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hilsmom
Professional Hobbyist
PeaNut 292,577
January 2007
Posts: 5,245
Layouts: 50
Loc: In the deep-fried south.
 |  Posted: 1/21/2013 8:21:10 AM
I would love to do just a "tad" of the clustering thing, but still keep it simple. It always seems like I am just missing something though. On the layout I am trying to finish up today, I have started a small "cluster" with one of those long banner-type strips, a flower with a jeweled brad, and a journaling spot. What's missing?? (BTW, it's a very linear layout and nothing else on it is very fussy, if that helps.)
ETA: I think I fixed it this time, but it's a recurring problem. I would love some input on your "go-to" embellishments, especially if you are a semi-simple scrapper. |
| Happiness looks good on everyone! | |
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ScrapNatya
Is this an instrument of torture or communication?
PeaNut 1,583
October 1999
Posts: 7,596
Layouts: 405
Loc: Long Island
 | Posted: 1/21/2013 8:24:00 AM
I always find myself putting a button as my third thing in a cluster...or a piece of flair.....or one of those nice layered MME brads. |
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biochemipea
likes shiny things
PeaNut 114,614
November 2003
Posts: 19,606
Layouts: 450
Loc: Ontario, Canada
 | Posted: 1/21/2013 8:32:33 AM
Can you post a photo?
Would a couple of mist/ink drops work?
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stwa
BucketHead
PeaNut 426,757
June 2009
Posts: 615
Layouts: 46
Loc: Geelong, Victoria, Australia
 | Posted: 1/21/2013 8:32:47 AM
Perhaps a small piece of patterned paper behind it all to ground it
Washi is alwasy good! |
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angelbretsmom
PeaNut
PeaNut 364,931
February 2008
Posts: 13
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 1/21/2013 8:46:06 AM
id use washi | |
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hilsmom
Professional Hobbyist
PeaNut 292,577
January 2007
Posts: 5,245
Layouts: 50
Loc: In the deep-fried south.
| Posted: 1/21/2013 8:47:02 AM
WASHI!! Oh Sarah, thank you! I only had a couple of rolls, but one actually matched! I am uploading it now, and if y'all can think of anything else it needs, please let me know. I "think" it's done now, but am still a bit unsure.
layout |
| Happiness looks good on everyone! | |
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EllenPea
Pea with a Pen
PeaNut 70,644
February 2003
Posts: 19,345
Layouts: 784
Loc: Southern California
 | Posted: 1/21/2013 8:55:30 AM
You are not alone. In fact, you do a great job embellishing compared to me. On your layout, I might have moved the journaling block down into the lower right hand portion of the page, and done a larger scale embellishing in the less busy blue paper at the top. But if you want to just move on, sometimes that is what is best. |
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Just me in MI
Jeepers PEApers
PeaNut 178,994
November 2004
Posts: 2,435
Layouts: 0
Loc: MICHIGAN
 | Posted: 1/21/2013 9:00:10 AM
Hilsmom: I like it! It seems like this is something a lot of us struggle with. Maybe there should be a class on embellishing 101...
ETA: forgot to add my go-to embellishments
Mine are washi, buttons, flowers, brads, labels, circles, butterflies |
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JamieH
AncestralPea
PeaNut 39,057
May 2002
Posts: 4,631
Layouts: 0
Loc: Texas
 | Posted: 1/21/2013 9:02:06 AM
Tags are a great embellishment. I love them and use a lot!
JamieH |
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Dancingfish
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 51,456
October 2002
Posts: 14,099
Layouts: 83
Loc: VA
| Posted: 1/21/2013 8:25:07 PM
I think we all struggle with it. My go to items:
For the base- journal spot, scalloped punch circle,or rectangle pp
For cluster: punched butterfly or heart or star, word sticker, gem, chipboard clockface cut in half, arrow, flower stapled banner, swish or fluer de le. (Not all but thats what I generally pick from) |
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miss-E
Stuck In The Bucket
PeaNut 314,572
May 2007
Posts: 703
Layouts: 54
Loc: Queensland, Australia
| Posted: 1/21/2013 8:32:22 PM
I feel your pain, I struggle a bit with the embellishing of a layout.
I have been noticing that I lean towards label stickers and brads to help finish a layout off. My kryptonite is flowers, try as i might I just can't get them to look good, imagine sticker sneeze but with flowers  |
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KirstenDrew
AncestralPea
PeaNut 122,801
January 2004
Posts: 4,731
Layouts: 287
Loc: Ontario Canada
| Posted: 1/21/2013 10:00:10 PM
For me,the biggest hang-up is not wanting to use pretty things that are going to be mostly covered up in a cluster. The it feels as if my cluster isn't complete because the background layers are missing. I'm slowly getting over this, realizing that saving that pretty tag (or sticker or ticket...) isn't getting it used anyway. |
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hilsmom
Professional Hobbyist
PeaNut 292,577
January 2007
Posts: 5,245
Layouts: 50
Loc: In the deep-fried south.
| Posted: 1/21/2013 10:12:27 PM
I should probably be embarrased by this, but I just found a whole article in the September 2011 issue of CK magazine. (yeah, I still have it... ) It was actually pretty helpful, and I grabbed it purely by accident from my scrap room on my way to the tub (insert PSA: jetted tubs should be run once monthly for proper maintenence ) Anyhoo, I was flipping through it and there was the article discussing what to use, how to use it, and teaching a sort of step-by-step how-to.
