Brads

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Nov '10 Nnhgiang1979

Hi everyone,

I am a beginner who just tried to read everything about scrapbooking. I have especially focused on the stuff needed for a freshmen like me. One of the things I dont know how to use is the brad and I dont know what it is used for on a scrapbooking card either. Can anyone of you here show me?

Thank you.

I am from a non-English speaking country, but understanding the language is not a big problem. The point is I have never seen anyone do scrb (or use the brad) in the place where I live.
Nov '10 Lamoo12

RE: Nnhgiang1979: Hi everyone, I am a beginner who just tried to read everything about scrapbooking. I have especially focused on the stuff needed for a freshmen like me. One of the things I dont know how to use is the brad and I dont know what it is used for on a scrapbooking card either. Can anyone of you here show me? Thank you. I am from a non-English speaking country, but understanding the language is...

hi!

brads are small metal paper piercing embellishments. you poke a small hole in the paper, push the pointy part through then bend the flaps back to hold it to the paper. (if you are looking at one this will make more sense)

they can be used for colorful embellishing like most of them on here:
Petting the bunny By Lamoo12

there is a red one holding the tag onto the paper too.

or, you can use them to hold vellum, ribbon, etc to the page without adhesive like this:
I dig (left) By Lamoo12

i buy them because they are a cheaper embellishment that goes with any type of LO.

hth!
Nov '10 Madmatter

RE: Lamoo12: hi! brads are small metal paper piercing embellishments. you poke a small hole in the paper, push the pointy part through then bend the flaps back to hold it to the paper. (if you are looking at one this will make more sense) they can be used for colorful embellishing like most of them on here: Petting the bunny By Lamoo12 there is a red one holding the tag onto the paper too. o...

Brads come in all sorts of sizes and colors as well as types (glitter, foil, velvet, patterned, etc.). I use them as flower centers alot as well as for decoration or as "adhesive" for vellum or journaling boxes.

They are cheap and easy to use ... very convenient items to have around
Nov '10 Debby_westbrook

RE: Madmatter: Brads come in all sorts of sizes and colors as well as types (glitter, foil, velvet, patterned, etc.). I use them as flower centers alot as well as for decoration or as "adhesive" for vellum or journaling boxes. They are cheap and easy to use ... very convenient items to have around

You can also buy the plain gold brads at a Dollar store and use nail polish to paint the brads any color you want.
Nov '10 Meezerpleaser

RE: Madmatter: Brads come in all sorts of sizes and colors as well as types (glitter, foil, velvet, patterned, etc.). I use them as flower centers alot as well as for decoration or as "adhesive" for vellum or journaling boxes. They are cheap and easy to use ... very convenient items to have around

I love using brads. I used them as a swirly decoration on this LO.

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I used them to make an initial in the upper right of this LO.

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I did three-brad embellished corners for the photo on this LO.

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Nov '10 JenKoss

RE: Meezerpleaser: I love using brads. I used them as a swirly decoration on this LO. Frisky I used them to make an initial in the upper right of this LO. Lladro I did three-brad embellished corners for the photo on this LO. Privacy Please!

Brads are a great thing, and you can get lots of them for not much money. I have tons of brads in all different shapes and colours.
Jen
Nov '10 Nnhgiang1979

RE: JenKoss: Brads are a great thing, and you can get lots of them for not much money. I have tons of brads in all different shapes and colours. Jen
Thank you all for your detailed answers, esp. with illustrations.

Lamoo12 Said:
brads are small metal paper piercing embellishments. you poke a small hole in the paper, push the pointy part through then bend the flaps back to hold it to the paper. (if you are looking at one this will make more sense)

Yes, that makes sense. When I first saw their pics on scrb supplies websites, I just wondered how they were used. Now I know it.

I have one more question: Is there a tool to "poke a small hole in the paper"? Or is the other end of a brad pointed enough to do that?
Nov '10 MrsSugarBear

RE: Nnhgiang1979: Thank you all for your detailed answers, esp. with illustrations. Lamoo12 Said: brads are small metal paper piercing embellishments. you poke a small hole in the paper, push the pointy part through then bend the flaps back to hold it to the paper. (if you are looking at one this will make more sense) Yes, that makes sense. When I first saw their pics on scrb supplies websites, I just won...

Yes, there's a tool called a paper piercer.
Nov '10 Oldsusana

RE: MrsSugarBear: Yes, there's a tool called a paper piercer.

I prefer to use a paper piercer but in a pinch, you can use a long, thick sewing needle or hat pin.

You can also use a tool called a cropadile to punch a hole anywhere on the page that you want to add a brad.
Nov '10 GMFTS

RE: Oldsusana: I prefer to use a paper piercer but in a pinch, you can use a long, thick sewing needle or hat pin. You can also use a tool called a cropadile to punch a hole anywhere on the page that you want to add a brad.

Just a small slit with a craft knife works fine too.

