Paper Crafting Tips
Making a Photo Appear Larger
An easy way to make a photograph seem larger on a scrapbook page is to use papers or cardstocks that coordinate with the photo and make the photo appear to extend into the background.
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Gift Baskets
Give a crafty friend the perfect gift – a basket full of supplies to craft a project! Include a chipboard frame or box, papers and embellishments that coordinate with your friend’s décor.
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Chipboard
When projects call for chipboard, use recycled board from cereal or tissue boxes, legal pads or junk mail flyers.
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Corner Punch Borders
Use your decorative corner punches to create unique border effects. Remove the guard from any corner punch and see what kind of borders you can create!
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Punch Library
Keep a small photo album in your purse to catalog the punches you have at home. Punch each image, mount onto paper and slide into the photo album. For smaller punches, adhere multiple images to each page to save space. You’ll never buy the same punch twice again!
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Photo Crafts
Photos aren’t just for scrapbooks anymore! Craft frames to match your décor, ornaments for special holiday gifts or custom wall art that features the ones you love!
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Don’t Recycle
Reuse instead! Cover glasses and bottles with papers and embellishments to give them new life. Rescue plastic and chipboard from product packaging. Before you throw anything away think of ways that you can craft with it.
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Decoupage Glue
This adhesive works double-time on your paper crafting projects. Use it first to glue papers to your project, then when you are finished use another coat as a sealer.
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Gift Tags
Whenever you make a handmade card or gift wrap, use your scraps to create a coordinating gift tag!
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Year of Cards
One rainy day get out your date book and paper crafting supplies. Make cards for all of the occasions you expect in the coming year plus a few extras and you’ll always be prepared.
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Discount Party Planning
Keep your eye out year round for party supplies. You might find perfect candles for your summer wedding at an after-Christmas sale, or find green plastic silverware and plates perfect for a graduation party after St. Patrick’s day.
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Layered Punches
Punch out multiple copies of the same shape. Layer together with adhesive foam circles for a custom dimensional embellishment!
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Paper Cutter
Keep an extra blade for your paper cutter on hand at all times. Dull blades make it hard to cut nice, straight edges.
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Scoring
Need to score fold lines at intervals? Use the measurements on your paper cutter and score with your bone folder along the cutting edge.
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Markers
Store your markers either flat or in a container with the point down. This will keep the point moist and ready to use.
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Detail Scissors
Keep a pair of tiny, sharp-pointed scissors in your work area just for cutting out tiny details or intricate curved edges.
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Glitter
Add sparkle to your paper punches with glitter! Use sparingly or coat the entire piece!
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Altered Embellishments
Don’t be afraid to rework a premade embellishment to make it your own. Take apart the layers on a dimensional sticker, layer adhesive chipboard pieces or stamp onto a sticker. Experiment and make it your own!
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Ornaments
Run patterned paper through a paper shredder or punch it into confetti. Place into clear glass ornaments for a customized look.
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Blank Gift Bags
Stock up on blank white, kraft and colored gift bags in various sizes – buy in bulk or when they are on sale at the craft sore. Then you will always have an assortment on hand when you need to craft a quick gift wrap!
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Embellished Envelopes
Don’t forget the envelope! Line it with paper or embellishments to match your card for a coordinated look.
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Blank Cards
Always keep blank cards and envelopes on hand. Stock a few sizes and colors for variety.
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Collect Recipes
Ask each guest at your next pot-luck party to bring the recipe for their dish. Use the recipes to create a remembrance book for each guest.
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Date Book
Make or purchase a date book to store birthdays, anniversaries and other important card- and gift-giving events. Before you throw out your old calendar at the end of the year, update your date book with any important events so that you‘ll be ready next year!
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Card Sets
Card sets make a wonderful gift. Make a coordinated set with one design, or give the gift of a year of cards. Create a sampling of cards for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other common events so that your recipient will always have a beautiful handmade card to send!
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Photo Thanks
Send a photo with your thank you cards. Pick your favorite shot of the guest of honor, or better yet take a picture of the honoree with each guest so that you can send out personalized photo thank you cards!
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Celebrate Every Day!
Any happy event is cause for celebration—weight loss, a new pet or moving into a new home. Show your friends how much you care – make cards and small handmade gifts to celebrate their everyday accomplishments!
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Paper Scraps
Don’t throw out scraps of paper that are over an inch square. Save them for punching! They are also perfect for cards and gift tags.
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Extra Glitter
Use a glittering tray or a sheet of paper to collect extra glitter. This will make it easy to return the excess to the container!
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Messy Glitter and Glue
When using liquid glue and glitter on small items, use tweezers to keep your fingers clean.
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Enhancing Embellishments
Do you like a premade embellishment but don’t think it’s exactly right for your project? Don’t be afraid to deconstruct it, add to it, and make it uniquely yours!
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