Sweet Scrap Frame

Hello! I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday!
I know I said I would post the winnter yesterday, but Brodey fell asleep early. He was SO excited to get to pick the winner so I waited until this morning and let him draw a name from everyone who commented here and on Facebook!
So the winner of the Technique Tuesday stamp set "A Date With Ali" is....

Stacy from Madill, OK! www.luvtoscrapbook.blogspot.com

Congrats Stacy! Please send me your info including your mailing address to aprilmassad@yahoo.com! Thank you for your comment!

Scraps! We all have them and we all want fun simple ways to use them, right? The little frame above took me less than 10 minutes to put together!

It seems I always have leftover pieces of patterned paper or leftover stickers on a sticker sheet and there never is quite enough for a scrapbook page!

This is also a great way to dress up a plain frame and it also highlights smaller photos like those tiny wallet size prints!

Tip: To make your stickers pop you can sand the edges with sandpaper to expose the white core. That way they do not blend into the background!



With school pictures coming up soon this would be the perfect gift for grandma! ;)

I hope you liked today's project! This week I'm going to have another giveaway so stay tuned!

LOVE APRIL :)

Supplies:

- Any size frame

- Stickers (I used Basic Grey Sweet Threads)
-  Patterned Paper the size of your frame
- Dies and a die cutting machine (I used Spellbinders dies and my Big Shot)

Directions:

1. Cut two pieces of patterned paper the size of your frame opening. (In my case 3.5x5.)

2. Die cut the patterned paper you want to show the most with the larger size die.

3. Die cut the patterned paper you want to frame your photo and show the least with the smaller size die.

4. Adhere the two pieces of patterned paper together and adhere your photo to the back.

5. Add your stickers and pop into your frame!

How To: Acrylic Stamps (Clear Stamps)

Clear Stamps, Cling Mount Stamps, and Rubber/Wood Stamps

 Hello again! It's finally Friday! Wahoo!
Last weekend I had a blast teaching a Make 'n Take at the Scrappin Pad booth at the CK Convention in Tulsa! At the Make 'n Take we used both wood and acrylic stamps. I had many people stop by that had never stamped before or that had never used clear/acrylic stamps! That's why today I'm going to talk about acrylic stamps, how to use them, and how they are different from wood stamps!

I actually have a blog that is just stamping and mainly cardmaking. It is http://www.stamppaperscissor.blogspot.com/! On this blog I mainly share How To's and scrapbooking.

What is a clear/acrylic stamp?
A clear stamp is a stamp that is made of clear polymer. They cling onto a clear sheet and you simply pull it off and place it on a clear block to stamp. They are perfectly clear so you when you stamp you can see right through the stamp and the acrylic block.
They are perfect for lining up letters on a block to form words, building one complete stamp by adding different stamps onto the same block, and you can even curve words on the block! A quick tip for lining up stamps on a clear block is to put the block over a grid mat or glass mat with grid lines. There are also some clear blocks with lines already on them.
Clear/acrylic stamps are also less expensive than wood or cling mount stamps.

Stampin Scrub, Stampin Mist, Stazon Cleaner, and Towels

How do I clean my clear stamps?
Cleaning your clear stamps is very important. You must have the proper cleaning tools to keep your stamps in good shape.
I use the Stampin Mist cleaner and the Stampin Scrub by Stampin Up. They are my favorites. The SU cleaner doesn't leave a film on my stamps and the Stampin Scrub's pads can be totally removed for rinsing out. With use the inks from your stamps will collect in the pads and you will need to rinse them out. Some other stamp scrubbers do not have removable pads and this makes it a little trickier to clean.
When you use solvent ink or Stazon you HAVE to use Stazon cleaner. Solvent ink is a permanent ink and must be washed off right after you use it or it will stain and turn your stamps yellow. The Stazon cleaner has a dabber type end and you simple scrub the stamp directly with the dabber and use a towel or paper towel to wash it off. I use towels that I get in a pack from WalMart. They are in the photo above.
Some people use baby wipes to clean their stamps and this is fine. I think it's more environmentally friendly to use washable cotton towels. They are inexpensive and can be used over and over.
If you want to use baby wipes you MUST make sure you are using alcohol free. If they aren't your stamps will turn yellow and brittle.


