Embellishing Techniques To Decorate Your Craft Projects

Are you ready to take your craft projects to the next level with cute and colourful embellishments? Read on as we share some great embellishing techniques for you to try.

How To Embellish Your Crafts: 5 Fun Techniques

There are no hard and fast rules for how to add embellishments to your craft projects, but many believe that you should follow the mantra that ‘less is more’. You can always add more embellishments later if needed.

Here are some of our favourite embellishing techniques accompanied by step-by-step instructions to get you started.

1. Beadwork

Beads are perfect for making shaker cards. A shaker card is a card that has a clear window at the front which is filled with beads, sequins, craft sprinkles etc. The card can be shaken gently and the beads and sequins move about.

To make a simple shaker card, you will need:

• Card paper
• A frame cut from patterned paper or cardstock
• A sheet of acetate the same size as your frame
• Foam mount strips
• Craft sprinkles, sequins, beads, etc.

To assemble your shaker card, follow these steps:

1. Decorate the base of your card with stamps, patterned paper etc. This will show through the clear acetate shaker window.
2. Adhere the acetate sheet to the front of your frame with a good-quality glue.
3. Turn your frame over and add the foam mount strips to the back.
4. Remove the backing paper from the foam strips
5. With your card base on a flat surface, place your sprinkles, sequins and beads on the card
6. Carefully place the frame onto the card, pressing down gently to ensure the tape adheres.

Read our full tutorial on how to make a shaker card for more information.

2. Flower Embellishing

Artificial flowers are an easy way to add some effortless elegance to your cards and scrapbook layouts. There are packs with flowers that come in various sizes.

To add flower embellishments to your project, follow these steps:

1. Choose the colour and type of flower that will suit your project.
2. Lay all of the elements for your project onto your card base or layout background.
3. Group your flowers in clusters of an odd number, 3 works well
4. Once happy with the positioning of elements adhere to your project. Apply glue to the back of your flower arrangement, stick them onto your project
5. As a final touch, you can add leaves or other foliage

Watch the tutorial below to see how to add flowers in clusters of three and enhance your scrapbooking layout.

 

3. Ribbon Embellishing

Ribbons come in an endless range of colours, widths and sizes. They are a quick and easy embellishment for all cards and layouts.

Follow these steps to add ribbons to your craft project:

1. Create the layout for your card or scrapbook.
2. Choose a ribbon colour that will complement your project.
3. Wrap the ribbon around a mounted piece and secure the back with glue.
4. Cut another piece of ribbon and tie a bow.
5. Stick this bow to the front of the ribbon with hot glue for best results.

4. Stitching

Stitching can easily be added to a card or scrapbooking layout, and it can be done by hand or by using a sewing machine. Overall, stitching adds texture and definition to your project.

Follow these steps to get started with a simple running stitch:

1. Draw a rough pencil guide of where you want to place your stitching.
2. Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread.
3. Insert your needle along your pencilled-in line from the back of your project to the front.
4. Gently pull the thread until the knot is at the back of your project.
5. Insert your needle from front to back at a distance of approximately 5mm (you can shorten or lengthen your stitch as desired) and pull the thread to the back of your project
6. Continue sewing until you have completed stitching along your pencilled line.
7. To finish off, have the needle and thread at the back of your project and tie a knot.

Take a look at this fun stitching tutorial using embroidery stitches.

5. Washi Tape Embellishing

Washi tape is easy to use and great for beginners. It’s an adhesive, but can also be used for decorative purposes.

Using washi tape is as simple as tearing off bits of tape and adding them to areas of your card or scrapbooking layout. You can also use washi tape to create a border around a photo.

Types of Embellishments

Embellishments are anything that adds a decorative detail, accent or feature to your craft project. Examples of embellishments include stickers, buttons, flowers, cogs, pearls, beads and more.

Here are some of our favourite craft embellishments:

• Beads

Beads can be found in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes. Use them to create intricate designs on a card or scrapbooking layout.

• Charms

Charms are typically small metal trinkets that add a finishing touch to a card or layout. They are often available in themed packs, adding dimension and elegance to your project.

• Pearls & Rhinestones

When your layout or card needs a bit of bling, you need to reach for the pearls and rhinestones. These self-adhesive embellishments come in a range of colours and sizes.

• Ribbons

Ribbons can bring elegance and colour to your crafting project. They are simple to use and can be found in a range of colours. You can tie bows, create borders, layer or ruffle ribbon to add dimension to your card or layout.

• Sprinkles

Craft sprinkles are made of polymer clay. They are perfect for adding colour and texture to your craft projects.

• Stickers

Stickers are an easy way to embellish any project. They come in a multitude of cute designs and colours and are also available in letters, words and phrases.

• Stitching

Stitching is an economical way to embellish a card or layout, it will cost nothing if you already have a needle and thread. It is also great as you can match the thread colour to your theme.

• Washi tape

Washi tape is a decorative adhesive tape which allows you to add colour and pattern to your project.

The possibilities for using craft embellishments in your crafting are endless. Let your creativity run wild as you explore the world of craft embellishments and take your crafting projects to the next level.