Decorative Rubber Stamps

Scrapbooking enthusiasts may find it quite a challenge to stay organized. Before you know it, all the materials you used have piled up, stored in various places around the house, and it will take you a long time to find that rubber stamp or embellishments you need in the middle of working on a project. The problem is even bigger if you have but a small space to work in.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep those sheets of paper, stamps, ribbon spools and other what not’s organized. Invest in specially designed units such as Michael’s scrapbook storage solutions.

Use available drawers at home to organize your scrapbooking materials. The best drawers are those that come with special partitions for keeping materials in flip-top containers. You may put labels on the outside to help you find what you are looking for more easily. Michael’s scrapbooking storage catalogue displays a range of drawer cubes ranging from 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 4-shelf, and cube with drawer and shelf. Each side of the cube measures 14.5 inches.

Almost every scrapbook hobbyist makes use of a box one way or another. It would be better if you use more than one box for sheets of papers and keeping photographs. At your nearest Michael store, locate their colorful storage boxes measuring 12″ x 12″, which are perfect for organizing sheets of paper materials.

The store also makes available Photo & Craft Storage Boxes that come in adorable patterns and plain colors. They are also fitted with label holders in front. Measuring 7.5″ x 11″ x 14.25″, these boxes are ideal for stacking photos, trims, paints, stickers, buttons, and anything at all.

Whether or not you have the luxury of having an exclusive scrapbooking room or studio, you need a desk where all your activities are centered. You should have enough space on your desk to be able to work on projects comfortably. Michael’s scrapbooking storage products include a two-pack desktop/shelving unit that comes with shelves that are easily accessible. Take the basic materials you often use and organize them in the drawers and shelves where you can reach them easily while you are working on your desktop.

You might want to store sheets of paper materials in such a way that you can easily see the colors and the types of material. Using boxes may require a little more work in sorting through paper. Getting a paper organizer, such as paper holders at Michael’s, not only organize your standard and special weight papers but protect them as well. One paper holder at the store can hold up to 400 sheets of paper. It comes with four paper pouches and 12 dividers with labels.

In instances when you are attending workshops or travelling and are taking your scrapbooking materials with you, you better be prepared with a scrapbooking travel kit. Find an embellishment organizer with as many partitions as possible. You may also purchase Michael’s scrapbooking storage kits that provide enough room for everything you need. A Scrapfolio with expandable packets is also available at the store.

Prima Marketing Inc. is a company that supplies all sorts of scrapbooking and handcrafted gift materials and embellishments. First, it manufactured artificial mulberry paper flowers for gifts and has since continued to expand its line of flower and scrapbooking products. In 2004, the company introduced its “Got Flowers?” line, which featured miniature flowers in small milk bottles. The product was a hit.

The beauty of scrapbooking lies in the endless ways you can make them. There is no limit to how creative you can be; you can make them simple, intricate, colorful, or textured. You can design a suitable scrapbook for any occasion or theme. Commercial embellishments make it a lot easier to dress up scrapbooks and one of the most popularly used are flowers.

Yes, flowers have become more than tokens, gifts, and decorations. Flowers can accentuate your scrapbook pages, especially if you are making one for a wedding, a tropical vacation, Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, and so on. This is one of main reasons why Prima Marketing Inc. has grown so popular among hobbyists and enthusiasts. The company has come up with the most amazing flower collections; it is easy to find what you need for the right occasion.

Prima Marketing Inc. has a wonderful collection of natural exotic flowers. Red, yellow, green, white, and purple gardenias are sure to look great if mounted tastefully on scrapbook pages. There is also saffron and rosemary under the company’s Wildwood Collection. Prima applies environment-friendly packaging and provides only acid and lignin-free embellishments.

Prima’s collection of paper flowers look so real that it would be like having flowers that will never wilt on your scrapbook. Choices are mostly white and except for the red poinsettia, paper flowers will look great in wedding themed scrapbooks. Paper imitations of honeysuckle, rose lily, daisies, snow peony, and snow carnation are available.

Prima’s silk flowers are simply divine. They are available in a wider range of colors like mauve, blue, peach, lilac, cream, and white. Silk flowers can give a scrapbook an elegant and classic feel. Arrangements include ones for debutantes and weddings. There are also autumn leaves made of silk in combinations of yellow, orange, brown, and green.

If you would like to keep it simple, go for flower stamps. Prima Marketing Inc. has pretty interesting flower patterns, images, and designs that can be stamped on borders, on one side of a page, or in front. There are also orchid, flower vine, and tree designs.

