Here are some of the latest trends in papercrafting. How many are you using?

Chipboard - it started as natural color, and then we added white, now it’s available in every color in the rainbow. Of course, you can alter your chipboard with chalks, paints, inks, or a combination, as well as covering it with papers and fabrics. Chipboard Alphabets are extremely popular, especially large letters ( 5” or larger) for monograms. Purchase chipboard alphabets or shapes, or buy the sheets and die cut your own!

Geometrics – circles have long been used as a symbol of life (remember “the Circle of Life” from the Lion King) and are one of the most popular of all geometric shapes. Circles may be in the background (soft vellum circles on your card), as part of an element (the frame on your tag) as a path for your words to follow (the words on a greeting card) or the project itself (a circle shaped accordion book in a round metal tin). Squares, triangles, rectangles and ovals are also popular.

Bling – some say you can never have too much sparkle! Think glitter, brads, jewels, metallic paints and inks. All these are being added to papercrafts – sometimes all on the same project!

Ribbon – it’s not just for gift-wrapping anymore! Luscious ribbons come in a rainbow of colors and fabrics. Shiny satins, elegant velvets, soft sheers. Patterns include sophisticated florals, funky dots, country checks, stripes and plaids and everything in between. There are even special glues for ribbon and a ribbon iron.

Clear stamps – rubber stamps have long been a part of paper crafting. The new clear stamps make it so easy to position your image exactly where you want on the first try. The fact that these stamps peel off the handle and store on a page protector means we have room to store so many more!

Pets – we love our dogs and cats and other pets, and our papercrafts show it. It can be a special journal to record Fifi’s shot record, or a scrapbook of Buffy’s kitten years. Many a pet image graces the front of a greeting card.

Mini albums – many people were intimidated at the thought of completing a large scrapbook, and didn’t even start. Now mini albums have become very popular, both with and without photos. Consider a 4x4 brag book for Grandma, a few special quotes in a tag album for a graduate, or a mini album made from the wrapping paper at a bridal shower!