Scrapbooking 4 Us

Eyelets are a LOT of fun. You can use them to anchor pictures, frames, borders, etc. You can use them to add embellishments or as the only embellishment.

You will need a couple of tools, an eyelet setter and the eyelets themselves. You can purchase eyelets in an assortment of sizes and shapes. Make sure the eyelet setter you get is versatile. Most serve two functions. As a hole punch and an eyelet setter.

First take your hole punch and place it over the front side of your layout in the area you want to place the eyelet. Push down and at the same time twist the punch back and forth. You will need to use quite a bit of pressure if your layout is thick.

Once you have the hole. Place your eyelet through it. Turn your layout over (hold on to the eyelet!) and place your eyelet setter into the back of the eyelet. Using a small craft hammer or a lot of your own elbow grease, gently tap the eyelet a few times until it spreads. I tap about 10 times. Hold on to the setter firmly while tapping. Remove the setter and your eyelet should be spread out around the edges, gently tap the back of the eyelet until it is flat. Be careful that you don't tap too hard or you will deform the front of the eyelet.

That is all there is to it! Have fun and be creative!

Some uses for eyelets:

1. Attaching vellum

2. Attaching pictures.

3. Use to thread fibers through your layouts.

4. As the center of flowers.

5. As eyes on punch outs of people and animals.

6. Embellish paper piecing.

7. To attach paper pieces (makes them moveable!)

8. As the center of tires

9. Use shaped eyelets as snowflakes, rain, etc.

10. Embellish large stickers.

11. Make an outline, ie: circle and stem for a pumpkin.

12. Use at the end of a bugs antenna

13. Use as part of your lettering. The dot of an i or the tail of a y.

14. Place eyelets about a 1/2 to 1 inch apart all around your picture and thread yarn or fibers through each one to get a "sewn" look.

15. Attach tags

16. Embellish tags