At present, Prima Marketing Inc. is known among crafts clubs and enthusiasts as the best supplier of flower embellishments in all sizes and colors. But more than that, the company has gone beyond the flower and gift-giving industry to scrapbooking and card making.

Prima now also offers more materials such as acrylic albums, paper, lace, and its equally popular line of crystal embellishments, “Say it in Crystals.” Find a retailer nearest you and browse Prima’s product lines by visiting PrimaMarketingInc.com. You might just get a chance to enjoy discounts the company constantly offers.

Participating in the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo can be a rewarding experience whether you are a beginner in scrapbooking and card making or have been into the hobby for many years. There is plenty to be gained from the hundreds of exhibit holders and visitors you are bound to meet in such events. Organizers conduct two-day conventions from state to state nationwide every year.

Here are some tips from other scrapbook makers who have experienced attending the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo on how to make the experience memorable and fruitful:

Bring your own shopping bags. Attending major scrapbooking conventions can get you acquainted with the latest products. Large discounts may not exactly be available but often, supplies are available at lower retail prices (and free shipping!). Fresh selections and $1 sections make shopping also more exciting. Hundreds of retailers – many big companies, some local stores, and a handful of well-known talents – market their goods in these events. With the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo in particular, a large bulk of the products is related to stamping for scrapbooking and card-making.

Bring a paper holder. A lightweight 12″ x 12″ paper holder will come in handy as you browse the stalls around big venues where expos are usually held. It can help shopping and taking classes a lot more convenient. Be organized so that you do not lose anything. You can try working with straps to hold everything together.

Bring snacks and wear comfy shoes. Carry water and some snacks in light tote bag or purse. With the number of booths and activities to explore in major expos, it doesn’t hurt to be a little prepared. Wear your most comfortable shoes and you will surely have the time of your life. Take advantage of make and takes. Make and Takes are a good way to get exposed to new products and techniques without having to sit down for classes. They are also cheaper compared to paying for classes. Vendors that offer make and takes are often willing to give you freebies.

Learn something new in classes. Classes held during Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo can also be a lot of fun, especially if you are very much interested in learning about rubber stamping. By paying around $30 for one, you get to go home with new ideas and a partially finished product. Do not forget to bring your crafting tools. Organizers will often contact you to inform you of what you need when you register for classes.

Card making is closely related to scrapbooking in such a way that there is no limit to creativity. You can easily apply certain scrapbooking techniques to card making and produce great results. You may even think of unique methods that is uniquely yours. With some spare materials from your scrapbooking kit, it would be easy to come up with a card that will surely bring joy to the people you are sending them to. Scrapbook card making is a good way to send greetings to family and friends regardless of whether or not there is a special occasion.

Greeting cards are fairly easy to make. Add personality and uniqueness in making cards with a little more time and effort in making them using some ideas for scrapbook making. Some methods you can try include:

The use of rubber stamps is common in making scrapbooks and the ease of using them makes them easily applicable in scrapbook card making. Choose two or three interesting rubber stamp designs and add attractive impressions to your greeting cards. Stamp away in strategic places and come up with an original card design. You may even color the stamped images using markers. Rubber stamped images may also be embossed using special ink and thermal heat.

What could be a better way to come up with a scrapbook style card than with the addition of little embellishments? There are plenty of ways to dress up an ordinary greeting card using trims, ribbons, buttons, and many other things. You may put embellishments in front of the card, in the inside, or both. A single embellishment would be enough to make a tastefully designed card.

For birthday, anniversary, or Christmas cards, you may create a peek-a-boo window in front of a folded card with a direct view to a pasted photograph on the inside. Your card recipient will surely appreciate the sentimentality and the effort you put in making your scrapbook style card. Feel free to add creative titles and text and your card is sure to become a treasured keepsake.

Stitching is a common practice in scrapbook card making and is one of the most versatile, too. There are several ways to stitch embellishments such as buttons or ribbons to add an artistic touch to greeting cards. You may add stitched borders using your hand or a sewing machine. Use colorful threads, yarns, or ribbons to create flowers, patterns, and other designs.

Shaker box cards come with more texture and depth than ordinary ones. To create a shaker box, you need two sheets attach two sheets of transparency together and fill it with glitter, punches, and colorful paper craps in various shapes and sizes. Adding a small-sized shaker box in front of a card is sure to jazz it up. The shapes you put inside may be related to the occasion. You may put hearts, birthday hats, snow patterns, and so on, to make the shaker box more enticing.

Decorative rubber stamps can be used for stamping scrapbooking. With the various designs and techniques you can apply, there are endless ways to unleash your creativity in scrapbooking. With rubber stamps, you may add color, details, and texture to every page in your scrapbook. Select from a wide range of rubber stamp designs available. You may even have customized designs made. Use an acid-free permanent ink pad to achieve the best results.