What tools do I need to use a clear stamp?
- Clear Stamp
- Acrylic Block: these come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some also come with lines so you can line up your stamp.
- Ink: any ink can be used on acrylic stamps, but you will need to proper cleaner. You can also use acrylic paints.
- Stamp Cleaner

How do I use a clear stamp?

What ink can I use on clear stamps?
You can use any type of ink on clear stamps! You can even use acrylic paint!
If you use Stazon it is important to clean the stamp with Stazon cleaner as mentioned above.
You can even use markers to selectively color your stamp.
Versamark Ink: (Typing that makes me realize I need to do an entire post on Versamark ink!) Versamark ink isn't just for heat embossing! Versamark ink also comes in handy when you have an acrylic stamp that is tacky. By tacky I mean that even after you have coated the top layer with ink it still sticks to your paper.
All you have to do to take that tackiness away is first ink the stamp with Versamark and then ink with whatever ink you are going to use. This tip even works with Stazon. Don't worry! The Versamark ink will not damage your other ink pads unless it's the sparkly Versamark. Then it will just add some sparkle to your other ink pads.

How acrylic stamps differ from wood and cling mount stamps:
Wood Stamps: Wood stamps have been around, well, since forever! A couple of the most well known wooden stamp companies are Stampin Up and Hero Arts.
I love wood stamps and there are some die hard wooden stampers out there! Wood stamps are more durable than acrylic. The actual stamp is made of rubber which can stand up to tons of usage, heat, and it will give you a perfectly clean image with any type of ink. The rubber stamp is then mounted on a wood block. With wood stamps you don't have to use an acrylic block because the rubber stamp is mounted on wood.
A disadvantage of wood stamps is that you can't see exactly what you are stamping like you can with clear stamps. Now there is a tool called the Stamp-a-ma Jig that will help you line up wood stamps, but there is something to be said for seeing exactly where you are stamping!
When you use acrylic/clear stamps you have to have an acrylic block to mount the stamp on. With wood you just ink and go.
Storage: Another advantage of clear stamps is storage. Wood stamps take up a lot of space. Clear stamps come on a clear sheet that you can store in 3 ring binders or binders with clear sleeves. BUT you must keep your clear stamps clean on both sides or they can fall off of the sheets and trust me...they are difficult to find!
I also store my clear stamp sheets in baskets. I simply flip through them to find the one I want to use.
Clear Cling Mount: There is a third category of stamps that I have to mention. They are called Clear Cling Mount. These are great if you are a rubber stamp lover, but want to see what you are stamping.
Clear Cling Mounts are rubber stamps that have a cling material on the backside so that you can put them on an acrylic block to stamp. Some have the image of the stamp printed on the back and some don't.  (See photo) A downside of these is that they sometimes have trouble staying on the acrylic blocks!

My Favorite Clear Stamp Companies:
Technique Tuesday: Hands down one of my favorite clear stamp company. I used to teach the TT classes at my local scrapbook store, Just 4 Keeps. Ali Edwards recently joined with them and has created some awesome stamps! I am giving away one of her stamp sets! Click HERE to read about it! Also HERE or your local scrapbook store is a great place to buy.

Hero Arts: Hero Arts makes every type of stamp! Rubber/wood, cling mount, and even acrylic! They are awesome and just teamed up with Basic Grey! My all-time favorite company!

Inkadinkadoo: This brand of stamps is manufactured by EK Success. I just love their style and range of images! You can buy them at Hobby Lobby or HERE.

We R Memory Keepers: If you know me you know I love anything that matches. I can't help it! It's such a time saver! That's one of the reasons I love their stamps! They have a huge selection with matching paper packs to go with the stamps! Love that! To shop click HERE or visit your local scrapbook store!
Hero Arts: Hero Arts has been around forever! They made every kind of stamp you can think of! They also have a wonderful blog full of inspiration!

Common Problems:
My stamp didn't stamp my image perfectly!
Try stamping on a good solid surface. Glass mats are perfect for stamping! Some companies also offer foam mats, but I prefer glass! Glass mats are easy to clean and very durable so they are worth the investment.
Another thing to keep is mind is how you stamp. Do not rock your stamp. Simply press down evenly and lift straight up.

My stamp didn't ink evenly!
Always ink your stamp facing up. That way you can see where you have ink and where you don't. Also DO NOT rub the ink pad back and forth. PAT the ink onto the stamp. When you rub the ink pad back and forth you get ink into the little crevices and you will not get a clean image when you stamp!

