Simple Techniques That Make a Scrapbook Page Unique Alicia Bull April 1, 2005 Scrapbooking has evolved a lot in the last several years. I remember the days when doing a scrapbook page meant putting stickers and pictures onto a plain white page with some simple hand written journaling. Well, things have changed and I am a fan of the new trends. I love the creative opportunity that a scrapbook page lends. The opportunity to add anything I want to my pages and make them my own keeps me excited to scrap my next event. There are several new trends out there right now that allow you to branch out beyond the basics. One of my favorite new concepts, that is very easy but very different, is using a canvas to create a layout. Yep, that’s right, a painting canvas. You can take any basic craft paint and use it to make the canvas any color you want (or several colors), then you add your favorite papers and photos right onto the canvas with Modge Podge or any other favorite liquid adhesive. I actually love to print my pictures from my digital camera onto white Bazzill cardstock, then Modge Podge directly over the top of the photo. It leaves a plastic texture look on the photo. You can attach fibers, fabrics, buttons, journaling and all those other goodies right onto the canvas as well. Then you hang the layout directly on your wall. The canvas layout makes for a great baby shower or wedding gift. You can buy the canvas at TheHappyScrapper.com under the category “altered materials”. Another simple technique to jazz up your layouts includes adding ink to your layouts. This gives them a scratched or aged look. I usually pick a color of ink that goes along with my layout and just rub the edges of the matted pictures with the actual stamp pad itself. I also use the pad on the outer edges of the layout as well. It gives the layout dimension. I also like to use Walnut ink to provide an aged effect. You can get walnut ink in many forms, crystals, liquid, and concentrate. You can even get it with hints of color added to it. My favorite source for walnut ink is www.fiberscraps.com. They sell it already mixed in a handy dandy dauber bottle. It is convenient and clean (which is always a plus)! Another fun embellishment is using your die cut machine to cut compressed sponge and make your own alphabet or shape sponges. After you cut them, you just dip those sponges into paint and you have a set of your very own alphabet stamps. I love doing this and find it allows me the ability to personalize my layouts so much easier. You can get Miracle Compressed Sponge at http://www.colorwheelco.com/ . Lastly, photo transferring is a wonderful technique, but can be a little tricky. Its results are unbelievable. Go to your local copy store and get a color or black and white copy of a favorite photo. Purchase clear shipping tape (I buy the widest stuff I can find). Then, you simply lay your packing tape sticky side down onto the top of your color copy and use a bone folder or backside of your scissors to make sure it is adhered well. Cut off the spare paper that is not covered with the packing tape and run the tape under warm water or soak it until the paper from the back of the color copy begins to flake off. You will want to keep rubbing the backside of the taped copy until there is no paper left on it. Your color-copied image will be present in the packing tape. You can take that transfer, which now will be transparent, and attach it to a tag, card or directly on a layout. New techniques are popping up everyday within the industry. The saying that comes to mind is “try it, you might like it!” Happy Scrapping! Alicia Bull

---

Jeff Radel, CRS 'Make a Smart Move' House of Brokers Realty, Inc. 1515 Chapel Hill Rd. Columbia, MO 65203 Phone: 573-446-6529 Fax: 573-446-5408 jefrealtor@aol.com Website			Donna Adams, GRI, ABR 'Make A Smart Move!!!' House of Brokers Realty, Inc. 1515 Chapel Hill Rd. Columbia, MO 65203 Phone: 573-446-6530 Fax: 573-446-5408 dadams@houseofbrokers.com Website