Using Scrapbook Techniques For Unique Christmas Ornaments

Have you been searching for an idea to do family or classroom ornaments on a budget? Making CD photo ornaments is the perfect project. It requires very few tools and supplies.

First you will need to take pictures of the subjects you are wanting to create the ornaments for. If you want to get really creative, you can manipulate your photos for a different look. One suggestion might be to turn a photo into a black and white and then highlight one color or subject in the photo. An example of this might be to take a picture of a child wearing a red Santa hat and turn the photo to black and white and then highlight just the red portion of the hat. This can be done with many photo editing softwares and is very simple with a little practice. The resulting picture is unique and impressive.

Second, you will need to take the pictures to your local photo lab, or print your own 5x7 prints if you have a quality printer. If you print your own pictures, you have the ability to experiment with different types of paper to see which outcome you like best. There are a variety of different papers from heavy weight matte, semi-gloss, glossy, and portrait paper. After your pictures have been printed they will need to be cut down to a 4.75" circle to fit on the CD. If you have a circle cutter this step is very easy. Circle cutters are very inexpensive and can be purchased from most craft stores. If you do not have a circle cutter, just take a CD and trace around the outside edge and then cut with scissors. Adhering the photo to the CD is quite simple. You will need a photo safe acid free glue stick. Using the colored glue sticks that dry clear are helpful in seeing where more glue is needed on the CD. Just cover the CD with glue and adhere your photo being careful to make sure it is centered. It is best to wait at least 30 minutes before handling the CD's once you have adhered your photo's.

The next step involves punching a hole in the top of the CD for the ribbon hanger. Many scrapbookers already have a handy tool called a Crop-a-dile. If you own one of these, punching the holes in the CD's will be effortless. Crop-a-dile tools may be purchased at craft stores for approximately $20 and have a variety of uses. Just set the punch to the desired distance using the 3/8' hole and squeeze down on the CD. Using this tool helps prevent the CD from cracking while punching the hole.

If you do not have a Crop-a-dile, a sharp object or awl will be useful for you. You will have better results if you heat your tool prior to punching a hole through the backside of the CD. Once you have your hole punched, just thread some ribbon through the hole and your ornament is complete. These can be further personalized by writing a message or the year on the back using paint pens. This is wonderful idea for preserving the handwriting of a child. You now have a personalized ornament to hang on your Christmas tree. Find other ideas at http://txmemorymaker.blogspot.com/.

Mendy Warwick

How do I use Scrapbooking techniques to make unique cards

Go into any shop Hallmark and you'll rack after rack of pre-greeting cards-almost all the same and all the price upwards of three and four dollars each. But why pay several dollars for a generic card when you can make your own, quickly and easily!

If you can scrapbook, you can create fabulous cards. In fact, the same principles used to design the layout can be used to make handmade unique and original. Here are some tips to help you create your own card:

A lot of pre-blank cards in hand. Standard tab size is 4.25 "x 5.5"-exactly half of an 8.5x11 sheet, folded in half! Take a piece of paper 8.5x11 "and cutting it in half and you have two cards ready to decorate.
Save your scraps. After each scrapbook page that you create, use fragments on a card. The patterned paper, cardboard and embellishments are already preselected to coordinate, so it will take only minutes to make a card from the leftovers.
Use the page layouts for tabs. Scale down the different page elements, and everything that you use to design a page could easily be used for a card.
Do a variety of cards for different occasions.You will need all common occasions-birthdays, thank yous, etc.--but don't forget to do some anniversary, thinking to yourself and get well soon cards as well.
Cards use of experiment. Want to paint on a scrapbook layout but nervous that you have "wreck" the photos? Eager to give it a test pressing? Use the smaller format of a greeting card to try some of the techniques you want to embed in your scrapbooking.

Paper-making is the perfect complementary crafts for scrapbooking. Already have all the supplies and tools, now you can give them a workout and save some money at the grocery store Hallmark.

For more tips to make your scrapbooking fun, fast and fabulous, visit the blog Lain Ehmann, Layouts a day. You will get tons of scrapbooking ideas suitable for scrapbookers of all levels.