I was looking back at some of my past scrapbook layouts recently and I realized there are a few tricks and embellishments I use very often. VERY often. I started thinking that perhaps I use them too much. You ever think that?
After mulling it over for a while, I thought there certainly can’t be too much of a good thing in your scrapbooks. I enjoy creating these elements and using these embellishments on my layouts. So why stop? As the saying goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Instead, I frame it, stitch it or pierce it. In fact, between these two layouts, I did each of these tricks at least once – if not more.
1. Cardstock Frames
I love creating a focal point on my pages and I find that framing a photo is a great way to do just that. I usually layer a few frames made with contrasting patterned paper and separate them with cardstock. My little pièce de résistance to finish off the frames is to place brads in the corners where the picture meets the frame. Parfait!
2. Stitching
I think there is no better touch on a scrapbook page than finishing off a seam between two pieces of paper with some good old-fashioned stitching. The Betsy Ross inside me gets a secret joy from lugging out my Kenmore and feeding the paper through the sewing machine foot. The hum of my sewing machine motor combined with the syncopated piercing of patterned paper is beautiful music.
3. Paper Flowers
Since the sewing machine tidbit pretty much eliminated any chance of being named the next James Bond, I might as well fess up to another less masculine embellishment I absolutely love: paper flowers. Whenever I’ve got a scrapbook page needing a little something special…I find a flower usually fits the scrapbooking bill. I especially love layering flowers and topping them off with a brad stuck through the middle.
4. Brads
Speaking of brads, I adore them. I love how a line of brads are the perfect way to highlight a photo or die cut. It’s hard – if not impossible – for me to pass a package of brads at the store and not purchase it. Glazed, jeweled, velvet, metal, fabric…I love them all.
After mulling it over for a while, I thought there certainly can’t be too much of a good thing in your scrapbooks. I enjoy creating these elements and using these embellishments on my layouts. So why stop? As the saying goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Instead, I frame it, stitch it or pierce it. In fact, between these two layouts, I did each of these tricks at least once – if not more.
1. Cardstock Frames
I love creating a focal point on my pages and I find that framing a photo is a great way to do just that. I usually layer a few frames made with contrasting patterned paper and separate them with cardstock. My little pièce de résistance to finish off the frames is to place brads in the corners where the picture meets the frame. Parfait!
2. Stitching
I think there is no better touch on a scrapbook page than finishing off a seam between two pieces of paper with some good old-fashioned stitching. The Betsy Ross inside me gets a secret joy from lugging out my Kenmore and feeding the paper through the sewing machine foot. The hum of my sewing machine motor combined with the syncopated piercing of patterned paper is beautiful music.
3. Paper Flowers
Since the sewing machine tidbit pretty much eliminated any chance of being named the next James Bond, I might as well fess up to another less masculine embellishment I absolutely love: paper flowers. Whenever I’ve got a scrapbook page needing a little something special…I find a flower usually fits the scrapbooking bill. I especially love layering flowers and topping them off with a brad stuck through the middle.
4. Brads
Speaking of brads, I adore them. I love how a line of brads are the perfect way to highlight a photo or die cut. It’s hard – if not impossible – for me to pass a package of brads at the store and not purchase it. Glazed, jeweled, velvet, metal, fabric…I love them all.
Eric, thanks for all of the amazing layouts and tips you shared with us this week! You have a lot of wonderful ideas and great craftsmanship.
Readers, leave a comment telling us which post was your favorite this week and you will be entered into a giveaway to win a grab-bag of products Eric used throughout the week. Just leave your comment by Sunday January 17th at midnight and we will announce the winner Monday. Be sure to check back next week to see if you are the winner because if we don't hear from the winner by January 25th we will pick a new winner!
Readers, leave a comment telling us which post was your favorite this week and you will be entered into a giveaway to win a grab-bag of products Eric used throughout the week. Just leave your comment by Sunday January 17th at midnight and we will announce the winner Monday. Be sure to check back next week to see if you are the winner because if we don't hear from the winner by January 25th we will pick a new winner!
78 comments:
Loved the instructions on pop ups. Thanks for sharing your imagination with us.
My favorite has to be Eric's pages that pop as well. It's really something that goes along with the SEI style and classes.
Great week of inspiration. I, especially, love today's post. Each layout is fabulous and packed with techniques.
I'm so impressed by the tuesday post, the one with scrapbook pages that pops! I have to admit, I'm an unpatient scrapper, so seing such marvelous projects gives me a little kick to try something different and a bit more complicated.
