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10 Scrapbooking Tips and tricks

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I don’t claim to be an expert by any means, so take this list with a grain of salt. These are just some tips I’ve discovered along the way that can be a great help.

1. Alcohol free baby wipes are perfect for cleaning rubber and acrylic stamps
2. Not sure if a stamp is the perfect design for a certain spot? Stamp it first with a solvent ink like StazOn on a piece of plastic and lay over your project in progress to check. Clear inserts or packaging that come with products are handy for this.
3. Glossy Accents by Ranger is also a great adhesive for lumpy stuff and clear elements
4.Older stickers and diecuts that you probably won’t use again make great masks. To use the diecuts lightly apply a re-positionable adhesive to the back. Then ink, paint or spray over them
5. Place embellishments in odd numbers like three and five for more visual impact
6. No more e’s in your letter sticker pack? Try an upside down 3! I’ve done this tons of times. In fact I have also changed a lower case g into a y and an h, and an ampersand (&) into an S. It all depends on the font, so take a closer look to see what you can improvise!
7. Try using themed products on unrelated projects. I’ve used stickers from a wedding sheet on a layout about pizza and another about dinner guests. This way you get more bang for your buck!
8. Punch holes in raw chipboard to make it a more decorative element. The Crop-a-Dile cuts through chipboard like butter!
9.Grab five to seven left out items from your desk and challenge yourself to use them on a quick page. You’ll be amazed at what you come up with
10. When all fails, use Thickers!

Note: This article was originally posted on my Callaloo Soup Blog.

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How to Fix a Missed Crochet Stitch (No Frogging Needed!)

how to fix a mixed stitch title image

How to Fix a Missed Crochet Stitch (Without Starting Over!)

We’ve all been there. You’re happily crocheting away, making great progress on your project, when suddenly you notice something’s off. The edges don’t look quite right, or your piece seems narrower than it should be. Yep – you’ve missed a stitch. But don’t worry! Before you even think about unraveling your hard work, let me show you how to fix this common mistake the easy way.

First, How Can You Tell You’ve Skipped a Stitch?

Missed stitches love to hide, but they usually give themselves away if you know what to look for. Your project might start looking narrower than it should, or the edges might appear wavy instead of straight. Sometimes you’ll notice your stitch count is suddenly off. The most common places this happens are at the very beginning or end of a row, or when you’re switching between different types of stitches.

Five Simple Ways to Fix a Missed Stitch

1. The Drop-Down and Rebuild Method
This works great if you’ve just made the mistake in the last row or two. Find where you missed the stitch in the row below, carefully undo just the stitches above it, then re-crochet them correctly. It’s like giving your project a tiny do-over.

2. The Chain-Up Fix
Perfect for when you’ve missed a stitch at the end of a row. Just add an extra chain at the end of your current row, then treat it as a real stitch in the next row. It’s a simple way to keep your edges even.

3. The Invisible Increase Trick
If you missed a stitch somewhere in the middle of your work, try working two stitches into one in the next row. This sneaky trick keeps your stitch count right without making the fix obvious.

4. The Surface Crochet Patch
For those times when other fixes won’t work, you can literally sew a new stitch over the gap. Match your sewing to the surrounding stitches, and no one will ever know there was a mistake.

5. The Creative Cover-Up
When all else fails, get creative! Add a cute button, an appliqué, or some embroidery over the spot. This works especially well for projects like amigurumi or decorative items.

How to Avoid Missing Stitches in the Future

Now that you know how to fix missed stitches, let’s talk about preventing them. Always count your stitches every few rows – stitch markers can be a huge help here. Make a habit of marking your first and last stitches so they’re easier to spot. Good lighting makes a big difference too, especially when working with dark yarn. And remember, consistent tension in your stitches helps keep everything even.

Remember: It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

Here’s the most important thing to remember – crochet is supposed to be fun! A missed stitch here or there doesn’t mean you’re bad at crochet. In fact, most small mistakes won’t even be noticeable in your finished project. Unless it’s a really major error, don’t stress too much about being perfect. Those little imperfections are what make handmade items special.

Now that you’re armed with these fixes, you can crochet with confidence, knowing that even if you do miss a stitch, it’s no big deal. Happy crocheting!