Eyelets

Eyelets aren't just for shoelaces, cloth, and leather anymore. Also known as grommets, this embellishment has been used for lacing up sneakers and boots and certain kinds of clothing. Dictionary.com describes eyelets in several ways. "A small hole, usually round and finished along the edge, as in cloth or leather for the passage of a lace or cord or as in embroidery for ornamental effect."

These embellishments can definitely be ornamental and that goes for the scrapbooking page as well. They can be used to tack down almost anything. Vellum, for instance, which can be hard to glue, is a good example in which eyelets come in handy.

Other ways they can be used is as a flower or decorative photo corners. If you are making tags, these metal rings can give some reinforcement. It is then easier to pull a ribbon through it. Give your scrapbook page that something extra by making a frame around your picture. These embellishments also allow an added dimension to your layout.

These days there is more than one way to set this embellishment into your project. Old school and still around is the use of an eyelet setting tool and hammer. The other is a device called a Crop-a-Dile. The traditional tools are effective, but can be very loud and if you are working at night after everyone else has gone to bed, this might not be so good. The Crop-a-Dile is a handy gadget that has the added benefit of being quiet.

The following are basic instructions on how to place these embellishments into your project using a setting tool and hammer.

When making a hole appropriate for your eyelet , don't reach for your regular hole punch. These embellishments come in varying sizes, but are usually smaller than the size left by a normal hole puncher. Most setters come with hole punches that will punch the appropriate sized holes for the common sizes.

Two types of setters are generally sold. Memory Makers has one with a steel hole punch base with interchangeable tops that punch different size holes. Fiskars has a variety of all-in-one setter punches that set specific sized eyelets. Hand-held hole punches are also available that will punch different sized holes, so if you own one of these, don't worry about obtaining additional hole-punching tools.

An important tool to remember is the self-healing mat to which you want to place under the paper you are punching holes in or you many have some unwanted punch lines in the table you are using.

Once the holes are punched in your paper, you insert the embellishment and flip the piece over. Regardless of the type of setter you have, you need to set your eylet by flattening the backside of it. You do this with the hammer. This is the noisy aspect of this type of tool set.

Eyelets

The other tool that has become the craze is the Crop-A-Dile, a much quieter setting tool.

These come in several shapes, colors, and varying sizes. Amazon has a list of several different ones with their varying specialty.

The all-in-one hole punch takes one hand to do it. Twist the dial to fit the metal ring you are working on. On the bottom is a cube you can switch around. Make sure your settings are right.

The Crop-A-Dile will go through paper, cardboard, leather, fabric, and even metal. You can adjust the depth of punching with the dial.

Some complaints have been noted about reach. When it comes to scrapbooking, though, it becomes all about layering, so how far the Crop-A-Dile might reach might become irrelevant.

An extra bit of information is that your Crop-A-Dile could also be used to punch holes in your magazines for keeping in binders.

Eyelets

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