My stamp won't stay on my block!
The back of your stamp has to be clean to cling to the block OR the sheet it came on. Oils and dirt from our fingers will cause this to happen as well. Simple clean the back of the stamp and it should stick!

My stamp sticks to my paper!
As I mentioned above in this post, coat your stamp with Versamark before you ink it. Sometimes new stamps are tacky and as you use them this will go away!

Phew! That took me almost all day to type up! I hope that isn't overwhelming and at the same time I hope I covered everything!
If you have ANY questions please don't hesitate to ask! You can ask by posting here or you can email me at aprilmassad@yahoo.com!
Don't forget! I'm giving away a Technique Tuesday clear stamp set! Go HERE to enter!
I hope this post was helpful!
Have a great weekend!
LUV APRIL :)

Simple Embellishments

Hi all! :)

Today I'm sharing a simple way to make embellishments for your pages using scrap paper and punches!

The layout above is a layout I did about a trip to the movies we took back in July of 2009. It doesn't seem that long ago! I look at this layout and I wonder if I hadn't scrapped these photos if I would remember that this was Brodey's very first trip to the movies! That's just one of the reasons why I think journaling and dating our layouts is so important! It's those little things that we think we will remember, but we might not!



My first simple embellishment tip is using border punches! I use border punches on every single layout I create. They are a quick way to add interest and you can even add texture by threading ribbon through the holes as I did in the photo above.

The border punch I used above was a rectangular border punch. I used the opening to thread my ribbon through. I secured both ends with staples and then I tied the ribbon a little more than halfway down.

Not only do I love border punches, I also LOVE regular punches! I used two different sizes of square punches to make the accent above. This can also be done with a paper trimmer if you do not have square punches.

I first punched my red cardstock with a 2 inch punch. Then I punched 4 pieces of scrap patterned paper with a 3/4 inch punch. I added the smaller squares to the larger square with foam adhesive squares! Yep it's that simple!



You could change it up by punching or die cutting a scalloped square instead of a regular large square. You could also add a pretty brad to the middle or use a corner rounder on the corners! So many variations!

I hope you try these simple embellishment tips on your next scrapbook page or card! Also don't forget to add the date and some journaling to the pages you do! The loved ones that look at your pages in the future will thank you!

And to say THANK YOU to my many blog readers I have a giveaway today! (Brodey just had to be in the picture) I bought this awesome Technique Tuesday stamp set at the Creating Keepsakes Convention last weekend and I'm going to give it away to one lucky reader!

To be entered in the giveaway all you have to do is comment here OR on the Facebook post by 12:00am cst! Simply link your blog (if you have one) or your online gallery and tell me where you are from! I'll have Brodey draw a name and I will announce the winner on Saturday!

If you haven't already you can add Inky Fingers on Facebook! Every time I post it will feed through to your Facebook instead of having to come here!

Well good luck to everyone that comments for the stamp set! It's a good one!

Have a great Thursday!

LOVE APRIL :)

Happy Saturday & a Layout Share!

Happy Saturday to ya!
If you follow my personal blog, Scrap Happens, you know that I'm back from my self-imposed blog hiatus! ;)
Now that life is getting back to normal I'll start posting how to's and videos again!
Back in November I started doing Stamper's Night Out classes. Since then it has grown and branched out into a few other things.
This Monday I will be teaching a Beginner's Scrapbooking Class to a group of ladies from Tahlequah. We will be doing two double page 12x12 layouts that I'm going to share with you today! :)


This first layout has 5 vertical 4x6 photos. They are very slightly trimmed. By slightly I mean 1/16 of an inch. (That shouldn't cut anyone's arm or leg off hahah!)
This layout is very simple, but is super cute! The little butterflies are from a fun cut and emboss folder from Stampin Up.
I cut the circles out with my circle cookie cutter dies by Quickutz. The cookie cutter dies leave a slightly larger skinny ring when you cut with them. I used that ring on the right page to highlight the main photo.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Abode by American Crafts
Journaling Spot Die: Top Note Die by Stampin Up for Sizzix
Circle Dies: Circle Cookie Cutter Dies by Quickutz
Flower Punch: Stampin Up
Butterflies: Embossibilities Die by Stampin Up for Sizzix
Title Letter Dies: Quickutz
Scallop Circle Punch: Stampin Up
Journaling Line Stamp: Autumn Leaves
Word Stamps: Ali Edwardes for Technique Tuesday
Ink: Stampin Up

*Click on photo to see it enlarged.
This layout has 3 vertical 4x6's and 2 horizontal 4x6's. They are very slightly trimmed.
We will be using some fun techniques like dry embossing, stamping, and paper punching.

