Vellum -- a clear winner for scrapbook pages and crafty projects!

by Susan Larson

The look it creates can be elegant or sporty, delicate, yet fun. It changes colors like a chameleon. You can see right through it, yet it can be the most striking element on a scrapbook page.

Vellum. Light and airy, plain or sparkly, versatile vellum.

Scrappers love to buy vellum. Some of us will buy it even if we're not quite sure what we'll do with it We buy it because it's beautiful. We buy it because it's fun. We buy it because someday we just know we'll need it.

What can you do with vellum? Its most obvious use is to depict items that are transparent such as glass, water, plastic and other clear materials. But you can also use it as you would regular paper; the bonus is that vellum lends an added twist.

Here are a few examples to get your creative juices rolling:

Ten Things You Can Do With Vellum

1. Make a pocket
Vellum is perfect for making pockets on pages. Since the pocket is transparent, you are making your page interactive as someone looking through your scrapbook will see that items of interest are being held in there. A heavyweight vellum pocket is strong enough to hold memorabilia such as photos, greeting cards, travel souvenirs, programs and the like. Just fold a sheet of vellum in half and attach to a heavyweight sheet of cardstock with double-stick tape. (More about vellum adhesives later on.)

2. Create an envelope
If you don't need an entire pocket on your page, incorporate a see-through envelope on your layout instead. Use this smaller memorabilia holder to display a dried, pressed flower, coins from a trip or a special concert ticket. Making an envelope is easy. Just unfold a regular envelope and use it is as a template. Refold and glue together your vellum envelope.

3. Mat a photo
Just like regular paper, use vellum to highlight a special photo on your page. Layer it with card stock, printed paper, mulberry paper and so on. Tear a vellum mat for extra dimension. If you cut a mat with decorative edge scissors, take care as vellum does crease easily and may leave a white dent or line.

4. Journal on it
Vellum makes a great overlay for journaling over printed paper. You can either send it through your computer's printer (a laser printer works better because it's a drier process, but you can try it on an ink-jet, too gel pens or scrapbooking markers. Be patient and give it time to dry!

5. Use it as tracing paper
Remember when you were little and activity books had tracing paper? Vellum is a grown-up's version. Place a sheet over a handwriting style you admire or a picture or logo you'd like to trace. Watch your hand for smudging!

6. Print a photo on it
Photos can be printed on vellum for an ethereal look. I printed a photo of my baby daughter playing in a sprinkler, using it takes two's iridescent vellum which features small sparkly spots and dots. It makes the water drops (and my daughter!) sparkle. Experiment with placing photos printed on plain or light-colored vellum on different colors of card stock. It makes a very striking look.

7. Change the tone of a patterned paper
Plain colored vellum can make subtle changes to the paper you're layering. Love a certain patterned piece of paper, but the colors are just too bright for your photos? Placing a white or pastel color vellum on top will mute the colors, yet let the design still shine through.

8. Create a background
A patterned piece of vellum can change its colors when placed over various colors of paper. For example, it takes two's pansy-patterned vellum takes on different moods when green, pink, gold and various other colors of card stock are placed under it. Or weave together 1-inch strips of two or three different colors of vellum to make a plaid background. Or use vellum scraps to create a beautiful stained-glass window.

9. Make a title block
Just as you would regular paper, cut out letters from a template and layer on to card stock. Or with your computer, use a reverse or fill-in font. After the print has dried, color in the letters with markers, color pencils or chalk. It's a very pretty, translucent look.

10. Cut out shapes
Whether making a peek-a-boo window (place a vellum window that can be opened over a picture or several pictures) or a glass of champagne, vellum is perfect for capturing the essence of many delicate items such as (take a breath, the list is long!): angel wings, balloons, bubbles, butterflies, confetti, curtains, diamond rings, Easter eggs, eyeglasses, fire, flames, flowers, frosting, ghosts, ice cubes, icicles, jelly jars, kites, lanterns, leaves, medals, negligees, oceans, raindrops, ribbons, seashells, snowflakes, skating rinks, snow, stars, television screens, veils, waves, whiskers, windows. And you probably thought of 10 more things before you got to the end of the list!<br><br> Now that ideas are dancing in your head, itıs on to the big question:<br> How do we make it stick?

