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Stash-Busting Paper Craft Projects

Created exclusively for Craftsy

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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RONDA PALAZZARI

Ronda Palazzari is a mixed media artist, author, scrapbook designer and instructor. She shares daily inspiration on her blog HelpMeRonda, and is also the author of the book Art of Layers and is a featured artist in Walter Foster’s Pinterest Perfect Book. Ronda is published in several magazines and idea books including Artful Blogging, Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, Creating Keepsakes, Somerset Memories, Haute Bags, Memory Makers and Scrapbook Trends. Ronda continues to teach worldwide as well right here on Craftsy!

MEET THE EXPERTS

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JIN YONG

Jin is the blogger behind Under A Cherry Tree. She started crafting at a young age when she would help her mother sort fabric for sewing and papers for decoupage. As a teenager, she took up crochet, quilting and even studied the art of Chinese knotting. It was not until her husband bought Jin her first rubber stamps that she finally found her passion for card making and paper crafting.

AMY RYSAVY

Amy Rysavy is the blogger behind Prairie Paper & Ink. She’s a Canadian prairie girl who has been stamping and card making for over 10 years. She loves all things glitter and lives for her morning cup of coffee!

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KRISTEN MAGEE

Kristen Magee is a freelance web developer and unabashed paper fiend who has been writing about her love for all things paper on her blog Paper Crave since 2006, though she’s had paper fiend-ish tendencies for much longer than that. In addition to paper crafts and general web geekery, she also has a penchant for needle and felt crafts, polymer clay and cooking.

VICTORIA HUDGINS

Victoria Hudgins is the owner and creative director of the popular lifestyle foodie and craft blog A Subtle Revelry. She has a passion for simple crafts and easy recipes that make life more fun. Victoria is a firm believer that revelry should be had daily.

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Have you ever looked down at your desk to see a pile of scraps from your paper crafts projects building up? Torn bits of patterned papers, ones and twos of embellishments, partially used letter stickers? This may sound like a mess, but it can be a great recipe for a “leftover layout.”

FOR USING LEFTOVERS ON A SCRAPBOOK LAYOUT5tips

By Ronda Palazzari

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Here are 5 fun ideas for using scraps in your stash for a “leftover layout”:

1. PILE IT

Quick grab up all the leftovers on your desk and place them in a pile. Even those tiniest of scraps, ones and twos of items, punched leftovers, etc. You may not use everything but I guarantee you will have more than enough supplies to bang out a beautiful layout.

2. DON’T OVERTHINK IT

This is one of the hardest parts. You may not think all these items go together, but by building layers and grouping items, you can make them not only work but also sing. Grab a photo (or photos) and go!

3. BUILD IT

Start the background on some neutral card stock to “ground” all the bits and pieces together. Look to your scraps for a color story. When creating my leftover layout, I noticed soft blues, yellows, touches of green and hints of reds. I used these colors to guide my page.

Layer the leftover patterned papers together and glue them down. Again, don’t overthink it! Did you notice I used the glassine envelope and layered it on my page behind my photos? Nothing is off-limits on a “leftover layout.”

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4. EMBELLISH IT

Take the ones and twos and start tucking them in here and there. Push things around until you find a pleasing grouping. You can even doodle some shapes here and there to have repeating elements. Not everything will necessarily go onto the page so it’s OK to let some things go.

5. LETTER IT (MIX AND MATCH)

Have you ever selected an alphabet for your layout only to realize you don’t have the right letters to spell out your title? Mix and match leftover alphabets to create a dynamic title.

Before trashing your scrap stash, try tidying up your workspace by whipping up a leftover layout.

Cropping with some friends? Why not swap leftovers and challenge each other?

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3Paper scraps are an inevitable result of paper crafting. Most projects do not call for the use of an entire sheet of card stock, so more often than not, there are bits and pieces of paper that are left behind when the project is done. Before you toss those leftover pieces of paper scraps into the recycle bin, let me share a few fun card making projects that are perfect for using up those scraps.

Save Those Scraps!

1. ADD BACKGROUND COLOR

One of my favorite ways to repurpose scrap papers is to use them for a background. By layering different pieces of scrap paper under a cutout, you can add all kinds of colors to a card. It is an easy way to make a card look more interesting.

