General design tips for a scrapbook layout: Part 2

Paper: for a double 12x12 layout you will need up to 5 or 6 different sheets of papers.

·         2 for the background: better if the same and with a subtle pattern

·         1 for the photo mats, patterned or cardstock

·         2 to 3 for borders and embellishments (or 3 to 4 if they are single sided: this way you will have more options

·         Once you find a complete set of paper you can store it in the page protectors with the pictures and work on it later on.
Paper can be bought in single sheets (I want to say, on average, 50 cents for a one sided 12x12, 1 dollar for a double sided) or you can buy a package containing a full collections (paper pad). This can provide you with a set of coordinated papers that will work well together. This will be quite helpful if you are working an a specific large project (like an album for a wedding, a new baby or a graduation or if you are building a mini-album as a gift). The price of a paper pad can range betwen 5 and 30 dollars. Often times paper pads come a couple of additional sheet containing coordinated alphabet stickers or die-cuts, labels and embellishment. Double sided paper are more versatile and can be really indispensable when dealing with projects where you will see both sides of the paper (like mini-album with pockets).  Another thing to check is how many copies of the same paper are in the pad: when building double layouts it can be really important to match the backgrounds.

Vellum is a translucent lightweight paper. It’s interesting for matting or softening photos (e.g. matting the background highlighting the center of the picture), for journaling or to create embellishments. It comes with a waxy cover that makes it quite  impermeable to water and ink. As a consequence, adhesives and inks won’t be absorbed as quickly. And because vellum paper is so transparent, most adhesives will show through. There is specific tape for vellum that is quite invisible (E-Z scrapbook, purple, is excellent). You can also place the glue so it’s hidden under another element on the page or use brads to attach it, or tack it under a layer of paper or a picture. It can be used in the desk jet by choosing the option for transparency or for low quality (less ink). For the same reason (very limited capability of absorbing) only some pens and markers will work on it. To stamp on vellum you will have to use an ink like Staz-on (see future post about inks). If you are using a dye ink you will have to dry it with the heat-embossing tool or the iron (using an old hankie to protect the paper). Vellum can be impressed (embossed) with a tool with a rounded tip (like the handle of a paintbrush) from the back. A stamp image with clear Versamark can be used as a guide (or a stencil).Vellum can be heat embossed (in white, e.g.). The heat gun has to be a little bit more far away or it will burn/crinkle the vellum. After heat embossing it can be painted with mist and the embossed part will not take the paint (resist). To make it more permeable to ink it can be pretreated with alcohol and let it dry after printing for a very long time.As an example, I wrote on the computer our vows. Because at our wedding we read them in our two languages I organize the text in two columns, one for English and one for Italian. I also left an empty rectangular (6.5x4.5) in the middle. I used a nice handwriting-like font and printed on vellum. I then build the layout so that a close up picture of our hands has my husband put the wedding ring of my finger was behind the vellum, where I left the empty area .

Transparencies: can be cut and stamped with Staz-on ink. They can be cleaned with water and soap, ink cleaner or alcohol. They can be used to make stencils or masks and in the mirror printing technique (see post about stamping).  I found some old ones among our stationary. We are both old enought to have been using them for presentations... I am not even sure if they are sold anymore. Some clear stamps or emebellishemt come with transparency in the packaging. I keep them, just in case...

Borders: one possibility is to use some curve template. Cutting halfway a large strip along a curve line will produce two specular borders. These can be used of each one of the two pages of a double layout to create continuity. You can create two different sets and overlap them, or arrange them back to back, or overlap them to a ordinary straight border in a different pattern. There is  series of video on you tube, where they show you a technique, using some templates that they sell. My feeling is that you end up with very repetitive layouts so I decided to maybe try once using a curve template (I believe in English they are called French curve sets) simply because I happened to have one already. Shadowing the edge of the borders with an ink pad will add dimension and hide any irregularity.

Also, washi tape, ribbons, twine, you name it… can be used as borders. Some paper pads come with borders (self adhesive or die cut) in the embellishment page.

Cutting paper: You may want to buy yourself a cutting mat (about 20 dollars). My choice was Basic Grey Magnetic Precision Mat Set. It comes with a ruler that sticks to the mat keeping in place you project and I like the black neutral color. When I have to punch holes or cut with a blade I put an old mouse pad underneath so I did not really care about the cutting board resilience (self-healing) to cuts, although this one is, in fact, self healing.. You will also need a paper trimmer (15-25 dollars). I have a  compact 12-inches one from Fiskars. There is a retractable arms that is convenient for storing. On smart tip that I have found somewhere on internet is to cut always in the same direction (for example always up or always down). Since the blade will come out every now and then, you will have to make a mark to know which side is up. This way, when the blade will eventually get old you can just turn it around and use it for some extra time.

Punches (borders and shapes): They can be quite expensive so you may want to wait for a sale or a coupon and plane ahead how many and which ones you want. Basic shapes (like butterflies, flowers, circles and scalloped circles) can be used to create embellishments. As per the borders, there is a large variety of choices. Give yourself the time to understand your stile and see if you would use more a very ornate one or a more linear one. They are also typically quite bulky, so storage can be challenging. I have seen them stored in multiple pockets organizers (like those used for jewelry). To keep them in good shapes you can cut through Wax paper to lubricate them and through aluminum foil to sharpen them.