The little circles on the layout are actually cut and embossed little buttons! They are the cutest things EVER and a great way to use up patterned paper scraps.
I also dry embossed the orange strip over the title and the green and blue squares on the left page.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Offbeat by Basic Grey
Star Stamps: Technique Tuesday and Basic Grey
Alphabet Stamps and Circle Border Stamp: Sassafrass Lass
Word Stamps: Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday
Journaling Line Stamp: Autumn Leaves
Embossing Folders: Stampin Up(small dots), Sizzix(argyle), and Provocraft(stars)
Ink: Stampin Up
Scallop Oval and Small Oval Punches: Stampin Up
Title Letter Dies: Quickutz
Button Emboss and Cut Folder: Stampin Up for Sizzix
This class will be fun! I have been doing mainly card classes lately so it's nice to get back to scrappin'!
If you have any questions about the layouts or any of the supplies send me an email at aprilmassad@yahoo.com! I would be happy to answer your questions!
Well we are headed to Holdenville! Brodey's birthday is Wednesday so we are taking him to see the fam!
Have a fantastic weekend!
LUV APRIL :)

How To: UTEE Leaves 2 Ways

Wahoo! The video(s) are finally uploaded! I'll spare you complaints about my internet. ;) Today the video was too long so I had to cut it in half. The quality of the video on part 1 is okay, but better for part 2. When it uploaded as one you could barely see what I was doing!
So today I'm showing you the FUN leaf technique I taught at the Among Friends scrapbook retreat. I posted the sketch for the layout I used the leaves on the other day!
There are two ways to do this, depending on what supplies you have. If you have the Melting Pot watch part 1, and if you don't watch part 2!



Part 1 Supplies:
Melting Pot
Spatula
Clear UTEE(Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel)
Gold UTEE
Nonstick Craft Sheet
Dye Ink (any dye ink will work I used Ranger)
Leaf Punched out of Cardstock
Tweezers
Mini Mister with Water and Perfect Pearls(Perfect Pearls Optional. It adds a glimmer effect)
Heat Gun




Part 2 Supplies:
Clear UTEE(Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel)
Nonstick Craft Sheet
Dye Ink (any dye ink will work I used Ranger)
Leaf Punched out of Cardstock
Tweezers
Mini Mister with Water and Perfect Pearls(Perfect Pearls Optional. It adds a glimmer effect)
Heat Gun

I hope you have fun with this! I know everyone did at the retreat!
Have a terrific Tuesday!
Happy Inking!
April :)

Stamper's Night Out: Bag of Tags

WAHOO!!! I am SO excited about this! I have been wanting to get to know crafters around my area and this is the chance!!

Is there someone you would like to give a little something to for Christmas but they have everything?
Would you like to discover a fun new hobby?
Or do you just need a crafty night out with friends?
Join me for Stamper’s Night Out at the Scrappin’ Pad!
We will be making this fun Bag of Tags for only $15! This price includes your snacks, drinks, your own tube of Stickles, your own blender pen, and a handmade Bag of Tags by YOU!
The Bag of Tags is a bag of Christmas gift tags. These can either be used as gift tags or made into simple and easy cards! I will show you how to do both!
There are only 13 spots available! Bring a friend or two but just make sure you RSVP to April at aprilmassad@yahoo.com to reserve your spot and supplies!
You will need to bring your own scissors and a glue stick! All other supplies will be provided! Feel free to bring more supplies to work on your own projects after we finish the Bag of Tags! I will also have many samples of additional projects you can purchase and make that night!
Tuesday, November 30th 6:30pm
Hope to see you there!

