SCRAMPING

SCRAPBOOKING MEETS STAMPING!

I wonder if you're anything like me - quite like the look of SOME scrapbooking and fancy doing a BIT, but think it's REALLY expensive and product oriented, which has really put me off? 

Having played with altered books, I KNOW that it's so easy to make something from very little at all and I really don't think there's any need to spend all that money on specialised Scrapbooking stuff when we can make our own, using what a lot of us already have - rubber stamps and inks!

I love the papers, but hate to use a WHOLE sheet on one page - what a waste!!  So here, we'll be looking at ideas for Scrapbooking, using supplies you already have for your cardmaking.  I DO use a lot of brads and eyelets - but that's my preference - they're not necessary!  I also use a lot of buttons and ribbons - and lots of bits of paper and card that is usually lying around after one of my creative frenzies!  Don't forget that you CAN dye your own ribbon to match your papers and inks - just run them through your inkpads - wet is better, then allow to dry - then stamp on them if you like!  And why not use Bias Binding - a really cheap, easy embellishment which can be dyed (heavenly when dyed with walnut ink for a really distressed look!) AND stamped with the words of your choice!   Don't let suppliers limit you to what they sell - do your own thing and make your pages unique, one of a kind creations!

The first uploads are some lovely layouts created by a customer of mine, who I think is very talented.  Her name is Ann Ashall.

Autumn

This is an 8x8 layout and yes, it does include some paper, but it also includes some plain vellum, stamped with Katy's Corner Leaves, using Fluid Chalk inkpads - would you have believed it wasn't bought vellum?  I really didn't realise it myself until it was pointed out to me.  the tag (just a rectangular piece of card, corners rounded with a punch) is also stamped with the same images.  Ann computer generates her titles and cuts them out - not sure I'd have the patience for that!  The page on the right hand side is sponged with Adirondack inks and then stamped with the same Leafy stamps - as are the embellishments with it.  (Available from Katy's Corner as the Scrapbook embellishment kit)

Henry and Elizabeth

Another 2 8x8 layouts of Ann's 'ancestors', each with a very different feel!!  Note how the backgrounds are plain cardstock with a small piece of torn Scrapbook paper down the left hand side of the first one, but no paper at all on the second one!  What I really like about these is the way stamping is used to make them unique and the fact that everything blends so well. The letters are Provocraft Letter Bradletz, which are perfect for 8x8 layouts and the tags are punched with tag punches!  Note the punched vellum envelope, too.

This is a 12x12 page of my elder son, Tony.  It doesn't show up very well in the photo, but I stamped the background card (cream) behind the papers with the Hero Arts Moments stamp, using a pale ink - Memories Soft Leaf - lining it up roughly to create a backdrop of colour.  Tony was stamped with a Stampington Clear Alphabet, using Brilliance Pearlescent Crimson and the words Smile and Happy are from a Hero Arts words set.  The tags are punched out, using two sizes of Woodware tag punches, then stamped with a Hero Arts Alphabet set and attached with Teeny Weeny brads.

The above pages were all sponged and stamped with inks (Adirondacks or Versamagic) using Simple Expressions Flora 5 plate.  Don't these embellishments look great?  Why buy those expensive ones when you can colour co-ordinate your own?

Once again, Ann has stamped the background paper randomly, using Katy's Corner words and pale, toning inks.  She's also stamped and embossed the heart embellishment.  The flowers are painted paper, punched and layered, then attached with brads.  Unfortunately, the colours have dulled in the photo - this is a gorgeous, bright paper.

CANVAS CONCERTINA TAG BOOKS

Why not make your own little canvas mini book keepsake?  We've got some great kits with all you need to make the books - including papers, embellishments, ribbons and Vellum Quotations - so easy - full instructions included!  Here are a couple of samples - you can find the book kits on the website here

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE IDEAS!