Ask CS Answers

The Winter issue of Chicagoland Scrapbooker arrived today, so it's time to share some answers from the Ask CS column!  I'm very sad to report that this will be the final issue of Chicagoland Scrapbooker, but I hope you'll continue to visit me here for the answers to any questions you may have.

So, the reason for this page was to answer other ways to use ink in our scrapbooks other than inking edges.  Being a stamper from back in the day, I have always used ink in my scrapbooks and this was a pretty easy question for me to answer.  Here are some examples of my answers:

Stamping titles and/or designs for embellishments is one of the easiest ways to use ink.  Here are several calendar pages I've started using some older supplies. They all use stamping.

The title banner and the large blue snowflake on vellum are both stamped images on this January page.

February is full of stamping, from the arrow (which I cut so it looks like it's piercing the paper) to the XOXO title and even the lined paper journaling piece.

For March, I used two simple word stamps along with Cricut-cut letters for a title.

The only thing stamped for April are the tulips on the left side. I stamped them in two colors on white cardstock and fussy cut them. The green layer is adhered to the green CS with a glue pen, then the flowers added with foam squares.

May's page has a simple stamped title and a stamped jourmaling block, which was cut with the Cricut, stamped, then cut in two pieces to look as though it lies behind the mats.

Another easy way to use stamped images is to add a little oomph to Picture My Life or Project Life cards. Can you tell which cards I added stamping to on this easy pocket page?

Here's your answer:

What an easy way to personalize cards of a more general theme! It's also a great way to add simple details to journaling on these cards:

Next up is an oldy but goody, using ink sprays. Here's a great way to use spray inks (or make your own like I did):

It may be a bit hard to see in these pictures (this is from a post I did in 2009!), but this is hand-dyed paper - white cardstock sprayed with homemade alcohol ink sprays. You can see more details and the instructions in this post.

Glimmer Mist is another fun spray option if you want to make things sparkle & shine:

This is not exactly a scrapbook layout, but it's the same general idea. All of the colored papers were sprayed with Pearl Glimmer Mist, and all of the neutrals were sprayed with Creme de Chocolat. Vintage and bling make a great combination!

The final thing I want to share is a technique "stolen" from cardmaking: the masking tape background.

Find out how to make this fun background in this new post. Notice that I also used stamps again for my title, for a super fast & easy layout.

Another popular way to use ink in scrapbooks is the splatter technique. This can be accomplished with a stiff brush dipped in reinker and splattered a la Jackson Pollock. Adding ink sprays to this in another option as well.  It helps to plan your page design first, so the ink becomes a design element rather than just random.

I don't have any personal examples of this technique, because it's just not my style. However, a quick Google image search brings up a lot of great examples and tutorials.

Have other crafty questions? Feel free to post them here or drop me an email and I'll be happy to answer them anonymously right here on my blog!