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Wire: An Exciting Scrapbooking Tool
Ramie Ahlstrom - Scrapping Design Team LeaderWire is one of the most versatile “tools” out there! What started as a device for connecting things in a “man’s world” (you know…the garage), has turned into a fantastic, exciting tool for scrapbooking!
Wire comes in several different thicknesses. The thickness is measured by a number, under a standard measuring system. The lower the number, the thicker the wire. Thinner wire tends to be easier to manipulate, therefore easier to use in scrapbooking. Sometimes however, the thicker wire provides a better match to your project. Taking a little time to practice will provide you with excellent results!
Wire also comes in several different colors. You can find just about any color you want! Some of the most commonly used, and most widely available are gold and silver. Copper is common also. In addition to plain metal wire, there are also several types of specialty wire, including paper wire, and plastic-coated wire available. Wire is available just about anywhere. Most craft stores carry it in the jewelry making department, as well as in the scrapbooking department. Hardware stores and discount stores also carry it! You can always raid your husband’s toolbox too!
Since wire is not a paper product, there is no worry about acid or lignin being in it. You should however be careful not to use wire in a place that it will directly touch your photos (be careful for opposite facing pages), since the wire can scratch your photos, even through page protectors. If you get wire from your husbands tool box, be sure to clean it before working with it…chances are its pretty dirty!!
Some of the things you’ll need to work with wire include a way to cut it. Wire cutters are the best for this job, but an old pair of scissors will work perfectly for thinner wire, and those like me who are on a tight budget! Another tool that is handy to have, although not required, is a pair of needle-nose pliers. These allow you to bend the wire at sharper angles, so you can manipulate it into smaller shapes. Lots of other tools can be used, including a paper crimper, for a wavy look, or a pencil or narrow dowel, to make a spiral. Wire “jigs” are also available. They allow you to work wire around pegs that you insert into the jig, giving your shapes a more professional appearance.
Attaching wire is sometimes tricky, but once you devise a system, it’s a cakewalk! You can “stitch” it to the page with some scrap wire, or with fishing line if you don’t want it to show. You can also poke a small hole with the wire and tape the end of the wire to the back of your layout. If you’re using beads on the wire, you can curl the ends of the wire so the beads don’t fall off, and stick one or two of the beads down with Glue Dots. Glossy Accents, a product made by Ranger Industries, will also hold wire onto a layout. I suggest putting a small dab on the layout, setting the wire into it, and holding it in place until it dries. Setting a book on top of it may help.
Some of the things you can do with wire include:
Wire words—you can write just about anything you’d like. The easiest way I found was to print a word using a cursive font, tape the end of the wire at the beginning of the word, and work the wire onto the letters printed. Trim the end and attach to your layout.
Wire shapes—attach the end of the wire to a template (coloring book image, clip art, die cut, etc) and work the wire into the shape; or freehand your shapes to match your layouts.
Hang embellishments—tags, charms, die cuts, etc
Spirals—these are easy to make and fun to see
Connect pieces of a layout—embellishments, frames, etc can easily be attached for uniformity.
Add a little something to a die cut—wrap wire around it to make it “pop”.
As “thread” for beads—alphabet beads make easy words when added to wire; regular beads look cool too.
Curly Q’s
Make arms for a die cut or stamped snowman
Add curly hair to a die cut doll
Add a springy accent to any page
Make the wings of a butterfly, dragonfly or bee 3 Dimensional
Frame a picture
Use as fishing line to hook a die cut fish
Wire is a relatively inexpensive tool to add just that “touch” to your layouts! Have fun experimenting, and be sure to share your work with our readers by submitting it to the readers gallery. Email your submission to editor@ssreflections.com with your name, and city and state!
Happy Scrappin’,
Ramie Ahlstrom
ramieahlstrom@ssreflections.com
Scrapping Design Team Leader
S.S. Reflections, Inc.
