How to Enter:
We all have our favorite crafting tips and tricks. Post your most favorite crafting tip and trick here on the blog. A random participant will win a $25 Making Memories Embellishments Goodie Bag.
Contest Starts: April 4rd, 2012 @ 12:01 AM
Contest Ends: April 4rd, 2012 @ 11:59 PM
Happy crafting!
38 comments:
I use old phone books as my work station base...tearing out pages and then recycling them after they're all covered in glue and ink from making cards!
My tip: Learn proper storage techniques for craft items...Keep glue bottles upside down (use a 6 pack cardboard container) to prevent the need to use straight pins to unclog them. Likewise, ink markers should be stored horizontal. And wash stamps and brushes immediately after use to prevent staining and difficult removal issues.
Use a hair dryer to get rid of hot glue strings.
Hello... I think everybody has a lot of different kind of tricks... but the one that pops into my mind right away, is to use one color from the photo to use in the layout and create some unity... Probably the color less repetitive in the photo would work best. Thanks for the opportunity.
One of my favorite tips when scrapbooking is that I never glue or tape anything down until I am sure that I am happy with my layout, that way I can move things around and play with the elements before I start taping and gluing.
My little tip I have is that i take stand up frames and put velcro dots on them and dots on my bottles of Stickles and glues and velcro them upside down to keep my glues ready to flow. Thanks for chance to win and a chance also to get other tips
cathyplus5.blogspot.com
I have found that having scrapbooking pages partially finished with paper layering, matching layers, and some embellishments, really saves time. Then when I have photos to scrap, the pages are almost done, all I do is add the photos and 1 or 2 embellishments to enhance the photo. Works great for me. Most of the time I have about 100-200 pages ready to add photos to.
I suspect you got the day wrong for this since this is posted the 4th... ;-) My tip is to store your glue upside down (like in a pen holder). It makes it ready to go when you are and avoids air pockets that make the glue come out too fast all of a sudden. :-)
My tip is to always stamp more then one sentiment on paper when making cards. Then when you are finished with a layout, make a card or two before putting stuff away. I do this for Operation Write Home and Children's Hospitals, makes me feel better about buying more supplies, LOL! Thanks for the giveaway!
I sort all of my crafting projects and scrapbooking projects and put them into storage envelopes or boxes. I include the paper, photos and embellishments. Whenever I go to a crop, I can grab whatever project I want to work on and have almost all of the materials I need for it.
I keep a lint roller on my desk for quick clean up. This also helps me to keep my carpet clean.
mapperlmutter@hotmail.com
I use baby wipes to clean my stamps. Not only are the less expensive, they work great. I bought one in a plastic container, saved it and now I just buy refill packs. I have a roll of paper towels to dry my stamp afterward.
I use markers instead of ink on rubber stamps when I want to make the stamped image more than one color. It actually works. Just flip the stamp over so the rubber is facing up. Draw over the stamp ridges with your colored markers and then stamp! You may want to fill it in more than once to make the lines darker...
I make a lot of cards and 3D paper items and use my Martha Stewart scoreboard all the time! My tip is to color the lines at 1/4" increments with different colored fine tip Sharpie markers. For example, 1/4, 1 1/4, 2 1/4 would all be orange, 1/2, 1 1/12, and 2 1/2 would be blue. 3/4, 1 3/4, 2 3/4 would be yellow and 1, 2, 3, would be green. That way you always know that the line you are scoring is perfectly lined up with your paper, even if the paper is an odd shape!
This was posted on the 4th for me also. Keep embossing powders and glitter in salt and pepper ahakers and store in a spice rack.
I view you tube videos to make my own supplies. I have make Glimmer Mist, glue dots and learned to restick my cricut mats this way.
My favorite tip is to use dotted adhesive rollers to put adhesive on small, delicate die cuts. It quickly puts dots on every little spot and is gentle, so it doesn't tear delicate paper. It also provides an instant bond that it pretty "clean" whereas liquid glues can leave a "shadow" around the shape and take some time to dry.
When ordering prints, I use Wolf Camera for $.06 prints on Tuesday/Wednesday for 3.5 x 5 inch prints. I also get a white border on all prints. That's one less border I have to cut. 3.5 x 5 is the perfect size for close ups and putting in cards (4.25 x 5.5 inch). I made my own photo Christmas cards and used Wolf Camera ($.03 each print). Saved tons! I also don't do much cropping on my photos by using 3.5 x 5 inch prints.
