If you’re new to scrapbooking, you may not have learned all the super secret scrappy society code words yet…like digi, die cuts, masks, brands, eyelets, and setters. But don’t worry…you’re about to.

I remember when embellishments like brands and eyelets first came on to the scrapbooking scene. It catapulted the craft into 3D and away from flat stickers, paper borders, etc.

In the video below, I demonstrate how to use brads and eyelets. I also show you how to set them using several different setters…in particular an oldie but goodie, the Silent Setter by ProvoCraft.

Though they are no longer are available on ProvoCraft’s website, you can still find them at retailers and all over the internet with a simple Google search.

To see how the Crop-A-Dile works, go here to see a photo tutorial.

WIN IT! One reader will receive a Silent Setter of their very own!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Comment on this post telling me if you’ve ever used an eyelet setter before.

2. For extra entries, tweet about this giveaway up to once a day and/or subscribe to this blog. Need a tweet idea? Try this: “Shout it from the rooftops and win a Silent Setter! http://is.gd/dlTTS @myapronstrings”

3. Entries must be made by Friday, July 23 at 11:59 p.m. MST.

Good luck cropaholics!

So I came up with an idea to use an origami folding technique to create my Blossom layout. This was the layout I did for the first day of school pictures from this year and I remember thinking as I posed early in the wee hours of that morning how quickly and amazingly my boys are blossoming into young men.

So I thought I’d do a tutorial on how to create the main element of the layout, the origami cherry blossoms.

Was that helpful? Did I talk too fast? If you use the technique, what kind of layout will you do?

Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed these video tutorials. And if you have any questions or tips on the Gypsy, please leave a comment!

I also mention the Relative/True Size tool, which truly, I don’t see the need for on the Gypsy. I’m still trying to figure out how this works on the Gypsy and how it relates to the “Real Dial Size” function on the Cricut itself (which I’m still a bit confused about).

I see another tutorial on this coming…

But as to not leave you hanging for now, here is the definition of the Relative/True Size tool from the Gypsy Quick Start Guide:

Click this button to toggle on Relatvie Size mode (white) or True Size mode (yellow). When highlighted white, this feature allows you to control the size of the images selected in relation to the size of the key height character. Every chartridge contains a key height character, and the size of every other character in that cartridge is based on the size of this key character. This is done so that when images are selected to be cut they are the correct size relative to one another. For example, if you enter the images C-a-t to be 1 inch tall, where “C” is the key height character and “a” should be half the height of “C”, then the “a” will really only be half an inch tall. You can control the exact size of all images selected without regard to the key character by toggling the button to True Size mode (yellow).

I’m probably making this harder than it really is, but I’ll do some testing and will get back to you (probably in video tutorial form) and let you know what I find out.

Promise.

So, on to the video…

Any questions? Please feel free to leave a comment on this or any other post. And don’t forget to enter the Gypsy giveaway here (before 1/19/10).

(And a word of warning…please don’t be alarmed by the sudden barking of a certain Chihuahua. He’s harmless…really).

Until next week!

There’s one thing you should know before you watch, and this is important (and of course I forgot to mention it in the video):

Though you have the ability to create corners in Photobucket, you can only save the final image as a .jpg. If you watched last week’s video, you’ll know that the only way to save the rounded corners with transparency is with the .png format. In the .jpg format, the corners will have a white background. Photobucket supports .png files, but you can not save your images in the .png format. So keep that in mind when you go to insert your photo on a background other than white! In this regard, that is one advantage that Photoshop Elements has over Photobucket.

On to the video…enjoy!