| Most crafters would look at you strangely if you told | | | | a hinge can add to a card. Hardware stores often |
| them you find unique embellishments at your local | | | | have a great variety of sizes and colors. You will also |
| hardware store. While a hobby or craft store is a | | | | find many different texture styles ranging from |
| fantastic place to start since they sell many card and | | | | classic to modern. If you find a hinge you just love |
| scrapbooking essentials, a great alternative is your | | | | but would prefer to be another color, don't lose hope. |
| local hardware store. Hardware stores usually have a | | | | Go over to the spray paint section and find white |
| great variety of unique things which make fabulous | | | | metal spray paint. (Make sure it adheres to metal) |
| paper craft, scrapbooking, and card making | | | | You can paint a large amount of hinges white then all |
| embellishments. | | | | you need to do is stamp them with your stamp pad |
| Larger cities often have a Lowe's or Home Depot, | | | | to create a unique color coordinated hinge! |
| but any hardware store is sure to have some great | | | | Painting a hinge or other accessory is a great way to |
| finds if you put on a sense of adventure before you | | | | get the ideal match to your rubber stamp design. |
| begin shopping. To begin, just browse the aisles | | | | Even small keys or padlocks are cute on cards and |
| looking for anything small that might fit in your | | | | can be painted to match the color scheme. Painting |
| project. Because scrapbooking and card making is | | | | them is also a great way to give them a more girlie, |
| reflective of you, go ahead and experiment with | | | | chic, or classy look. It all depends on what style |
| anything you like. | | | | you're trying to create. |
| Hemp string is very versatile embellishment and can | | | | The hardware store will surely yield results for you if |
| be purchased at any hardware store in a variety of | | | | you are looking for masculine embellishments for your |
| sizes. Try twisting copper wire found on the electrical | | | | cards. Look for small chain links or a fine grade wire |
| aisle into curly cues. The limit for these two | | | | mesh. (This can often be found near the gutter |
| embellishments is only in your imagination and they | | | | materials.) The great thing about buying chain here is |
| can be purchase very cheaply almost anywhere! | | | | the fact that they will cut it to length for you. There |
| Try using a sanding sponge with some varying grits | | | | is no need to purchase 5 feet of chain when you |
| of sandpaper to achieve unique, distressed paper. Cut | | | | really only want a few inches. Wire mesh looks |
| a piece of sandpaper to fit around the sanding | | | | wonderful on scrapbooking paper. A little bit of wire |
| sponge and you will have a solid grip while you | | | | mesh goes a long way too. Just a small square will |
| distress the edges of your scrapbook paper or paper | | | | give a handsome look and won't overwhelm your |
| craft project. Different grits accomplish different | | | | card. |
| looks. Grab a multi pack of sandpaper and see which | | | | A simple trip to the hardware store, with a creative |
| style you like the best. | | | | eye, is sure to yield wonderful, inexpensive |
| A favorite embellishment of rubber stampers and | | | | embellishments that will give your scrapbooking |
| scrapbook enthusiasts everywhere is the hinge. We | | | | project a fantastic look. Why wait, give it a try |
| have all seen the wonderful ideas and cute looks that | | | | today! |