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Arch Lattice Edger Punch

This punch creates a beautiful border design with die-cut and embossed details. This Arch Lattice edger punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This Arch Lattice edger punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

3-in-1 Classic Butterfly Punch

This easy and fun-to-use 3-in-1 Classic Butterfly craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. You can use this punch for confetti as well. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Monarch Butterfly
Edge Punch Around the Page

This punch creates a beautiful with die-cut border design design. This Monarch Butterfly edge around punch with the matching corner punch (sold separately) makes an elegant continuous border design. You can also use this punch alone. This punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This Monarch Butterfly edge punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns. Also, this edge punch features fold able wings for convenient storage in standing position.

Bumble Bee Double Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Bumble Bee craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Glassene Butterfly Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Glassene Butterfly craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs from paper, cardstock, felt, foam sheets, thin metal, and more. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Monarch Butterfly Corner Around The Page Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Monarch Butterfly Corner craft punch with the matching edge punch (sold separately) creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs, that together provides a continuous design around all four sides of your craft project. This corner punch is great too when used alone for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects.

Monarch Butterfly Corner Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Monarch Butterfly Corner craft punch with the matching edge punch (sold separately) creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs, that together provides a continuous design around all four sides of your craft project. This corner punch is great too when used alone for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects.

Monarch Butterfly Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Monarch Butterfly craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Butterfly Stamp and Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Butterfly craft stamp and punch has two different functions: one creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs; while the other provides a stamped bird image. This punch and stamp is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects. The stamp and punch can each be used separately for more fun options. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Medium Classic Butterfly Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Classic Butterfly craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Crown Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Crown craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

1″ Scalloped Circle Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Scalloped Circle craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. You can create neat scalloped circles from paper, cardstock, cardboard, felt, foam sheets, thin metals, and more. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch also makes a great background for a smaller shape or decorative stickers.

Pointed Circle 1″ Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Pointed Circle craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. You can create neat pointed circles from paper, cardstock, cardboard, felt, foam sheets, thin metals, and more. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch also makes a great background for a smaller shape or decorative sticker.

Corner Rounder Punch

This easy and fun-to-use pointed Corner Round craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. You can create neat pointed circles from paper, cardstock, cardboard, felt, foam sheets, thin metals, and more. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects.

Cosmos Punch

This fun and easy to use Cosmos craft punch creates a crisp, perfectly shaped cut-out from paper, cardstock, cardboard, felt, foam sheets, thin metals and more if not too thick. You can layer or combine this shape with others companion Cosmos shapes: Hydrangea and Rose Leaf punches to create spring or floral themed embellishments. Use on cards, scrapbook pages, invitations and other paper craft projects.

Checkerboard Edger Punch

This punch creates a beautiful with die-cut Checkerboard border design. This border punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This Checkerboard edger punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Note: The shape will remain connected to the paper after punching.

Daisy Fan Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Daisy Fan die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Daisy Fan punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Medium Layering Daisy

This easy and fun-to-use Layering Daisy craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. You can make your own dimensional daisy embellishments by stacking layers of petals. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Double Loop Weave Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Double Loop Weave die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Double Loop Weave punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Doily Lace Trim Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Doily Lace die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Doily Lace punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Dragon Fly Medium Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Dragon Fly craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Double Embossed Elephant

This fun craft punch creates a cute Elephant with die-cut details, and an ear that you can bend. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. The tool stands upright for easy access and storage.

Note: The shape will remain attached to the paper. Pull gently to lift out the elephants ears.

Vintage Doily Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Vintage Doily die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Vintage Doily punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Eyelet Lace Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Eyelet Lace die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Eyelet Lace punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Floral Vine Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Floral Vine die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Floral Vine punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Flower Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Flower craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped tulip cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Large Flower Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Large Flower craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs with with embossed details and fold-up petals. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Fleur De Lis Medium Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Fleur De Lis craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Flowers on a Vine Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Flower on a Vine die-cut border design up to two-and-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Flowers on a Vine punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Flower Bed Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Flower Bed die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Flower Bed punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Garden Trellis Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Garden Trellis die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Garden Trellis punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

3-in-1 Hydrangea Punch

This easy and fun-to-use 3-In-1 Hydrangea craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs of three tiny hydrangea blossoms. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. These punch outs can also be used for confetti. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Note: The shape will remain attached to the paper. Pull gently to lift out the Hydrangea petals.