If you have any crafty friends be sure to bring them! Just please remember to RSVP so that I can make sure everyone gets supplies!
I can't wait! We will have some stampin' fun!
LUV YA!
April :)

Sketchy Tuesday: Celebrate Autumn

I know I know this was supposed to be posted on Sketchy Sunday! Well it didn't make it so I'm posting this sketch today! :)
This is a versitile layout that has (3) 4x6 photos and (3) 3x4 photos.
My finished layout varies slightly from the sketch. I added a date spot and my leaves are in different places.
This is actually the layout I taught this past weekend at the Among Friends scrapbook retreat. We made the leaf accents and acorn accents. I will be posting that video tomorrow! They are SO much fun to make!
(To view the images larger simply click on them!)
If you would like the FREE PDF instructions on putting this layout together please leave me a comment with your email address or send me an email at inkyfingershappen@yahoo.com. The PDF also includes a supply list and measurements for the layout.
Well I hope you like the sketch! If you create a layout inspired by it please link me up! I would love to share it here!
I hope you have a great Tuesday and don't forget to check back tomorrow for the video on how to make the beautiful leaves!
Happy crafting!
April :)

Hello Again!

I've been absent from the blog and I miss you all! I've been very busy, but will be back in the groove by tomorrow afternoon! (Brodey would be so proud of that rhyme!)
I had a blast teaching at the Among Friends scrapbook retreat this weekend! I also taught at the retreat back in July. It is a short 15 minute drive from my house! They stayed in a cute house on Fort Gibson lake. I taught a fun layout class that I will be sharing this week!
Well this will be a short post so that I can go try to clean up this

That's what happens when you are at a retreat all weekend and you come back home, dump your stuff, and get to work on deadlines!
I have projects spinning in my mind that I need to get done, but I also want to play with this

UGH I KNOW! Isn't it exciting!?!? It's filled with all sorts of fun stuff! I can't wait to play mad scientist with it all! We had some fun this weekend with the Melting Pot, didn't we girls!?!
Okay seeing the pic of that box lit a fire! I'm outta here! Time to get some inky fingers! I'm loving that time change right about now!
Hope your Monday is magnificent!
LUV YA!
April :)

How To: Tying a Basic Bow

Howdy folks! Happy Tuesday to you!
For Newbie Tuesday today I am going to share a very useful video I discovered online. I wanted to see how other people tie their bows and I came across the Becca's Bows videos. She has a great website you can visit HERE.
This video is not only useful for newbie papercrafters, but experts as well! We all need to know how to tie different bows!

Tomorrow I am going to share a card I made with a "Becca Bow" on it! ;)
I am anxiously awaiting my order from Stampin Up! I can't wait to play with all my new stamping goodies! Soon I will have a separate Stampin Up blog! I'm so excited!
Well I hope the bow video was helpful! I know it was for me!
Have a great Tuesday!
LUV APRIL :)

Mini Vid Monday: How to Add an Anywhere Bow

Happy November and welcome to Mini Vid Mondays!
Every Monday I'm going to share a mini video with you! The video might not always be very short, but the technique will be very simple!
In today's video I will show you how to add an anywhere bow to your project. I call this an anywhere bow because you can put it anywhere without having to use messy adhesive!

You will need:
Crop-a-Dile
Ribbon (I used white 1 inch grosgrain for this project.)
Brad
Paper Piercer (If you are going to add it to a layout.)



The tag I show you in the video is from an article I did for Creating Keepsakes: Scrapbooking Tips and Tricks issue. The article shows you 4 different ways to add dry embossing to your projects! You can view the online version of the article HERE.
I hope you enjoy the video! If you have any questions please comment or send me an email at inkyfingershappen@yahoo.com!
Happy crafting!
April :)

Sketchy Sunday: Bye Bugs

Hey everyone! Hope you had a great weekend!
Do you like sketches? I LOVE sketches! They make scrapbooking and cardmaking so easy!
A sketch is basically a blueprint for a scrapbook page or a card. It tells you where to put everything on the card/layout. It's great for inspiration or just a starting off point!
I have alawyas loved sketches! When you are first starting out in this hobby they can be so useful! If you are a pro they can jumpstart your own creativity!
Starting today I'm going to post a sketch every Sunday! It will either be a scrapbok page or a card! In the future I would like to post an alternate sketch for double and single page layouts. I wasn't home this weekend so I will only be posting the double page version tonight!

Double Page Layout
(2) 4x6's
(3) 3x4's
Click photo to see larger.


"Bye Bugs"
Supplies: Cardstock by Bazzill; Patterned Paper by Sassafrass Lass; Large Chipboard Letter by Colorbok; Chipboard Letters by Basic Grey; Black Ink by Ranger; Ribbon by Offray; Black Pen by EK Success.

