7 Ways To Use Lace On a Scrapbook Page
Expert Guidance for Digital Scrapbooking

What is lace? In the current world of digital scrapbooking, you will most commonly find lace that has been scanned. The scans are anywhere from 2 to 12 inches in length, and while lace can be any color, it’s generally white or cream-colored.

You should easily be able to find lace in your digital scrapbooking stash, and it’s still included in the trendiest of kits. Basically, it’s a classic element. Using lace on a scrapbook page can feel a little awkward, so here’s some guidance to give you the confidence you need:

Lace Way #1 — Use As an Edge Element

Use lace as a “behind the scenes” element. Peek it out from the edge of your scrapbook page or greeting card. Give it a little bit of tilt for interest and add some supporting elements.

• If you plan to print your document, keep track of the bleed. You don’t want the entire piece of lace cut off in the printing process.
• Make sure you can clearly see the lace’s beautiful scalloped edge.
• Lace, if it’s meant to look realistic, should always have a drop shadow. The drop shadow should always be very low and very light, like a size and distance of 10 and an opacity of 25%. If the drop shadow is too big, it will drown out the pattern in the lace.
• Placing the lace on an edge can help establish the flow of your page.

The lace and kit used above are from Unconditionally by KimB Designs. Here’s how I used this idea on a scrapbook page:

Lace Way #2 — Snip & Pin It Down

One of the very best things about digital scrapbooking is that you can alter elements. So don’t forget to do that with lace! Cut off a little piece and pin it to your page with some sort of fastener.

• To snip off a piece of lace, I’d recommend using the Eraser tool with a small Hard Round brush. That way, you can make the edge uneven.
• Lace should always have a drop shadow if it’s meant to look realistic. The drop shadow should always be very low and very light, like a size and distance of 10 and an opacity of 25%. If the drop shadow is too big, it will drown out the pattern in the lace.
• This little snippet of lace would look great at the top edge of your page or stuck to the edge of a frame.

The lace and elements used above are from Heart To Heart by Karen Schulz.

Lace Way #3 — Fill With Color

The best things about lace are its shape and tiny details. One way to capitalize on those is to fill the lace with color, which turns it into an overlay.

• To fill the lace with color, first set the color of the Background Color Chip. Then, press Shift Ctrl Backspace (Mac: Shift Cmd Delete).
• Lace that looks like an overlay should never have a drop shadow.
• Use the lace overlay as an anchor for a cluster, or clip it to something like a tag to add interest.

The lace and elements used above are from Recorded by Anita Designs.

Lace Way #4 — Use It To Transition

Lace is so classic that it pretty much goes with anything and makes a great transitioning element.

• The next time you line up a set of busy photos, place some lace in between the layers to help separate the chaos.
• Lace should always have a drop shadow if it’s meant to look realistic. The drop shadow should always be very low and very light, like a size and distance of 10 and an opacity of 25%. If the drop shadow is too big, it will drown out the pattern in the lace.

The lace used above is from It’s Okay by Bellisae Designs. Here is an example of how I separated busy photos with lace:

Lace Way #5 — Peek From Paper

Another way to take advantage of the pretty edges of lace is to peek it out from under the edge of a piece of paper.

• Peeking is never considered bad in digital scrapbooking.
• Peeking lace out from under a piece of paper or even a photo will instantly dress up a scrapbook page and make it look more finished.
• Lace should always have a drop shadow if it’s meant to look realistic. The drop shadow should always be very low and very light, like a size and distance of 10 and an opacity of 25%. If the drop shadow is too big, it will drown out the pattern in the lace.

The lace and papers used above are from PS, I Love You by Vicki Robinson Designs. Here is an example of how I peeked lace behind paper:

Lace Way #6 — Fill In Space

Lace is the perfect solution for filling in space in a photo cluster.

• Lace can magically fill in space without hijacking a design. It doesn’t distract from the focal point.
• Lace should always have a drop shadow if it’s meant to look realistic. The drop shadow should always be very low and very light, like a size and distance of 10 and an opacity of 25%. If the drop shadow is too big, it will drown out the pattern in the lace.

The lace and papers used above are from Story Of Us by Palvinka Designs. Here’s an example of how I filled in space with lace:

Lace Way #7 — Tuck It In a Cluster

Lace is so versatile, but don’t underestimate the value it can bring to a cluster.

• Lace can work great as a stabilizing anchor for a cluster.
• It can also just be used to make a cluster appear more full and vibrant.
• Lace should always have a drop shadow if it’s meant to look realistic. The drop shadow should always be very low and very light, like a size and distance of 10 and an opacity of 25%. If the drop shadow is too big, it will drown out the pattern in the lace.

The cluster on the left is from Mabon by A Whimsical Adventure. The cluster in the middle is from Evolving by Aprilisa. The cluster on the right is from Always Blooming by Simple Pleasure Designs. Here’s a scrapbook page that contains clusters with tucked-in lace:

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Author: Jen White | Contact Us
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