of permanent, acid-free and archival safe adhesive. I have never had one get tangled up in itself and they run very smooth. Additionally, for every tape runner purchased, Scrapbook Adhesives donates 4 cents to the Make A Wish Foundation and they are also sponsors for The National Breast Cancer Foundation. Two charities that are close to my heart.

So, now is the time to stock up on adhesive! Buy three (3) EZ Runners and get one FREE! Promotion ends July 7, 2009!

Personalize your Space with Sick Ons!

Stick On Monograms by Midnight Oil Scrapbook Design (MOSD) are great for personalizing your walls. These are like rub-ons but better because you can alter them to make them match whatever project you are working on. You can use alcohol ink, solvent ink or paint to make them whatever color and design you want. In this example, I created the phrase "Scrap Zone" with the Monograms. I used Eggplant, Lettuce and Butterscotch Alcohol Ink by Tim Holtz. Then I outlined the outer circle with Stickles. In hindsight, I would recommend applying the Stickles after you have adhered your project because it interferred with the transfer sheet. After you are done altering the Stick Ons, let them dry then use the Transfer tape that is on the back of each letter. Essentially, it works like a rub-on....you place the transfer tape over your Stick On, rub it then peel it off with your Stick On attached. Next you place the transfer tape and Stick On onto your project, rub it and peel off the transfer tape - leaving behind the Stick On. Easy!

Before - un-altered Stick On Monogram

After - Altered with Alcohol Ink

The finished project!

Get a Free 7.5 x 5.5 Soft Cover Photo Book

Have you ever wanted to try digital scrapbooking, but were afraid? Well, now is the time. For a limited time, you can get a FREE* 20 page 7.5 x 5.5 Soft Cover Photo Book. You pay for the shipping and handling (under $5 for economy shipping) and for any extra pages you want to add to the book. The book comes with 20 pages, but you can add pages for 25 cents per page up to a maximum of 100 pages.

Instructions for Getting Your Free Book Code:
Step one - Visit www.photobookoffer.com
Step two - Enter access code: CS0509
Step three - Click the Submit Button
Step four - Visit www.celestialscrapbooks.com and use code at checkout

^*Does not include shipping and handling fee of $4.95. Free book includes 20 pages; additional pages available at extra cost.

The program is simple to use, fast and fun. You don't have to upload your photos because you use them right off of your computer. All you need is Internet access with Internet Explorer and you can start creating photobooks, calendars, mugs, shirts, luggage tags and much more! If you would like more information visit Celestial Scrapbooks - there are tutorial videos and you can compare our products to our major competitors.

Heidi Swapp Invisibles

Heidi Swapp Invisibles allow you to make a truly unique page! Each sheet of cardstock has a pattern on it with a resist material that allows you to use ink, chalk or glimmer mist to create your own special pattern. The areas without the resist material accept the color, but the resist areas do not accept the color and the pattern comes through.

Tips for Using the Mask

• De-stick it a little by dabbing on your clothes to remove some of the sticky.
• Layer with the positive and negative shapes
• Lay the mask sheet face down on the work surface then lay the Invisible face down on top of it – it is much easier to get the shapes straight if you do it this way rather than juggling with a floppy, sticky piece of plastic! Turn over and smooth the mask in place.
• Use a blending pad to apply ink or chalk
• Clean the mask after use so the next time you use it the previous color doesn’t come off onto your new project.
• Use scrap paper if you are near the edge of the page – that way you can keep on inking without worrying about getting it on the table.
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What can you use?

• Acrylic paints (go easy so the paper doesn’t get too wet!)
• Chalks
• Glimmer mists
• Inks

Care of the Mask

Always store the mask on its backing sheet when not in use, and take care to clean off any ink after use. If it loses its “stick” after a few uses, wash it gently in warm soapy water and allow it to air dry and it will be as good as new again, a spray removable adhesive could also be used.

Create your own masks!

You can create your own masks with almost anything - die cuts or chipboard comes to mind. They are a great way to make your own masks without spending a lot of money. Just remember to use repositionable tape!!

Tips on Taking Portraits

Scrapbookers use photographs alot, so you want to have photographs that really tell a story and will enhance your scrapbook page. Trying to find new angles or changing your perspective is something that I have talked about before but I recently came across this blog post by Darren Rowse of Digitial Photography School. He has some really great ideas for taking more interesting portaits. Check out his blog post called 10 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits.

Acrylic Dogbone Album

Acrylic albums are clearly a lot of fun! The clear pages give you lots of options because you can completely cover them with paper or you can use them clear so that you can see-thru to the next page. In this album, I did a little of both! I'll walk you through the steps I took to create this acrylic dogbone album.

First up...ink the edges. Alcohol ink works great on acrylic and you can mix the colors to get just the right effect. I inked the edges of all five pages of the album even though I was covering some of the pages with cardstock. You can use the inked edges to "hide" gluedots and when the paper doesn't line up perfectly....not that that ever happens to me! ;).

Here is a close-up of the inked edge:

Now, there is a little planning involved in what you want to do next - all covered, all clear or mix-n-match. I decided to do every other page covered, so the cover, 3rd and last pages were covered with cardstock. Double-sided cardstock works great on this type of project because you can see both sides. Lay the shaped album on the cardstock and trace around it, then use scissors to cut a little to the inside of the line. Once you have the first cut, line up the cardstock with the album page and make some adjustment cuts as needed! Believe me you never get it right the first time and there are always some minor cuts that need to be done. Next, adhere the cardstock with small glue dots along the edge of the shape, which will be hidden by the inked edge.

When you do clear pages you need to plan ahead a little because you can see through to the pages behind them. For one of the pages that I left clear, I cut out two photo mats the same size and glued them on back to back. Then on the page behind the clear page I used the same size photo mat so when the clear page is on top, you can't see the photomat of the page behind it. Clear as mud right?! Hopefully this example below will make it a little clearer.

The other option for clear pages are to have something from the page behind "peek" out when the clear page is on top. See the example below where I used a rectangle sized photomat on the clear page and three square photomats on the cardstock page so two parts of the squares show through.

The last step is to add some embellishments and use various ribbons and fibers to help hide the metal ring that keeps the book together. Tada....You're done!

Also check out the Top 10 Ways to Alter Acrylic.

This book is dedicated to our good friend Neo the German Shepherd - you will be missed.