Free Scrapbooking Ideas and Tips

Here is a fun idea that will save you money when it comes to buying those special ribbons with the sayings on them. Just buy the plain ribbon, Twill and Grossgrain works the best, it comes in different colors but I like the white and natural colors the best. Then use your computer and any word processor or graphic photo type program and type what ever you want with what ever font you like. Then print it out on your paper, this will serve as a guide for placing your ribbon. Now use a non permanent tape runner and run a strip of tape on the back side of the ribbon, this will hold it in place while you run it thru your printer. Take the ribbon and tape it exactly over the words that printed on the paper. Be sure it is straight. Now just print on your printer. This is so fun, you won't have to look for that perfect saying any longer, you just print your own.
 

 Want to MAKE YOUR  OWN rub on's?

This is the greatest tip I have read in a long time. This tip will teach you how to create your own rub ons from any computer program and your ink jet printer. Just get a inexpensive sheet of transfer film paper. The cheaper ones work the very best. Go to your computer and pick out some words, or a sentence or a graphic that you want to transfer. Before you print it besure to mark your printer options as the mirror option. Then print out your project. On some transfer sheets there is a rough side and smooth side. Use the rough side if you have a choice. After you print your project, let it dry for 3 to 5 minutes. After it drys place it on the sheet of paper, cardstock or whatever you want to transfer to, face down. Use a popcicle stick and rup it on just like you would a store bought rub on. It is that easy. It works great. And you can re use your transfer film over and over, just clean it off with water or a damp cloth.
Have fun with this one and go crazy with your rub ons!

Here is a great tip from Tim Holz, Creative Keepsakes Magazine, "Learn how you can create your own unique transparencies. First, apply clear packaging tape to patterned paper or cardstock. Rub the paper with a bone folder and trim to the size of your tape. Next soak the taped paper in warm water for 5 minutes. You can then use your fingers to gently rub the paper off the tape, leaving the image behind. After it dries, you'll have a hand-made transparency to accentuate your project." What a great inexpensive way to accent your scrapbook pages or greeting cards!.
 

To create circular text, use Microsoft Word, select Insert, then Picture, and then WordArt. Pick the style you want,Type your sentiment several times in the desired font and point size. Click OK, Once the text appears on your page, click on the sentence, this brings up another tool bar, WordArt toolbar, select the WordArt Shape option and click on the circle shape. Stretch and size the circle as desired. (Tip from Paper Craft Connections)

This technique has lots of variations and all give a very unique look. The example and layout I chose were for a more rustic outdoors look but it can be done in pastels, florals, solids, with bright inks and colors. So take a look.

 
SHRINK ART SCRAPBOOK PAPER

I heard about a great way to get inexpensive threads, scrapbook wire, embellishment strings etc, the other day, so I thought I would check it out. Guess what?! They were right, go to your local sporting goods store, one like Sportsmans Warehouse, I went to the fly tieing aisle and WHAT A GOLD MIND! They have little spools of every color wire you can think of for $.99. They have all sorts of "embellishment" thread, fuzzy thread, heavy texture, sparkly thread, you name it, and it was at least a 15 foot aisle of nothing but great "scrapbooking embellishments", they just don't know it, they use those things to catch fish with, what a waste :)(Sorry, just kidding for those fishing enthusiast)
So go take a look at the sporting goods store!

 

This idea isn't really scrapbooking but I really had fun with it. I have seen these on the web several places and the instructions on how to etch them using the chemical etch, I have a friend that has a vinyl shop and does alot of custom vinyl for people so she did this with a vinyl that looks like glass etching, so the project only took about 20 minutes and it looks exactly like the etched glass ones. Pretty exciting without all the time cutting out the pattern and using the chemicals. COOL!