Hey there! Has it been a while since you’ve used rub-ons on a scrapbook layout? Now is a great time to fall in love with this versatile, easy-to-use supply all over again. For some great ideas on how to use rub-ons on your pages, check out our “CK Shows You How” column on page 23 of the May/June 2010 issue for three rub-on techniques to get you started. In the meantime, here are five more terrific ways to use rub-ons:
1. Layer a design over other elements. You’ll love how great rub-ons look layered over other elements. Notice how you can see portions of the photos peeking through the butterfly rub-on on Maggie Holmes’s layout. It’s a smooth, seamless look without adhesive marks or hard edges around the butterfly design.
"Geeki Beb" by Maggie Holmes, as seen in the January 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
2. Fake stitching in a flash. There’s no need to haul out your sewing machine when it’s so fast and easy to create the look of stitching with a border rub-on. Take a look at the scallop “stitches” along bottom-right edge of Elizabeth Kartchner’s layout.
"Being Mom Means…" by Elizabeth Kartchner, as seen in the May 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
3. Craft cute journaling lines. Give your journaling a little more love with decorative journaling lines made from border rub-ons, like Jennifer McGuire did on this cute tag.
"Friends" by Jennifer McGuire, as seen in the April 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
4. Dress up plain ribbon. Or plain chipboard. Or metal, or plastic, or cardstock. You get the picture—you can use rub-ons to embellish all kinds of surfaces. Here’s how Wendy Sue Anderson used rub-ons on ribbon on her layout.
"Our Sunday Tradition" by Wendy Sue Anderson, as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
5. Make cute accents. Transform plain chipboard shapes or die-cut cardstock into darling glossy accents in three easy steps like Sara Winnick did on her layout. Just paint your shape, add a rub-on to the center, then seal it with a clear coat of glaze.
"More Than Just a Dog" by Sara Winnick, as seen in the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
For more tips, and step-by-step instructions on how to create a dimensional accent with rub-ons, be sure to check out our online article in the May/June 2010 issue at creatingkeepsakes.com.
Leave us a comment and tell us your favorite way to use rub-ons, or show us what you’ve created with them by uploading your pages to our gallery on Club CK.
–Lori Fairbanks, editor
Faux stitching! No sewing machine here & I don’t always feel like hand stitching.
I love sentiment rubons for my cards and small accent pieces to layer on other designs. I love rub-ons!
My favorite rubons are faux stitching! Can’t stand to sew but love the look on my layouts!!
love the faux stitching—
I like using rubons just to add a little “something” to my pages
Love using rub on sentiments on my cards. They are just the right sizes. I also like the larger rub on ABC for my titles on my scrapbook pages
I am looking for new uses for rub-one…& these are super ideas…thanks for sharing!
I love rub ons! I was only introduced to them about 1 year ago but have fallen in love with them for card making!
I just love to use rub-ons as a quick and easy add-on embellie that doesn’t have all the bulk that some embellies do.
I couldn’t live without my rub ons! What a time saver they can be when finishing up a LO