Scrapbooking with Vellum – DIY Vellum Embellishments

Scrapbooking with vellum is one of the underused techniques in this craft. Translucent, lightweight, and able to layer over anything without overwhelming it, vellum is the secret to whimsical embellishments and dimensional accents that pre-made stickers can’t match. In this tutorial I’ll walk through how to use a sheet of vellum and a few rub-on transfers to create custom DIY butterfly embellishments, plus the layout I built around them, and the supplies you need to do the same on any page.

What Is Vellum and Why Use It in Scrapbooking?

Vellum is a translucent, semi-transparent paper that’s typically heavier than tracing paper but lighter than cardstock. It’s made from cotton or a synthetic alternative and comes in plain white, frosted, printed patterns, and shimmer finishes. The signature property is the see-through quality: anything underneath shows through, softened.

That property makes vellum useful for several things in scrapbooking:

• Dimensional embellishments like butterflies, leaves, or florals that catch the light differently than paper or cardstock.
• Soft photo overlays where you want to add a quote, a date, or a piece of journaling without covering the photo entirely.
• Rub-on transfer surfaces: rub-ons stick beautifully to vellum, and the transparent vellum lets the rub-on float on the page when adhered with a single dot of glue.
• Layered backgrounds where a vellum sheet over patterned paper softens busy patterns to a usable level.
• Fussy-cut accents where you want the embellishment to feel airier than a solid paper cutout.

Materials You’ll Need

The vellum technique itself is simple. Most of these supplies you probably already have.

• A few sheets of vellum paper (12×12 size for scrapbook use). Plain white is the most versatile starting point. Frosted or printed vellum works for backgrounds; plain works best for fussy-cut embellishments.
• Rub-on transfers in a design that matches your layout theme. Butterflies, florals, and word phrases are the most common.
• A wooden craft stick or rub-on applicator for transferring the rub-ons cleanly onto the vellum.
• Sharp craft scissors with precision tips for fussy-cutting the rub-on shapes off the vellum sheet. The smaller the scissors, the cleaner the cut.
• 1-inch circle punch for the layout below (or use a die-cutting machine with circle dies in graduated sizes).
• White cardstock (12×12) as the base layout. Vellum embellishments show up best against a clean white background.
• A precision-tip liquid adhesive for attaching the vellum. Regular tape runners and most foam squares show through translucent vellum and ruin the effect.
• Gold Thickers or other alphabet stickers for the title. Metallic alphas catch the light alongside the vellum.
• Optional: Heidi Swapp Color Shine in gold or a complementary shade for splatter accents on the title area.

How to Make DIY Vellum Embellishments (Butterflies)

Step 1: Prep your vellum. Lay a sheet of plain vellum flat on a clean work surface. Wipe down the surface so dust and tiny paper bits don’t stick to the underside of the vellum.

Step 2: Apply the rub-on transfers. Position your rub-on (butterfly, floral, or any other design) face-down on the vellum. Use a wooden craft stick or rub-on applicator to firmly rub the back of the transfer until it releases onto the vellum. Lift the carrier sheet slowly and re-rub any spots that didn’t transfer.

Step 3: Fussy-cut the shapes. Use sharp precision scissors to carefully cut around each butterfly outline. Cut as close to the design as possible without nicking the rub-on edges. The translucent vellum around the design should be barely visible when held up to light.

Step 4: Fold for dimension. To stick the butterflies to the page with a whimsical lift, fold each one along the center body line so the wings angle slightly upward. A soft fold (not a hard crease) gives the most natural look.

Step 5: Adhere with a single dot of glue. Place a tiny drop of liquid adhesive in the center of the vellum body (along the fold line). Press to the page. The wings stay raised, adding dimension without foam squares or visible adhesive lines.

Building the Layout: 1-Inch Circles + Vellum Butterflies

Hello Hip Kits fans, it’s Zinia here to share with you a really fun layout I created. The general idea for this layout can be created using just one main paper collection. I cheated a bit and used embellishments from multiple kits, but if you stick to one collection, you can definitely make this work.

Here’s the process video walking through the build:

Punch your circles. To begin, grab your favorite pattern papers and punch 1-inch circles. You can use different sizes if you want and adjust the design accordingly, but I really loved how the 1-inch circles are not too big nor too small for this page. This is a really great design to make use of any little leftover scraps from previous layouts.

