Jazz up your scrapbooks with embellishments

Do you want to learn to create lasting and memorable keepsakes that show your unique and personal artistic skill? Scrapbooking is a fantastic craft that allows your creative side to go wild. You can do so much more than just placing photographs in an album. Not only do you have your one-of-a-kind photos to work with, but also you can assemble your scrapbooks with virtually an unlimited array of embellishments to jazz them up. Adding embellishments to your scrapbooks will most certainly add interest, dimension and color, making your album distinctively yours.

What is meant by embellishments? Embellishments are much more than just paper. They can be made from various materials like plastic, wood, cloth and metal. There are many embellishments you can purchase. Several of these are charms, brads, ribbons, eyelets, buttons, beads, feathers, fibers, hemp or jute cord and tags. In addition to the commercial products you buy, you can add personal items relating to the theme of the scrapbook; such as a train, concert or Broadway play ticket. You can make use of party invitations, snippets of wrapping paper from gifts and even the confetti. For a scrapbook with a travel theme, try using a map of the location where you vacationed.

Embellishments can be attached using glue dots, which are extremely strong and great for sticking even heavy embellishments to album pages. Tear off the size you need and place the embellishment on top of the glue dot. Apply it with a little pressure for a couple of seconds. Also, you can utilize a glue pen or double-sided tape, which works well too. You may also wish to sew certain embellishments onto the page with embroidery floss and colored or invisible thread whichever meets your need. There are even colored staples that can attach your embellishments to the page.

While you are trying to add the perfect touch to those pages, remember to use embellishments sensibly. Do not lose sight of the fact that the photographs are the main focus of the page. Embellishments should only be used as an accent to compliment your photos. You do not want the embellishments to take center stage or make your layout look too crowded.

The varied selection of embellishments will set your pages apart from plain and boring photo albums. Instead of just putting photos on a page, with the application of embellishments, you will get those creative juices flowing. You now know just some of the embellishments that are available to use and its time for you to jazz up those scrapbooks.

Stuck on scrapbooking host a party

If you're stuck on scrapbooking, you have lots of company. More than 26 million Americans are snipping, trimming and gluing along with you. And why not? Scrapbooking is a great way of preserving cherished moments for future generations-whether it's that great family vacation to Hawaii, a best friend's beautiful wedding or even your beloved pet.

Hosting a scrapbooking party is a new way to create lasting memories and offer a fun activity at your next get-together. Here are some easy ideas to get you started:

Scrapbooking Party Tips

Theme-Enthusiasts at Skinny Cow®, the low-fat ice cream treats, point out that the best parties are a lot sweeter when they have a theme or are thrown for a special occasion. You might want to give a friend a wedding or baby-shower-themed crop party and have each guest design one page for an album that you can give to the mother-to-be. Other great scrapbooking parties can be thrown to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and graduations.

Invitations-Make your invitations stand out by using your stellar scrapbooking ability to announce your party. Remind your friends to bring their own scrapbooking supplies, including their albums, scissors, trimmers, stickers, pens and other tools.

Atmosphere-Help your friends get into the scrapbooking state of mind by setting the scene with playful decorations. Provide sufficient room and good lighting for them to create their masterpieces. A little background music can also go a long way to set the mood for a memorable girls' night in.

Games and Prizes-Motivate and energize your friends by playing games with fantastic prizes. You can give an award for the best page of the night. Another great activity involves "progressive layouts," a game where each person works on the pages of the other guests one at a time for a timed period. In the end, each guest will have a memory-filled page that every other guest has worked on.

Favors-Who doesn't love to receive gifts? Give each guest a sticker pack, die cut or other scrapbooking item. To add another layer of sophistication, match your gift to the theme of your party. Your friends will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Sweet Break-This is everyone's favorite part of the party. Keep your friends coming back by offering a delicious treat, such as Skinny Cow low-fat ice cream treats. Set up an area away from your guests' work space to serve the ice cream. Go the extra hostess mile and serve the ice cream sandwiches stacked in tiers like a layered cake so everyone can pick her favorite flavor.

Here's a tasty idea for a cake you don't have to bake.

The Skinny Cow

Cake Recipe

4 Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich six-count multipacks*

Just before serving, assemble the ice cream sandwiches in four layers. Place nine sandwiches close together on the bottom layer; seven sandwiches on the second layer; five sandwiches on the third layer; and three sandwiches on the top layer. Mix the four different flavors within each layer for an eye-catching assortment. Makes 24 servings.

*Multipacks come in four crowd-pleasing flavors: vanilla, mint, strawberry shortcake and chocolate peanut butter.

For a sweet break, you can serve this tasty ice cream sandwich cake that you don't have to bake.