     | | newsletter signup | store directory | bulletin board | calendar | surveys | shop online | coupons | digital designers | Texturizing Techniques -- Article This article contains projects for all levels. Texture is an interesting way to add variety to your layouts. There are so many things you can use to give your pages texture — from craft mediums to items around your house. This article will discuss several ideas and show you some examples.
Dry Embossing Basics for Beginners -- Article The layouts featured in this article range from beginner to intermediate in skill level. Looking to add texture to your creations? Dry embossing is a relatively simple technique that will add texture and dimension without a lot of fuss and bulk. From the traditional brass templates and stylus to the new die cut machines that emboss shapes and designs for you, it’s all a matter of the look you desire to achieve and the amount of time and energy and money you are willing to invest. Be sure to check out your local scrapbook retailer for the terrific supplies featured in these layouts.
Basic Acrylic Paint Techniques for Scrapbooking -- Article The layouts in this article are for all skill levels. Acrylic paint is a basic staple for most crafters. Many of us already have bottles of this inexpensive medium tossed in a drawer somewhere. Acrylic paint adds color and texture to any design, and each little bottle goes a long way, giving you a lot of bang for your buck. Be sure to check out your local scrapbook retailer for the terrific supplies featured in this article.
Inks -- Article This article contains projects especially geared toward beginning stampers and paper crafters. January makes the one year anniversary of our monthly Back to Basics column. Several readers have written to us asking to do a focus specifically on inks. Therefore we have concentrated this month’s Back to Basics article around ink.
Themed Albums -- Article These layouts are for beginner to intermediate scrapbookers. Getting an album finished and on to the bookshelf is a marvellous feeling. Here are some ideas to get you started and finished on your next themed album project.
The Art of Subtle Backgrounds -- Article This article contains projects perfect for beginning stampers and papercrafters. Sometimes the difference between a nice handmade card and a “WOW!” handmade card is all in the background. I often find myself adding an image to the background layer simply for interest. It is not important that 90% of the image is unseen. The addition of a subtle image, color or design to the background is enough to make the main design pop out and bring all the elements of the project together.
Anatomy of a Scrapbook Page: Putting It All Together -- Article This article includes projects for all skill levels. Breaking down a layout into its components can simplify the creation process. Knowing a layout’s basic anatomy will make the overall process easier and speed up the time it takes you to create a layout. Knowing your scrapbook anatomy can make the process less overwhelming, for beginners and veterans alike.
Five Essential Tools -- Article These projects are for the intermediate to advanced stamper. What are your top five essential tools? Every stamper and scrapper I ask has a different answer. I have my personal favorites: Clear Ruler, Craft Knife, Paintbrush, Heat Tool, and Eyelet Setter. Although these tools seem a little low-tech, each one is irreplaceable. What can you substitute for an eyelet setter or a heat tool? And I can’t function without my clear ruler and craft knife; I use them to make perfect layers on almost every project. Surprisingly, my paintbrush also seems to play a role in every crafting occasion.
Watchamakallit–Creating Titles -- Article These projects/layouts are for all skill levels. You don’t have to be a graphic designer or an artist to create impressive titles for your layouts. Discover the many tools available to you, some as simple as pre-made punch-outs, and learn how to use these tools in innovative ways. As well, explore sources that will increase your repertoire of imaginative titles.
Books -- Article For many years I have been having a love affair with books. This affair, or maybe addiction is more accurate, has been with me since I was a little girl. While other children were begging for candy I was always asking for a new book. Times haven’t changed too much; I still have more books than places to put them. Now I’m also creating my own artist books.
Back to Basics Journaling -- Article This article contains projects for all levels of scrapbookers. Looking for tips to make journaling easier? Want new ways to add your special memories to your pages? Look no further...it’s time to learn all about journaling!
Collage -- Article This article contains projects for beginning stampers. Are you one of the many stampers intimidated by collage techniques? When I began stamping, and a few years after, I was mystified. The collages I saw in magazines were so complex. How did the artist even think of all those cool elements?
