How to Scrapbook with Metal Eyelets

Inexpensive Embellishments for Attaching Items or Decorating Pages

Nov 2, 2009

Set Eyelets Using Hole Punch, Setter and Hammer, Photo by Adrienne Larocque

These budget-friendly accents made for scrapbooking and crafts are sold in a wide variety of shapes and colors. They can be used as attachments or strictly for decoration

Craft eyelets are versatile and inexpensive embellishments similar in appearance to grommets. They cost mere pennies, but can be used in endless ways. Eyelets are perfect for adhering elements to scrapbook layouts, but they also can be used just for fun!

Types of Eyelets Used in Scrapbooking

Metal eyelets typically are made from brass, steel or aluminum. The most common diameter of eyelet used for craft purposes is 1/8”, but they also are available in 1/16”, 3/16” and ½” sizes. They may be sold with their original metallic finish, but eyelets painted in all the colors of the rainbow are increasingly popular. The original eyelets were round but imaginative designers now produce them in many shapes - ovals, squares, flowers, hearts, stars, snowflakes, musical notes - to name only a few.

Fun Ways to Use Eyelets in Scrapbooks

Reinforcing or adhering tags
Adhering vellum, mesh or metal foil
Attaching fabric flowers
Adhering pockets or flip-ups
Attaching journaling strips
Adhering metal letters or charms

How to Set Eyelets

To set eyelets, you will need 3 items: a handheld hole punch, an eyelet setter and a rubber craft mat. Carefully position the tip of the hole punch wherever you wish to place the eyelet. Tap the end of the punch with a hammer until the hole is cut through the paper. Push the barrel of the eyelet through the hole and flip the paper while holding the eyelet in place.

Place the setter on the eyelet so that the point is centered inside the barrel. Tap the setter with the hammer until the barrel spreads out. Eyelets made of aluminum are softer and may deform during setting if they are hammered too hard. The best approach is to hit the hammer softly and check how the metal responds. If necessary, you can always hit harder!

Sample Pages

I Want To Be Me: Eyelets are perfect for adhering tags and letter charms securely to the background. Supplies: cardstock - Bazzill Basics; patterned paper - Chatterbox, Provo Craft, Frances Meyer, Karen Foster Design; tags, buttons, eyelet letters - Making Memories; eyelets – Doodlebug Design Inc.; ribbon - Provo Craft; stamping ink – Clearsnap; rubber stamps - EK Success; letter stickers - Creative Imaginations.
At the Palms: Attaching vellum to a layout is problematic because it is translucent. Eyelets are the perfect solution. They can even be used to embellish photo mats! Cardstock – Keeping Memories Alive, Westrim Crafts; vellum – the Paper Company; eyelets – the Stamp Doctor; computer font – CK Journaling, Creating Keepsakes Best of Creative Lettering Combo CD.
Baby Girl: Eyelets are a fun and simple way to adhere silk flowers to a page. Supplies: cardstock – Provo Craft; patterned paper – Chatterbox; alphabet stamps – Making Memories, EK Success; stamping ink – Tsukineko; eyelets – JoAnn’s Craft Essentials; silk flowers – the Dollar Store!
Christmas Dinner: Eyelets can be used to attach interactive elements like flip-ups so that they don’t come off. The eyelets in this layout are shaped like flowers. Supplies: cardstock - Keeping Memories Alive; patterned paper - Hot Off The Press (Paper Pizzazz); eyelets - Doodlebug Design Inc.; stickers - Debbie Mumm for Creative Imaginations; lettering template - Provo Craft; pen – Zig; watercolor pencils - Faber-Castell.

The copyright of the article How to Scrapbook with Metal Eyelets in Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts is owned by Adrienne Larocque. Permission to republish How to Scrapbook with Metal Eyelets in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.