Embellishing Paper Scrapbooking Flowers

I love rubber stamping with my clear stamps. Since I am always looking for new ideas, I am usually trying new things all the time. A couple days ago I decided to enhance my paper scrapbooking flowers with rubber stamps. I had a cute clear rubber stamp set called Big Blooms that hosted the precise design I wanted to add.

I simply chose a darker color that complemented the flower and stamped a smaller flower upon it. Once attached with a brad the effect was complete. Try it out. You’ll love it.

Happy Stamping!

Adding Glitter on Heat Embossing

It is relatively simple to add glitter to your heat embossed projects. In the above photo you see a grouping  flowers and a sentiment stamped with clear hobby rubber stamps on white card stock. They are then embossed with a clear embossing powder.

For a background color, simply use a dry sponge and dab it in the ink of your choice and  wipe it over the card stock.  This will make the design stand out as long as the ink is not too light a color. Distress the edges with the ink pad. You can learn how to do this in the Distressing Techniques article linked here.

At this point I thought the project looked neat, but I was using a patterned paper that had bits of glitter on it and I wanted the stamped, embossed design to match a little better. So here is how to add the glitter.

1. Get your glitter handy and ready to pour on quickly.
2. Use your heat gun to soften the embossed design.
3. Immediately dump the glitter on. If you wait too long it will not stick. (Be sure to turn of your heat gun before you dump on any glitter as it will be in your lap is seconds!)
4. Clean up the glitter and voila! You have glittered embossing.

Happy Stamping!!!

5 Ways to Add Color To Rubber Stamping Crafts

Adding color can bring a stamped image to life. That said there are many different ways of adding color to your rubber stamping projects. Depending on the finish you desire your choice ranges from the subtle hints of color chalks provide to the vibrant colors of marking pens. The type of coloring method you choose will influence the overall feel of the finished project.

Chalks or Pastels – Chalks are available in a wide range of colors and shades. They are ideal for adding delicate color to rubber stamping crafts. Chalks can be applied with a stiff paint brush, Q-tip, eye make up applicator, or simply used like a crayon and then brushed away. Experiment with the different application tools to find your preference. You may find that one brand of pastels is harder than others. The softer they are the easier it is to use a brush for application.

Markers – Marker pens are ideal for coloring rubber stamped images as the bold colors give a vibrant finish to stamped crafts. Marker pens can easily be used to color stamps before stamping the image providing a simple way to stamp an image with multiple colors.

Glitter – Glitter glues are easy to use and very versatile. Glitter can add a glimmer to snow, a sparkle to water, or a ray of sunshine. Glitter can also be used on double sided tape for a different effect.

Colored Pencils – Colored pencils are a handy way to add color to your rubber stamped images. With colored pencils it is simple to add shadow, fine detail or a background aura. You have the choice of coloring bold vivid colors or using light tantalizing stokes. Test this technique to find what you like best.

Color with Inks – Pigment inks are a quick and easy way to add color to your rubber stamped images. You can always be sure that the colors you use will match all stamped elements. Ink can be applied a couple of ways. Trial and error will help you choose your favorite method. Ink a make-up applicator, then mist it lightly with water and color in as with chalks. Ink a make up sponge, and color in the rubber stamped image using it dry or moist for different results.

By exploring the world of color in your stamping hobby, you will more fully realize your creative potential as you design satisfying works of art.

The Scalloped Edge

Try this simply way to dress up a card or scrapbook page. First select a card making template or scrapbook page layout that has horizontal elements. Next, cut a scallop along the top edge of your main element. Embellish the scallops with beads, sequins, brads, ribbon or anything crafty and unique. Complete the card or scrapbook page with your clear rubber stamps and enjoy the results of your hobby.

Embellishing Cards with Wire

Wire is a unique element for scrapbooking and card making crafts in and of itself. You can choose from a variety of thicknesses or colors to enhance your creations. Here are a few simple ideas for using wire to embellish.

1. Use wire to string letter beads (with spacers) and create a word or title for your scrapbook art.
2. Bend wire into a simple shape such as a heart, circle or even a letter to emphasize part of your page. One simple way to do this is to find the shape you desire in your rubber stamps, stamp it on a regular sheet of paper, then place it on a piece of Styrofoam.  Use straight pins to outline the shape, then bend the wire around the pins.
3. Create a barbed wire look in just a few easy steps that works great for rural themed scrapbook pages.
4. Make a wire swirl.  I like this technique used with nice shiny wire or colored wire.  Start wrapping the end of the wire into a small circle and continue wrapping around that center point with the circle gradually increasing in size until you have the size you need.  Be sure the finished swirl lays flat so it can easily be attached to your design.
5. Wire can also be used creatively to attach tags, matted elements such as photos and die cuts, or to string together the words in a scrapbook title.

