Brads?

Yes brads are great they add a lot to any page - next try some eyelets!
Remember, you can't do it wrong - especially if you like it!

i have recently ventured out of my box and bought some brads too. thanks for all the advice.

i love brads and use them on nearly every LO. the best thing i've found for poking the hole is a big tapestry sized sewing needle.

It's large enough to handle without stabbing my fingers, and because its got a sharp point, the hole is perfectly round and neat, and it doesn't rip through thin papers. And it's diameter is just big enough without making a hole that's too big.

Wow! I never had any idea there were SEVENTY things you could use brads for!!! I would say that all 70 ways would also apply to snaps.

I Love Brads!!! Thanks for the suggestions!!!!! I will also save to my favorites.

Wow, thats a lot of suggestions. I've saved this in my favs.

Thank you so much for all the advice! I am definately going to use them in my next LO!!!

I got this awhile ago off of this site. I don't know whose idea it was so I can't give proper credit to them. I looked for the actual post but couldn't find it but here is what it said:

70 ways to use brads:
1. connectors on paper piecing for moveable parts
2. attaching vellum
3. accents on journal blocks
4. to "hang" things from (think picture frame)
5. center of flowers
6. center of letters
7. spell out words (outline letters)
8. corners of picture mat
9. eyes of paper dolls
10. nails in a fence
11. earring for a paper doll
12. belly button jewel for a paper doll
13. "stone" in a ring
14. buttons on a snowman
15. decoration on a child's ball
16. stepping stones on a garden lo
17. attach a fiber to brad to make a yo-yo
18. attach elements on a page by wrapping wire or fiber
19. to form "bullets" for a list of things
20. as an accent on the tail of a letter
21. in the hole of a tag
22. white- as stars on a black or navy blue sky
23. white- as dropping snowflakes
24. light blue- as falling raindrops
25. orange- as pumpkins
26. white- as moonbeams
27. jeweled belt on a paper doll
28. brown- as choc. chips on a cookie
29. toppings on a pizza
30. m&m's
31. buttons on a shirt
32. decoration on a easter egg
33. decorations on a Christmas tree
34. purple- grapes in a cornucopia
35. lights on top of a police car or fire truck
36. center of a pinwheel
37. center of tires
38. tires on a toy car
39. end of a antenna on a bug
40. center of a fiber spider web
41. hair ornament on a paper doll
42. the "dot" on an i or j
43. attach handle to a basket
44. to attach fibers lacing something together
45. attach a sign to a post
46. rocks
47. center or a propeller on an airplane
48. on serendipity squares
49. sesame seeds on a bun
50. jeweled skirt on a paper doll
51. use as a spider and paint a face on it with the legs behind it or use wire for its legs.
52. dots on a lady bug
53. as fillers
54. use as nails on wood (like haunted house windows)
55. Christmas bulbs on a tree piecing
56. eye on a frog
57. use to embellish the corner of tage or
58. borders or
59. titles
60. attach fibers, twistel or lace to paper
61. use star brads to replicate a night sky
62. ends of a hammock
63. use on butterfly wings
64. oval nailheads as Easter eggs
65. buttons on a dress
66. shoe buckle
67. dots on a clown suit doll or paper piecing
68. sprinkles on a cupcake
69. sprinkle on an ice cream cone
70. use seashell nailheads on torn sand paper to create a beach look.

i thought at first i wouldn't use them--but, i do not and love them! i tend to like the yellow ones for my flowers---i think it looks more realistic. I've also used them to hold chipboard, journal cards, and ribbon. I think if you use your imagination you will find a way....there have been some great suggestions so far. i usually just pop a hole in the paper with a craft knife or scissor blade.

I use brads as a decoration or to hold things down. Like the other ladies said, check out the gallery.

You can use them in the center of flowers, to adhere charms, to dot your i's, in the corners of a frame...

there are so many ways! Like Jen said, check out the gallery - you'll find tons of examples.

Have fun!

-Mary

You can also do a search in the gallery for brads and you'll get a ton of ideas!

they're a great way to hold down ribbon, vellum, and flowers!
You can also use them for decoration, you can make a circle or square with them (draw the shape and use a ruler to mark the points where the brads will go before you make the holes).

I use a 1/16 hole punch or a paper piercer to poke a hole...then pop them in anywhere. Sometimes as a way to "hold down" an item. (Although, I'm usually adhering that item down with glue, the brad just gives it an anchored look.)

Or...a few in a row, with no particular reason for them. Any way is really up to you.

I would like to use brads, but I am not sure what is the best way to use them. Any suggestions? Thanks!