There are so many ways to use scrapbook paper to enhance and add texture and dimension to your scrapbook pages and albums. We will try and cover some of the ways we have seen it being used, other than just a background. The first technique we have seen is tearing. This technique requires no tools and is very easy to do. Here are some of the ways you can tear and what it gives you. Tear toward you for a rough white edge, tear away from you for a rough edge without the white, use water to draw the design and to make tearing easier. You can crease the scrapbook paper with your nail and use your thumb to make more intricate tears.
To add more dimension to your torn paper, chalk the edges. You can roll the torn edges for an even more dimensional look. Here are a few uses for torn scrapbook paper: journal blocks, borders, flowers, mosaic with torn cardstock pieces, water, sand, mountains, and mats for photos.
You will also find that there is scrapbook paper out there that has asymmetrical shapes for placing the pictures on the paper. When you use this paper, you can use tracing paper for a perfect photo fit. Simply trace the design onto the tracing paper. Then place it over the portion of picture required. Using a little adhesive on the part of the photo to be discarded, trim along the traced line and place the photo where the shapes indicate.
If you are pressed for cash, a good way to go is to download digital scrapbook paper. We don't recommend this because you might use regular paper to print out the scrapbook paper designs. See our other post on why you need to have special acid and lignin free paper. If you do choose to use downloadable designs, digital designers have created inexpensive alternatives to papers by popular manufacturers such as Basic Grey, Ki Memories, K & Company, Chatterbox, My Mind's Eye, and American Crafts. When you download scrapbook paper from a digital scrapbooking website, it is very easy to create affordable and memorable layouts for your albums.
Other ways to use scrapbook paper is for cards. It is like making mini-scrapbook pages and your friends and family will love to receive handmade cards. Use embellishments such as brads, fabric, gel, buttons, glitter & confetti, inks, dyes & chalk and rivets to add that extra flare. And make sure you never throw out any so-called "useless" scraps; they might be good to add that extra dimension to your pages.
One of the most creative things we have seen is to use it is to bring a specific theme into a tablescape. Look for camping-themed paper and use it as placemats or you can use coordinating scrapbook embellishments such as stickers and chipboard cutouts to make mini-signs for the table or food area, decorate drink ware or even as coaster.
As you can see there are many ways to use scrapbook paper and you are only limited by your imagination.
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Your complete Scrapbook Paper guide. What to use and some ideas to get you on your way!
The Scrapbook Paper Site
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