Stars and Stripes Forever!

Hello and Happy Independence Day!

Today is a day, no matter your nationality, to celebrate freedom and love of country. It’s enough to make me want to burst into song!  And one of my favorite patriotic songs is John Philip Sousa’s spirited march, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

So for July 4th, let’s celebrate scrapbook projects that include both stars and stripes! I paged through idea books by two of our favorite contributors, Jennifer McGuire and Jessica Sprague. Here are a few great ways to combine the star shape and the stripe pattern on your designs:

• Check out how Jill Godon incorporated three stars on her layout. Three (or any odd number) works well in design, so consider using three of something on your next project.

• Robyn Werlich’s striped background isn’t actually a patterned paper–it’s cardstock that she customized using colored markers. She painted her chipboard stars with glitter paint for extra pizzazz. Follow her lead and make your projects your own.

"My Star" by Robyn Werlich from 101 Things You Can Do With Your Scrapbook Supplies by Jennifer McGuire

• A subtle stripe on the background of Lisa McGarvey’s punchy tag really allows her bold stars to stand out. Allow elements to go off the edge of your project for a cool design effect.

"Finn" by Lisa McGarvey from 101 Things You Can Do With Your Scrapbook Supplies by Jennifer McGuire

Use a star accent as a closure embellishment to spice up a striped album cover like Jessica Sprague did on her adorable mini-book. This tiny booklet is only 2 1/2″ square–perfect for pocket or purse!

“Life in Toddlerville” by Jessica Sprague from Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking 2 by Jessica Sprague

•  Create stripes with strips of patterned paper (including star and stripe prints) and cut out a few stars to serve as embellishments, as Sarah Klemish did. Very striking, and oh, so easy!

"Cuter Than Me" by Sarah Klemish from 101 Things You Can Do With Your Scrapbooking Supplies by Jennifer McGuire

• Punch striped ribbon with circle and star punches–Jennifer McGuire shows you how! Cover the ribbon first in a liquid glue or ribbon stiffener. Let dry, and you should be able to punch easily. This tip also works on fabric.

"Reasons to Smile" by Jennifer McGuire from 101 Things You Can Do With Your Scrapbook Supplies by Jennifer McGuire