The quality that makes vellum so appealing (its transparency) also makes it a bit difficult to work with when attaching it to other things. Vellum isn't porous like other paper. That means glue and other adhesive won't soak and disappear into the vellum like it will with paper. This means a slower drying period, and in the end, most adhesives will show through the vellum, especially plain colors. And if you use too much glue, vellum will dry funny and bubble. Photo splits and tape also show through. But with a little ingenuity, there are several ways to make vellum stick.

A new vellum adhesive is an excellent way to adhere vellum. Available in rolls like tape, this adhesive is made of tiny air bubbles. You simply rub this adhesive onto the surface to which you are attaching the vellum by using the edge of a bone folder or plastic ruler. The results are virtually invisible.

A glue stick applied sparingly will work pretty well with vellum attached to light-colored paper. It is best to apply the adhesive to the paper or cardstock youıre layering rather than the vellum itself. Whenever possible, apply the glue where a photo or other element of the page such as a die-cut or sticker will hide it. Patterned vellum can hide glue stick marks somewhat better.

A Xyron machine can coat vellum die cuts with a very thin, even adhesive backing. Spray adhesives also can be an effective adhesive, but it takes a little practice and a steady hand to apply an even coating.

Some of the best ways to attach vellum to a page don't involve an adhesive. Different methods to consider include:

sewing it to cardstock with stitches or a button
using brads or other paper fasteners
punching a hole or holes in it and tying it with a ribbon

These solutions not only secure vellum without unsightly spots, but they add yet another unique dimension to a memory book page. Be sure to stock some of these alternative supplies in your store and use them in your examples.

Other tips for using vellum

Sometimes surprising combinations of vellum and paper mix very well together. Florals over stripes. Polka dots with plaids. The only way to know is to experiment.

Elegant and delicate vellums are good for enhancing wedding, baby and heritage layouts without overwhelming the photos. in a variety of ways. Gold and silver vellums are perfect for medals, trophies and jewelry and look nice on pages commemorating 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries.

Scrapbooking markers and gel pens work well for journaling on vellum. Just make sure to allow enough time to dry before handling. Ink on vellum tends to "feather" with the slightest movement before it dries.

If you send vellum paper through your computer printer, it is best to print on the flat or non-shiny side. A laser printer will work best, especially for black text, because of its heating element. An ink jet printer will work too, but the page will be wet at first, and you need to have the patience to let it dry before handling the page.

Beyond scrapbooking, vellum is great for other projects. Scrapbookers are creative people who can get double-duty out of their scrapbooking supplies by branching out into other paper crafts such as making greeting cards, birth announcements and invitations. Vellum can also be used in making gift bags, envelopes, lamp shades, candles and a variety of creative projects.

Working with vellum involves a little time, a little planning and a little patience, but the results are clearly wonderful!

Vellum Ideas from our Customers

Sew vellum with ease by piercing the holes first with a paper piercer or push pin. A mouse pad under your paper will protect your furniture and prevent the vellum from bending.

Print your photos on vellum for a dynamic look.

Add texture to vellum with an embossing tool. Simply place your vellum over any textured surface and emboss.

Use vellum as a pocket. Place vellum across the page and adhere the ends down, leaving the middle open for that special keepsake, card or photo.

Make quick and easy color block accents with complementary vellum patterns and a square punch shape.

Double the bonus of working with vellum papers by creatively hiding "glue spots" with accents and embellishments - instant decorative details!

Use torn patterned paper as a casual pocket on a page layout

Create a shadow effect on your photos by layering vellum over it.

Chalk behind the words on printed vellum to emphasize your thoughts.

Soften a dark patterned vellum by placing dark-colored cardstock underneath

Double up on vellum punch shapes and layer them for a more detailed and intricate look.

Adhere vellum by placing a dot of glue on the paper and let dry. Then place your vellum on top -- the glue spot will barely show!.