To make the card on the next page, I cut out the word “HELLO” with my Silhouette Cameo personal electronic die-cutting machine.

TO MAKE CARDS WITH PAPER SCRAPS

Creative Ways

By Jin Yong

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Using the cutout as a guide, I arranged and glued the scrap papers down onto the card base. To finish the card, I adhered the cutout onto the card base with foam tape.

2. MAKE EMBELLISHMENTS

I personally try to refrain from adding too many elements to a card because it may make the card look too busy. However, a simple embellishment can go a long way in making the card look more interesting. One of the easiest ways to make embellishments with paper scraps is to use paper punches and metal dies. Shapes like small circles, hearts or stars are easy to cut out from scraps and use for embellishing a card.

I also like to use small metal dies to make embellishments. Small metal dies are great to use with paper scraps because I can position them wherever I want in order to maximize the use of the scraps. Before putting the metal die and the paper through my Big Shot die-cutting machine, I positioned and stuck the dies onto the scrap paper with removable tape. I like to use washi tapes since they stick well but can be easily removed.

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In the birthday card pictured above, the bow above the present was cut out with a metal die. It adds more interest and dimensions to the card than the original flat bow that the pattern for the present came with.

3. MIX IN VARIETY

You can use up scrap papers quickly by cutting out multiples of the same shape. Basic shapes like squares and circles are great for making geometric cards.

To make the card above, I start by cutting the card front from white card stock and a metal die. Next, I stuck different pieces of scrap papers onto the metal die with washi tape. The colored stars were cut out in one go when I rolled the die cut/paper setup through my Big Shot die cutter. Color is added to the card when the white stars were replaced by the colored ones that were cut out from the scrap papers. A stamped greeting attached to the card with foam tape completes the project.

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SCRAP PAPER EMBELLISHMENTSSCRAP PAPER EMBELLISHMENTS

Making your own embellishments is a great way to use up those little bits of patterned paper and card stock that tend to litter our craft areas. Here are some fun embellishments to make with the leftovers in your stash!

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Patterned paper and/or card stock scraps

• Various shape punches and/or dies

• Your favorite adhesive• Stamps, card stock and

embellishments as desired to finish your cards

IDEA #1: KEEP IT SIMPLE

You can keep things simple by just punching out your images from various scraps of patterned paper. If you want to take it up a notch you could start layering and embellishing your punched shapes to create more intricate embellishments. The sky’s the limit!

I created a quick and simple card by punching out three butterflies from four different patterns of scraps, then edging the shapes with a navy blue

Get Crafty With DIY

By Amy Rysavy

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marker to define the edges. I adhered the pieces to the card stock with my favorite liquid adhesive (Tombow Mono Multi), applying it to just the bodies of the butterflies so that the wings could be bent up for a bit of extra dimension.

IDEA #2: ADD A STAMPED SENTIMENT

For the second card I stamped a large “Hello” sentiment with navy ink, then arranged larger punched butterflies along the edge of the card front.

I again adhered the butterflies by just the bodies and bent the wings up, which creates more dimension and interest with very little effort!

IDEA #3: COMBINE DIE-CUT SHAPES

I created a more masculine card by die cutting the arrow shapes from several different patterned paper scraps. Once I’d adhered them to my card front I trimmed off any of the pieces hanging over the edge with scissors.

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IDEA # 4: ADD MORE DIMENSION

Finally, to create more dimensional embellishments I die cut several flower shapes from some of the scraps. I then sprayed the die-cut pieces lightly with water, and used a large stylus on a foam pad to press into the flowers to create some shape. The water helps soften the paper so that it bends and curls easier, and as long as you don’t completely soak the paper it will dry fairly quickly. You’ll still have plenty of time to press and curl the petals

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and I think it’s fun to see how much you can alter the shape. With these flowers I didn’t curl them too much as I wanted to layer them and not have them be too “bulky” on a card.

Once they’re dry you can layer them by either keeping them the same pattern-wise, or alternate the patterns as I did here. You could also use different floral shape dies, or if you don’t have dies, simply hand cut simple flower shapes like this. Once you wet and curl them it won’t matter.

With flowers I never feel like they’re “finished” until something is added to the center. Buttons work great, as do brads, even enamel dots. If you’re not sewing on a button or piercing through a brad, you need to use a strong adhesive to attach the pieces together.

