The next step to put your personal touch in your scrapbook is adding embellishments. These do not have to be expensive time consuming tasks. Here are a few ideas to help get you started.

• Embellishments can be as simple or as creative as you desire. You can be creative without taking a lot of time doing so. There are several types of embellishments you can use in your scrapbook. You can use store bought embellishments or personal items from home. Which ever you decide remember to keep them simple and easy to attach to your pages. You don’t want to spend hours applying small enhancements to each of your scrapbook pages.

The most common accessories are metal embellishments. These are the least expensive to purchase and come in a variety of sizes and styles.

• Safety pens can be used to pin a ribbon to your page or used as a baby theme accessory. To add your own touch you can paint the safety pin baby blue for a boy or pale pink for a girl. They can also be used on a page for crafts.
  
  
• You can achieve a distressed look to your safety pins without little effort. To achieve this look you can use steel wool or sandpaper. Merely scrap your safety pin or other embellishments you are using back and forth with the steel wool until you achieve the desired look you are creating.
  
  
• Eyelets are another popular embellishment to use in your scrapbook. You will need to purchase an eyelet setter to place these on your pages. They are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at a craft store or any local retailer. Eyelets can be used for a variety of things from holding photos together, to adding a decorative touch to any scrapbook page.
  
  
•  Setting an eyelet is not as difficult as it may appear. You will need to purchase a hole punch and setter tool to attach the eyelet to your page. If your budget does not allow for this, you can borrow one from your fellow scrapbookers. Hold the hole punch in a upright position on the paper and tap the end with a hammer. Insert the eyelet and turn to the backside of the paper. Hold the setter tool upright on the back of the eyelet and tap it with a hammer. The eyelet will begin to roll along the top. They also make hammerless eyelets called Quicklets.   You would not have to purchase a setter tool or hole punch to attach the Quicklets.
  
  
• Brads are another common and easy enhancement to fasten to your page. They are mostly used for attaching items to your scrapbook.
  
  
• Adding metal charms to certain themes can also add a personal touch. The charms can come in any type of theme you wish to display. Common charms are birthstones, initials, favorite activities or sports, and special holidays.
  
  
• There are a wide variety of embellishments you can purchase. They have decorations to fit any theme you are using. Use coupons from the newspaper to save money on your purchase.
  
  
• Fabric embellishments are an also inexpensive and easy to construct. You can cut out pieces of outfits and place them by your photos. Design an outfit in your child’s favorite color and place this next to her photo. You can cut out a baby blanket and use this to accent your page. You can also use the fabric to create a title for your child’s scrapbook page. Use scissors or shears that are sharp and cleaned. You don’t want the fabric to snag; you want a nice clean cut.
  
  
• Using left over scraps of fabric or paper could be used to create a border around your page or throughout the whole scrapbook. If you have more than one fabric you want to use as a border you can alternate every other fabric for each edge.   Use decorative shears to cut the fabric for your border. This will add dimension to your page.
  
  
• Glitter is a fun and inexpensive way to enhance your pages. Prisma glitter is made specifically for scrapbooking. I would recommend using the glue pen to adhere the glitter because it is easy to control. First, rub the glue on the image or paper, then sprinkle the glitter and tap off the loose onto the table.

Adding personal items is a way to preserve special memories without over extending your budget. Listed below are some items you may want to use.

• Items to use for a baby scrapbook can be belongings from the hospital. A baby bracelet with the baby’s name on it can be applied to the page with a ribbon or safety pin. The crib card with the birth information can be displayed next to the baby’s first photo. You can also glue the baby’s foot prints or birth announcement to the page. Photo copy the footprints for a wonderful background.
  
  
• Add religious phrases or inspirational poems to your scrapbook pages. Photo copy them out of a book or magazine. If you come across a phrase or poem you like but have no use for it in your current scrapbook, copy it anyway and store it in your scrapbooking container for later use. You never know when you may want to use it, and will regret it later if you don’t take the time now to copy it.
  
  
• Glue old pieces of jewelry to your vintage page. This will enhance your theme and add a piece of your heritage without spending extra money on your budget. You may need to attach the piece of jewelry with a brad if it is heavy.
  
  
• For your child’s scrapbook page there are many examples you can use. A report card or class schedule can be placed next to a school picture. Awards your child received during school can be a nice touch. You can make a copy of your child’s diploma on acid-free paper and use this as the background. Old birthday party invitations can be placed on the age appropriate pages in your scrapbook.
  
  
• Using fabric from old clothing your child wore will give a lasting memory of their childhood. Incorporate the fabric into the page by creating a border. Another great idea for your daughter’s page is to cut a round picture of her head. Next, glue the picture onto the page and draw a stick figure for the photo. Now you will want to cut a dress from the old fabric and glue it over the stick body. Make sure the dress is proportionate to the head photo.
  
  
• You can also add buttons to your page for your theme. This can be done two ways. To save time you can glue the button directly to the page. For a little more creativeness you can sew the thread through the button and then glue it to the page. You can also sew the button on directly to the page. If you use this technique, be sure to use a heavy duty type background paper to prevent tearing.    
  
  
• Maps from family vacations can be copied and used as background paper. On top of the map you can glue your vacation photos along with any souvenirs. Postcards and travel brochures. Write down all the details of your vacation such as, the date you went on your vacation, what the weather was like, what landmarks you visited there, and other memories you want to capture.
  
  
• Apply postcards to the page, and arrange them in creative ways.
  
  
• For wedding albums the invitation is ideal for background paper. You could also get information about the year you were married. The price of a home, how much groceries cost, and other important facts will compliment the theme.
  
  
• This could also be done for scrapbook pages on purchasing your first automobile or home. Display several photos of your first home or automobile with the facts presented around them.
  
