One of the great things about scrapbooking as a hobby is that the longer you do it, the more possibilities you uncover. As you learn to view the world through the eyes of a scrapbooker, other hobbies like stamping or sewing, start to seem applicable to your scrapbook album as well. Veteran croppers are always on the lookout for new and exciting methods to incorporate into their albums. Here are some scrapbooking techniques you may want to try.

1. Age Gracefully: There are a number of ways to give your paper and documents that vintage feel. Try tearing a recipe out of an unused cookbook so that the edges are frayed. Then spritz it with tea, crumple up the paper, and smooth it out again. After the sheet dries, you will have what appears to be a time worn fragment of history. Ink stamps, when applied lightly, can also give the appearance of being old and faded.

2. Lumpy and Bumpy: The use of fabrics has recently become one of the most exciting new trends in scrapbooking. Bulky cords, fibers, ribbons and bows definitely require some planning and understanding of your materials. One very simple technique is to weave a fiber strand through pre-punched holes along one edge of the page. This laced look will pop if a different color paper is used beneath. Plan ahead as these pages will significantly increase the thickness of your album.

3. Sew it Goes: Vellum has become a popular material for displaying words or creating pockets. This next technique combines the icy beauty of vellum with the homemade-feel of stitching to create pockets of fun. Simply apply a poem, words, or an image to your vellum. Them choose some small item like sequins, buttons or small shapes for the pocket. For example, your text could be ?Happy New Year? and you could fill the pocket with confetti. Then you form a pocket by sewing the edges of the cardstock over the vellum so that the stitches are apparent. Sew simple!

4. Bold and Beady: Some people avoid using beads because they imagine they are too difficult to adhere well. Try using thin wire with small uniform beads, and then affix with both a clear adhesive tacky tape and liquid glue that is safe on pictures. Then use the design as a border for your photos.

5. Create a Background: Stamps and die-cut letters can offer a fun alternative to plain paper for your background. Consider stamping or adhering die-cut words or letters all across your page. You could use words to a song, names or random word choices. Finally, tape your pictures over your prose. By selecting the font and colors you like, your possibilities are infinite.

When trying new scrapbooking techniques, keep in mind that the proper tools can make or break the experience. Just imagine trying to crop and journal your pages with dull cutting utensils or dried out markers. The first step to using a new technique is to set your self up for success. Seek out the materials you need and then play around until you get it right. Most of all, let your creativity lead you and enjoy.