I’ve been away from scrapbooking for a while…years, really.  And while I’ve been making a valid attempt to return to the craft, I have yet to complete any scrapbooks.  But that didn’t stop me from being intrigued by today’s new product, ScrapBands.  These stretchy bands – which come in plenty of decorative designs or in plain ones you can decorate yourself – are totally versatile and can be used on scrapbooks, art journals, Smash books, handmade books and journals to keep them closed or to decorate the spines…the list is limited only by your imagination.

ScrapBands – available in two sizes – go to www.ScrapBands.com

From the product packaging:

“Decorate the outside of your scrapbooks with ScrapBands!  Wrap around the covers to keep contents secure.  Use as a decorative “label” on the spine of D-ring albums.  Add your own personal touch with brads, tags, ribbons, iron-ons, paints and more!  Fits medium and large scrapbooks, journals and binders.”

I also love the story of how the company got started – it’s worth checking out on their website!

The ScrapBands come in two sizes, small and large.

Large-sized ScrapBand.

Small-sized ScrapBand.

As you can see from the photos, ScrapBands consist of two parts – an elastic piece, and a fabric piece which velcros around the elastic piece.  You can easily remove the fabric piece to decorate or embellish it, and then place it back around the elastic.  The large size ScrapBand has an elastic that is about 21-22″ in length, with a fabric piece that is about 8″.  The small size has an elastic piece that is about 13-14″ in length, and a fabric piece that is about 6″.  The elastic is a nice wide elastic, very sturdy – definitely strong enough to hold a full scrapbook or journal closed!

I decided to try some fabric paint on the denim one.

Using fabric paint on denim ScrapBand (with stencil)

Completed fabric painting on denim ScrapBand

I was happy with the results, and because the ScrapBands are so easy to put back together, as soon as it was dry, I was immediately able to put it on one of my thick art journals that never wants to stay closed by itself!  The ScrapBand did a great job of holding it closed!

Large ScrapBand around 8.5×11 art journal

I decided to go for it and decorate the smaller ScrapBand as well.  This time I used some textile sprays with a stencil – quick and easy!  Then I stamped over the pattern with a permanent ink.  I loved the result!

Using textile sprays with a stencil to decorate small ScrapBand

After drying/heat setting textile spray on ScrapBand

Stamping on ScrapBand with permanent ink

Finally, I put the completed small ScrapBand around one of my smaller art journals – another one which has a lot of thick pages in it.  I not only love that the journal stays closed, but I love the look of the decorative band on it.

Small-sized ScrapBand around art journal

So what’s the skinny on these not-so-skinny bands?  You can purchase them from their website, ScrapBands.  The small bands, bare, sell for $7.99 each, and the large bands, bare, sell for $9.99 each.  (And by bare, I don’t necessarily mean plain denim or white – they have lots of colors and designs…it just means not embellished.)  They will also pre-embellish them for you, or you can get them embroidered – for $12.99 each for the large.

Bands are very popular right now – just last week I saw a pack of large rubber bands in Target designed for this same purpose…holding journals closed.  But how fun to be able to design your very own?!  And the price seems affordable.  What do you think?

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