Staple this!

Welcome to the October issue of Tool Time. This month we will explore a few ways that you can use staples on your layout. The most popular use of staples is to attach items such as ribbons or paper to your layout. If you are a bit more daring, you can even create designs with staples such as flower petals or borders.

Take a look at Mireille’s layout, for instance. She created a fun border by carefully stapling all around her pictures to create a box. Another way to use staples is to merge two items together like Brittany did with her two labels.

What new and inventive ways can you come up with to use staples on your layouts? I challenge you to create a layout and post it in the ScrapStreet gallery. I look forward to seeing your creations!

Mr. Pula Jr by Mireille Divjak

Supplies: Papers, Buttons, Stickers: Little Yellow Bicycle, Letters: American Crafts, Paint: Making Memories, Dimensional Paint: Ranger, Punch: EK Success, Other: staples, ribbon, tape.

Editor Notes: I love how Mireille took the time to make the border out of staples to frame her photos. It’s the perfect touch to her layout.

Journaling: Little Casanova meets cute little Croatian girl.

Free as a Bird by Janet Long

Digital Supplies: Red Paper from First Blossoms Mini Kit by Mindy Terasawa, White Paper from Notebook Paper Pack by Katie Pertiet, All other Paper from Crazy Beautiful Kit by Mindy Terasawa, Brushes from DoodleDo Circles Brushes and Stamps by Katie Pertiet, Zig Zag Stitches from Stitched by Anna Red No. 01 by Anna Aspnes, Circle Stitches from Stitched by Anna Circles No. 04 by Anna Aspnes, Life Letters from Everyday Hand Drawn Brushes by Ali Edwards, Free Letters from DIY Sticker Alphabet by Pattie Knox, Staples from Staple Its! by Pattie Knox, Heart from Whirly Girl: Love Scribbles Brushes and Stamps by Rob and Bob Studios, Peace Sign from Peace Brushes and Stamps by Katie Pertiet (all at Designer Digitals), Font: Pea Annalee.

Design Notes: It was a really bright day when I took this photo and it was in direct sunlight, but my daughter looked so cute standing by the graffiti on this wall that I still had to scrap it. Tying the journaling in with the photo may seem random, but it is very pertinent to what is going on in her life right now and addresses most of the issues that give her concern at this time of her life.

Journaling: Mean girls, jealous boys, too much home work, poor teachers, and early morning cheer practice.

Someday by Brittany Teti

Digital Supplies: Taupe Paper from MonoBlendz True Taupe Paperie by Anna Aspnes, White and Kraft Paper from Neiva Paper Pack by Michelle Martin, Striped Paper from Clara Paper Pack by Michelle Martin, Letters from Basic Paper Alpha: Navy by Katie Pertiet, Words from Fine Lines Border Lines Brushes by Katie Pertiet, Clip from Metal Clip Assortment by Katie Pertiet, Brush from New Growth Brushes and Stamps No.4 by Katie Pertiet, Label from Journaling Labels No.7 by Jesse Edwards, Border Stitches from Stitched by Anna Borders Red No.1 by Anna Aspnes, Straight Stitches from StraightLine Stitched White No.1 by Anna Aspnes, Overlay from Sand Scratched Overlays No.1 by Anna Aspnes, Brush from SandScratched Tool Set No.1 by Anna Aspnes, Edges from Worn Photos Edges No.2 by Lynn Grieveson, Staples from Staple Its! by Pattie Knox, Heart from Have a Heart Felts No.2 by Pattie Knox (all at Designer Digitals), Font: Century Gothic.

Design Notes:  I like to get the most out of the elements I have, so for this layout, I took the journaling label and erased the edge of a second one and stapled them together. This gave me enough room to complete my journaling.

Journaling:  Someday babe we're gonna have that dream house of ours with the pool in the backyard and the Georgia game room. And we'll have those two (or three) kids that we (and our parents) want so bad. We won't have all this debt we have right now and I'll actually be making money instead of paying it all to school. Someday, things will be different. We have all these big dreams, and I can't wait for them, but someday, we'll look back on these days and cherish every memory.