SundayLDesigns

How to Easily Apply Self-Adhesive Letters to a Scrapbook Layout

I posted a picture of this scrapbook page a few posts back. It was a fairly quick page to make and I used the Wisteria Collection from Basic Grey. The reason for me showing it to you again is because I used self-adhesive letters from the sticker sheet included with the collection. I am going to share a TIP as to how you can line up your letters quickly and easily to form your words before you stick them down on your project.

Scrapbook Page "Snow Angels" by SundayL

Firstly, find a ruler. It is preferable to have a transparent one but not essential, you can still use this technique with a metal or wooden ruler for instance. Then take your first sticky letter and place the bottom third (ish as this is only to hold the letter still while you work) of the letter onto the top edge of your ruler.

using-stick-on-letters-1

As you can see in the picture above I have lined up the six letters I need for my word using the top edge of my ruler as a guide, so that they are straight. I have only lightly stuck them in place so that they can easily be removed. Now I can move the whole word around my page (or a card for that matter) until I am happy with the placement.

using-stick-on-letters-2

This is where the transparent ruler comes in handy as you can clearly see the layout underneath and decide where your word should end up permanently.

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When you are happy with the placement, you can press the tops of the letters down onto your project, whilst holding the ruler in place.

using-stick-on-letters-4

Once all your letters are stuck to the page, carefully tip up the ruler and slowly pull it away from the bottom of the letters. You may need to either hold down the tops of the letters as you pull, and/or release the bottoms gently from the ruler (this depends on how tacky the adhesive is and whether you “overstuck” them to the ruler in the first place! lol)

using-stick-on-letters-5

Now you can press the bottoms of the letters down and, all being well, your alphas should look neat.

Money Saving Advice for Scrapbooking Beginners

I am often asked about how to start scrapbooking (as mentioned in a recent post). This is what I tell them…

Firstly, you need know what you want to achieve in order to know what you need to buy!

If you just want to dabble, to try out Scrapbooking then you will only need a few supplies and here is an article I wrote showing, step by step how I used only normal things found around the house, effectively making a “free” scrapbook page.

If you know that you want to scrapbook a particular event (say a Holiday or birth) or maybe (as many people do) start with a whole “This is your life to date” type of album (not recommended for beginners!) then you will need some supplies, however I would start with dabbling a bit first!

I would suggest that you do a lot of “cheating” and buy a kit! But don’t go mad, buy one… use it, then buy another. Try not fall in the trap of “oooh that’s nice, I’ll buy it” and then get home and not know what to do with it!

Kits should include papers, embellishments, stickers, alphas (eg alphabet stickers) this will save a beginner a LOT of heart ache! and a lot of cash because you won’t be buying lots of different things.

It’s too easy to walk into a craft shop and end up buying lots of lovely “little” things, but when you get home you find they aren’t really suitable for your scrapbooking. Mostly these little bits and pieces are made for cardmaking.

My mum is a great one for buying loads of stuff, which she then offers to me as she can’t actually find a use for them!! Of course, they are of little use to me as a scrapbooker, however grouping lots of little bits and pieces together to make one larger (area) of embellishment can look good.

I always look at scrapbook embellishments and carefully consider firstly, if I could make it myself, and then secondly whether I am prepared to pay someone else to make it for me!

I actually like the act of creating embellishments from scratch, but metal items I won’t make myself, so will purchase those.

Another tip for saving money whilst achieving a god result is to make mini albums. simple little projects are fairly quick, with high instant satisfaction levels (!) and do’t cost the earth to make due to their size. I often demonstrate mini albums of various shapes and sizes and they are always well received. Check out THIS set of blog posts for some tutorials and video tours of Mini Scrapbook Albums.

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Simple Scrapbooking Layout - “Snow Angels” by SundayL

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Way back in December (seems ages ago now!) I attended a local Scrapbooking crop and as it was the Christmas crop, the host provided a kit for a mini album, and here is my end result!

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I particularly like the random nature of the pages [...]

On the Down Low - Low Level Photography

This is brought to you from the SimplyScrapbookingNow.com website… I thought I would post it here for those who have read it… because it’s changed and for those who haven’t because it’s interesting! The article reads…
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Today was a bit of a sad day for me, as I had to bury one of my Koi. Oscar just didn’t make it through, what with the move from the old house to the holding tank and then into the new pond, coupled with the very cold weather we have just had.
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