I did this layout about one of Brodey's trips to see Daddy at work. Gosh it seems like this just happened, but these photos were taken two years ago! My goodness time goes by so fast! That's why I'm so glad I scrapbook!
The cute little bugs on this layout are from some Sassfraass Lass paper. I simply cut the bugs out of the paper and popped them up with adhesive foam squares.
To make the bow in the ribbon I simply cut the longer piece, adhered it, cut a smaller piece, and tied it on where I wanted it. Super easy!
You will also notice that I use journaling strips on most of my layouts. They are the easiest way for me to journal and I did a How To on that HERE.
I also matted the photos with white cardstock to make them stand out from the bold patterned paper. I did a How To on matting photos HERE.
There are two photos sizes on this layout. There are your basic 4x6's and there are also 3x4's. A 3x4 is basically a 4x6 photo cut in half. If you do not have a printer at home and send your photos to be printed through a photo center (such as Wal-Mart or Walgreens) I can show you how to print multiple sizes on one 4x6! I will post that How To very soon! It's so easy you will be surprised you haven't been doing that all along! ;)
I hope this sketch inspired you! If you create a layout based on my sketch please send me a link! I would love to post it on my blog!
You can email me at inkyfingershappen@yahoo.com!
Happy crafting!
April :)

How To: Covering Basic Chipboard Shapes with Patterned Paper

Happy Friday to you! :)
Today I'm going to share a How To video with you! In the video I show you how to cover basic chipboard shapes with patterned paper!
I cover chipboard with paper all the time! You can make so many different embellishments with this technique! I made the super simple embellishment above with the chipboard I cover in the video. The beautiful leaf accent is from a class I will be teaching at the Among Friends retreat next weekend. I will post the video for that after the retreat!
In the video I will list the supplies you need. I'm also going to list them here because I am also going to link you to the exact products I used in the video. If you have any questions about my supplies OR where to get the supplies post a comment or send me an email at inkyfingershappen@yahoo.com.

You will need:
Chipboard
Patterned Paper (I used paper from the Eerie collection by Basic Grey)
Pencil (For tracing)
Basic Grey File Set or Sandpaper
Scissors
Glue Stick
Brayer (Optional)



Coming up soon I will also be posting a video on How To cover more intricate chipboard shapes like letters!
Happy scrappin' and I hope the video is helpful!
LUV YA!
April :)

Welcome to Inky Fingers!

Howdy folks!
Inky Fingers is firing up! I'm so super excited about this! People have been asking about online classes since I moved from Edmond, OK in 2008. Since Brodey started to Pre-K full time back in August I realized that I had some time to start up Inky Fingers!
This will be my place to share sketches, how to's, videos, kit classes, and whatever else we can jam in here! I have missed all of my students from my classes and this will be where I can share with them once again!
I am also working on classes here in Tahlequah, OK so if you live near here be sure to check back often for info!

Sharing is caring!
If you have ever taken one of my classes you have heard me say that many times!
Feel free to share what I share on here! My layouts are original and from my own brain. Please do not submit copies for publication as I reserve that right. However, please feel free to teach and share them with other scrappers!
The techniques I share are partly what I have come up with on my own and partly from what I have seen other people do! I will credit whomever I learned the technique from and also let you know if I came up with it on my own! Again, feel free to share them with others! If no one shared their ideas our wonderful hobby wouldn't evolve! :)
I would love to have you join me on Facebook and share your papercrafting projects!

Questions and Suggestions
If you EVER have any questions or suggestions please do not hesitate to let me know!
I love to hear from you! If you would like to learn something send me an email and I'll do what I can to share it with you!

Contact Me!
Email: inkyfingershappen@yahoo.com
Look for {Inky Fingers} Happen on Facebook!
Also check out my personal blog at aprilmassad.blogspot.com

I'm so excited to start this and I hope that you will join me!
Happy Crafting!
April :)

Basic Tools

What tools do I need to start scrapbooking? What tools do you use? I get those questions quite a bit. That's why today I'm going to tell you about the basic tools I use and the ones you will need to begin scrapbooking!



