When giving scrapbooks as gifts it's always nice to decorate the cover so that it will make a great coffee table book. This 8" x 8" album is perfect for the couple to print out their favorite photos to slip inside and maybe even do a little journaling.

Supplies needed:

• ScanNCut machine and accessories
• USB flash drive (see the compatible ones HERE)
• Fabric covered scrapbook album
• Rhinestone starter kit
• Download the free rhinestone cut file HERE!

Watch the how-to video here:

How to add rhinestones to a scrapbook cover

Instructions:

Step 1 - Open up SNC Canvas and create your pattern either using the rhinestone function with the existing patterns or by tracing an image and then using the rhinestone wizard function (located under "edit") to create the rhinestone pattern.

Step 2 - Before you cut out your design be sure to do a test cut of the template sheet. You want to be able to cut through the template sheet, but not the backing.  I have my blade set to 5 and the pressure at 0, but your blade may need a different adjustment.

Step 3 - Cut out the pattern. 

Step 4 - Once it's done cutting, remove the backing from the template sheet by pulling it off quickly.

Step 5 - If you notice any holes that didn't pop off of the template sheet when you removed it from the backing then remove those now.

Step 6 - Place the backing board into the box lid so the shiny side is facing up. Press the template sheet onto the backing board and smooth it all out.

Step 7 - Pour the rhinestones on top of the pattern and use the brush  in a circular motion to brush them into place.

To place rhinestones individually, use the pick-up tool to position them.

Step 8 - Apply the transfer sheet to the top of the rhinestones and lift it off carefully.

Step 9 - Place the transfer paper onto your scrapbook cover and then cover it with a pressing cloth. Iron in one place for about 45 - 60 seconds, or until all of the rhinestones are adhered.

Step 10 - Allow it to cool and then remove the transfer sheet.

And there you go! A beautiful album cover!

Sponsor: Brother International

Disclosure: I am a paid consultant for Brother International Corporation and have received a ScanNCut from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely my own and based on my use of the product. 

Going on family vacations is fun, and scrapbooking about those trips is great...well, except when you do it after you're already home and you've forgotten the fun little things that happened each day.

To remedy that, this summer we took some journaling cards, pens, markers, crayons and a date stamp with us camping. And then every evening while we were cooking dinner my niece would journal onto the cards the things we did, funny conversations we had, and draw pictures.  

Once we got back home we had the photos printed out and then just slipped those, the purchased cards and embellishments, and the cards we created on our trip into the scrapbook and we were done! Easy peasy...especially for kids!

The result was her very first scrapbook! Check it out in the video below: 

As a mixed media artist I love stencils...and I really love to create my own! They are great to use in art journals and on other crafty projects too. Today I'm going to share how I created one of the stencils I used on this mini art journal.

Follow along with each of the steps in this short video:

Supplies Needed:

• ScanNCut machine and accessories
• USB flash drive (see the compatible ones HERE)
• Stencil material
• 11" x 15" watercolor paper
• acrylic paint
• markers and pens
• letter stamps
• old book paper
• patterned paper
• sewing machine and thread
• any other embellishments you want to use
• Download the FREE cut file for this stencil HERE.

Step 1 - Create your own artwork. This can be hand drawn like I used for this project or you can use computer generated.

Step 2 - Scan the artwork into the ScanNCut using the "Scan To Cut Data" option.

Step 3 - Cut out the stencil. (Download the FREE cut file for this stencil HERE.)

Step 4 - Paint the water color paper using the stencils you created.

Step 5 - To fold and assemble the art journal, fold the paper as shown below.

Next, fold it in half and cut only on the red dash line.

Refold longwise. Holding each end, push to the middle to open up where you made the cut.

Continue to push it all the way together and then fold the left edge over to create the cover. Use adhesive to glue together the individual pages.

Step 6 - Embellish.  I jazzed up my book with bits of old book paper, bold patterned paper, some messy stitching with my sewing machine, and of course a good deal of doodling.

 I added some of my favorite art quotes to the journal to finish it off.

Sponsor: Brother International

Disclosure: I am a paid consultant for Brother International Corporation and have received a ScanNCut from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely my own and based on my use of the product.