T r a n s p a r e n c i e s
Clearly Terrific!

What could be more useful than a scrapbooking tool that aids in journaling, photography, embellishments and even stamping? Most scrapbooking fans would jump at the opportunity to have a tool that does this - and many have. It’s transparencies, of course, and their versatility has made them a staple in many scrap rooms across the land. It’s become “clear” that transparencies are terrific!

Perhaps the easiest and quickest transparency to use is a pre-printed, purchased one, sometimes referred to as an “overlay.” There are many manufacturers who offer these, from Sarah Heidt to 7Gypsies, to the very newest and perhaps smallest ones by Daisy D’s Elements that fit right over a 4x6 photo. In the “Brothers” layout, I have used a pre-printed overlay by Memories Complete.

These particular overlays come covered with various phrases and frames, and are printed on a more flexible material than most traditional overlays. For this layout, I chose to use only a portion of the overlay and attached it directly to the photo by stitching it. Although the flexible nature of these overlays made it extremely easy to sew through, all transparencies can be stitched on, either by hand or machine.

If you want to be more flexible and print your transparencies, there is a whole creative world just waiting to be discovered!

There are a few options available to you in purchasing transparencies and before you decide to print on them, you should consider these options carefully. The most readily available are those found at office supply centers, such as Staples or Office Depot. I recently discovered a package at Wal Mart by 3M that was very reasonably priced. According to the marketing director at the 3M Corporation, the clear side of the transparency, the side most often next to your photograph, is 100% acid free and solvent-free

When printing on a transparency, unless you will be using an ink-jet printer, you will want to print so that the ink will be on the rough side. The same thing applies to chalking and rubber stamping techniques. Check the properties mode on your printer to see if there is a transparency mode. This will help prevent streaking on your transparency as it is printing.

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to start! A quick and easy way to use transparencies is for clear journaling. If you have never created your own transparency, this is a great way to learn! In the layout to the left, I have used transparencies for the journaling in order for the background papers and stamping to remain visible. I arranged everything on my page before printing and adhering the transparency to the page.

There is a myriad of creative enhancements for your transparencies. I love to create my own colorful transparencies using various fonts and images that I’ve downloaded from the Internet. You don’t have to own a special program to do any of this as most images can be altered, watermarked and reversed in any recent Microsoft Word program.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to move on to other printing techniques and embellishing. Anything that can be done to cardstock or vellum can also be done to a transparency. Just as a downloaded artistic image can be printed onto the transparency, so can your own photograph! Any hand embellishment you may do to your regular scrapbook pages, such as stitching, tearing, adding glitter or jewels can all be done to transparencies as well. Even the latest trend of using acrylic paints can be used beautifully on the transparency.

A technique that I especially enjoy combining with transparencies is stamping and embossing. If you choose not to emboss your image you will need to use a solvent ink that is acceptable for glass or slick images, such as Staz On or JudiKins Permanent Ink. However, embossing gives the image a beautiful effect on the clear background. On the December birthday card, I’ve combined a snowy background with both stamped images, using a solvent ink, and an embossed image using interference powders. With the number of stamps, inks and powders available, your palette is endless.

There are simple things to keep in mind for success:
* Transparencies will scratch easily, so use them carefully.
• If you do not use the entire sheet, save the remainder and re-use it. Simply attach it to a piece of paper with double stick tape and send it through your printer, just as you would vellum. It’s too expensive to waste!
• There are multiple ways of adhering these to your pages, from brads or eyelets to Therm O Web Zots. My personal favorite is Elmer’s Acid-Free spray adhesive. Spray it just in the corners to avoid your photos. I use a used dryer sheet to gently press down over the transparency and to clean away anything that has gravitated to it, since everything in your scrap area will do just that!
• If you are using an ink or desk jet printer, remember to print so that the ink is on the rough side of the transparency.

The most important thing of all is to experiment with your creations, your talents and creativity. Transparencies are a wonderful way to showcase your background papers, photographs or even background fabrics without distraction. You, too, will see that transparencies are - clearly terrific!

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Mac Stanley

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