Scrapbooking on the Cheap: Making your own Journaling Cards

I love embellishment heavy layouts, for both pocket scrapbooking and my big 12×12’s. I love to look at them, I love to make them, and I love showing them off. What I don’t love is how much gorgeous cardstock die cuts cost. Here, I’ve put together two quick videos showing a very simple technique to make your own gorgeous journal cards (or embellishments for a 12×12 layout).

For each video, I’ll walk you through a few simple steps:

1. Die cut your shapes, using either an electronic cutting machine, such as a Silhouette, or metal dies and a manual cutting machine, such as a Big Shot.
2. Distress your die cuts (this is the fun part).  Pick a couple of dye-based inks and go to town.
3. Put it all together on a journaling card.

Suggested supplies:

• 6”x4” cuts of white card stock
• More white card stock for die cutting
• Dye based inks and a blending tool
• A way to spritz or flick water
• Adhesive

Optional:

• Stamps and ink
• Ribbons and other scraps

Making Your Own Journaling Cards (Snowflakes)

Making Your Own Journaling Cards (Christmas)

What are your favorite techniques for making your own embellishments?