You are probably guaranteed to make at least one seemingly crucial mistake when putting together a scrapbook page. Before frustration sets in and you scrap the entire project, take a deep breath, remember that flexibility is key, and find a workable solution to the problem. Here are some quick and easy ways to fix common page mistakes:

1) I tore the page!

Of course there are going to be tears. You're working mainly with paper, after all. Thankfully, scrapbooking involves a lot of layering. You may have to change your overall layout design, including adding an element you may not have originally intended, but tears, whether big or small, can simply be covered up. Cover the tear with paper, a sticker, a border, or anything that masks the mistake. No one will ever suspect there was a problem.

2) I misspelled a word!

Again, you can most often simply write the words again on a separate piece of paper, and adhere it over the misspelled section.

But what if you were using stickers? Or stamps? What if you wrote a long phrase and just one of the words is misspelled? Often, adding a letter cramps the word. You can a) remove all the letters and start over again, using glue if the adhesive has come off of the stickers or stamp the phrase on a piece of cardstock and glue over the former phrase, b) take all of the stickers or stamps off and write the phrase in marker or pen instead or c) remove the misspelled word and a couple of other words throughout the phrase, replacing them with written words to create a fun, mismatched component in your page. Problem solved.

(Avoid this problem by writing everything in pencil first and proofreading before you make permanent marks.)

3) I used too much glue!

Keep q-tips on hand to remove excess glue quickly, while it is still wet. If the excess glue still proves distracting, remove the element you glued on, trim its edges, place on a matte to cover up the excess glue on the page, and re-apply.

If you dripped glue throughout the page, remove what you can while it is still wet. When it dries, use a large eraser on the glue. It should come right off. If not, try an adhesive remover, found at most craft stores. Use sparingly! Adhesive remover is also your best bet for removing misplaced stickers that refuse to come off without tearing.

Another option is to use removable tape or adhesive if you prove unwieldy with the glue bottle.

4) I made a big smudge!

Sometimes, you spend a lot of effort coloring or chalking an image only to accidentally smudge it. You can either cover it up with something else or go with it! Smudge everything to give your page a "shabby" effect.

5) I glued everything on and now I hate the layout!

For mistakes that simply can't be fixed, save what you can and start again. No need to throw away the embellishments! Most things can be saved by cutting them off of the page with sharp scissors.

6) I spilled my juice all over the page!

Well, what on earth were you doing with juice near your scrapbook? Use page protectors for pages you are not working on. You never know what might drop from the sky to ruin a page. If such an unfortunate thing should happen to you, take a picture of the ruined project so that you can re-create it, and start again. At least you still have the idea! (Never, ever use original photos in your pages!)

Most mistakes can be covered up or camouflaged. Other mistakes take a little time and work to fix, but can be remedied. Sometimes, the mistake just has to be embraced and lived with; other times, the project may need to be thrown out. Remember to learn from your mistakes, to take precautions beforehand, and most importantly, not to panic. A little creative disguising goes a really long way.