8 Ways to Embellish Your Scrapbooking Layouts

So, you've sat down to do your scrapbooking and now your wondering, "How can I jazz up this layout?" Well, read on, because there are plenty of tips for you in this article.

1. An easy way to add some elegance or softness to your layout is to use paper tearing. Use a patterned paper to tear either diagonally, vertically in the middle or on either side about 1/3rd of a 12"x12" sheet and adhere it on coordinating cardstock.

2. If you want to use embellishments such as die-cuts and they look a little plain to you, then use a darker shade of chalk to shade the edges to give it more depth. You can even use foam pads to adhere the diecuts for a 3D look, making it really stand out. The same can be done with punched out patterned paper or cardstock.

3. For adhering certain items that you do not wish to use glue with, such as vellum, you can use scrapbooking embellishments like eyelets, brads, staples, safety pins, or ribbon. Vellum really adds elegance and softness to your page.

4. Shaker boxes are really easy to make and gives your layout that special look. Use a sturdy cardstock or chipboard to make the frame. Cut out a window and pick out some things you might want to put into the shaker box... beads or mini diecuts or punches work well. Adhere a piece of transparency for the cut out window. Then place foam tape around the inside edge of the window making sure there are no spaces in between. Pour the "filling" into the upside down frame and adhere a patterned paper piece for the back of the shaker box. Adhere to the layout and you're done!

5. Heat embossing is another good way to make a layout elegant or special. You'll need an embossing heat tool, embossing powder and embossing clear ink. Stamp the pad with your stamp and stamp it on your layout. Immediately pour the powder onto the stamped area, then shake off excess. Heat with the embossing heat until the powder melts.

6. Dry embossing is also pretty easy. You'll need an embossing tool, stencils and a light box. Just place the cardstock on the lightbox, place stencil where you need it and trace around the shape of the stencil pushing down on the cardstock (not too hard). When you're done you can chalk the embossed area to make it stand out a little more.

7. If your journaling looks boring to you, use a tag to emphasize it. Embellish the tag with ribbons, eyelets, etc. and your journaling will stand out.

8. Another beautiful and wonderful way to embellish a page is with quilling. Quilling looks difficult, but it's really not! Even using a toothpick you can make pretty flowers or little animals and shapes that look like a million bucks! Use various thin long or short strips of cardstock, twist around a toothpick, then let go, shape and glue.

There are so many ways to make your layout special. Have fun trying out new techniques for scrapbooking.


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