Embellishments 101 -- Article This article contains projects for beginner to intermediate scrapbookers. Embellishments are decorative enhancements for your scrapbook pages or paper crafts. Embellishments can help enhance the theme or feeling you are trying to portray or they can just be functional or decorative on their own. These embellishments can range from brads, to stickers, to die cuts, to fibers -- to just about anything you choose to decorate your pages. Decorative enhancements can change with the many trends of scrapbooking that seem to come and go with each new season. However, there are a few that are here to stay — let’s refer to these as “Tried and True Embellishments.” These embellishments have both a decorative use as well as a functional use. This article will focus on these embellishments — the tried and true.
Back to Basics-Shadow Stamping -- Article These projects for beginners and show how shadow stamps are a versatile way to add color and interest to simple stamping designs. I can still remember the first time I played with shadow stamps and the soft colors of shadow inks. Who needs fancy colors of cardstock? All you really need are geometric rubber shapes and great inks. Backgrounds are a snap with shadow stamps.
Design Principles, Creating Movement -- Article This article contains layouts for all skill levels. I have great news for you! You don’t have to be a graphic artist in order to design fabulous scrapbook layouts. Anyone can learn the basic principles of design. A successful scrapbook page can be made if you know and understand the basic concepts, learn the techniques and then apply them.
Layers of Dimension -- Article This article features projects for beginning stampers. In our monthly Back to Basics column, RubberStampingIdeas.com Magazine provides basic techniques that beginning stampers can use as a technique guide. This month we are focusing on the basics of layering to add depth and dimension to your artwork. Now that you have the basics of stamps, inks, coloring and some other basics under your belt it’s time to talk about layering. The basics supplies you need for layering are quite simple and you will probably have a lot of these on hand already.
Color 101 -- Article Color is a universal language that everyone understands. Color is everywhere you look...it is in the beautiful blue of the sky, the deep green hues of the grass, the blue and green churning of the sea, the dusty brown of the dirt, the yellowish-orange of the setting sun and so much more. Color influences our everyday moods, the clothing we choose to wear and even sometimes the foods we like to eat.
Basic Resist Techniques -- Article This article is for beginning stampers. This month our growing Back to Basic’s column focuses on the resist technique. Now that you have basic stamping skills under your belt, we know you are thirsty for more and the resist technique is sure to please you. So let’s get to it!
Paper 101 -- Article Paper is an important element in scrapbooking; in fact it is a staple. There are many kinds of paper to choose from for scrapbooking as well as paper crafting.
Chalk Ink Pads -- Article This article is for beginning stampers. This month’s Back to Basics article is in response to several readers who have e-mailed us asking us to continue our discussion on inks, especially those inks that don’t fit in either the basic ink categories of dye based or pigment based inks. One of these other categories of ink is chalk ink and in the stamping world everyone is talking about chalk inks.
Scissors 101 -- Article Short blades, long blades, micro tips, decorative edges, embroidery...the list goes on and on. How do you know what scissor is right for the job you are attempting? Let's tackle this question head on. Basic Masking Techniques -- Article This article is for beginning stampers. As our Back to Basic’s column begins to grow we are go to be moving from the basic tools and supplies needed to get started, their differences and similarities and move forward to teaching you techniques. The last three months we have covered the who-what-where-why and how’s of rubberstamping. We are now going to build on this foundation and go to the next step in your stamping journey which involves learning one particular technique at a time.
Adhesives 101 -- Article Sticky Dots, Double Sided Tape, Liquid Glue, Dry Glue...the list goes on and on. There are so many adhesives available today, that if you find yourself not knowing what glue is what when it comes to paper crafting...you are not alone!
Organizing and Choosing Your Photographs -- Article So, you've got boxes and drawers with years full of photographs. What do you do with them and where do you start? The first place to start is to organize your photos. This may seem a daunting task...but it is well worth your time and effort!
Pigment Inks and Embossing -- Article We have spent time the past two issues talking about dye inks and how they can be used. Now let’s move to another kind of ink: Pigment Inks.
Rainbow Dye Inkpads -- Article This article contains projects for the Beginner. Fran Saperstein continues our series, "Back to Basics", in which we teach you the fundamentals of stamping and beyond.
Starting Out: Back to Basics -- Article This article is for beginning stampers. I’m often asked what you need to start stamping. Well, starting this month, we’re going to show you. We’re going back to basics. Each month we’ll go through some basic cards and techniques to turn you into a seasoned stamper.
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