Heart Chain Punch Around the Page Set

This Martha Stewart Crafts™ Heart Chain Punch Around the Page Combo Set will create a beautiful die-cut border along all 4 edges of a page. Guides printed on the tools ensure precise alignment for a perfect continuous pattern. You can also use the corner punch and edge punch individually, to create single-edge borders and decorative corner designs. This Set Heart Chain punch around edger punch is a great tool for adding an elegant border for cards, scrapbook pages, invitations and other paper craft projects. 2 pieces.

Heartbeat Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Heartbeat die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Heartbeat punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Happy Birthday Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Happy Birthday die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Happy Birthday punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Holiday Lights Deep Double-Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous two-sided die-cut border design up to two-and-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Holiday Lights deep double-edge punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This Holiday Lights punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Ladybug Punch Around The Page

This punch creates a continuous Lady Bug die-cut border with the matching edge punch (sold separately) creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs, that together provides a continuous design around all four sides of your craft project. This Lady Bug punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Ladybug Corner Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Lady Bug Corner craft punch with the matching edge punch (sold separately) creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs, that together provides a continuous design around all four sides of your craft project. This corner punch is great too when used alone for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects.

Ladybug Double Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Ladybug craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs with die-cut details. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Note: The shape will remain attached to the paper. Pull gently to lift out the ladybug.

Leaves and Branch Deep Edge Punch

This punch creates a continuous Leaves and Branch die-cut border design up to two-an-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Leaves and Branch punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Medallion Medium Double Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Medallion craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Ribbon Bow Medium Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Ribbon Bow Medium craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Snowflake Trim Deep Double-Edge-Punch

This punch creates a continuous two-sided die-cut border design up to two-and-a-half times the size of a standard edge punch. This Snowflake Trim deep double-edge punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, and other paper crafts. This Snowflake Trim punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Scallop Dot Edge Punch

This punch creates a beautiful die-cut scalloped border. This Scallop Dot edge punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This Scallop Dot punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Scallop Embossed Edge Punch

This punch creates a beautiful die-cut and embossed detailed scalloped border design. This Scallop Embossed edge punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This Scallop Embossed edge punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Star Border Edge Punch

This punch creates a beautiful die-cut star border design. This Stars edge punch is a great tool for adding a themed border for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This Stars edge punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Stars Edger Punch

This unique punch creates a beautiful die-cut border design. This Stars edge punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. Use one punched shape as an accent piece, or line up multiple punches to a border. This Stars edge punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Double Scallop Edger Punch

This punch creates a large scallop pattern edged with a smaller design to provide an elegant die-cut Double Scallop border. This border punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This Double Scallop edger punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Signature Hole Punch Edger Punch

This special punch creates parallel punched holes perfectly spaced to fit Martha Stewart’s ring binders. There is an alignment guide to help create a continuous pattern. The open holes are great for threading yarn, ribbon or raffia to adorn your cards, scrapbook pages, invitations and other paper craft projects.

Threader Edger Punch

This handy tool creates a continuous series of double slots. These slots will allow for threading of ribbon, yarn, raffia and other materials sized to meet the size of the punched holes. This punch provides an easy, neat and evenly spaced slots to thread ribbon-embroidered borders for cards, scrapbook pages, invitations and other paper craft projects. This Threader edger punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Thank You Large Double Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Thank You craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is especially great for decorating cards, but can be used equally as well for photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Teddy Bear Medium Double Embossing Punch

This easy and fun-to-use pointed Teddy Bear craft double embossing punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs with embossed details. You can create neat embossed teddy bears which are great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects.

Pop-up Water Lily Double Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Water Lily craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs with embossed details and fold-up petals. You can create neat pop-up Water Lilies from paper, cardstock, cardboard, felt, foam sheets, thin metals, and more. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Zig Zag Edge Punch

This punch creates a zig-zag die-cut and embossed details border design. This Zig Zag edge punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This edge punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Star Border Edge Punch

This punch creates a beautiful die-cut star border design. This Stars edge punch is a great tool for adding a themed border for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This Stars edge punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Stars Edger Punch

This unique punch creates a beautiful die-cut border design. This Stars edge punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. Use one punched shape as an accent piece, or line up multiple punches to a border. This Stars edge punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Double Scallop Edger Punch

This punch creates a large scallop pattern edged with a smaller design to provide an elegant die-cut Double Scallop border. This border punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This Double Scallop edger punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Signature Hole Punch Edger Punch

This special punch creates parallel punched holes perfectly spaced to fit Martha Stewart’s ring binders. There is an alignment guide to help create a continuous pattern. The open holes are great for threading yarn, ribbon or raffia to adorn your cards, scrapbook pages, invitations and other paper craft projects.