There is actually a variety of interesting ways to use decorative rubber stamps on scrapbooks. Refer to the following stamping techniques that you can try out for yourself. Some materials you might want to purchase the next time you go shopping for scrapbooking supplies include a blitzer, a brayer, scissors, embossing powder, and some foam tapes.

The masking technique in stamping scrapbooking paper allows you to stamp various designs on top of each other without affecting the main image. You may apply a mask on designs you intend to position in the foreground. Start by stamping the image on paper. Do the same with another piece of paper and cut this stamped design out just inside the outline. The cut image will be the “mask” and it must be placed on top of the original stamped design while you ink and stamp the designs you prefer to create a background. Use a stamp positioned if you wish.

Embossing gives your rubber stamp designs a raised, dimensional surface. One embossing technique you can use in stamping scrapbooking is through the use of thermal heat. Embossing agents like a powder is used and then heated with a hot air-blowing gun. The first thing you need to do is stamp the design on the paper surface. Use a special embossing ink. Sprinkle powder immediately over the wet ink and shake off excess powder. Use the embossing gun, holding above the image. The design will seem to melt. You may also try using embossing powders that give shiny, glitter, or matte finish.

Introduce some dimension in stamping scrapbooking by trying the layering technique. All you need to do is cut out a stamped image and put it on top of the original design using a “spacer” in the form of foam tapes or accordion-folded strips of paper. A similar method is often seen in greeting cards and children’s books.

Use a blitzer to achieve some sort of airbrush effect around you rubber stamped image. Use high-quality color marker to gain best results. Pump the blitzer bulb with a light and quick squeeze. A mist of color will be blown out as pressure forces air throughout the tip of the marker.

A brayer works in a similar way as a rubber paint roller. Brayers are usually inked to be used to create lines, designs, or patterns in specific areas. There are plenty of things you can do with a brayer. You can use it to apply repetitive patterns, a wash of colors, uniform edges and borders with ink or color markers. Roll the brayer deliberately over the ink pad and apply on paper.

Tips and Tricks – Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

The popularity of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist continues to grow in scrapbooking and craft circles. Glimmer Mist is a water-based dyed liquid that comes in various colors and a fine shimmer. It is acid-free and archival safe, which makes it ideal for use in scrapbooks. The collection of colors is vast, making it a versatile tool by which scrapbooking enthusiasts and hobbyists can apply endless possibilities. Read on for some useful tips on how to make the most out of this amazing Tattered Angels product.

It would be very rewarding to gather as many Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist color. A page will look great if you use a combination of colors instead of just one. Spray multiple times to create a colorful background for a scrapbook page. Remember to test the spray to get the best effect.

Shake the bottle each time before using to mix the shimmer well with the rest of the liquid. Shaking also prevents clogging the sprayer. Glimmer Mist can be applied for a raindrop-type or a pooling, watercolor effect. When spraying, hold the bottle at about 12″ away from the covered or protected surface and spray with a swift movement across. You may project in small quantities by only pushing half-way. Create fine mist by placing the page on a mat. Let the beginning of the spray fall on the mat so that large color spots or heavy droplets do not fall directly upon the page. The tail end of the spray would create a fine and evenly distributed mist effect. You may repeat the spraying process if you want a more solid background.

For a watercolor effect, apply a variety of colors at close range. Take a paper towel and pat down gently across the surface, starting from the inside to the edges. You will have achieved the effect after you take off the excess moisture. For a blended affect, use three colors ranging from light to dark. Spray the lightest across the top portion, the medium color across the middle, and the dark color across the bottom. Using a paper towel, wipe the edges of the lightest color slightly toward the medium hue and do the same for the medium and dark color, using a fresh paper towel.

Apply Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist onto a sponge and use the sponge to dab the page. You can achieve various effects depending on how much Glimmer Mist you applied to the sponge. Layering colors can result in faux stone, leather, or a worn look effect. You may also add texture using paint brushes. Using a fan-shaped dry brush is one way to apply texture.

Tattered Angels has been instrumental in adding glimmer and glaze to scrapbooks for years. Apart from Glimmer Mist, its expansive catalogue also includes Glimmer Chips, Glimmer Chalks, Glimmer Glaze, and Glimmer Glass on top of albums, kits, and other supplies. You may buy directly from the website, MyTatteredAngels.com. Register for free and start shopping. The website also provides tips and other useful information for scrapbook makers.

