A Beginner’s Guide to Those Little Bits You’re Not Sure About
Ever opened a new digital scrapbooking kit and wondered… what in the world is this little thing? You’re not alone!
One of my lovely subscribers, Sonya, asked this very question — and it’s such a good one! We all know the basics like flowers, bows, ribbons, buttons, and frames — those are your bread-and-butter pieces that don’t need much explaining.
But sometimes you’ll run into bits that aren’t quite so obvious — accents, brushes, overlays, stamps, stickers, transfers — and if they’re not labeled, it’s easy to get confused.
So let’s untangle what’s what — with plain explanations and a few easy tips to help you spot each piece in your stash!
✨ What Are Accents?
Accents are the fun little decorative extras that add personality and detail. They can be almost anything — like tiny metal bits (that are not intended to fasten something to your page, such as brads), doodles, swirls, or a small cluster of embellishments.
In other words, “accent” is a catch-all that can be used for any element for which there is not an obvious other name. If you find something that doesn’t obviously “stick,” “stamp,” or “overlay” — it’s probably an accent! They’re perfect for tucking behind photos or sprinkling around your page for extra interest.
🖌️ Brushes vs. Stamps
Brushes and stamps look similar but work a bit differently.
Brushes are tools. A brush pack usually comes with a special file ending in “.abr”. Load that file into Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to add lots of “tips” — shapes you can paint with. Pick your brush tip in the Brush Picker, choose a color, and “stamp” it onto a new layer — easy and reusable! In general, these files can only be used by Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
Stamps are the same shapes, but saved as black PNGs. Instead of “painting,” you just drag the PNG onto your page. To recolor it, clip a digital paper to it or use a Solid Color Adjustment Layer to change its color.
Brush & Stamp sets are often sold separately from a kit, as you see here. The pack contains BOTH the PNGs and the Photoshop .abr file. As you will see in my shop, brushes and/or stamps can be all sorts things — from graphics, to paint strokes, to text, to grungy lines to add texture. They’re a fun way to add extra artsy touches whenever you need them.
🌿 Texture Overlays
Another handy tool is a texture overlay. These are usually grayscale JPGs designed to add extra texture or depth to your background papers.
Just layer the overlay on top of your background, then change the blend mode (Overlay or Soft Light works well!) and adjust the opacity until it looks just right. It’s an easy way to add subtle grunge, paper texture, or an extra artsy layer.
🎟️ Spotting Stickers
Stickers are easy to spot — they look exactly like real-life stickers, complete with a cut-out shape, a white border, and often a tiny shadow to help them “pop” off the page. They are always PNG files.
When you want an element to feel layered on top of your page, a sticker is your best friend — just peel, place, and enjoy!
🎨 What’s a Transfer?
Transfers are your artsy, blended bits. They are PNGs and look like paint, vintage ephemera, or text rubbed onto the page — with soft edges that blend beautifully into the background. They feel like part of the paper, not something sitting on top of it.
Sometimes designers (like me!) call decorative, artsy transfers “overlays” too — there’s no strict rule. But the telltale sign is how they “melt” into the paper instead of popping off like a sticker does.
📌 Quick Cheat Sheet
Still not sure? Here’s your easy guide:
- If it pops off the page: It’s probably a sticker.
- If it melts into the page: It’s likely a transfer, texture overlay, brush, or stamp.
- If it’s small & decorative: It’s probably an accent!
So there you go — no more mystery bits in your downloads! Remember, there’s no wrong way to use these pieces — mix them, layer them, and see what looks best to you.
If you’d like to explore more brushes, stamps, or artsy bits, feel free to peek in my shop — and drop me a comment if you have any other digi scrap questions you’d like answered!
What a great article! I have been digitally scrapping for years and have occasionally
become confused, especially when a designer labels an element or embellishment uniquely.
That’s so true, Laurie! Theres no standard naming convention for digital scrapbooking elements, which I know can be frustrating! I’m so happy you found this article helpful! Thanks so much for stopping by my website!
Merci beaucoup pour ces conseils, c’est toujours bon à savoir.
Marie
De rien, Marie ! Je suis heureux de pouvoir vous aider !
Great explanation I have been doing this quite a few years and and still was confused between stamps and brushes thank you
I’m so happy to have helped! Let me know if you have any other questions!
Great explanation of the differences! I especially like the explanation of transfers “melting” into the page. Now to get motivated to use all of the above! 🤣
Lol! Thanks, Joan!