  
• For an outdoor theme, flower or leaf imprints will accent the page nicely. This is an easy project to achieve with little effort. Simply place a flower or leaf between two sheets of wax paper and place inside a book for several days. You will need to trim around the flower or leaf before you glue it to your page. If time does not allow for this, you can purchase a laminate kit at your local hobby store.
  
  
• Use magazine clippings with bright flowers on the page and incorporate them into your theme. Look through home furnishing and gardening magazines to capture this look. Photo copy a picture of blooming flowers and use this as your background paper.
  
  
• Fabric flowers make great embellishments on your scrapbook pages as well. The supplies you need to design this flower can be found in your home. First, you will make a petal out of any wire that bends easily. Next, apply glue onto the petal, and place the fabric you wish to use on top. Finally, stretch a piece of nylon over the petal and secure it with tape. You will continue this process until you design your flower petals. Twist the wires together with a twist tie and glue it to your scrapbook page.
  
  
• Simple stickers will accessorize your pages without having to spend a lot of money and time. Be sure your stickers are acid and lignin-free.
  
  
• To make stickers stand out from the page use a pop dot. Cut the pop dot to fit the size of your sticker and glue directly to the page. Apply pop dots to the back of cardstock to lift the photo from the page.
  
  
• If you make a mistake and don’t know how to fix the problem, simply add a sticker to cover up the area.
  
  
• Rubber stamps make a nice subtle enhancement to your scrapbook pages. These come in several different ink colors, as well as, several stamp designs. You can purchase these at any retail store or attend a stamp party and receive samples and coupons. The ink can also be used to ink stencils on the scrapbook page. Select stamps and inks that are photo safe and acid-free.
  
  
• Using an acid-free chalk is a great way to add color while be creating with different techniques. Chalk can be applied with a cotton swab or eye shadow applicator. This is perfect for using chalk with stencil lettering or adding subtle colors to your background. You will need to seal the chalk by blowing of the extra dust and gently rub the area with a cloth.
• Use old Christmas tree lights for embellishments on your holiday theme page. Small lights work the best and can be easily attached to the page. Arrange them around the page and between photos. Using a white or green acid-free marker make wires to string the lights together. Another clever idea to make the effect look real is to draw the wires looping behind the photos and curve the wires through the page.
  
  
• Use a paper punch to design holiday embellishments. Punch out designs from old holiday cards. Saving old birthday cards or invitations will work for punching designs as well.
  
  
• Transparencies are a different way to create a scrapbook layout. Although they are relatively inexpensive and are quite easy to use, many people shy away from using them because they aren’t sure on how to attach them. They can be attached by using your eyelets or brads. First, you will need a punch to make a hole through the transparency and paper, then weave interlace the product through. Another great idea is to sew the transparency directly to the page. If you use this technique make sure you are using a durable piece of cardstock or background paper.
  
  
• Remember to use your tweezers for small embellishments. This will keep the glue from smearing onto your pages.
  
  
• Embossing is a creative and unique way to add a beautiful touch to any scrapbook. There are several ways to emboss images on to paper. The two most commonly used techniques are dry embossing and heat embossing. Embossing is basically a way to paint on images using heat and powder. This adds a shine and luster to ordinary items. Embossing is a wonderful way to a metallic feel to certain items such as a train on your son’s scrapbook page or a toy on your daughter’s page.
  
  
• Dry embossing is a very simple technique that doesn’t require a lot of effort to achieve a beautiful design. You will need a few items to get started.
  
  
• Tape
  Template
  Stylus or embossing tool
  A sunny window
  Cardstock or other accent paper
  First, you will need to find a sunny window in your home. Tape your desired template to the sunny window and then tape the cardstock face down over the template. Next, run the embossing tool along the outline of your template. This will transfer the design from the template to your cardstock. Finally, cut out the transfer and place it in your scrapbook. Adding acid-free chalk to the design will add extra definition.

• Heat embossing provides endless possibilities for your scrapbook pages. This technique does require a little extra time and tools, but is worth it once you see the results. You can create elegant backgrounds and embellishments using this method of embossing. Here are some items you will need for heat embossing.
  Embossing ink pad
  Embossing powder
  Paper
  Rubber stamp
  Heating tool
  First, you will stamp on an image onto the paper using a slow-drying embossing ink. This type of ink can be purchased at craft stores and comes in a variety of colors. Sprinkle a generous amount of embossing powder to the stamped image. This powder also is found at craft stores in several colors. You will need to apply the powder to the image while the ink is still wet. Shake of excess powder onto a paper towel or paper plate. Pour the excess powder into it’s original container. This will save on purchasing extra powder. Finally, melt the powder using the heating tool. Hold the tool at least 5” from the paper. Continue this process until the stamped image is raised. To quicken the heating process you can place aluminum foil over the image. To reduce static cling use a piece of fabric softener. Place the fabric softener on top of the image before your begin working on it. Heat embossing can also be used on fabrics such as, denim, cotton, and polyester. This will add a unique style to any wardrobe.

• Use liquid glue or glue dots to adhere heavy embellishments or other objects to your scrapbook page. These types of adhesives have a stronger hold than others. You may want to use glue dots to attach hemp cord to your page. Hemp cord is very popular for outlining photos and making borders. Use liquid glue sparingly on the paper or it could bubble and make a line where you placed it. Dab the glue onto a cotton swab for the glue to be dispersed evenly.

Using your personal embellishments in your scrapbook is the best way to add your own touch. There may be certain themes you do not have the embellishments for; in that case purchasing embellishments from a store would be the easiest way to highlight the page. If you do have some spare time, making embellishments from scratch can add some personal touches as well.

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