Look around you in craft stores and on eBay, and you will see lots of new techniques in scrapbooking layouts. Some of these techniques are not so new after all, just old crafts incorporated into new ones. A big one these days is machine and hand stitching in scrapbooks. You always thought that sewing machines were for making clothes and curtains, right? Well not anymore! Now scrapbookers are adding stitching to picture mats, using quilt stitches on background paper, or accenting embellishments with hand stitches.

Taking the idea of stitching around photo mats, a great way to add a rich look to your scrapbook pages is to stitch using a metallic thread around the edges of photos and matted sayings. You may want to add a small amount of adhesive to keep your papers where you want them, then add a straight or zigzag stitch around the edges. I've also seen where the stitching is right around the edge of a photo instead of just on the mat. This technique can really draw out the colors in your photos!

Another fun idea is to make a flower out of several circles, use a brad or button for the center, then stitch a couple of circles around the flower about a 1/4" from the edge for a fun and whimsical touch.

Have you seen all the great shaker boxes incorporated into scrapbooking layouts? Why not make your own? Add a new twist by placing confetti or small beads into a pocket made from celophane or vellum, seal the sides to keep the small items inside, frame it, then add a pretty stitch around the outside.

If you still prefer to use the old standby, a needle and thread, you can still jazz up your layouts in a hurry. Mark some holes on your paper or use one of the new stitch templates (Hot Off the Press and other companies make these), pierce holes where you want the stitches on your paper, then make some simple straight stitches or cross stitches with embroidery floss or yarn. Expanding this idea, try using a needle with a very large eye, and stitch some simple flowers with 1/4" ribbon. Just poke holes this time in a circular pattern, a big circle and a small circle (like bike spokes), and stitch straight stitches for flower petals, one stitch for each petal. The for the center of the flower, just use a brad, eyelet or button. The same thing can be done for tiny flowers using embroidery floss.

Try sewing on embellishments instead of gluing! You can sew pockets onto your pages to hold tags (jean pockets are great for this), sew around the edges of tags, add a single line of cross stitches to set off a section of your page, the list is endless.

The traditional blanket stitch is a great one too for embellishments. Try making one blanket stitch for each petal of a flower, or to make a great edge around your pictures or even the whole way around your page. Other fun things to use are materials that require no needle at all. Use waxed threads, raffia or even wire to thread through holes.

If you love the idea of sewing on your scrapbook pages, but are groaning over the extra work, all is not lost! Seven Gypsies, K & Company, and others make great rub-on stitches, so you really can have the look without the extra work. To make these rub-on stitches look more believeable, just poke holes along the lines where the machine needle would have gone in.

So, if you're game, take that poor lonely sewing machine out of the closet, brush it off, and incorporate some stitching into your scrapbooks.