Binding scrapbook pages is a necessary part of scrapbook making. Although pre-made albums are readily available commercially, learning how to bind a scrapbook is a skill that surely comes in handy. Should there be any instances when you would like to bind custom-made pages or add pages to an existing album, you will know exactly what to do. We R Memory Keepers, a scrapbook supplies company in Utah, has made binding not only easier – but actually a pleasurable – with introduction of its puncher, The Cinch.

Binding the pages of your scrapbook together is fairly easy. All you need are basic tools and a little common sense. Most scrapbook enthusiasts will recommend punching holes onto your cover and the pages and bind them all together using spiral coils, ribbons, yarns, or metal rings. These binding materials are available in craft stores and even Wal-Mart. You are free to choose on which one will look best with your scrapbook theme. You may even use combinations such as ribbons on metal rings, etc.

The tricky part is punching the holes because you need to be precise. Make sure to mark the areas where holes are to be punched. If the scrapbook has too many pages, it might take you longer to punch holes because you cannot do it for all pages at once. The Cinch by We R Memory Keepers is a lightweight and functional binding tool you that easily makes it to the top of any scrapbook maker’s must-have tools. Product is available from many sellers online. You may find units on Amazon.com sold at slightly lower prices.

There is hardly anything not to like in The Cinch by We R Memory Keepers. It can simultaneously punch holes through up to 20 sheets of paper and into chipboard and features customized hole punching knobs so users can control the number and placement of holes you are going to punch. Punching is made easier and more precise because the paper is laid flat on The Cinch’s wide base instead of standing up. You can even apply any combination of holes.

Measurements are available in inches and centimeters for your convenience. A punching guide at the base, large handle aids, a paper guide that extends out to accommodate 12″ paper, and its pink color are some of the features scrapbook hobbyists will surely fall for. Everything comes at a reasonable price of $99. The only downside perhaps is that you can only use metal rings, which can be a little pricey, with the punched holes.

We R Memory Keepers is founded by William Hiller and his two sons 90 years ago. As scrapbooking and paper crafting continued to grow in popularity, the company has continued to develop products to aid the preservation of memories with scrapbooks. Albums and other materials are manufactured in the US and designed to last for many generations.

Buying ready-made albums is one of the easiest ways to get started on scrapbooking. If you think they are all the same, think again. There is actually a large variety of albums available made in different materials, designs, sizes, and colors. American Crafts albums, for instance, have colorful choices in cloth and faux leather albums. They also have albums of real leather and those that come with patterns. So how do you pick an album from the choices available? You have to make a decision on two basic things: size and styles.

Getting an album of the right size is also important. You need to take into consideration the types of memorabilia, designs, and embellishments you plan to mount on the album pages. American Crafts albums are available in sizes you need. Common sizes are as follows:

8″ x 8″ / 6″ x 6″ – Square albums are a popular trend in scrapbooking. The attractive shape is complementary of theme albums. It goes well with photos and journaling. The 8″ x 8″ and 6″ x 6″ sizes make good choices if you are working on a project that needs to be finished in the soonest possible time.

8.5″ x 11″ – This is the standard size of regular typewriting paper. Albums of this size are relatively cheaper and are readily available wherever scrapbook supplies are sold. Manufacturers have also made innovations by transferring the binding to produce 11″ x 8.5″ albums.

12″ x 12″ – 12″ x 12″ albums are perhaps the most popular size for serious scrapbook makers. Also square-shaped, they come in a myriad of colors, styles, and designs. The size is ideal for family albums. You can mount ten or more photos easily on one spread of a 12″ x 12″.

Mini-Scrapbooks – Actually, you can make your own mini-albums in any size you prefer. Mini-scrapbooks make interesting gifts for friends and loved ones. You can have them in any shape and apply any theme according to the occasion.

Post-Bound – The pages of post-bound albums are held together by screws and posts. Page protectors also have holes punched in them and open at the top through which the pages are inserted. Simply unscrew and lengthen he posts with extenders if you wish to add more pages. Most American Crafts albums apply this system.

3-Ring – Instead of posts, 3-ring albums are bound together by three-ring hinges similar to standard notebooks. These hinges also hold the protectors. Some American Crafts Albums that are bound by D-rings.

Strap-hinge – Staples are set into the edges of scrapbook pages and plastic straps are slid through the staples of strap hinge albums. The pages are protected by transparent sleeves that can be slid over them.

Book-bound – Scrapbook makers also make use of rings, ribbons, spirals, and hand-made fasteners to hold an album together. There is no rule as to how far your creativity can take you. Many hobbyists encourage trying to come up with designs of your own.

ScrappinGrannies.com is a full line carrier while other retailers include Scrapbook.com, Two Peas in a Bucket, Addicted to Rubber Stamps, Scrapbooks.com, A Million Little Things, and so on.