I use the inexpensive kitchen cutting sheets made of plastic to cover my scrapbooking table at all times. If I am using a circle cutter or a blade to cut out flowers from a page, I do not have to worry about harming my table. Also, If I use glitter or powders, it makes for quick clean-up by just cupping the sheet and pouring the excess from it. Even when trimming pages or scraping off excess from my Cricut sheet, the trash is easy throw-away when I can just lift the sheet and pour the waste in the trash. The only time I move my cutting board/sheet is when I embellish with a heat gun. It will warp or even melt the sheet. I quickly substitute with the new teflon sheets sold in craft stores.
The best crafting tip I got is to never throw away your scraps. How small is too small well that depends on what your making. But there is so many things you can do with scraps to bring out any card or layout. I keep all my scraps in one place and when I feel like I need that one paper I used a couple months ago to make a flower or a circle I go to my scrap stash.
I use an old baking sheet for heat embossing. It helps speed the melting process on large areas because the baking sheet reflects the heat.
I use an inexpensive placemat on my worktable when I am using a lot of glue or adhesive on projects even though I have a work mat. This helps prevent having a lot of glue residue on my workstation. I can just grab the placemat and take it to the kitchen to clean it and when it gets really bad it can just be replaced because it was so inexpensive to buy.
I keep my embossing powders and glitter in 4" x 4" shallow sealable food containers (one container per color & labeled accordingly) that way I can hold my project over the container, sprinkle the embossing powder and/or glitter onto the project with a spoon and then shake the excess off into the container without making a mess. Thanks for posting this contest. I love reading everyones tips!
When I can't find a flat pearl the color I need, I make a few hot glue dots and wait till they are hard then rub them down with pearl x on my finger. Then I spray with hair spray to set. Spray not pump. Work on rubber or craft sheet. Then I have what a need in a quick pinch. Cindy
My favorite tip is when cuuting out shapes out of fabric on your cricut for applique I remove the backing from heat n bond and have less slippage on mat, Use new blade and mat. To applique smoothly attach a sheet of paper on back of garment to prevent wrinkling or puckering while stitching around the shape.
I check blogs and online sites to learn about new ideas, tips, etc. Then I research all I can to learn the new techniques. I can tell other people how to do these even when the store employee doesn't know how to do it! I like to read all the magazines and craft books also to pick up new techniques and ideas.
When starting a new project I use a recycled bag, usually from my local craft store. They hold two 12x12 clear craft containers. And everything for that project goes into the bag or the containers. That includes the album, stamps, ribbon, paper, embellishments, die cuts, everything that coordinates. So, when I go to a crop I just grab that bag when I want to work on that project.
I use the lower setting on my dual setting heat tool to help dry all sorts of things faster...especially mists and sprays. Since it dries faster, the paper curls less AND helps uncurl what does inevitably end up curling.
My tip is to use a 12x12 ceramic tile from the home stores to put on your table when using a heat gun, or other hot items. This will protect your surface.
Also don't put emblishment on your project until the stickles/ diamond accent/ viva decor has dried. Sometimes the paper may warp and it's easier to glue down afterwards.
Thanks for the chance.
Terri
I use a big piece of scrap paper as my work surface when working with stamps, glue or tape so if there is a mess, it's much easier to clean up.
The most useful thing I've done is to stamp all of my stamps onto computer paper and organize that catalogue in sleeve protectors and a binder. When I create new projects I grant my binder and plan my project before I ever start stamping. Having that visual catalogue has really helped get my creative juices flowing!
My favorite tip to scrapbookers or anyone using photos in their crafts is to NEVER use permanent adhesive on your photos. If you happen to be stuck with no other choice, put a tiny bit in the outer edge of each of the four corners.
I love the measure twice cut once concept-I put all my related paper, embelishments, pics, layout designs, etc in one craft folder for setup that is quick and easy. Thanks for all the tips!
My best craft tip is to clean up after each project. It keeps your supplies organized and you will able to find them. I also have a spreadsheet all my punches dies and inks. That keeps my from buying duplicates.
Aside from being properly organized with a labeled swatch book of all of your embossing folders and punches, I make sure I work on a large self-healing cutting mat. Not only does it it save the table you're working on but it also has a grid to help align pieces and stamps.
I keep a old glossy magazine on my work table, I ink, glue, paint, etc on them to avoid having to clean my table surface all the time, I just tear each page and toss it as it becomes messy.
I use baby powder to put on the cards when I get too crazy with my glue tape! The powder will not show any color and the card and keeps it from sticking to the envelope when you mail it!
I use empty Crystal Light containers for storeage of pens, sharpeis, glue sticks, extra cuts of paper, ribbons, beads, everything! The tall containers are great for pens and you can carry them everywhere without fear of losing them, the smaller ones are great for organizing projects or leftovers. Plue they are opaque so they don't look so messy all lined up on a shelf or window sill.
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