Threader Edger Punch

This handy tool creates a continuous series of double slots. These slots will allow for threading of ribbon, yarn, raffia and other materials sized to meet the size of the punched holes. This punch provides an easy, neat and evenly spaced slots to thread ribbon-embroidered borders for cards, scrapbook pages, invitations and other paper craft projects. This Threader edger punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Teddy Bear Medium Double Embossing Punch

This easy and fun-to-use pointed Teddy Bear craft double embossing punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs with embossed details. You can create neat embossed teddy bears which are great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects.

Thank You Large Double Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Thank You craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs. This punch is especially great for decorating cards, but can be used equally as well for photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Pop-up Water Lily Double Punch

This easy and fun-to-use Water Lily craft punch creates crisp, perfectly shaped cut-outs with embossed details and fold-up petals. You can create neat pop-up Water Lilies from paper, cardstock, cardboard, felt, foam sheets, thin metals, and more. This punch is great for decorating cards, photo mats, scrapbook pages, and other paper craft projects. This punch stands upright for easy access and storage.

Zig Zag Edge Punch

This punch creates a zig-zag die-cut and embossed details border design. This Zig Zag edge punch is great for card making, scrapbooking, gift wrapping, photo mats and other paper crafts. This edge punch has an alignment guide to ensure perfect continuous patterns.

Brads come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. They can easily add a touch of elegance to pages and cards. They are easy to apply. Brads are often used to attach other items to your cards and pages as well as for their pure decorative value. See article on “Brads” for more helpful information.

Buttons need no introduction. We all use them–mostly for clothing–each and every day. Given the vast array of variety, sizes and colors available, they make a great addition to scrapbook pages and cards. See article on “Buttons” for more helpful information.

What a great way to add color, texture and some depth to your paper projects. They can be used as accent or shading to die-cuts and letters. Chalk can liven up otherwise dull looking elements. One thing to be aware of when using chalk is that it can be messy. Be sure to use a clean area, and be sure to clean the area thoroughly after use or you’ll add chalk to other projects where you may not have wanted it. See article on “Chalk” for more helpful information.

Charms like buttons and brads can add variety and interest to your cards and scrapbook pages. These little tidbits come in a vast array of subject material–finding one that meet a theme can be just the ticket you need to say something or add emphasis.

Charms are small machine pressed imprints of items. Some are painted to add detail or emphasis. Most have a small hole so they can be attached to bracelets or necklaces, but today, many are produce exclusively for the paper crafter.

Charms can be attached to your project with glue dots, or maybe a brad, or stitched . . . to this end you can be a bit creative.

Like the warning giving so often when adding things to a scrapbook page, be sure the item is acid free–doesn’t have sharp points or edges which could damage your pages. Take the necessary precautions to protect your project from these potential problems.

If you want a quick infusion of interest and focus on your card or scrapbook page you should use die-cuts. Die-cuts are available in thematic packets, individually or you can have your own cut at your favorite scrapbook store. For those who are believers in the value of die-cuts, and who have the capital resource, will be investors in a personal die-cut machine. There are several different models in various price ranges available to the paper crafter.

Die-cuts can be made from various materials–mostly card stock–but there are other mediums you can use.

Eyelets are little rings generally made from metal provide both a visual touch on their own, or can be used as holes to thread other material such as yarn or ribbon through. Eyelets come in the colors of the metals they are made from (typically aluminum or brass), or they may be color coated. These decorative facets can also be used to attach other elements to personal cards and scrapbook pages. Eyelets do need to be set and may require the use of a setter to bend the flanges back to secure them to your project.

Fabric, like buttons, is something you see every day. Using fabric with your personal cards and scrapbooks can add texture, dimension, focus, elegance and warmth to name a few attributes. The only additional tools needed to work with fabric are spray adhesive or iron-on transfer paper and scissors or pinking shears (to help keep ends from fraying).

What fabrics can you use? Try denim, satin, corduroy, twill, linen, tulle, burlap, leather, cotton in a myriad of patterns. You can attach your fabric with eyelets, brads, stitching, spray adhesive or iron-on transfer paper. With shear or transparent fabric you may have to experiment on attaching to your projects, but spray adhesive may be your best bet.

