Using Eyelets in Scrapbooking

I recently watched a Sketch to Scrapbook Page episode which featured a banner type layout. Shimelle used eyelets to run the baker's twine through on the corners of the elements, and mentioned that she's had a few requests on ways to use eyelets. She advised that she gave most of her eyelets away to another scrapbooker several years ago so doesn't really have a big stash to use anymore.

But what if you haven't given them away, either because you do actually want to find a way of using them, or because you don't really know any other scrapbookers (outside of the US, this isn't an uncommon thing!), or a bit of both?

It got me thinking. I have a collection of eyelets which I bought several years ago now, and haven't used a tonne of them. My style has developed and changed, and they're not something I would probably buy now, but on the other hand, I don't just want to chuck them out.

Of course, there is the usual sort of thing, such as using them to reinforce tag holes, thread ribbon or twine through, use as flower centres, but I wanted to find some new ways that would use some up. Here are a few ideas I came up with:

• Rainbows are really popular as a motif right now. Try making an 'eyelet rainbow' as an element on the page. It can either go direct on the page, or you could create it on a tag to be attached to a project. Draw a rainbow shape (either freehand or using a circle stencil), and then fill in the lines with eyelets. And don't think you have to stick to the standard rainbow colours; adapt to fit your colour theme!

• Use a line of eyelets instead of washi tape or a border sticker. You'll still get the colour, but with added texture.

• Outline a tag or journaling spot with eyelets, giving it a frame and drawing attention to the words.

• If you have any metallic coloured ones, they can really add to masculine pages. Make a frame around a photo of your man, whether he's 6 or 60!

• Mix them in with newer products in embellishment clusters. Mixing old with new always helps things look a little more up to date.

• If you're doing a 'cowboy' page (from Hallowe'en, or a birthday party, or if that's just your thing!), I have to say they make great 'bullet holes'!

• If you have any themed ones, then take a cue from the shape of the eyelet to create an embellishment on that theme; eg: If you have heart eyelets, draw a heart in pencil, then fill in the shape with eyelets of that shape.

I hope that's helped give you a few extra ideas with what to do with eyelets. I'd love to see the results if you try any of the ideas, so please leave a comment with a link to the photo of your project.

Happy Stash Busting!


Love, Maxi