Paper Trimmer:
I would not be able to function without my paper trimmer. I could cut my paper with scissors, but I wouldn't have a perfect edge every time. That's why it's important to find one that's right for you!
I have been using this Cutterpede since 2006. I have tried other trimmers and I always went back to this one. The replacement parts are inexpensive and I love the decorative blades you can buy separately. My favorite is the scalloped edge blade.
I use my trimmer to rip paper, measure, trim photos, trim paper, and add a decorative edge. If you are wondering how I use my paper trimmer to rip paper, I will be sharing that How To soon!

Scissors:
I have tried MANY different scissors. I have narrowed it down to three different pair that I switch back and forth from.
The ones in the photo are my Tim Holtz nonstick ones. LOVE them. You can use them whether you are right or left handed and the handle is comfortable rubber.
My other faves are the basic Fiskars scissors. I have the larger fabric ones and the smaller micro tip ones. I believe I bought both pair at Wal-Mart. They are super sharp and stay that way forever! That was my biggest pet peeve with other brands. I would have to buy a new pair every few months because I use mine so much they would dull quickly.

Adhesive:
This has been my go-to adhesive since 2006. I love it. I couldn't live without it.
Adhesive is like everything else in scrapbooking. Everyone will have their favorites. This is mine.
I have used this on everything from ribbon to chipboard to paper. You can use it on a narrow surface and then fold it back to hide it. It goes on sale at Hobby Lobby frequently. It's quick to use and my favorite thing about it is that isn't permanent but I can still remove things without damage. I tend to change my mind and want to move a photo or an embellishment. Or sometimes I will need to change something on a layout for publication.
Some people ask me why I use this instead of glue sticks or just regular liquid glue. Well those both have their place, but for basic paper and photo scrapbooking I prefer dry adhesive. Liquid glue tends to warp paper or photos as they dry. So does a glue stick, but above all else they are messy to me. I would have glue everywhere if I tried to use liquid glue!
The most important thing is to ALWAYS buy photo safe or acid free adhesive! If not your beautiful scrapbook pages will be brown and turn to dust in your grand children's fingers!
I do, however, use a glue stick when adhering chipboard letters or small chipboard shapes. I also use a glue stick when covering chipboard, but that's another How To for another day! ;)

Black Pen:
I have been using the ZIG writers by EK Success since 1996. It's inexpensive, lasts forever, and has two sizes on each pen. I love the way they write and their colors are beautiful. Everyone will have a different pen they love and use, but this is the one I use for journaling or dating on my layouts.

Cardstock:
You can use any cardstock you wish. There are tons of different textures and colors. Everyone has their preferences.
You can use plain paper, but it just doesn't look the same. Most plain paper is thin and you can see whatever is behind it.
You can get basic cardstock at Hobby Lobby or even Wal-Mart.
My favorites are Bazzill and Bo Bunny.
You use cardstock to mat photos, as your page background, for journaling, and just about anything else you can imagine!

Patterned Paper:
This is by far my favorite thing about scrapbooking. There are just so many different beautiful and fun patterns. There are so many things you can do with it. You can cut out designs from it to use as page elements or you can use it to make embellishments. The possibilities are endless!
My favorite paper companies are Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket, We R Memory Keepers , Bo Bunny, Crate Paper and tons more!
You can buy some of these brands at Hobby Lobby. If you don't have a local scrapbook store you can buy them online at Scrapook.com or Twopeasinabucket.com !

Extras:

Stamps:
Stamps are awesome. I might have a slight addiction to stamps. They are reusable and just a lot of fun! My favorite stamp companies are Technique Tuesday, Hero Arts, Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, Inkadinkadoo by EK Success and so many more!

Ink:
I have several ink How To's already up on the blog. Their links are on the right side under How To's.
I use ink for my stamps, to ink my pages, and to ink embellishments. Ink goes half off quite often at Hobby Lobby.

Paper Punches:
I have a ton of these and I use them on almost every layout. You can use them so many different ways. I also have several different die cutting systems, but punches are easier and quicker. Hole punches are invaluable. I have about five different sizes.

Crop A Dile:
This baby is the mother of all hole punches. It also sets eyelets. I have used mine to punch holes in acrylic, chipboard, metal, you name it! I have had mine for years and it has been to many, many classes and it will still punch a perfect hole! I love it!



Well those are all the basics you will need to begin scrapbooking!
You don't have to have the Extras, but it makes it much more fun!
I hope this has helped out the new scrapbookers!
If you have any questions or suggestions please send me an e-mail at massadmomma@yahoo.com!

Happy scrappin'!
April :)