Create your own Scrapbook Embellishments

Let’s brainstorm some ideas on ways to create your own scrapbook embellishments. Have you ever pulled out a collection of products to start scrapbooking and found that you don’t have any coordinating embellishments?

What can you do when you have no coordinating embellishments for your scrapbook layout? This was a question I was asked recently in my Let’s Get Scrappy – Scrap Your Stash class. I thought it would make a great blog post topic.

Most companies release product lines that include an entire collection of products that coordinate. The collection can include things like patterned paper, ephemera, chipboard pieces, stickers, washi tape, enamel dots/shapes, an alphabet set and sometimes even stamps. But what if you don’t have all the extras? What if you just purchased the patterned paper and want to scrapbook with it?

Ideas on how to create your own scrapbook embellishments.

1. First of all, not all layouts need to have embellishments. You can create a great layout with some beautiful patterned paper, photos, a title and some journaling.
2. Patterned paper: Most of us have lots of patterned paper. I bet if you look at your collection of papers you’ll find some with beautiful patterns that can be fussy cut! These images make for great embellishments on your layouts.
3. Punches: Punches are a fabulous way to add some dimension, or a decorative element to your layouts. You can create a background with them. Layer them. Cut them apart and use only a portion of them. Manipulate them to create different sizes or shapes.
4. Stamps: they are SO versatile. By simply picking an ink colour that coordinates with your papers, you can make any stamp match. Look at the stamps in a collection individually. You will likely bypass the sets with flowers, when you are creating a masculine layout. But by looking at the stamps within the set, you may find something unexpected that would make a great addition to your layout.
5. Create a beautiful background using stencils, watercolour and/or mixed media and you don’t need a lot of extra embellishments to create a beautiful layout.
6. Create your own embellishments using die cuts, punches, stamps, twine, etc. Start with a base – it could be a tag/label shape, a small card with a saying, or a punched shape. Look for something to use as a focal point – this could be a stamped image, something fussy cut from your paper, or a punched shape. Add a word strip, greeting or saying. These can come from your stamp sets, a word sticker or even from patterned paper. To finish it off add some smaller elements – maybe some enamel dots, splatter, twine or small punch shapes.

Family Crafting Layout

Zoom to the Rescue Layout

If you enjoy process videos, I created this layout live on Facebook yesterday. You can catch the replay below.

How do you solve the problem of no coordinating embellishments for your layouts? I’d love to hear how you’ve gotten creative with your supplies! Share them in the comments below.

Have a creative day!