Scrappers - never throw away your scraps

Scraps from your scrapbook layouts have many uses. Not only do they serve many purposes for your projects and pages, but you can use them for card making and other crafts too. You don’t have to throw away your scraps. Let’s look at how you can use them for scrapbooking in Part One of this article. Here are some ideas: 

Use your scraps to cut out letters for titles on your page layouts. Many die cut machines let you use small pieces of paper for cutting individual letters. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns either. Some of the most unique titles use mixed font styles and papers. Don’t forget, plain chipboard letters are easy to cover with scrap pattern papers too. 

Another great use for scraps is punched or die cut shapes. Punched shapes are typically no larger than 2 inches, so you don’t need a lot of paper to create cute embellishments. Die cut shapes vary in size depending on the system you use. Personal die cut machines like Sizzix, Big Shot and Cuttlebug have dies in several different sizes, but again, most of these are the perfect size to use with scraps. Cricut and Silhouette machines can adjust shapes to the size paper you have left over. Many LSS’s in Metro Detroit, like Archiver’s, Scrappy Chic and The Scrapbook Zone, have die cut machines you can use, but you may have to make a purchase. Remember, most die cut machines will require using slightly larger paper than the size of the die cut you are creating.


Borders and backgrounds can be created from scrap papers very easily. Twelve inch long scraps that are at least 2 inches wide can be torn or cut with decorative scissors to make beautiful borders. Rectangular or square scraps can serve as backgrounds for photos or journaling blocks. Long strips of different papers can also be woven to create a unique raised border. 

When making albums smaller than 12 X 12, you can use your paper scraps to make pages for them. And don’t forget your cardstock scraps. These make good base pages for small albums and can be used in all the same ways as those mentioned above for patterned paper.

You have invested good money in your scrapbooking paper and supplies so why not get the most use out of them you can?

In Part Two we will discuss using scraps to make one of a kind greeting cards for your family and friends.