Attaching the wire

Wire can most easily be secured to a card or scrapbook page with brads.  However, it may also be threaded through punched holes and secured by twisting the ends together (great for attaching a tag), or wrapped in behind a layer before it is attached to the design.

No matter the application, wire is a fun and festive element for embellishing scrapbook art and card making crafts.

6 Great Ways to Use Ribbon with Rubber Stamps

Ribbon is one embellishment everyone has a lot of. I find myself saving even short little pieces of ribbon for a some future scrapbook or card making project. To help you use up some of those ribbon scraps, here are a bunch of great ways to add ribbon to your rubber stamping creations.

1. Ribbon Shadows – Create a ribbon shadow using ribbon stamps and real ribbon. Simply stamp your ribbon shadow with a light color matching the ribbon you wish to use. Arrange your ribbon over the stamped ribbon so that it appears to have a shadow.
2. Date and Title Ribbons – Using an alphabet stamp sized to fit the width of your ribbon, begin stamping dates or titles across the length of the ribbon. Secure to your page or card with brads or eyelets.
3. Sliding Titles – Create your scrapbook page title by stamping each letter in it’s own block. Using a craft knife slit the sides of each block to the width of your ribbon, then thread on the letters to form your title.
4. Creative Tag Titles – Stamp tiny tags with a single letter or word, then use narrow ribbon to create a tag title for your scrapbook page.
5. Ribbon Like Elements – Ribbons and rik rak, trim, lace, yarn, zippers, buttons, mesh are all part of the endless possibilities for adding ribbon border elements to your scrapbook and card making designs.
6. Layered Ribbon Titles – A sheer or filmy ribbon creates the layer. Simply stamp your word, sentiment or title, attach it to your page or card and stretch the ribbon over it. The words should show through the ribbon. This adds a lot of interest to your design.

As always ribbons can be added to punched holes, paper clips, and borders. Ribbons can add horizontal elements, vertical elements or zig zag elements to scrapbook pages. What ever the use, have fun as you design using your ribbon to compliment your rubber stamping creations.

10 Easy Ways to Embellish with Brads

The use of brads is a wonderful way to make your rubber stamping images unique, dimensional and interesting. We have come up with a number of ideas for you to try:

1. Use brads of varying sizes to emphasize the center of a stamped flower.
2. Add a brad to each corner of a stamped frame to enhance the handmade look.
3. Embellish a title and make it more fun by adding brads to the tips, tails or dots of your stamped alphabet letters.
4. Attach or hang a tag using a brad and a little string, quickly adding fascination to your scrapbook pages.
5. Use small brads to form bullets for a list of things you want to list on your page.
6. Use shaped brads to made fun buttons when you stamp a snowman or a shirt.
7. Stamp and decorate a Christmas tree using shiny round brads.
8. Use brads to jazz up the lights on a police car or firetruck image.
9. Place a trio of brads along a narrow border or at the base of a mat to draw attention to a picture or theme.
10. Brads offer a great way to attach additional elements to a scrapbooking project such as wire, fiber or charms.

With versatility, dimension and aesthetic appeal, brads easily enhance rubber stamped images and scrapbook pages or themes. Have fun experimenting with brads as you create your own charming designs.

A Brad Buckle

Stamping with a Twist!

What a fun way to use up scraps of paper twist ribbon. this ribbon was decorated using clear rubber stamps, a simple green background and a summer sentiment. The buckle is an old brooch, adding a bit of class to the front of the card! Try rubber stamping on paper twist ribbon and do the vacation twist!

Stamping with a Twist

3D Rubber Stamping & Scrapbooking

Paper Tole Cowboy

Paper tole is the art of taking flat images and creating three dimensional art with them. This is a new and exciting way to embellish your rubber stamping projects. This technique takes a little time and imagination but with simple rubber stamping images created with craft rubber stamps, it can be a very rewarding and fun way to embellish scrapbook pages and card making projects. To learn how to apply paper tole in your rubber stamping crafts visit http://www.clearlyrubberstamping.com/paper-tole-embellishments

Three easy embellishment tips for Camping Pages

Camping Discoveries

This Camping Bear Clear stamp set is so fun to use when creating rubber stamping embellishments for a camping theme page.

1.  Stamp three of the hiker from the Camping Bear Clear Rubber Stamp Set and color him in with chalks.  Do paper tole with the three identical images to give a three dimensional effect.

2.  Use small twigs to add to a camping or hiking page.  These twigs create stunning borders and this little hiker has an authentic hiking stick!!!

3.  Use natural elements and colors similar to what you would find in the great outdoors.  Other ideas include stones and leaves.

With these simple, terrific ways to embellish scrapbook pages with your rubber stamps, you are set for a summer full of fun and rubber stamping!!!