IDEA #5: MINIATURIZE

I also created two mini-cards with these embellishments. They each measure 2.75" square.

I hope this gave you some ideas on how to use up those bits of patterned paper that seem to pile up! Rather than toss them in the garbage, pull out some punches and dies (or your scissors!) to create some fun accents and embellishments for cards or scrapbook pages!

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We’ve just covered how to use up those little bits of leftover papers to create your own DIY embellishments for scrapbooking and card making. Now, I’ll share a fun and simple DIY on how to line an envelope with larger patterned paper scraps.

It looks so nice to open up an envelope and see some coordinating patterned paper peeking out from the inside. And the best part is it’s really easy to do!

MATERIALS YOU’LL NEED:

• Envelope(s) in desired size(s)• Pieces of scrap paper large enough to fill exposed areas of envelope• Pencil• Scoring tool• Adhesive of choice

line your envelopes With Repurposed Paper Scraps

By Amy Rysavy

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STEP 1:

First thing you need to do is find a scrap of patterned paper that is large enough to line the inside of the envelope. It doesn’t need to be big enough to fit the entire envelope — just large enough to fill the area that’s exposed when you lift the flap.

Using a pencil, trace the flap of the envelope and cut along that line with scissors. Then trim off a bit on each side of the patterned paper so that it easily fits inside the envelope.

STEP 2:

Once you have the patterned paper trimmed down, insert it in the envelope (without adhesive) and mark the fold line on each side with the pencil.

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STEP 3:

Using the pencil marks as a guide, score the patterned paper with your scoring tool. This just helps the envelope flap close easier and gives it a cleaner look.

STEP 4:

Apply you adhesive of choice to the back of the patterned paper. I used liquid adhesive here and made sure not to apply it too close to the edge to prevent it from oozing out and then gluing your envelope shut.

STEP 5:

All that’s left is to slide the patterned paper back into your envelope and press it down into place before the glue dries. And you’re left with cute patterned paper-lined envelopes that match your card!

How to Make an Envelope From Paper Scraps

If you have some larger pieces of patterned paper you can take it one step further and make an entire envelope from scraps. If you’re like me and mostly work with 6"x 6” patterned papers, the envelopes you can make will be quite small (should fit 3” x 4” card). If you use 12” x 12” papers, you can make much larger envelopes for your cards.

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Note: To make my own envelopes, I really like the WeR Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board. You can make envelopes without it (a scoring board helps, or even a T-square ruler and a bone folder, along with some measuring), but I find it makes making envelopes quick and easy. I especially like that it has all the measurements needed depending on the size of card you want to create an envelope for.

STEP 1:

Since my patterned paper scraps were under 6” square, I trimmed them down to 5 ¼” square in order to make mini envelopes that would fit a 3” x 3” mini-notecard.

STEP 2:

Following the directions included with the board, I scored and punched where needed and whipped up two quick little patterned envelopes.

STEP 3:

I used my liquid adhesive to adhere the envelope flaps together, and you can see above what they look like before folding and adhering. That’s another reason why I love the Envelope Punch Board so much, it punches the inner corners for the flaps and you can round the edges as well to give your envelopes a more finished look.

I hope this gave you more ideas for using up those scraps of patterned paper! Lining your envelopes is a simple process and yet it gives the finished card that little “something extra” when the recipient opens it up!

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Embrace the color block trend AND use up your leftovers with this fun color block thank you card!

MATERIALS YOU’LL NEED:

• Scrap paper or card stock• The FREE printable PDF (found at the

end of this PDF) or SVG (if using a die cutting machine) template file found here

• An A2 top-folding card base (basically, a piece of 8 ½” x 11” card stock cut in half lengthwise)

• Craft glue• T-square (optional)• Adhesive foam squares or dots

(optional)• Scissors (if cutting by hand or using

foam adhesive)

STEP 1:

Cut out the letters and letter segments using a die cutting machine, or cut out by hand. If cutting out by hand, print the templates onto a sheet

How to Make a

stash-busting Color Block Card

By Kristen Magee

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of regular printer paper, cut out the templates that you’ll be using, trace onto pieces of scrap card stock or paper, and cut out the traced letters and letter segments.

STEP 2:

Pair each letter with its matching letter segment and glue the pieces together using craft glue.

