DIY Embellishments

One thing I've learned about scrapbooking over the years is that any embellishment I make myself is better than the crazy expensive stickers you buy in the store.  I've also learned I really can make more than I think...even a rickshaw.  Final lesson:  Use real scraps.

I had gathered lots of items during my trip to China...even the rippled cardboard that the hotel used to store our toiletries in the bathroom.  I took every piece, knowing the texture would work well in a layout.  In this spread, I decided to cut up that cardboard to make the road for my Rickshaw ride.  There is nothing like using actual scraps  for your scrapbook, right?  Now, when I show people this page I say...that's what the hotel used to package my toothbrush!!  I just cut it up and made a winding path.

I really wanted a big rickshaw on one full side of the layout.  There is no such embellishment for sale in the craft store.  I was on my own and that was kind of exciting.  I used pictures of the actual rickshaws to guide me, so mine would match the pictures.  At first, I had made everything with paper...but it didn't pop.  Instead, I put real fabric on the roof...just like the real rickshaw.  Much better.  Then, I added the runner's handles...using chopsticks from my trip that I chopped down to the right size. The first thing people say is..."Oh wow...those are chopsticks...very cool.  Are those from China?"  Yup.  I found bamboo circles for my wheel and made the spokes out of chopstick pieces.  The whole embellishment really jumps off the page...and it is handmade.  I love my China album.  I'll show you another page Friday.