Making rub-ons for scrapbooking

Scrapbooking, Scrapbooking Techniques & Tips

- July 10, 2007

Scrapbooking Techniques & Tips - Making your own Rub-ons

I saw this really nifty tutorial on the Scrap Girls site and thought what a fabulous scrapbooking technique! Now you can make your own rub-ons out of digital elements which you can use over and over again!

Okay, all of you paper scrapbookers or bi-scrapbookers, did you know that you can use even the most detailed digital embellishments for paper scrapbooking? No kidding. And you don’t have to cut out a single thing.
How?
By making your own rub-ons with them.

Here’s how:
1. Get an ink-jet transparency.
2. Select your digital embellishment (check out how cool the stitches are in the sample below) and insert the graphic into a Word document or other word processing document.
3. Print on the slick side (yes, that is the WRONG side) of the transparency.
4. Place the transparency on your paper ink-side down and rub the back with a tool of some kind until all of the ink transfers to the paper. (My current favorite paper scrapbooking tools are those little wooden cuticle pusher sticks. They have a pointed end on one side and a flat end on the other. The flat side is perfect for things like this.)

Note: You have to make yourself go STRAIGHT down when you place the transparency and don’t let yourself slide it around. The two stamps samples show what happens if you slide. I slipped on the right-hand one, but went straight down on the left one.

If you have recently been perusing rub-on prices, you will realize immediately that you can save some real money with this idea. And guess what? You won’t run out of these. Want to have stitches on every single layout and card you ever make for the rest of your life?
No problem. Just print and rub away!

P.S. Having trouble with your printer and a transparency. Try an 8.5×11 page protector. It works, too!

Tutorial written by Rozanne Paxman (CEO Scrap Girls)

How cool is that?!

I’ve tried it out and it works. I find with my printer that using the ‘Draft’ print quality gives me the best result as I don’t get too much ink on the transparency. But suddenly all my digital elements have become rub-ons that I can use over and over again.

There are heaps of handy scrapbooking techniques and tutorials on the Scrap Girls site and at least two or three per week in the free daily newsletter.

9 Responses to “Scrapbooking Techniques & Tips - Making your own Rub-ons”
Wow, that is really handy to know! I will have to try it when I get the time. Thanks for sharing!

By Hannah on Jul 10, 2007
I have heard of that but the tip on “draft” print setting is a goodie.
Will remember that when I have a chance to give that a go.

By Janine on Jul 10, 2007
Thanks Hannah & Janine.
I found it works really well but my printer loads too much in on the ‘good’ setting and it squooshes everywhere. Draft works like a charm.

By karooch on Jul 11, 2007
Wow - sounds like a great tip. Thanks!

By Kelly on Jul 12, 2007
Have heard of doing this, but reading it now makes me want to give it a go myself. Mmmm. Might be on tonights’ lis tof things to do… Thanks Karen.
Tania

By Tania on Jul 19, 2007
Really an old post I am commenting on, but I just wanted to ask if this works with an inkjet printer ? Sounds really interesting, since I am about to try some hybrid scrapping By the way, you have the most interesting blog, visited you before, but now I finally have the time to read a lot more than just the newest entries

By BrigittevT on Sep 5, 2007
Does it work with a Laser Printer

Linda

By Linda B on Apr 9, 2008
Not sure how effective it is with a laser printer Linda. They typically don’t use so much ink.

You could give it a try but I would suggest that you need to do your rubbing when the print out is very fresh and the ink hasn’t properly set.

By karooch on Apr 9, 2008