Inspiration @ the Hardware Store

My husband and I are weekend warriors. Whenever we have a weekend with no plans, the days are filled with projects we want to do around the house. Of course, this means that I visit the local hardware store frequently. When I go, I can never just run in, buy what I need, and then get out. I have to browse the aisles, sometimes looking for inspiration for my home projects, but sometimes I am looking for inspiration or products to use in my scrapbooking endeavors.

It is amazing the number of items I have purchased in hardware stores that have made it into my albums or projects. These treasures are sometimes used directly on the layout or project, and sometimes used in a technique on my projects. Here are a few areas to get your shopping started.

• Drawer hardware - terrific for anything that needs a knob, such as an album or a box.
  
  
• Washers -useful for covering the hole on the top of tags, or in the center of flowers or on a boy page as a metallic accent.
  
  
• Hinges - an inexpensive way to create a photo mat or journaling that flips to reveal something underneath.
  
  
• Drywall Tape - a meshy-looking tape that does well as an accent, or used as a "stamp" to create checked patterns.
  
  
• Cheesecloth - a loosely woven fabric, terrific torn as ribbon, dyed and used as an accent, or used to create "stamped" patterns.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Screws - perfect for holding together many pages as binding for a small book, or to screw in a wooden box for a peg.
  
  
• Paint Cans - fantastic when decorated and used in place of a gift bag. (Don't forget the tool to open the can!)
  
  
• Flashing - metal screen that may be used as an accent on embellishments. Cut carefully, it can be sharp!
  
  
• More! - Keys, chain, wire, mailbox numbers, etc.

All of the following tools and products can be used to texturize or age your scrapbook products and papers:

• sandpaper and steel wool
• brushes and sponges
• texture combs
• drill
• hammer
• paint and stain
• spackling compound
• blow torch (just because it sounds cool to have one and because it can turn metal great colors)

In addition to all the wonderful items I have found to use directly on my layouts and projects, there are many items at the hardware store that can be used to inspire a scrapbook page.

• Product Brochures - Keep your eyes open throughout the store for manufacturer brochures and pamphlets. Like advertisements in magazines, they are a wonderful source of inspiration.
  
  
• Color Palettes - My absolute favorite aisle in the hardware store is the area with all the paint chips. I love to use the sample palettes for color combination ideas.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Seasonal Aisle - This is the area of the store that gets changed frequently throughout the year. At the holidays, decorations might be the inspiration you need or you might find an ornament that can be used as an embellishment. In summer, get inspired by the patio furniture fabrics or the color combination of flower pots.

If you would like more ideas on how to be inspired while shopping, read Inspiration @ The Grocery Store. Many of the ideas in that article will also apply to shopping in the hardware store. Happy shopping!

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