I was doing my usual blog reading the other day and came across a technique posted on Jana’s blog using a glue pad to make decorative brads. It’s a good tip, but I’ve got a tweak to alter any brad into a custom brad for your projects in no time.

What you’ll need:
Brads
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Adhesive Transfer Sheet
Flocking, glitter, bitty beads, embossing powder, etc. (to cover the tops of the brads)

How to get it done:
Using an Adhesive Transfer Sheet apply adhesive to the top of the brad. Burnish well. Now remove the sheet and simply dip your brad into the flocking (for a velvet brad look), glitter (for some added bling), bitty beads (try this over a colored brad, painted or otherwise for some sparkle and dimension), even use the adhesive to make some embossing powder stick, then heat it up.

I like the Adhesive Transfer Sheets for this versus the glue pad for a number of reasons. First, I’m an instant gratification kinda girl and I don’t want to wait for glue to try. Secondly, in my experience the “grip” of the Adhesive Transfer Sheets is a lot stronger making for less “shedding” of the glitter, flocking, or whatever it is that you are using.

FYI… for those of you that are big Adhesive Transfer Sheet
fans… they are now available in 6″x12″ and 12″x12″ size. These work
great for those of you with electronic cutters and die cut machines!!
The 6″x12″ is perfect for the Cricut!!

Now for a layout share, and keeping with the Adhesive Transfer Sheet
theme I’m going to post some with layouts where I used them. First up, some glittered chipboard…

The word “girl” is plain chipboard covered with a light pink glitter. Sadly, it doesn’t show up very well in the photo. To get this look, place your chipboard FACE DOWN on the transfer sheet. (If you are looking at it all the letters should be backwards.) Burnish well and remove the chipboard from the backing. Now dip or sprinkle the chipboard with the glitter.

Next in line, this layout where I die cut part of the title using a Cricut with the adhesive already on the back of the letters. (The word “BUZZ”)

And one more… Here I used the Adhesive Transfer Sheet to apply transparency items. Specifically the Heidi Swapp Ghost items, (grin, chuckle, smile).

Hopefully that gave you some ideas! Try those sheets, you’re gonna love them. They can be hard to find, so if you can’t track them down let me know and I’ll help you out.

~j