Thanks for all the inspiration through the week, and have a good weekend :)
I loved this latest entry speaking of framing, embellishments (flowers, brads), etc. I find I'm a big embellshment fan myself. Thanks for sharing your creativity!
All great posts this week, but I admit to being partial to the pop-up post. Very cool!
After looking at the week's posts I have to say today's post!
I loved that pop up... a good way to make something extra special and very creative.
The pop up was cool and different. But I enjoyed the small stuff too..the stitching, the travel, use of matting and framing. All so good!
I liked the pages that pop post! Love 3-dimensional & interactive projects!
All the posts were great, but I loved the pop up post the most also. It was so unique.
Everything was great this week, but my favorite has to be the pop up page !!
All week was fabulous but I have to agree that the pop up was pretty fantastic!
Lots of good stuff this week, but I guess I would go with pages that POP!! super creative and something I would have never thought of! Thanks for the great inspiration!!
You had me at his first post last friday. What a cutie and a scrapbooker to boot. Loved all of the posts this week!! Thanks for sharing him!!
I liked the post about mixing and matching papers from different lines. I'm a stickler for using the same line for an entire album, but Eric had some good tips.
WOW! That pop up layout was STUNNING! Thanks so much for showing us all how to do it!
The pop up layout was a stand out - very creative
My favorite post so far is this one for today. I love scrapbooking and the layouts today are fabulous, thank you.
I really loved the pop-up page instructions, but I LOVE the layouts in this post. They're beautiful!
Melissa Kaye
I liked the pop-up entry as well as the entry on mixing the different paper lines-which I have found easy using the different SEI lines.
I liked today's post best. I'm a brad girl, myself, so they are close to my heart already. But I really loved the framed picture idea with brads in the corners. That is totally cool!
I love your post on using chipboard puzzle pieces-I thought these were long gone-but if they're back 'in', I am all set...I have tons left over...thank you for re-introducing them to me.
Definitely love the pop-up page - SO clever! Thanks for sharing so much with us!
Can't choose-looked forward to each day-thank you for the inspiration!
I enjoyed the pop up blog a lot but also the mixing of papers. I learned something all week. Great job Eric. You are incredibly talented.
This has been my favorite post -- I love knowing I'm not the only one that has some "go-to" embellishments:-)
I really enjoyed reading your blog posts Eric! My favorite was the post featuring the Puzzle of your Life layout. You eloquently described my favorite thing about scrapping--reliving memories while creating art.
I like the blog on Monday with the road trip. thanks for the giveaway :)
I liked Thursday Mix n match. It was really interesting this week, seeing things from a man's perspective.
Love loved the pop ups! Thanks for the great inspiration!
The pop post was my fav! Thanks for all the great inspriation SEI!!
I loved today's blog. I thought it was very interesting to sit back and think if you do use the same techniques on most of your projects. I must say that I have changed my techniques from time to time, but I always seem to have to include ribbon and flowers.
I loved the page with the christmas lights. I also loved Eric's handwriting.. you need to get that made into a font so I can have it too!! (if you haven't checked out kevinandamanda.com, she makes some awesome handwriting fonts for free)
While I was intrigued with the pop pages I have to say that I was most inspired with Friday's post and the matted and layered pictures. Thank you for sharing.
The pop up post was very innovative - I have never thought of that treatment for a scrapbook page! Thanks for the chance to win!
My favorite was the "too much of a good thing post" - I loved how the sewing looked on the page!
I really loved the pop-up scrapbook pages! Such a fun way to give ur book a little extra.
My favorite was Mixin' and Matchin'. I tend to use only paper from the same line when I scrapbook a page. I'll have to venture out a bit.
Wish I knew that Eric scrapbooked back in high school, we could have gotten together and cropped.
I have roamed through all the post during the week...actually found the site by accident. I love the creativity that has been shared. I enjoyed today's post the most....the use of the embellishments of every page is so true. I feel the layering and the brads are must in most of my projects. I enjoy mixing and matching the papers to fit my trademarks in each layout !
Eric, you have some awesome ideas. It is great to that you have shared so much this week. Hope to see more of your work out there ! You have great talent !
I love the Not Enough of a Good Thing post! You used all of my favorite elements - patterned paper, flowers and ribbons! I plan to lift some of your great ideas!
http://piecesofmepapercrafts.blogspot.com/
I love the pop up's instructions.
