Scrapbooking has become my obsession and, as a result, I've found some sneaky tips that help me save money, time or are just plain helpful! I hope you find these ideas helpful too!

1. I can get twice as much milage from my scrapbook paper! When layering photo mat frames, I usually punch out some shapes from the middle of the largest (bottom) frame so that I have some matching paper shapes to embellish the rest of the layout. This way I can save from cutting into a fresh page and no one is the wiser! This can effectively stretch your paper supply if you make a lot of layouts to sell or gift.

2. To make a stamped image really stand out, first stamp your image in a medium to dark gray slightly staggered from where you want the main image. Let the gray dry thoroughly and then re-ink the stamp and apply embossing powder. The powder should only stick to the new stamped image. If it also sticks the gray, you didn't let it dry enough. Once you heat set the embossing powder, the gray understamp should appear to be a shadow and the embossed image should really 'pop' off the page!

3. I use clear plastic to help me with paper piecing & layout placement for complicated, layered designs and I also use it to make guides for acrylic gem scroll placement.
  

   * For paper piecing layout templates: I lay all the layout pieces in place on the page, like flowers, leaves and other embellishments until I have achieved the look I am after. Then I put the clear plastic sheet over the layout and roughly draw an outline of all the elements with a Sharpie onto the plastic. I lift the plastic, set it asside and carefully slide the layered components to the edge of the page where I can glue the layers together. I set the plastic back on the page, apply an adhesive to my first layered element, lift up the edge of the plastic guide and align the element under the plastic and onto the page, using the Sharpie outline as my guide. Press the element in place and reach for the next one until you've got everything back in place!
  

   * For acrylic gem scrolls: I make scrolling doodles on the clear plastic until I make one that I like. With a 1/8" paper punch, I punch along the scroll line leaving a bit of space between each punch to make my gem placement guide. Now I place the plastic guide on my layout and use a pencil to make a dot through each punch hole. Remove the guide and place an acrylic gem on each dot and you've got a perfect scroll pattern of sparkling gems!!

  * You can also make a simple rub-on with plastic sheets by printing on them with an inkjet printer. Just remember that you image will transfer in the opposite direction of the way you printed it, so if you are printing text, it has to be printed in reverse in order to be readable! Also note not to get too ambitious with details and complicated images...this technique works best with simple images and text.