Best Way to Make Letters for Scrapbooking

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Lettering Ideas

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Aug '08 Redsmommy

I'm new to scrapbooking and overwhelmed by all the products out there! I'm currently struggling with the best way to add lettering to my LO. I've used stickers, but they're kind of blah. Any suggestions? I like chipboard, but not sure of the best way to personalize plain ones.
Thanks!
Aug '08 Reyasunshine

I would go with either American Crafts Thickers (foam that is self-adhesive and comes in different colors) or Basic Grey 's new Chocolate Chip-board.

And buy white, black and brown first. Those colors go with everything.

You can always doodle on the white with colored pens (dots, squares, etc). And you can use an opaque white pen to doodle on the colored ones if you want to spruce it up.

Or... you can stick the alphas over colored paper and then cut them out. Then glue that to your LO. It adds a bit of color "shadow" or outline to black, brown or white letters. I just did this technique in my "Dorks" LO in my gallery if you'd like to take a look.

Have fun scrapbooking!
Aug '08 A_bowen13

i have the Fiskars shape cutter & alphabet template. you can cut any paper or cardstock with it to match your LO. i find it the cheapest way to do add lettering.
Aug '08 MyWorldisBlack

I think the stickers are quite good if you get them personalised but that can be quite expensive. Where I'm from there's a massive store about 30 minutes down the road that's got nothing but stickers in it and they have some pretty good stickers but then not everyone has that privelege I guess.

I find that another way of getting good lettering is by painting over some cut out letters or masking tape and then removing the cut out letter/masking tape. it leaves clean letters behind.
Aug '08 Rowan

I just started using Thickers and I really like them. They are a nice size and come in many colors, fonts and textures. Some don't stick as well as others but you can work around that since every scrapper has adhesive.

Chipboard is easy to customize with pattern paper or inks, paints ect. I use mod podge to put pattern paper on chipboard and then my cutting knife to trim away the excess.

Stamps is another way and something I just started using. Still practicing. Also this is reuseable which makes it a nice investment.
Aug '08 Here Kitty
- reyasunshine Said:
I would go with either American Crafts Thickers (foam that is self-adhesive and comes in different colors) !

LOVE me some thickers!!! But they come in MUCH more than foam letters. They also come in chipboard, vinyl, glittery chipboard, fabric chipboard, puffy, Tinsel foil, and felt!
Aug '08 Seaexplore

you can print out the lettering on the computer and cut it out by hand. You should be able to do them in a reverse print so the ink is on the back not the front (I haven't figured out how to do that yet in word on my mac tho). If you want it on the front in a certain color, you're only limited by the colors your printer can print. You can adhere these to cardstock and cut them out too. I haven't done this yet but if I didn't have a die cutter I'd be all over it!
Aug '08 Redsmommy

Thanks for all the great ideas! I'm definitely going to check out the Fiskars shapecutter and Thickers!
Aug '08 Kiwiholly

I love Thickers too, and I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who doodles on the white ones!
Aug '08 Here Kitty

Oh and there are fuzzy Thickers too but they don't have them at the superstore here.
Aug '08 Gg Loves Matthew

try and see your stickers in a different light too....they can be brougt up to date as the examples shown below.....they were added to chipboard pieces I cut myself from a large sheet

***MORE CHIPBOARD LETTERS*** By Gg Loves Matthew
Aug '08 Carrievision

I like letter rub-ons -- you usually get more of each letter so it doesn't run out as fast. I like the Making Memories "simply stated" alphabets that come in a strip - you just cut the letters off the ends of the strips. American Crafts also makes some like that. Can't find them in the superstore though I've seen them at the big box stores, and Big Lots.
Aug '08 Hukneeb

One of my favorite ways to use my letter stickers is to matte them on some matching cardstock. I do this almost every time I use stickers, and I think it definately polishes the look. Here are some examples:

Such a Doll By Hukneeb

Mischief By Hukneeb

I Like Big Bugs By Hukneeb
Aug '08 Coastie Wife

I love Thickers too!!! They have so many choices. I also use a lot of rub-ons.
Aug '08 Scrapacon

I haven't used any yet, but im sure stickles could play up some plain letters (stickers or chipboard) pens work too. also, when i have white or lightly colored stickers that can soak ink.. ill just stick them on some wax paper and press my ink pad onto them to change the color.. works great and you can hardley tell i changed the color of them
Aug '08 Jordannichole

You could use the normal stickers that you think are blah, and outline them with stickles! I especially like turquoise!

Ranger Ink - Stickles Glitter Glue - Turquoise, BRAND NEW
Aug '08 Jessica G-B

I'm a computer girl. I print in reverse and use a craft knife or very sharp pointed scissors to cut what I want. That way I can have patterned letters if I want.
Aug '08 Frau_Cooney

This is going to sound radical, but...

You can use your own handwriting! Here's an example from one of my early scrapbooks. It's the most writing I've done on a layout.

Honeymoon By Frau_Cooney
Aug '08 Tmmvol

I have three Sizzix alphabets that I use occassionally, a box of Letter Stax where each letter is die cut on a stack of paper, but most often I seem to use letter stickers or chipboard.

I think that titles and word art is where a Cricut would come in handy, but I don't have one -- yet. LOL
Aug '08 Seaexplore
- Jessica G-B Said:
I'm a computer girl. I print in reverse and use a craft knife or very sharp pointed scissors to cut what I want. That way I can have patterned letters if I want.

Do you use word to print in reverse? If so, how do you do this! I've been wracking my brain trying to figure it out!
Aug '08 Scraperfect

I couldn't scrap without my printer! You never run out of the size, style or color you need. That always happens with rub-ons or stickers.

You can use your everyday word processing software and use any font and size. You can print on a whole range of media from cardstock and vellum to silk flowers and film negatives. PS: Don't waste a whole sheet when you just need a scrap.

You can print in a straight line, outline, shadow..you can hand color or add printer ink. You can border it with sparkles, distress, ripped, inked, chalked... The flourishes are endless.

You can even print in a spiral or a hand drawn wave or heart or any shape if you use a free downloadable software.

Complete directions for these and more are available on my blog. Feel free to write me with questions!.
Aug '08 SmartyPants

you guys have posted some really good ideas!!
Aug '08 Grammy24

I saved for a while and with extra $ for my BD and Christmas, I made the big purchase of a cricut expressions. Now I can't scrap without it.It will cut plain thin cardboard and with a new deeper blade it cuts adhesive cardstock,glitter cardstock, and chipboard.Letters and embellishmentsare endless. I only have 5 cartridges and one of them came with it.I only buy when a good sale is going on.
Aug '08 Scrappy Nan

try alpha stamps too