Rub-ons are so versatile it’s hard not to love them. With rub-ons, you can add instant text and images to backgrounds, photos, and other embellishments. Unlike some stickers and stamps, rub-ons can be applied to paper, cardstock, transparencies, vellum, glass, metal, well, let’s just say the list is practically endless. Some rub-ons can even be sealed with a decoupage sealing agent (check your local craft store for more information) allowing them to be permanently added to things like candle holders, boxes, vases, and frames.
The luck o’ the Irish is felt everywhere this time of year and that bit of green fever catches us all. In this St. Patty’s Day layout, Paper House Productions’ rub-ons are used for the title and the large shamrock. For the title, the word “Green” is printed from the computer with each letter cut out and mounted under the photo. To complete the title, “a bit of” is rubbed directly onto the photo and “fever” is rubbed partly on the word “Green” and partly on the small strip of sage cardstock. The large shamrock rub-on accents the theme and lucky feeling of the layout.
Since rub-ons are so versatile, you can place them anywhere on your layouts to get the effect you need. Here, the title, “Families are Forever”, borders the photo keeping the focus on the family in the photo. The circle item tag images are also added using rub-ons that overlap the background cardstock, each other, and the photo. Both of these rub-ons and many more are available from Making Memories.
Another example for using rub-ons is shown here. All of the journaling in this layout is done with rub-on words from Making Memories. The words “remember” and “laugh” are rubbed onto white cardstock and mounted on the layout. To make the word “LIVE”, “L”, “V”, and “E” are rubbed onto chipboard circles and attached while the “I” is rubbed directly onto the page. This adds dimension to the layout. The last word, “love” is added twice. First, one rub-on is rubbed onto a piece of cardstock and mounted on the page. Then, the second “love” is rubbed on to overlap two journaling blocks and the photo.
Now, here is a time-saving way to use rub-ons. Die Cuts With a View offers rub-ons that look like stitches! If you’re like me, you don’t always have time to sew each piece (or don’t want to deal with the extra work!) rub these on and the work is done. Each of the stitches across the bottom strip of multi-colored cardstock is done using the rub-on stitches. From simply looking at this layout, no one would ever know you didn’t have to sweat over needle and thread to complete it.
Here’s a fun way to count down to spring with rub-ons - also from Die Cuts With a View. To make this simple decorative chalkboard, each month title is rubbed onto a piece of textured cardstock and cut to fit around the border of the chalkboard. The spring months are highlighted with ink for emphasis and each month is sanded around the edges. “Spring” is also rubbed onto cardstock, inked, sanded, and mounted on the board with the flower. Finally, “Count-Down” is rubbed directly onto the chalkboard to complete the project. After a long winter, you are now set to count down the days until beautiful spring!
You see, it’s okay to get excited about embellishments, especially rub-ons. They are versatile, easy to use, and tons of fun. So, get your stick, your inspiration and you too will start rubbing away!
To find the products mentioned in this article and shown in these layouts, check with your local scrapbook retailer. Look at our Premier Retail Stores for coupons to a store near you.