Arrange the circles in three columns. Stick them on a piece of white cardstock. That arrangement guides our main design and creates the structural framework.

Add the vellum embellishments. Once the circles are down, place the fussy-cut vellum butterflies around the layout with a single dot of adhesive in the center of each. Folding the wings slightly adds dimension that catches the light.

Continue embellishing. I added word strips and a few floral ephemera pieces to fill out the layout until I was happy with the result. The vellum butterflies stay the visual focus because they’re the only elements with that translucent quality.

Finish the title. For my title I used a mix of different stickers and alphas across the kits. To balance the gold Thickers, I added some gold splatters using my Heidi Swapp Color Shine spray.

Tips for Working with Vellum

Use precision adhesive only. Regular tape runners leave white streaks behind translucent vellum. Liquid glue applied with a fine tip, glue dots placed strategically behind embellishments, or vellum-specific tape are the cleanest options.

Hide the adhesive behind solid elements. When you do need more than a dot of glue, place the vellum so the adhesive is hidden behind a sticker, a die cut, or another solid element on top.

Score and fold for dimension. Folding vellum (lightly, not hard creased) along a center line and gluing only the fold gives lift to butterflies, leaves, and bird shapes. The same technique works for any fussy-cut vellum embellishment.

Layer over busy patterns to soften them. If a patterned paper is too loud for your photo, put a sheet of {aff(‘vellum+paper+12×12+craft’, ‘vellum’)} on top. The pattern shows through softly without competing with the photo.

Vellum + light = magic. Vellum embellishments look completely different in different lighting. A page that looks subtle in flat light becomes dimensional and translucent in window light. Photograph layouts with vellum near a window if you can.

5 More Ways to Use Vellum on a Layout

Once you’ve got the rub-on-on-vellum technique down, here are five more ways to use vellum that don’t require a single butterfly.

1. Quote overlays. Print a quote or a song lyric onto a sheet of vellum (laser printer or stamp it directly), trim to size, layer over the photo or patterned paper. The quote floats above the page.

2. Date stamps on vellum. Stamp the date in a small font onto a strip of vellum, layer over a piece of journaling, photo, or solid color. Subtle date marker that doesn’t break the design.

3. Vellum pockets. Cut a vellum rectangle, fold the edges to create a small pocket, glue along three sides. Tuck a small ephemera piece, a tag, or a bit of journaling inside. The pocket contents show through softly.

4. Frosted backgrounds. A full sheet of frosted vellum over a busy pattern paper instantly transforms it into a usable, photo-ready backdrop.

5. Vellum journaling cards. Cut a 3×4 piece of vellum, hand-write or type your journaling, layer over a coordinating patterned 3×4 card. The journaling stays legible while the pattern adds texture underneath.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best adhesive for vellum?

Liquid glue with a precision tip, vellum tape, or strategically placed glue dots that hide behind a solid element on top. Standard tape runners leave white streaks visible through the translucent vellum and ruin the effect.

Can I print on vellum?

Yes, with caveats. Laser printers handle vellum well; inkjet printers can smear because vellum doesn’t absorb wet ink the way regular paper does. If you only have an inkjet, let the print dry for several minutes before handling, or use a stamp instead.

How do I keep vellum from curling or wrinkling?

Store vellum sheets flat (not rolled), keep adhesive use minimal, and avoid touching the surface with damp or oily fingers. Once vellum has been folded or wrinkled, it won’t return to perfectly flat. Plan accordingly.

Where do I get vellum for scrapbooking?

Most craft stores carry plain vellum in 12×12 sizes. For pre-printed or specialty vellum, our monthly scrapbook kits include vellum sheets in the cardstock add-on whenever a collection’s design calls for it.

Where to Go Next

• Scrapbook page ideas – more layout starting points across techniques
• Scrapbook supplies guide – every category with brand recommendations
• DIY scrapbook embellishments – more handmade-embellishment tutorials
• Diagonal layout tutorial – another design technique that pairs well with vellum accents
• Scrapbook ideas – the full inspiration hub
• Monthly scrapbook kits – the source of paper, ephemera, and occasional vellum sheets

I really hope you liked this page and got inspired to try vellum on a similar design.

Until next time, happy scrapping.