Think Crafts Blog - Craft Ideas and Projects - CreateForLess

By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

I really love writing thank you cards, and after the holidays I have several to write.  In the age of computers, handcrafting a thank you card seems like a lost art - I encourage you to bring it back by making your own!   

Paper Accents Card & Envelopes 4″ x 4″ White 5 pc

Assorted buttons

Assorted paper flowers

Beacon craft glue

Offray floral ribbon (or ribbon of your choice) - 4 inches

Colored Marker 

Start with your white card and envelope - begin choosing buttons of different shapes and sizes that “tickle your fancy.”  I decided florals are nice for thank yous, so I chose buttons to go with that theme. 

Here you see me organizing my buttons - it took me about five minutes to get the look I wanted, once I had chosen the colors I liked! 

Glue all of the buttons down with craft glue.  Just slide the other buttons to the side a little.  Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours before sending.  If you want to, write “Thank You” on the front with a marker like I did. 

For the ribbon card, trim the ribbon to fit across the front of the card.  Glue down and allow to dry for a few minutes. 

Glue some paper flowers down, and then some buttons into the middle.  Again, allow to dry for 24 hours before sending.  On this card I’m going to leave the front blank but write a sweet message inside. 

These only took me a few minutes, and I actually ended up using my entire pack of cards - I had five thank you cards in less than an hour.  Easy, fun and inexpensive.

Above is a mini scrapbook page I created for a pet scrapbook I’m keeping.  I used fabric paper and just did a little primitive stitching around the edges.  I wanted to add stitches for texture and to highlight the quilt in the photo. This page was featured on a segment of Creative Living (PBS) for CreateForLess.

I love sewing.  Machine sewing or hand sewing, there is something very soothing about working with fabric, thread, and a needle.  I gathered up a few random tips I’ve learned from my scrapbook sewing experiences and these tips can also be used for other paper crafts!

• When using a sew machine always use a scrap piece of paper (the same weight as the paper you want to use for your scrapbook page) and run some test stitches to get the feel of how your machine sews the paper.
• Experiment with the stitch width of your machine for different looks.
• Sewing machines do a great job for sewing a border.
• Sew on a pocket for your page.  Randomly sew across, up, down, and diagonal creating a unique background paper.
• Use any decorative stitches your sewing machine might have.
• Always make sure there is no adhesive on the front or back of anything you are sewing through.  Adhesive can jam up your sewing machine.
• When hand sewing you might have an easier time if you paper punch small holes where you plan to hand sew.  It’s much easier than hoping your needle can pierce the paper evenly.
• Threads and fibers can be used to dangle charms, paper roses and small buttons.
• When hand sewing you might want to lightly trace your pattern or design onto the scrapbook page or cardstock (for a card).
• Try using embroidery flosses and threads, tapestry yarn, tatting thread, metallic threads and specialty yarns.  The variety makes for a fun textured page or card.
• To keep fibers from unraveling dab just a touch of clear paper glue to each raw end.  You can also use a fray stopping liquid.
• A dab of clear nail polish will hold any knot and keep it from coming through the paper.  Make sure the knot is to the back of your scrapbook page.
• Try mixing colors and textures of fibers for a page.  Use thick fibers to frame your title, captions or photos.
• Don’t throw out your scraps of threads and fibers.  Keep them in a small box and use them for smaller projects.
• Pulling a thread over beeswax or thread conditioner will keep the threads from tangling and knotting.  Beeswax will stiffen thread, while thread conditioner will soften threads.

Archival Needs.  Acid Free?

Read the packaging and labeling.  Most manufacturers will note if adhesive or glue is acid free on packaging or labeling.  In most cases, you need acid free glue when adhering a photo.  Most adhesives will not migrate to other areas so having acid free adhesive might not be critical for embellishments or paper arts like cardmaking, collage, or altered art.

The Surface Matters.  Porous or Nonporous?

Select adhesive or glue that is right for your surface and that means you need to know if your surface is porous or nonporous.  If you have both types, use a glue designed for the nonporous surface.  A porous surface breathes (paper, fabric, unfinished wood) while a nonporous surface is slick (plastics, sealed wood).

You can see clearly that it dries clear?

Not all glues dry clear.  You need to check the package and labeling to make sure the glue you plan to use dries clear if there is any chance it will be seen.  Sometimes, no matter how clear the glue is, it will show on certain surfaces, for example, vellum papers.  Transparent materials like vellum will always be difficult to get a true clear finish to once adhesive is used consider your adhesive placement and use embellishments to cover the glue.

Bonding Differences.  Permanent or Temporary?

We usually assume adhesives and glues are permanent, but that isn’t always the case.  If you need a permanent bond make sure the product packaging and labeling indicate the adhesive or glue is permanent.  Why use a temporary glue?  You may want to reposition or remove a photo or element at some future date.  Temporary glue will bond, but the bond releases with slight pressure so you will not tear a photo or paper.  If the photo is valuable or one of a kind consider using photo corners.

Working Area.  Open A Window?

All glues are chemical, but some adhesives and glues have a strong odor and should be used in a well-ventilated room.  Open a window or use this glue outside.  Keep out of reach of children.  This glue needs to be tightly sealed or it will dry quickly and make it un-useable.  You should also note that some adhesives and glues bond quickly, while others must dry.  Epoxies and hot melts have a shorter working time than most liquid glues while tapes often bond instantly.

Liquid, Solid, Tape, or Hot Melt?

In most cases this is a personal choice.  Liquid glue takes some practice and knowing that less is usually more when using any liquid glue.  Solid adhesive is best around photos to limit any damage done by using too much adhesive.  Experiment and understand that no one adhesive or glue can do every job needed for scrapbooking and the paper arts.  Also remember that some adhesives also help add dimension to a project (pop dots, glue dots, foam tapes)