And welcome to this site and to scrapbooking... you have come to the right place to get help and ideas.
Nov '10 MissaOnTheRun

RE: GMFTS: Just a small slit with a craft knife works fine too. And welcome to this site and to scrapbooking... you have come to the right place to get help and ideas.

I also use a small slit with my craft knife, a push pin will work too.
Nov '10 Madmatter

RE: MissaOnTheRun: I also use a small slit with my craft knife, a push pin will work too.

If the paper is thin, the brad is sharp enough to get thru it, but with cs or heavier paper, I use a paper piercing tool (a very very handy thing to have).
Nov '10 Nnhgiang1979

RE: Madmatter: If the paper is thin, the brad is sharp enough to get thru it, but with cs or heavier paper, I use a paper piercing tool (a very very handy thing to have).

Thank you all so much!

I have learned a little more everday.

This afternoon I almost completed my first scrapbooked photo. I had to use some stuff available around my house. I couldn't wait till the the ordered specialized tools and stuff arrive.

Three cards of 3 colors, a pair of scissors, double-sided tape and a button from one of my old coats were used. I haven't put on any journaling.

What do you think? It looks simple, doesn't it?
Nov '10 Kajunkat

RE: Nnhgiang1979: Thank you all so much! I have learned a little more everday. This afternoon I almost completed my first scrapbooked photo. I had to use some stuff available around my house. I couldn't wait till the the ordered specialized tools and stuff arrive. Three cards of 3 colors, a pair of scissors, double-sided tape and a button from one of my old coats were used. I haven't put on any journaling....

Very cute LO....I love using brads they are so versitale...I usually just use a thumb tack to punch my hole unless it is a large brad. Have fun.
Nov '10 Nnhgiang1979

RE: Kajunkat: Very cute LO....I love using brads they are so versitale...I usually just use a thumb tack to punch my hole unless it is a large brad. Have fun.

Neat when I get your replies in a very timely manner. I am still waiting for the stuff to arrive. Cant wait!

A question (off-topic, should I open a new one?): Usually, what size is a photo for a 12*12 cardstock? Do you have to think of a layout and sizes of different photos on it before you do the scrb?
Nov '10 CommaHolly

RE: Nnhgiang1979: Neat when I get your replies in a very timely manner. I am still waiting for the stuff to arrive. Cant wait! A question (off-topic, should I open a new one?): Usually, what size is a photo for a 12*12 cardstock? Do you have to think of a layout and sizes of different photos on it before you do the scrb?

People use every size imaginable and often several different sizes on the same LO! So whatever looks good to you!
Nov '10 Nnhgiang1979

RE: CommaHolly: People use every size imaginable and often several different sizes on the same LO! So whatever looks good to you!

Thank you!

As a newbie, I really like it when seeing the layouts including the measurements of the photos. I think I should first work with such layouts, right?
Jan '11 Lucyara3

RE: Debby_westbrook: You can also buy the plain gold brads at a Dollar store and use nail polish to paint the brads any color you want.

the nail polish will not later come off the brads?
Jan '11 Debby_westbrook

RE: Lucyara3: the nail polish will not later come off the brads?

I have my nail polished brads in a jar where they are knocked against each other every day, So far the nail polish has not come off or even chipped.
Jan '11 Sue 67646

RE: Debby_westbrook: I have my nail polished brads in a jar where they are knocked against each other every day, So far the nail polish has not come off or even chipped.

I have also painted them...spray painted them.glitter glued them and changed their color with a permanent mark ( make sure you let all dry real good before using them....you can also color clear skittles this way,,,alchol ink works great for coloring them also....lol)
Jan '11 Sue 67646

RE: Sue 67646: I have also painted them...spray painted them.glitter glued them and changed their color with a permanent mark ( make sure you let all dry real good before using them....you can also color clear skittles this way,,,alchol ink works great for coloring them also....lol)

I like your LO....But I also like my LO's simple....
If you wanted to add more...you might journal (write what was happening in pic) and add so doodling with a pen or marker.... Practice on scrap paper before you write on LO,this way if you chage mind....lol
Jan '11 Mschiddy

RE: Sue 67646: I like your LO....But I also like my LO's simple.... If you wanted to add more...you might journal (write what was happening in pic) and add so doodling with a pen or marker.... Practice on scrap paper before you write on LO,this way if you chage mind....lol

Brads can also be used to create motion. For example, the elbow or knee joint of a paper doll could be held together with a brad.

A mini tag album inserted in a pocket on a scrapbook page could be held together with a brad.
Jan '11 Nnhgiang1979

RE: Mschiddy: Brads can also be used to create motion. For example, the elbow or knee joint of a paper doll could be held together with a brad. A mini tag album inserted in a pocket on a scrapbook page could be held together with a brad.

Neat!!! Thanks everyone.

I still haven't been able to do my scrapbooking. All the ordered stuff reached me except for the paper lol (the package was lost due to the craziness of Christmas shopping). I have used the paper from here to make some cards (I LOVE my cricut by the way).

Had chances to use brads. I have used them twice for the middle of the flowers.

I simply love this forum!!! You all are so sweet!!!