Visit AmericanCrafts.com and see their latest offerings. They feature a wide range of scrapbooking supplies. Browse their catalogues and find a representative near you.

If you are into scrapbooking, stamping is an interesting technique you can apply to be more creative and versatile. One way to stamp your scrapbook pages is through the use of clear stamps. Also called polymer, photo-polymer, or clear rubber stamps, clear stamps are easy to use. They especially come in handy when you are meticulous about title placements.

Clear acrylic stamps are not pre-mounted as compared to their wooden or rubber counterparts. All it takes to use one is to peel off the backing sheet, attach the stamp to an acrylic block, and apply ink. Being naturally tacky, they are easy to remove so that the stamping block can be used repeatedly with different stamp designs.

Clear stamps are readily available commercially. More designs are being made available at great prices. Clear acrylic stamps are cheaper compared to rubber and wooden stamps. Buying a large mount would work with stamps of all sizes. Clear acrylic stamps are lightweight and easy to store. You have every reason to try clear stamps for scrapbooking. Tips are freely given by scrapbook hobbyists and some of the most useful are as follows:

Experiment with different inks. It may happen that you get a blurry impression because of ink beading up on the surface of the clear stamp. Don’t give up. It has been observed that some ink brands work better with products of some stamp manufacturers more than others. Take the time to experiment using various products and stick to it when you find the best combination.

Test. The best way to see how a clear stamp impression will come out is of course, to test it first before you start using it on a scrapbook project. It is understandable that you are excited to use this new method but pre-testing, will help you save time and resources in the long run. It also spares you some disappointment.

Use a white eraser. Some clear stamp companies have suggested using white eraser on their stamps before use. It is a practical way to remove residue from the stamp, which actually cause the inks to bead. Others also recommend rubbing stamps briskly against denim.

Use baby wipes or hand soap. Stamp scrubbers and removers effectively remove leftover ink on the stamps but they can be quite costly. Using baby wipes right after using a clear stamp might just do the trick. Just make sure they are alcohol-free. You may also clean stamps using water and hand soap before you use them and use the same solution after use, with the aid of a toothbrush. This cleaning method is effective for removing pigment ink.

Stamp on a slightly giving surface. Some users recommend using a mouse mat or any similar material when using clear stamps for scrapbooking. Tips and tricks to further improve stamp impressions can be found in many blogs and websites.

Clear acrylic stamps are a scrapbook maker’s dream. They allow you to stamp designs in amazing color and detail with precision because you can see through the clear block and know where exactly you need to press. Acrylic stamps for scrapbooking are available in almost any scrapbooking supplies store. They would take some time and practice to get used to but once you get the hang of it, you will find how easy and convenient it is to use acrylic stamps.

To get the best results when using acrylic stamps for scrapbooking, use a clear acrylic block. Clear blocks are lightweight and specifically designed for the purpose. They come available in different shapes and sizes. Combine or arrange your clear stamps on the clear acrylic block and you are sure to get the effects you desire on each scrapbook page.

Acrylic stamps for scrapbooking come with clingy polymer on the back side so they are easily attached to the block for stamping. Remove the plastic sheet on the back to start using the stamps and they are ready to be positioned on the acrylic block. Replace the protective covers after use to keep away scraps and debris.

For basic arrangements, simply stick the stamps on the block as you prefer and start stamping. But for more complicated positions such as curves or irregular shapes, you can simply place the stamps face-down on the page in your desired layout. Get the clear acrylic block and push it down firmly over the stamps.

Acid-free ink pads are to be used with acrylic stamps for scrapbooking. But instead of pressing the stamp firmly against the pad, you may rub the stamp gently back and forth across the ink pad for better ink coverage. Test the impression before applying directly on a scrapbook page. Apply pressure evenly when stamping.

Masking allows you to apply more than one color to a single image or create distinct foreground and background images. To apply this technique, place the acrylic stamp on the block and cover the parts you will not be inking with tape. A painter’s tape is recommended by many scrapbook makers because it is gentle and leaves no residue.

Run the stamp across the ink pad, remove the tape, and stamp. Repeat the procedure for other parts of the images you wish to render in a different color. A clear acrylic block helps you see where exactly you need to press without making a mess or overlapping the colored inks.

Give text or images a dimensional look with layering. Using two colors – one light and one dark – will give you the best results. Apply dark ink on the mounted acrylic stamp first and stamp on the targeted page. Clean the stamps by wiping or rinsing and ink with the lighter color. Stamp on the first impression you made, but slightly off-tangent. Remember to apply the darker color first. This will help you achieve the best results. Experiment with different color combinations.