Eyelets must be "set" into paper or cardstock so that they will lie relatively flat on your page (though it bears mentioning that even set eyelets
are not actually completely flat). The steps are as follows:Besides adhesives, which you learned about in an earlier lesson, there are other ways to attach scrapbook page elements together. In this lesson, I'll cover some of the most common metal embellishments in current use by scrapbookers. Some are purely decorative, while others serve double duty as points of attachment for multiple layers on a page.
Eyelets were adapted to scrapbooking from the textile industry. First used for things like shoelace holes, eyelets have become a versatile and fun way to attach pieces together. They come in a variety of sizes, commonly 1/16"-5/8" in diameter. You can purchase eyelets in an almost unimaginable array of colors. Some paper manufacturers have even gotten into producing eyelets specifically colored to match their paper. In addition to round eyelets, you can buy eyelets in a staggering number of shapes.
Eyelets must be "set" into paper or cardstock so that they will lie relatively flat on your page (though it bears mentioning that even set eyelets
are not actually completely flat). The steps are as follows:
Tip: I recommend you do a practice punch on scrap paper to make sure your tip is making a hole that fits your eyelet before you punch a hole on your actual layout. |
1. Punch a hole through the layers of your paper the same size as your eyelet's shank. You can use a regular hand-held hole punch for some eyelets, but for others you will need to use an eyelet punch. This cylindrical tool comes with various sizes of tips you can use for setting eyelets of different diameters. To use these tools, position the tipped end of the tool where you want the hole to be, then bang on the flat end of the tool with your hammer hard enough to make a hole all the way through all layers of paper. Make sure you are working over a setting mat, to avoid damaging your work surface.
2. Put your eyelet into the hole, with the shank poking out the back. Holding the eyelet in place, flip the items over.
3. With the front of the eyelet resting on top of a setting mat, insert a setting tool into the shank. A setting tool is also cylindrical, with one end that tapers to a point. Use your hammer to bang on the flat end of the setting tool. It may take two or three "whacks" with the hammer before the eyelet begins to spread out.
4. If necessary, bang directly onto the back of the eyelet with your hammer to flatten it, but not until AFTER the eyelet has split enough to
"bite" into the paper.
When you are using a new-to-you brand of eyelets, you should practice setting one or two of them onto scrap cardstock before going for the real thing. Eyelets come in different degrees of quality, and if you are going to have trouble with your brand, you want to know it before you try using an eyelet on your work. Testing an eyelet also lets you get a feel for how hard you will need to swing the hammer to get the right amount of splitting. Steel eyelets will need more "oomph" than aluminum eyelets, typically.
There are new tools on the market that do the punching and the setting all with one tool, without the use of a hammer. I haven't tried these, and have had mixed reports about them by those who use them. If your local scrapbook store has some you could try, I highly recommend you do so. Also, if you go to a crop, some of the other scrapbookers there might have the tools on hand and be willing to let you try them.
Snaps are just like eyelets, except they have a round, flat head on front instead of an open hole. You set them using the same technique as with eyelets.
Once in place, brads look just like snaps, but are far easier than eyelets or snaps to set. All you need is a hole punch! And in fact, for smaller brads, you can get by with just a pushpin. Simply punch (or poke) a hole through your papers wherever you want the brad to be positioned, insert the brad, flip the whole thing over, and use your fingers to splay the "legs" of the brad. That's it! Brads are so simple to use that they seem to be replacing eyelets and snaps as the metal embellishment of choice for many scrapbookers.
Long an embellishment for handbags and other items, conchos and nailheads have now made their way into scrapbooking. The names are interchangeable, and both describe a decorative head on the front - either round or in another shape - and triangular "teeth" on the back. To set them, you need some kind of cushioned foam to poke the teeth into (I use my Coluzzle cutting mat, but a mousepad works fine), and some sort of tool to flatten the teeth. You can use the flat end of either your eyelet holepunch or setting tool - both will work great.
Lay your cardstock background on top of the cushioned mat or mousepad, and position the nailhead or concho where you want it to go. Press straight down, right in the middle of the embellishment, until it is flush with the paper. Then flip it over and use your tool to fold the teeth over one at a time, until they lie parallel to the paper.
In 2005, the stapler came into use as a scrapbooking tool. You can buy colored staples to embellish your page, or just use the regular silver staples commonly sold for staplers. There are "scrapbooking-specific" staplers on the market, but there's no reason your trusty office stapler won't do the job.
Another office supply that's gotten fresh new life is the paperclip. There are companies that manufacture paper clips with decorative heads that look great on scrapbook pages, and shaped clips that add a classy touch to layouts, but the plain old silver paper clip can also be put to use as a decorative element in your scrapbook.
No longer just for baby's diapers, safety pins look great on pages about newborns. Making Memories, as well as a few other companies, put out miniature safety pins in a variety of colors.
Create a layout using at least one of the metal embellishments described above.
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