What can you do with fabric to spice up your scrapbook pages and personal cards? Consider sewing items on your fabric; Use iron on transfers to add a touch of something to your fabric, or in place of putting it through your printer; tear sections into strips; use them as photo corners; add words–stencils, hand written, rub-ons, stamp or print; use fabric as a stencil backing that can be seen through cut out openings; you can stamp or paint images or lettering on the fabric; make die-cut or punched images or create your own tags. These are just a few ideas to help you consider ways to use fabric.

Fabric will give you a means of adding several elements to your pages and cards. Your own creativity will be a big boost to your finished products.

Fibers, like fabric and buttons, can provide you with an added dimension to your cards and pages. They are varied and versatile. Consider yarns, string, waxy flax or linen, embroidery thread, fancy fibers, cording, etc. The various colors and textures of these fibers will add utility and dimension to any paper craft project. Fibers can be single strands from wide woven fabric.

What are some of the ways you can use fibers in your scrapbook and card projects? Consider using them as borders on photos and other embellishments; as a means of creating a dangling effect–like hanging charms;
stitching around items or attaching other embellishments; sew on fancy buttons, or add beads and sequins threaded on fiber; make decorative bows; lace through pre-punched holes. Fibers can be affixed to your projects by stitching, weaving, wrapped around eyelets and brads, and with adhesive or glue dots. Any way you use fiber you will find a fun and easy way to add texture and interest to your scrapbook and cards.

Flowers are such a natural addition that can add a touch of elegance to any scrapbook or card project. The first impression would be to use real flowers. They are delicate and will dry out. Dried flowers are even more delicate, and will require some extra care and attention when using them. Putting them in plastic will help keep any material that may break-off from going all over your page or book. Also, the plastic will help eliminate the worry about damage to your pages from the lignin which plants are made of. Use flowers wisely.

When project’s layout calls for flowers you may want to consider using silk ones. Silk flowers will get rid of most of the problems noted above.

You may also want to consider paper flowers. They can be purchased or you can make your own.

The hardware store has a lot of “non-traditional” things you could use in your card and scrapbook layouts. Consider sandpaper to give the appearance of sand. Washers–painted or plain–offer a variety of uses where circles may be needed. Wire or plastic mess or screening. Plastic electrical tape in various colors. Wire–steel, aluminum or copper–coated or uncoated. These suggestions should get your creative mind going . . . hardware stores have a lot to offer in this non-traditional effort.

Be sure to take advantage of metal in your card and scrapbook layouts. Metal can be in many different forms from sheets: aluminum foil, steel, copper are the most common, but others can be used. There are many high quality die-cast embellishments you can purchase through your favorite scrapbook outlet.

When using metal sheets, be aware that thin sheets can be torn . . . while thicker sheets can be sharp or too heavy if you use too much. Where the material is sharp you may consider bending over the edges or sanding them with emery cloth.

When cost is a serious consideration, you may want to check out your local office supply store. These outlets have a number of items you could use in your card and scrapbook efforts. Things like: paper clips–including colors and various sizes; staples (in colors); address labels–self adhesive and in different sizes (great for journal entries); tags–in various sizes; brads; small envelopes (make great pockets).

One of the most versatile elements you can use for embellishing your scrapbook pages and personal cards is paper. Paper comes in many different weights (thickness); textures and certainly colors. Consider crape paper, tissue paper, corrugated paper (cardboard), card stock, etc. Add a pair of scissors or a die-cutter and you have an almost limitless array of opportunities–along with your own creative juices. You can cut, tear, shred, color, layer, etc. paper to give you unique pieces to add to your pages and cards. You can layer paper or add shading with paper. Let your creative imagination go wild!

Punches are simply single purpose small die-cuts. They come in a wide array of shapes–some are big, some smaller. Punches can be used for borders or as free standing elements. Small scraps of paper that otherwise might be thrown away can be used to make cut-outs.

Punches can be used two ways: 1) from the punched out piece being affixed to your card or page; 2) the punched out design in the page or card (add a color backing for an additional affect). See article on “Scrapbooking Punches” for more information.

Ribbon can be used in a number of different ways–similar to those for fiber noted above. The finished nature of ribbon can give a little touch of elegance to your project. The right type and color of ribbon can equally give a more masculine look. An extra wide ribbon can be punched for the benefits noted in the “punches” ideas–either for the punched item or for the punched hole affect.

Rub-on or transfers as they are sometimes referred to are similar to stickers. They started out as alphabet transfers; phrases came next, and graphic designs were added. So now rub-ons come in a wide array of choices for varied uses in your scrapbook and personal card creations.

