Bookplates and Hardware
This is Stampin' Up!'s Silver Hodge Podge Hardware. This type of "hardware" is used on scrapbook layouts and cards to draw attention to something. A stamped word or phrase, or a small photo surrounded by one of these bookplates adds dimension to your project. The bookplates are raised in design and come with brads to secure the hardware to your layout or card. Although, you can purchase things similar to this at craft/hobby stores or at online scrapbook and card stores the product will come in a package of two or three and only sometimes will brads be provided.
Recently, Tim Holtz has added quite a number of these to his line of products. They are gorgeous! In fact, I think I need to run right out to my local craft/hobby store and buy some!
I have used a round bookplate on the front of a Christmas card. I have stamped an image in the center of a green square of card stock and surrounded the stamped image with a round bookplate. Having a paper punch just the right size for a piece of hardware, like these, is not essential. With a pencil draw around the inside opening of the hardware and cut well outside the pencil line. If you find you have too much excess paper just press it into the bookplate underside and it will have a tight fit. Snip away at any excess paper that goes over the top edge of the back of the bookplate and attach it to your scrapbook layout or card with brads.
What can you do with these? In the Stampin' Up! selection (see the above photo) you can cut a piece of your favorite design paper and fit it behind any one of the bookplates shown. Cut a piece of coordinating card stock larger than the bookplate hardware and mount your "framed" item to the card stock using the accompanying brads. Attach this new creation to a card front or place it on a scrapbook layout.
For the circle or square bookplate pieces you can reduce a photo of your child or grandchild to fit within the frame. Weave a thin ribbon through the fastening holes on each side and attach it to your layout. You can also use the larger bookplate (shown in the bottom right of the photo) to show off your child or grandchild.
Are you making "Heritage Pages" of your grandparents or your parents? Do you have wedding photos you are working with? The date of the wedding can be highlighted by using a bookplate. Even the birthdate of your ancestor can be surrounded by one of these beautiful pieces of embellishment. Tim Holtz ornate bookplates would be ideal for this type of embellishment.
The pinkscrapper99 has a video on YouTube showing how to make apiece of jewelry using one of Tim Holtz bookplates. She has made a pendent for a necklace. One of these bookplates would make a beautiful brooch if you are into that kind of thing.
Let your imagination run wild and have fun with Bookplates and Hardware.