Wire Craft

<< >> Wire comes in many different colors and types and many have used it to spice up the scrapbooking page. Learn what all you can do with it! These crafts are usually related to making jewelry pieces. Many ways exist in which it adds an interesting and eye-catching look as a scrapbooking embellishment.

Different related products come into play when it comes to creating the scrapbooking page. You can use this embellishment with beading, patterns, kits, and in freeform ways on the page.

One can buy this embellishment in most craft stores such as Michaels and Joann's, as well as shops solely geared to scrapbooking. You might even be able to find it in a regular hardware store or in the hardware section of your nearest market.

This hardware embellishment sells in spools. A gauge number that indicates the thickness of the line measures it. For scrapbooking, 22, 24, or 26-gauge is the best option.

Other tools that help with these kind of crafts are wirework cutters, pliers and something called a jig. Rather than dulling your scrapbooking scissors by cutting metal, use the cutters made for it. Pliers will help in bending pieces as you need to do.

Now, a wirework jig is a tool useful for making detailed designs that have a uniform shape. As an example, jewelry artists often use this tool to create the links in bracelets and necklaces. You don't need to use a jig for the scrapbook page. You could though, choose to use one if you are going for a clean, uniform look in your layout. Again, if you want to create a more organic feel, then use freeform techniques.

If you are ready to tackle the use of this type of threading as an embellishment for your scrapbooking page, then following are some specific ways to do that.

1. One of the easiest ways to use this embellishment with scrapbooking is to string beads onto your pages. Slip the beads onto the threading, then poke a small hole in your page to attach the strand for a fun and shimmering border. However, this method will work best with selected beads that are rather thin and flat. Thick or bulky beads make the page awkward due to bumpiness.

2. If you like layouts with a funky and eclectic look, try twisting and bending strands of colored wirework to create a freeform page border. Craft wire is very easy to shape into whatever design you like. When you’re finished, use a small drop of liquid adhesive to attach the embellishment to your page.

3. Writing with pieces of wirework is a fun way to add a unique title treatment to your layout. Choose a font from your computer. Use as a guide as you shape the metal line by hand until you have all the words you plan to use.

4. Since this embellishment is pretty sturdy, it can be used to make a holder for tickets, programs, brochures, maps, and other mementos. One way is to set a row of eyelets across your page. Then, run the line through the holes. When finished, tuck your memorabilia through the holes.

5. Make your own decorative paper clips featuring designs like swirls, squares, hearts, and stars. Purchase a clip and use as a template, some colored line and go to town with your pliers shaping the design you desire.

To keep this embellishment from shifting or to secure its shapes, use a paper piercer to poke a tiny hole beneath the wire.

Use fishing line or a fiber as strong to sew the embellishment into it's place of shape.

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