The prime differences are in their application and permanency. Rub-ons are hard to remove once you’ve applied them to your project–covering them with something else is a good way to hide a rub-on mistake. Like stickers, rub-ons have an adhesive backing, but are applied by rubbing over the item with a stylus (a Popsicle stick is ofter used as the stylus). They can be used on most any clean flat surface . . . textured surfaces may cause distortion to the look of the transfer.

Rub-ons (alphabetical and word phrases) are often used for page titles, or in place of hand written journal entries. Don’t be shy in trying something new. They are a great help to scrappers who take the time to used them, and they’re not overly expensive compared to other embellishments.

To help eliminate errors from rubbing a part of an unwanted transfer from a sheet (usually how they are produced), before transferring, cut the desired item from the sheet–ensuring both the backing and overlay are cut at the same time. Then rub-on the individual item to your project.

Rubber stamps are another of the very versatile tools available to scrapbook and personal card crafters to help provide exciting embellishments. Crafters can purchase ready made stamps in a wide variety of designs, or you can have personally designed stamps fabricated for your use.

Using rubber stamps is easy. Simply load or our rubber stamp with a thin layer of ink or Acrylic paint (the most preferred medium now) using a foam paintbrush (or a clean make-up sponge). Inks come in a wide broad range of colors. Stamp pads are not the preferred method because you don’t often get a fully loaded or covered stamp. A poorly layered stamp will provide a poor result–one lacking detail and clarity. Once the stamp is adequately inked press the stamp straight down on your project with firm even pressure, and lift straight up after the impression has been affixed to your page or card. Rocking your stamp as you lift it off will give the stamp a slight distressed look–you may want that.

After each use be sure to thoroughly clean your stamp pad. This allows you to use your stamp with new colors and with out ink build-up which can cause poor future impression and add color you may not want on other impressions. See article on “Basics of Rubber Stamping” for more helpful information.

Stitching is a fantastic way to add a special look to your cards and scrapbook pages. Crafters can hand stitch their projects or use a craft sewing machine.

Stitching can be done with thread, embroidery thread, waxy flax, fancy fibers and ribbon (small sizes usually). Hand stitching may require pre-punching or piercing your project to allow the fiber material to be sewn. Stitching is most often used to border or outline other elements. It can also be used to attach items to your pages and cards. See article on “Hand Stitching Scrapbook Pages” for more helpful information and“Machine Stitching Scrapbook Pages”

Stickers have become one of the favorite embellishments for paper crafters. They are readily available in a myriad of colors, shapes and sizes. If you needed to, you could create your own, but their is a probably a commercially produced one already available. Stickers come in sheets, rolls and individually. Using stickers is a simple as finding the sticker you want or need peeling it from its backing and placing it where you want it on your project. Most stickers are forgiving and will allow you to lift and replace them as needed. Their versatility of use only requires a bit of a creative mind. See article on “A Scrapbook Sticker Technique To Use” for more helpful information.

Tags are a draw from shipping tags found at the office supply store. Tags can be found in many shapes and sizes. They can be hand made–best with the help of a template, or purchased from your local paper-craft store. Scrapbook crafters have a number of innovative ways to used them.

Here are a few suggestions: As a photo mat if the tag is large enough for the photo; One of the most used ideas is as a journal medium–including stuffing them in a pocket as a hidden journal note; As a title with the addition of other embellishments; When arranged properly they can be a unique border to a page or an element on a page; Use them as a quote caption; Mini-scrapbooks could be made from them; For the card makers in the crowd, you could create a personal card from a tag. See article on “Simple Scrapbook Techniques – Tags” for more information.

Templates are a useful tool when creating your scrapbook pages or personal cards. The template is a “blueprint” for what you want your page to look like, and how the page is laid out. They are a guide to follow. You can make your own template or utilize the designs created by others.

Templates are also useful in making elements for your project–tags, photo frames, embellishments, cards, etc. These templates help you follow a pattern to make your item. Each succeeding items created from your template should be identical.

Chipboard and pressed wood are useful in scrapbook designs because they are thicker material and present a nice dimensional look. Most often you find these items already die-cut and ready to use. Some tags come ready to use with adhesive already on their backs. Another nice feature about them is they can be larger in size because of their thickness. They are durable and less flexible.

Wood and chipboard that has not been produced with a design–called “naked”–can be made into most anything you would like. They can be die-cut, but require equipment designed to handle these thicker pieces. You can paint or cover them in many different material. They can be attached with glue, large stapes, brads and eyelets. Chipboard and wood present a great way to expand your embellishing efforts. For information on die cut machines see article on “Scrapbook Die Machine – Cut and Embossing” for more information.