Scrapbookers Inner Circle

One of my favorite techniques is to ink the edges of something on my layout.

Sometimes I ink the edges of my 12x12 paper, other times I ink the edges of my photos or embellishments. Inking gives dimension to a page. You can also 'age' the look of your layout by using neutral tones and inking with a dark brown ink.

Inking is simply and quick. Here are the steps I use:

1. Ink BEFORE adhereing anything to your layout. You can layout your page and see how it is going to look, but don't attach anything. Determine what elements you want to ink. Inking them before you attach them will save you a lot of mess and a potential disaster.

2. Use permanent or dye ink. Although you can use any ink you like, permanent and dye ink dry immediately.  Where as pigment ink can take hours or days. Some pigment inks have to be set with heat, however using your heat gun on a photo edge you just ink is not necessarily recommended. I find dye or permanent ink the most effective.

3. If you are inking the edges, use quick, short strokes for a wispy look, or lay you paper down on newsprint and drag the ink pad down the edge for a more contemporary border. 

4. Once the ink is dry attach all your elements and complete your layout. Viola! 

Here are some other tips:

Try using white ink on two edges of you feature photo. You can give it a vintage looking frame in just a couple swipes.

Ink the raised areas of an embellishment to give it more dimension or to add color to complement you layout.

Ink the edges of pre-printed titles and stickers to customize them to your layout 

What are some your ideas and suggestions for using ink? Share them here in the Technique section of the forum.

Warmly,

Tammy Morales
Your Scrapbook Coach
Publisher, ScrapbookersInnerCircle.com 

New techniques can be as simple as learning something new to do with the tools you have, or something that is fresh on the market.  Whenever a scrapper learns a new technique, she is bound to want to try it out on some pages or projects. Techniques are a great source of inspiration. 

Learning a technique that pushes the limits of the scrapbooking you already do can renew your passion.  Perhaps you are not big into stamping, so take a class that focuses on stamping techniques.  Or maybe, you have been avoiding the chipboard craze, so take a chance and put your name down for a chipboard-happy class.  

Another sure-fire way to put yourself into the learning-mode is to attend a national product show or expo.  Often, these events are advertised in the scrapbooking magazines, and when you attend you’ll have the opportunity to “scrap, crop and shop ‘til you drop.”  The expos are an opportunity for craft and scrapbooking companies to show off, and demonstrate, their latest and greatest tools and techniques. 

You could also save your money and see what techniques other scrappers are excited about as you flip through a current magazine or here in the technique section of the forum. Don’t be surprised if you get actively hooked. 

Hands down, however you choose to learn, you will renew your enthusiasm, gain tons of ideas, and ample motivation to start seriously, and joyfully, scrapping, once again.

Have you learned a new technique recently? You can share it in the forum, giving other members something new to learn and try at home. Take a moment and add your favorite technique now! In fact I will add one my favorites this week.