STEP 3:

After you’re finished gluing the letters and segments together, lay them out on the card base. Use a T-square (optional) to help with alignment and placement.

STEP 4:

When the letters are laid out in a way that you’re happy with, remove one letter at a time and add adhesive foam squares to the

back (optional). Adhere the foam-backed letter to the front of the card. If you don’t have foam adhesive, you can use craft glue, glue dots or double-sided adhesive to attach the letters to the front of the card. And you’re finished!Tip: The foam squares I used were a little on the large side, so I cut them into quarters for a better fit. This is a great way to make your foam adhesives last longer, too!

I used plain, solid-colored card stock in my version of the card, but there are so many techniques and materials that you can incorporate to create a variety of looks.

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING IT YOUR OWN:

• Mix and match solid colors with patterns, or make the letters out of several different patterned papers.

• Heat or dry emboss specific letters or segments to add dimension.

• Stamp patterns (dots, stripes, crosshatch, etc.) on to letters and segments in a single color or in a coordinating variety of colors.

• Add glitter or Glossy Accents to specific segments for a little sparkle and interest.

• Use white card stock for the letters and segments and paint them different colors using watercolor, acrylic or gouache paints.

Tip: I attached a 4 ¼” w x 5 ½” h piece of wood-grain patterned card stock to the front of the card base before I laid out the letters to add some texture to the finished card.

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Now that you have plenty of ideas on how to repurpose your paper scraps, you’re going to want to keep them nice and organized so you can easily access them whenever inspiration strikes. Here are some quick tips and tricks for keeping your craft room clutter-free!

1. REPURPOSE CONTAINERS YOU ALREADY HAVE

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to obtain the perfect storage for your paper stash. Instead, find something laying around your house that you don’t need anymore. Try creating a storage container out of a cereal box and some wrapping paper. The best way to keep it organized is to wrap the box in wrapping paper the same color as the paper you are storing in that container. Genius!

8FOR ORGANIZING YOUR PAPER STASH

Tips & Tricks

By Victoria Hudgins

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2. SET A WEEKLY DAY TO ORGANIZE

As much as I have aspirations to be organized with all my paper scraps, they still get disorganized. It’s important to set aside a weekly/biweekly time on an actual calendar to reorganize your paper crafting. Be sure to stick to your schedule. In the long run this establishes good habits and keeps you disciplined.

3. CREATE A STORAGE BIN FOR JUST SCRAPS ALONE

If you’re anything like me, when my paper is actually organized, I hate having little tiny pieces of scrap paper cluttering up the space. To eliminate this annoyance, purchase a storage bin specifically for paper scraps. With the little pockets, it’s perfect for storing those extra scraps that make perfect dots or die-cut shapes for scrapbooking, making greeting cards and beyond.

4. STICK TO YOUR ORGANIZATION

Honest confession: I get really organized, and then slowly over time I start stuffing (aka, putting things conveniently where they’re not suppose to be). Be super proactive to take the extra second to put the paper in the correct storage bin or container and you will not regret it later!

5. USE THE DOLLAR STORE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

I have a slight obsession with things that are a dollar and the dollar store always makes me believe I need everything in there! Whenever I go to the dollar store, I always seem to find at least two or three thrifty solutions for organizing my stash.

6. USE HANGING STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Sometimes you don’t even have the room to store bins or folders, so the wall is the only place to go. Hanging

Photo via Craftsy member Gayle Wright

Photo via Craftsy member EchoLin161286296

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As an added bonus for downloading this eGuide, please enjoy up to 33% off your next online paper crafts class from Craftsy!

storage bins on the walls can keep the clutter off the floor and are also a fun way to add a little color to your space.

7. RESTYLE AN OLD BAR CART

Restyling a bar cart has to be one of my favorite ways to store things! Installing dividers can help keep your paper collections in order and it’s portable. Double win!

8. BE MORE SELECTIVE WITH YOUR PAPER PURCHASES

As hard as it is, quality over quantity is always going to win in my book. Even if it’s the best deal in the world, if you can’t actively think of a project you could use it on, its probably not going to get used. So think carefully when purchasing your paper — imagine having to organize it into your pretty storage containers, don’t clutter them up.

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© 2014, Kristen Magee for Craftsy. For personal use only.

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