Playing With Tiles!

Sometimes, it is fun to pull out supplies you haven't played with in awhile. Sometimes it gives us that creative push we need! For today's T & T, I am going to show you a couple of different ways to create with "tiles." They are easy and fun to work with. You can make a bunch up ahead of time and incorporate them into scrap pages or cards!

I love the impact these 3 squares make on this otherwise simple page! Sometimes it is the little details that make a page special. Alrighty then, pull up a chair........ : )

To stamp on my tiles, I used Memento Ink and a script stamp. But play around with different stamps to give you different effects!

When adhering to a LO or card use a scrap glue and place a heavy book on it until dry. This will prevent the ends from curling.

A few other things you can try are; place beads, sequins, punched paper pieces, or charms into the tile while it is still warm. Sprinkle glitter, flock, or rub ink on the edges. Have fun playing!!!!

Making use of those scraps

This may not be new - but it is a trick that has worked for me for many years. I sometimes like to type out my journaling on a layout and of course want to print it out on some nice cardstock. The problem is that I don't want to cut down an entire piece of paper for some journaling. So...this is what I do.

First, I type up my journaling in a word processing program. I pick my fonts, what size I think it needs to be. (you could be more percise by measuring - but that is so not me - hehe). Anyhow - this is a sample of my printed out journaling. I took this from my blog and is intended only for my sample :)

*umm excuse the mess:)

Now I have the supplies I need -- journaling (after it has been checked to make sure it is the correct size).

So here all I did was flip the strip of cardstock and put 2 strips of glue at the edges -- just enough to hold it in place while it runs through the printer. Here I just placed the cardstock onto the paper directly over my journaling that I had just printed. Make sure it is on there nice and flat so that it doesn't get caught in your printer. I use permanent adhesive but I guess you could try repostional kind? Let me know if that works!
Sorry for the poor picture here -- but here is what it looks like right before I put it in the printer. I simply flip it over and put it in the printer. This is so when it comes out of the printer the writing is on the cardstock side.
Here it is out of the printer. I simply take it to my personal cutter and trim off the excess paper. Usually this takes care of the glued white paper. If not, I carefully tear it off.
and then here you have the end result. All you need to do is adhere it onto your layout.

You can also print on pattern paper as well -- it is kinda nice to use up your stash.

Since this was a sample of what you can do, I am going to share with you some layouts where I have used this technique myself.

In this layout I printed out my writing onto cardstock and then cut the sentences into smaller pieces for a different look.

This one I created in Photoshop but it is the same idea -- I first printed it out onto regular paper -- when I was satisfied I put my cardstock on top and that's it!

Another one where I chopped up the sentences.

This one I just printed it out using the same method that I showed above.

Same method -- but different sizing!

As you can see, there are many ways to do this and it is easy! Hope this was helpful:)

Michelle Lanning

Quick Tips and Tricks with RubOns

RubOns can be intimidating. I know, because I avoided using them for a long time! LOL! But once I took the plunge and followed some tips from fellow scrappers, I no longer am afraid of them! Infact I LOVE using them! Here are some of the things I have learned.

Applying a RubOn

1. When you first open your package of rubons, staple the rubon sheet to the protective backing. Staple in a blank area, not an area with a design.

2. After selecting the desired image, cut around it, including the backing. This way, when you go to apply your rubon, you are only applying the image that you want to use and other images won't accidentally transfer to your project in unwanted places.

3. Keep the backing in place while you decide where you would like it to go. When you are ready, remove the backing and apply the rubon.

4. Rubons usually come with a craft stick to use as a tool for transferring. I usually use something else. I find that the craft stick doesn't give me enough leverage to get a smooth image.



My favorite tool is the Rubon Tool by Basic Grey. It has a rolling ball tip that makes it a breeze to work with! I also like to use an embossing stylus for finer detail. But lots of things work great, a bone folder, the cap of a pen, etc. The gray tool next to the craft stick in the picture above is a tool that was included in an American Crafts package of rubons. LOVE it! It really is a matter of preference. Try a few different tools and see which ones you are the most comfortable with.

5. Rub the entire image with your tool, making sure to pay special attention to fine details and areas where the rubon is overlapping layers of paper. With most rubons you can tell when your image is transferring because the backing will go cloudy.



Some are a little harder to tell if they are transferring. When this happens, I will lift the backing off slowly, keeping most of it in place, so that if the image doesn't completely transfer I can lay the sheet back down and continue working.

6. TaDAAAA! You have applied your rubon!


Store the remaining pieces of your rubons together in the packaging. Or, if you have stray pieces, try taping them to a piece of wax paper. Store packages of rubons in a photo box, so that you can easily flip through them, or place them inside a sheet protector inside a binder. What other ways do you store your rubons?


If you change your mind about where you placed your rubon, you can always try removing it with a piece of low-tack tape. I like to use transparent tape or masking tape.



I place the tape over the image and gently rub. Be careful not to rub too hard, or you could risk pulling up and tearing the paper underneath.



Slowly pull back the tape at an angle to remove the rubon. The extra flecks left behind are easily removed by "dabbing" a piece of tape over them, using a glue eraser, or sometimes I've even gently scratched them off using a paper piercer. Note: Removing a rubon that has been applied to a photograph is virtually impossible! LOL!

If you are still nervous about using a rubon directly onto the page you've been slaving over, you can always apply the rubon to a transparency and cut it out. Works great!

Rubons are really fun because they can add detail over several layers of paper, brighten a dark corner of a photograph or layout, or add interest to a premade embellishment!

On this layout, I added a rubon to the blue brad for a fun little detail.




I wanted to add a little color to this rubon, so I simply colored in a few areas using colored pencils.




White rubons can be fun to use as a mask. Apply the rubon to your project (a light colored paper works best for this technique), and then use watercolors to paint over it. Such a fun and artsy effect!




Other fun ways to use rubons include:

Add rubons directly onto your photos.

Use rubons to enhance premade embellishments, including stickers, chipboard, buttons, brads, acrylic accents, etc.

Rub them onto vellum for an opaque look.

Use word rubons and fill them in with chalks or water color pencils.

Use on ribbon or fabric to pick up texture.

Cut them apart to alter the design to fit your individual project. No one will even know!

Rub over them with sandpaper for a distressed look.

Add interest to a corner with rubons.

Use them as part of your title or to enhance your title.

Use rubon stitches as journaling lines.


Don't be afraid to experiment with rubons! They are a great way to add interest, texture and depth to your next project!