Posts tagged Scrapbooking

Net Krafter : Know Your Scrapbooking Materials – The Upgrades

I have previously written an report that listed the basic scrapbooking materials and supplies that every beginner should have. Now, I’m going to do an “upgraded” version of that report — which means a new list of more advanced materials, supplies, and equipment. These are the tools that are not honestly indispensable to scrapbooking success, but can be really, honestly helpful in producing that scrapbook page with the extra “oomph!” in it. If you’re a beginner and would like to take your craft to the next level, you might want to have some of these stuff on your shopping list.

Brayer – This is also known as a hand roller, and is one of the favorite scrapbooking materials of veteran scrappers. This tool is extremely useful for in printmaking, either you’re using it for scrapbooks, greeting cards, or anything else. It usually comes in four textures — sponge, hard rubber, soft rubber, and acrylic. Most scrapbookers tend to favor using the soft rubber ones, but if you want to try all four, there are now brayers being sold that allow quick and easy switching from one roller type to the next. This is honestly a good idea, since your creativity will no longer have to be wee with just one roller type.

A lot of advanced scrapbookers already consider having a brayer as a necessity. Aside from the usual printmaking tasks, it can also be used in the application of liquid adhesives to chipboard and cardstock (the brayer lets you furnish the right whole of pressure to make the materials stick). Some scrappers also cover their brayers with rubber bands, bubble wrap, or twine, which allows them to furnish distinctive (and sometimes weird-looking) shapes and patterns on paper.

Vellum – This is a specialty paper that is thin, transparent, and was originally used for other purposes rather than scrapbooking, like creating blueprints, architectural plans, scrolls, formal wedding invitations, etc. However, scrappers have found new and creative ways to use this fine ability paper in their projects, and now it is fairly base to see vellum in many scrapbook designs.

Vellum is loved by scrapbookers because of the way it adds a touch of style and elegance to their designs. Vellum is also available now in a variety of colors, so you don’t have to limit your designs and layouts to just beige and cream. Of course, you’d still have to learn a few tricky techniques in order to use vellum to its maximum potential, like how to apply adhesive properly. But if you take the time to scholar it, using this specialty paper will make it worth your while.

Dry Embossing Kit – Dry embossing is also known as relief embossing, and is created by tracing a tool called a stylus along stenciled outlines or shapes. This technique results in beautiful, raised patterns on the paper or cardstock, and is another way to add style, elegance, and uniqueness to your designs. It is differentiated from wet embossing because the technique does not use ink in its process.

A base dry embossing kit will consist of a stylus with at least two tips of varying sizes, two or three metal stencils, some cards or paper to get you started quickly. If it’s your first time doing dry embossing, I advise trying out simple patterns at first to post yourself with the technique and the handling of the tools. You will need a well-lighted working area plus something to stabilize the paper or cardstock you are working on.

Bone Folders – A bone portfolio is a tool with dull edges, primarily used for creating crisp creases and folds. The basic shape and appearance of a bone portfolio looks very much like a tongue depressor, although some hobbysists like to decorate their folders with intricate markings. It is used in many crafts and hobbies, such as bookbinding, card making, scrapbooking, origami, and all other crafts where you need to furnish consistent, sharp creases every time. There are many bone folders now being sold that are made of plastic, teflon or wood, but the primary materials were from the leg bone of a deer, elk, or cow, hence the name.

The main purpose of a bone portfolio is to furnish a professional-looking crease in paper and cardstock. You may think that using your fingers will be adequate for the job, but there are two problems with that. First, the oils in your fingers (if you’re not wearing gloves) will stick to the paper and moderately deteriorate it over time. Second, using a bone portfolio to originate a crease on paper eliminates most — if not all — of the conflict in the middle of the tool and the paper, because of its smooth surface.

Ribbon Iron – Some scrapbookers make do without this tool, while some swear by it. If you use a lot of ribbons in your work, then this can be very helpful. The ribbon iron is used to take out the creases and wrinkles from ribbons before attaching them to your scrapbook pages, although some habitancy also use this to originate creases in their paper and cardstock.

Storing your ribbons improperly can lead to a lot of wrinkles, folds, and crimps. This is where the ribbon iron pays for itself. You can usually get rid of most of the unsightly pleats and folds with just a singular run straight through the iron. If you do want pleats and folds, though, this tool can also help you with that. It’s size and weight make it extremely portable, so scrappers can take it anywhere they need to, and it doesn’t take a huge whole of space on the work desk as well.

There are many other specialized tools and materials that veteran scrapbookers use for their projects, such as paper piercers, die cutters, eyelet setters, and acrylic blocks (to name a few). However, the items on this list can already furnish more opportunities for beginners to extend their creativity to new limits, so you must not feel bad if you don’t have all of these. When all is said and done, after all, it is the scrapbooker’s skill that counts, not the equipment.