I love the Mixin and Matchin post as it looks like the designs I like to use and the pictures looks like they are coming out of the paper. I love mixing different color papers and products too!!!
My favourite was definitely the pop-up - what an amazing layout! I really loved the framing and stitching today too though.
loved the stitching - very inspiring!
Thanks for the comments everyone! Thanks SEI for having me as your guest blogger this month. I enjoyed it so much and loved getting all the feedback - It even resulted in some scrapbook networking on Facebook and Twitter.
Eric Erickson
www.loadofscrap.com
They pages that pop instructions and layout were really cool. I am definately going to try that :)
scrapbook pages that pop was great !
I love the pop up instructions as well as the fav embellies. I notice that I too have the old standbys that I use again and again.
Thanks for sharing the great ideas, and I love the new papers!
I love the back home again layout!!
OK I cant choose ONE but I can say this.. I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR handwritting.. it is great.. Keep up all the scrappin! Loved reading the blog this week
I love Eric's Friday summary and quick tips! The framing with brads is so clean and classic, I'm inspired to do this!
the pop up, hands down...thanks for all the well documented posts :)
I like the sewing technique. I really need to get my moms old sewing machine serviced so I can do this too.
Found this blog from the Christmas with the cricut site and I'm so glad I did!! I love the suggestions for framing and using embellishments and also how to bring different papers together. All the tips were just so useful. My favorite though was the idea to take pictures of all of life, not just the "big" things. What a great idea- after all all the "pieces" fit together to produce the big picture of our lives! Thanks Eric for the wisdom you shared this week.
I don't think I can pick just one thing I liked the best. They were all gorgeous. Changed my mind. I like how you combine so many different elements and make it cohesive. You are talented.
I love this post! Great attention to detail. Thanks for such wonderful product SEI!
cjdempsey9@msn.com
Love your page designs. The pictures are the focus, the use of embellishments just enhance the story you are trying to tell. Great job!
I liked fridays post. Thanks for all the inspiration...Ana L
I am new at this and truly love the papers and items that you use. Some of them are things that are used in office supplies and etc. Keep on creating.
Sandy Bayles
I really liked the pos ups a lot!! Great inspiration all week!
I don't think I can choose just one. I appreciate Eric's clean design, but his hints were fabulous. I never thought of using brads in photo mats. The tips on selecting papers was great. The pop up was fun, but probably not something I would do. So can I say I like 'em all?
Hi. I am so glad I found your blog. I love SEI products. The post on Tuesday this past week. I love the Juliette collection and the idea of pop-ups on a layout.
The PoP up page had to be my favorite. I would like to try that with a card or invitation!
My favorite was his post about Preserving Everyday Moments. I like him take ton of pics of the events but sometimes forget the day to day things will be as important as the special occasions.
Thanks for the great posts
I enjoyed the use of simple embellishments. Just a little something to catch the eye. While I don't use flowers much, I still use the idea. I cut out a shape from the paper, layer and brad or layer and pop dot.
Eric is such a breath of fresh air. My fave this week was the pop-up page, hands down. Who does this stuff? The fabulous Eric, of course.
All week was great! I liked the pop-up page, also frames, but then, mix & matching paper was interesting. All was good TFS
I enjoyed all the posts this week, but I would have to say my favorite was Scrapbook Pages That Pop.
Just too cool!
My favorite was the sewing and the brad blog. Just amazing work! I just love SEI products!
I really enjoyed the pop up instructions and puzzle post. Learned something new. The entire week was great.
This was a great week of ideas! My favorite is today's with the stitching. I loved this layout!
The pop up page is definitely my favorite post, but everything this week has been a great.
I loved the Mixin and Matchin - so often you "stay between the lines" and play safe, but you may be missing out on the fun! Terrific week!
I love the input about sewing & brads. And the bit about being a "photo-holic". Too Funny!!
The one I printed this week was the pop up page, I just love this idea and the instructions were great, very inspiring. I am hoping to create something similar with the post's instructions and pictures, thanks!
Debbie Harris
It is difficult to pick one post! Loved the one on pics--though I do tend to take lots of everyday pics--being a homebody! LOL (though I get tons at the big events also!)
I think I loved this last post the best. Just love the multi framing and the sewing. It was also nice to hear that there are others that tend to do the same things on their pages all the time!
Pop up! how can anything beat popups?? I am in love with the idea and will probably have too many in my next set of scrapbook pages.
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