| As promised in my last article, in today's Scrapbooking | | | | edges. Colour should be deeper at the edge and then |
| Ideas and Solutions I will discuss other methods of | | | | fade into a lighter shade further in onto the paper. If |
| decorating the edges of your pages and mats, by | | | | using a watercolour pencil brush over the colour with a |
| either colouring, perforating or stitching them. | | | | paintbrush and some water to soften and blend the |
| Colouring: | | | | colour. |
| There are various different methods that you can use | | | | Perforating: |
| to add some colour or definition to the edges of your | | | | A sewing machine without any thread can be used to |
| pages. You can use colour on torn, punched or straight | | | | create very pretty edges. Most of the sewing |
| edges for a subtle or bold finish or frame. | | | | machines out there have a variety of built in |
| One of the easiest ways is with chalks or an ink pad. | | | | embroidery stitches. The only drawback with this |
| Using an ink pad is a clean and neat way to colour an | | | | technique is that the sewing needles dull more quickly |
| edge. You can buy the ink pads in many different | | | | than they do with material. |
| colours, and you can even get metallic and glitter ones. | | | | Set your sewing machine to the required stitch, but |
| The sponge applicator makes it easy to achieve lovely | | | | don't thread it. Lay the paper under the pressure foot |
| soft and blended shades. You could also use a make | | | | with the edge of the paper on the foot. Try to keep |
| up sponge to gently stroke the colour down the edges | | | | your edges aligned against the food while sewing to |
| of the page. Use the colour sparingly by dabbing a little | | | | keep the design running in a straight line. Set the |
| at a time. You can always add more if you want it | | | | stitches far apart, or the strip of paper will simply tear |
| bolder, but you won't be able to remove the ink once it | | | | away. Explore the different stitches your sewing |
| is on the page. | | | | machine can produce and experiment with altering the |
| Chalks will give a more pastel effect, and you will be | | | | stitch length and width. This technique is loads of fun. |
| able to easily apply these by rubbing them into the | | | | Machine Stitching. |
| page as you would eye shadow, with the sponges | | | | This time you do thread your machine with thread, and |
| supplied or a spare eye shadow sponge. | | | | using the same technique as perforating you sew with |
| Another way to add colour to your edges is with a | | | | a contrasting coloured thread. For added interest, try |
| coloured or watercolour pencil. Just lay the edge of the | | | | using metallic or multicoloured thread to subtly change |
| page on some scrap paper and colour along the | | | | shades as you sew along. |