Scrapbooking Charms

If you look at a scrapbooker's albums, you can usually tell when they have gotten a new tool or discovered a new embellishment or technique. For instance, when I got my circle cutter the pages that followed were filled with round pictures and die cuts such as snowmen or bubbles for bathtub time with the twins. My latest scrapbook craze is using scrapbooking charms.

When I first saw a friend of mine using charms, I wasn't sure if I was going to jump on that band wagon. Some of the larger charms can stick up off the page a lot. After trying scrapbooking charms a few times, I decided that I liked the 3D effect and I felt that it added interest to my pages. Scrapbooking charms and other 3D embellishments have become so popular that some scrapbooking albums are even selling larger page protectors to help you slide over the embellishments easier.

After I decided scrapbooking charms were for me, I began to do research on them so I could let others know about what charms are available. What I discovered is that there is a charm out there for just about any scrapbooking theme. I have yet to think of a layout that I couldn't find a charm to go with it. I buy a lot of my charms online so that I can find unique charms that are not sold in every scrapbook store. I recently got an awesome deal on a lot of 100 scrapbooking charms from an online auction.

Scrapbooking charms come in a variety of shapes, styles and metals. You can find brass, silver, pewter, gold and stainless steel charms. There are also charms available that have been painted or are made from a colored metal. When I did some pages for a trip to a tea room I found some antique brass charms that went perfectly with the Victorian tea room theme.

When I talk about scrapbooking charms to new scrapbookers, we spend a lot of time talking about how to attach them to the page. For some reason this seams to be a big question for those new to charms. There are a number of ways that you can attach the charms. I often use archival safe charm glue to attach the charms. I have found a brand that even holds larger charms tightly on the page. I also like to tie ribbon or string through the charms and fix the ribbon to the page with archival safe glue or fun brads. A friend of mine prefers to attach her charms through eyelets on the page which looks great but can be more time consuming.

If you are looking for a way to lend new life to your scrapbook pages, scrapbooking charms are a great way to go. They are an easy way lend interest to the pages by creating a 3D effect and help complete the theme you have created around your pictures. With thousands of charms to choose from, you should be able to find the perfect charm for your next scrapbooking memory.