Saturday, February 9, 2008

Scrapbooking 101: Paper tearing and pocket pages....

Simple Techniques

Paper Tearing. One of the simplest techniques in scrapbooking is paper tearing. It requires no tools, and it is fast and easy. If you are unfamiliar with paper tearing, it is just what it sounds like - the tearing of paper. Paper tearing can take a number of forms on your pages; backgrounds, borders, images, lettering, pretty much anything. If you haven't experimented with paper tearing before, your background layout is a very good way to start. Torn paper adds a very unique look to snow or beach layouts with really no work at all.Take your cardstock (cardstock is easier to tear than the thinner printed paper) and holding it flat against a table with one hand - start at the edge and slowly pull the paper up with the other hand. It take a little practice to get the paper to tear in a straight line - but the uneven edges are really what gives paper tearing its charm. You will be amazed at how quickly you can complete your pages. Torn paper also looks great as the entire background. Take a look at your photographs - often there are layers in the picture itself that can be easily duplicated with paper. Another very simple way to incorporate torn edges into your layout, is in your lettering. The torn and layered letters are simple to create, yet they tend to really stand out, making your layout more memorable. If you used torn paper in your background, layering torn paper into you letters is a great way to tie your titles into the look and theme of your page. Torn paper also works great to border or frame your photographs. The uneven edges of torn paper add a rustic, country look.

Pocket Pages. Pocket pages are a wonderful way to store loose memorabilia in your scrapbooks. They can be used for holding birthday cards, wedding announcements, kids art work, maps, brochures, menus, valentines, and programs from plays and recitals. Patterned paper is usually not sturdy enough for pocket pages. If you want to use lightweight patterned paper, mount it on cardstock first. The adhesive you use for pocket pages should be heavy duty.

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