Makes me wonder what else is hiding in the scrap room.... |
| Happiness looks good on everyone! | |
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NickiT83
PeaNut
PeaNut 560,243
July 2012
Posts: 47
Layouts: 4
| Posted: 1/21/2013 11:29:52 PM
OK... I am relatively new to scrapping but have been pretty happy with my clusters so far. My tips are;
1) Use embellishments that are different shapes within you cluster and different orientation (vertical and horizontal).
2) Add lots of layers. So for example, you could ground it all with some stamping or misting (just sprinkling dots around), then add some banners for a vertical element, some journalling spots or label stickers. These elements are all paper based products. You can add dimension to some of these elements using pop dots.
3)Then some round elements (flowers, brads, flair badges, buttons etc.).
4) Then depending on how complete your cluster feels and looks you could continue at this stage with some twine, wood veneers, staples, rhinestones, pearls or enamel dots.
You can add as much or as little of these things as suits your style. Not only will this look great, but you will be using a lot of products in your stash which is a great feeling. | |
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Momma_Paparazzi
PeaNut
PeaNut 494,372
January 2011
Posts: 474
Layouts: 141
Loc: Wisconsin
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 7:11:01 AM
Lynn Ghahary has a class that talks about embellishing in one of the chapters. Yay to finding a magazine that helped you out. | |
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Legoluce
PeaNut
PeaNut 513,712
July 2011
Posts: 209
Layouts: 25
Loc: London, UK
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 8:16:07 AM
I haven't seen this posted in this thread, but Glitter Girl did a video on clustering if you haven't seen it before:
Glitter Girl Clustering Episode
I use things like washi, brads (plain or decorative depending on whether I need something small or big), coloured buttons are great because you can buy them in such bulk you won't feel so precious about using them and get a variety of sizes (same with washi in that you get so much out of a roll), small stamped images, label stickers or smaller embellishments like the wood veneer. Sometimes even just a small section of ric rac to add texture. I try to stick to Shimelle's advice of doing things in 3's and usually find I'm happy.
Can completely relate to feeling like you have nothing to use despite a room full of stuff...
Hope that helps! | |
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hilsmom
Professional Hobbyist
PeaNut 292,577
January 2007
Posts: 5,245
Layouts: 50
Loc: In the deep-fried south.
| Posted: 1/22/2013 11:02:17 AM
Legoluce, the video was really helpful, but even MORE helpful was my scrolling down and seeing what types of embellishments she used in her products list! You know, I have a lot of that stuff in my room, but it's just poorly arranged I think. I tend to keep collection stuff together, so if I am not using a particular collection, it's die cuts and stickers, etc, tend to be out of sight and out of mind. Hmmm... this could be more of an organization problem than an actual "scrapping issue".... Where is the light bulb smiley when I need it???? |
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IAmMikki
PeaNut
PeaNut 520,674
September 2011
Posts: 373
Layouts: 7
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
| Posted: 1/22/2013 12:14:08 PM
I have the same issue. I am just recently starting to get into embellishment clusters and I love the way they look on a layout, but when I go poking around in my stash I find it really difficult to find things to put together. | |
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MelissaRS
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 49,137
September 2002
Posts: 2,513
Layouts: 194
| Posted: 1/22/2013 12:19:52 PM
That bit of washi did the trick! 
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angsandy
PeaNut
PeaNut 479,236
August 2010
Posts: 247
Layouts: 101
Loc: Singapore
| Posted: 1/22/2013 7:01:03 PM
i often layer different shapes to form a cluster on an otherwise simple page.
for example start with a rectangle journal card, add a smaller circle like a sticker so that only half of it shows or a flair button / flower. then maybe add a tag so that only the top shows and tie on some baker's twine.
going with one colourful item with the other items echoing one colour from it helps me tie them together too. |
| My blog : angsandy.blogspot.com | |
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thenancyrd
PeaAddict
PeaNut 369,162
March 2008
Posts: 1,013
Layouts: 5
Loc: New Jersey
| Posted: 1/23/2013 8:25:01 PM
I tried to access that CK article online but had no success. I like the GG video; I also googled scrapbooking cluster embellishments and found several sites... I love the internet!
So, hilsmom, how are you organizing your "clustering supplies"? |
~Nancy
New for 2013... scrap more, read more, run more, enjoy more... worry less
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