getting titles straight

I am new to scrapbooking and I need some help, please. How do I get my title letters to go onto my layout in a straight line? Is there a trick, or several, which I can use? Thank you!

Some strategies I use:

- Laying a clear ruler across the paper and using tweezers to place the letters right up against it

- With larger stickers, placing the stickers actually on my clear ruler (lining them up with the 1/4" line so I know they're straight), and again using the ruler as a straight-edge to line them up as I place them

More ideas here: http://www.scrapbook.com/tips/doc/3718/47.html

Thank you very much, I really appreciate the advice and will purchase a clear ruler today! Now to figure out how to get my photo (actually my dog's photo) onto my post as you have done with your bunny . . .

Fiskars makes a great clear ruler for scrapbooking - its in the scrapbook section at Michaels and several say they use clear plastic quilting rulers.

If you are using a Cricut the letters will be perfect in the mat. There is a trick to lining them up the same way - perfectly spaced and straight.

But a roll of drywall tape - I don't think anything else will work - it has the right amount of sticky.

Put it over the letters while they are on the cricut mat and work up the edges with the spatula so they are in the same position on the draywall tape that they were on the Cricut mat.

If one letter gets out of alignment, put it back in the right place on the mat and lift it again.

Then you can put them to the layout right away or stick the whole thing on a pice of typing paper and take it to the crop (that is what I often do).

To adhere it, take your glue (I use the zip glue pen) and glue the back of the letters and then turn put it where you want on the layout and lift the drywall tape. You may have to use tweezers or the Cricut spatula to hold if they don't separate right away from the drywall tape.

This will line them up almsot perfectly. As perfect as I can get them anyway!

Thank you. I will look for the Fiskars ruler. I have not yet purchased a Cricut as I have not been able to convince myself that I should spend the $$. Instead I am using various purchased letters. However I wonder if the drywall tape would hold the letters in place as discussed in the link from aquabunny's post? These suggestions have been so helpful!

You could also just make the title purposefully crooked/jagged so you don't have to work so hard ... that's what I do

I save old sticker sheets after all the stickers are used up, then line up letters on that with half the letter off the sheet. Then I lay it on the page, press down the top half, then gently peel off the sticker sheet, then press down the bottom half.

Thank you, I will try this also however I figure I won't be able to do this with some of my older, more formal photos, like my in-laws' wedding portrait.

Thank you, another great idea! If I cannot manage my titles after all this help I am in very bad shape indeed!

I didn't bother with the actual scrapbooking ruler. I got mine in the quilting section at Joanns (I'm sure Hobby Lobby or Michaels or WalMart have them too)- it's 18" long and marked off in 1/8" increments in a grid, you can get them all different lengths. I LOVE that ruler and would be LOST without it! I use it for both sewing and paper crafts. AND I think the quilting one is a bit cheaper and thicker. You can also use it as a straight edge to cut against with your exacto knife!

Thank you, I will search for the ruler. Good luck with your upcoming little one!

EK Success makes a non-stick centering ruler with both dark and white markings for any colored background.
To use this method you line your letters up from the center 0, along the printed horizontal line 1/4 inch from the edge of the ruler. (I use tweezers for this) so that the letters are straight, and poke up above the edge of the ruler. Then you lay the ruler down exactly where you want your letters, press the letters to the page firmly, then pull the ruler (remember non-stick surface) out from the bottom part of the letters.
This way the letters are lined up perfectly straight every time, and perfectly spaced apart. If you are adding cut letters instead of sticky, it's even easier because you put glue only on the bottom 1/4 of the letters first, until they are all in place on the ruler.
Oh, and I also love my quilting squares and rulers for scrapbooking!

A t-square can help too (like they make you use in tech drawing classes at high school). I've also seen a lady place the letters onto a metal or clear ruler in order (just the bottom bit of each letter). Then you move the ruler over to the page and secure the top part of the letters to your project before peeling off the ruler. This will also make sure that your letters are evenly spaced. Or just make them wonky to start with :-)

Like others, I use a quilting ruler. See-through, sturdy and with all the markings I want.

Thank you. I looked for the Fiskar ruler referenced previously but our tiny Michael's did not have it. Now I have an option that I can find online.

this is the one I have- http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-Quilt-Ruler-Items-Order/dp/B0033P76QK/ref=pd_sbs_ac_4

You can get it with blue markings too.

It's got a center mark so you can use it to center your titles and stuff on the page or wherever. I LOVE IT!

I did NOT pay $20 for it tho. I think that listing is for 3. You CAN find it as a single item at J's.

eta: http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=prd33842

Thank you!

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That's what I do and I think it's pretty easy.

Creative Memories titletopia. They have 2 different ones. You can make your titles straight or curved or circular and all will be in line. Very easy to use and take to crops. I would be lost without this.

I don't sell CM, but use and recommend many of their products.

Thank you. I am not familiar with Creative Memories but I will find out more about it.

I've seen the title things that do curves and circles at crops and would love to find one! Maybe I should check ebay!

You're supposed to put your title letters in a straight line??






Usually I make mine slightly 'off' on purpose. If I wanted it straight, I'd use the method Aquabunny mentioned using a ruler.