Archive for the ‘Paper Crafts’ Category
Paper quilling, also referred to as paper filigree, is the art of rolling strips of paper around a particular tool into coils and then shaping or pinching into various forms. These paper coils are then combined to create decorative designs.
A little research and our imaginations can produce an abundance of paper quilling ideas. The designs created may be used to embellish greeting cards, gift cards, picture frames, scrapbook covers and pages, boxes, candles, and a host of other items which might need a creative touch. The end result is extremely striking, yet delicate. A gift of a quilled item would certainly be loved and appreciated.
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One of the neatest hobbies/crafts, in my opinion, is paper quilling. The finished items are absolutely beautiful, yet so delicate. Who would imagine that with a few thin strips of paper, anyone can make gorgeous flowers, leaves, and other embellishments? What fantastic greeting cards, scrapbook pages, frames, pictures, and numerous other items evolve from this simple method of manipulating paper!
In times past, quilling was not quite so simple to do as it is today. Often, it was necessary to attempt to cut ones own paper strips – not an easy task, considering the width needed to be exact and even. But with all the tools and pre-cut paper strips available on the market today, quilling has become much easier to do, although it does still require a certain amount of skill.
When starting your scrapbooking project, it is wise to have a few scrapbooking layout ideas in mind. You can experiment a bit by laying your photos and embellishments on your background paper in various arrangements to see what looks pleasing to you. If your layout appears to be too large for one page, consider a two-page layout.
Be sure when planning your page to allow room for your page title and any journaling you plan to do. All people in your photos should be properly identified. (How many times have we gone through our old photos and family albums and saw lots of relatives, but we had no idea who they might be? So don’t make the mistake of failing to do this.)
Numerous ideas for scrapbook layouts are available online.
If you tap into your imagination or just look around, you can come up with all sorts of scrapbooking ideas. Any item – new car, new home, your dog, new motorcycle, 4-wheeler, even a bicycle – can be the theme or subject for a scrapbook page.
Along the same lines, any event or occasion such as a birthday party, Halloween party, Christmas party or dinner, Thanksgiving get-together, graduation, baptism, family reunion, birth of a baby, etc., etc. all are occasions for creating new pages for your scrapbook.
You more than likely can design a page or two around any thought that might occur to you.
Some scrapbookers prefer to create an album by completing one page at a time. Then there are others who work on two corresponding pages at a time. Then again, there are others who use both methods of scrapbooking page layouts, depending on the size of the project. Regardless of the method you choose, you will encounter advantages and disadvantages of one over the other.
One-page layouts seem to work well for busy scrapbookers as one page can be completed more quickly than two. Two-page layouts, however, may create a more spacious album.
You may not choose to use one method exclusively. Just be sure, when using two one-page layouts next to each other, that the two pages coordinate and ‘flow’ from one to the other.
You can be as extravagant as you want or as simple as you desire when creating your scrapbook pages. I read somewhere that scrapbooking has now surpassed golf in popularity as a hobby. It is no wonder then that scrapbooking supplies are so readily available in such a varying assortment. There are embellishments available in every niche you can possibly imagine.
Whether you decide to spend a lot or a little, there are a few basic items necessary. These should include your photos or pictures, an album or notebook, scissors, adhesive, and a pen for journaling. (Scrapbooking kits are also a good way to get started.) Eventually you may want to purchase stickers, rubber stamps and other adornments to further enhance your pages. In the meantime, you can make some very nice scrapbook pages with these few materials.
Scrapbooking as a hobby has become quite a sensation, not just in America, but all across the world. Besides the beautiful memories being created for present and future generations, the time spent scrapbooking is a very enjoyable time.
It seems to be a natural pastime for the person who enjoys taking a lot of photos. Any creative person who enjoys working with his or her hands certainly can find fulfilment in crafting a scrapbook album. With the vast variety of scrapbooking supplies available, due to the immense popularity of the craft, beautiful pages can be created to commemorate important or not-so-important occasions.
You may even want to have a scrapbooking party and share great ideas.
Okay – so you want to start scrapbooking. Learning the ‘ABCs’ of Beginner scrapbooking requires some commitment in time and effort, along with doing research on properly starting this hobby. However, the ultimate results are truly satisfying.
Creative scrapbooking isn’t something one can do on the spur of the moment without some thought. First, focus on a particular theme or special event which you want to commemorate. Gather together your photos and supplies, do the research for ideas and then get scrapping!
It’s often said that idle hands do the devil’s work, and there’s no better way to increase the skill and dexterity in your fingers than by folding paper into intricate designs. The ancient art of origami began in China around 100 AD. While paper cranes and flowers are just a couple of the most popular origami staples, the possibilities are virtually endless. Much about the end result is determined by the size and thickness of the paper.
Origami for kids can teach patience – a real virtue that will serve them well when pursuing other hobbies or just dealing with people on a day-to-day basis. It’s also beneficial for children to learn how to handle an incorrect fold – will they crumple the paper into a ball out of frustration, or patiently smooth out the crease and try again? Fingernails should be trimmed short so as not to break, but not so short that one cannot make an effective crease.