Using Your Scraps: Holiday Table Decorations

It’s that time of year. Dig out your scraps and start getting ready for the holidays. Now is the time to create those one of a kind decorations for your holiday table.

How easy is it to use some of your winter or holiday patterned paper to make napkin rings? Simply cut a strip of paper 1 ½” wide and 6” long. Cut a slit approximately ½” deep and ½” in from top to bottom on one end and bottom to top and the other. Using a punch or cutting free hand make snowflakes or other appropriate shapes out of coordinating patterned paper or card stock. If you own a Cricut or Silhouette die cutting machine you may have shapes you can use. Glue the shapes in the middle of the strip, overlapping each to make a small grouping. Wrap around a rolled or folded napkin and join at slits.

Do you want your guests to be able to identify their wine glasses? Wine glass I.D. rings are the answer. Cut a circle the diameter of your glass base out of patterned paper, slit from bottom edge to center. Your Silhouette or Cricut would be useful for cutting the circles, or use a circle template. Cut or punch another circle the diameter of the stem of your glass in the center. Decorate each with a different color or shape so guests will know which glass is theirs.

Make tent place cards from cardstock scraps. Cut pieces of scraps 3” by 3”, fold in half. Print guests name on front and decorate with shapes punched out of patterned paper.
All of these items will add some color to your holiday table without adding any expense to your entertaining budget. You can add scrap ribbon, jewels, buttons etc. to make them even more festive!

Have a wonderful, happy, healthy and crafty holiday season!!!

Beware: Scrapbooking can lead to new friends!!

I have been painting for three weeks now, don't ask!! But, that also means I haven't been enjoying any scrapbooking time. Today was an exception! I went to a Stampin' Up party at one of my scrapping buddies homes and had a great time.

I was surrounded with paper and ink and stamps and crafts, and I was once again enjoying my hobby!! The best part though, was being surrounded by friends, most of whom I have made just since I began scrapping. What a great group of women!!! We have laughs, share news, exchange ideas and just enjoy each others company.

This is one of the benefits of becoming a scrapbooker that is seldom mentioned. It doesn't cost anything except some of your time and the willingness to let others into your life. Priceless!!!

Using Your Scraps: Greeting Cards

  

Today I wrote an article on Examiner.com about using scrap paper for card making and I wanted to include some instructions here on how to make these three cards. I hope this will inspire the making of many more cards in the future. Thanks for your inspiration, Melissa!

For this “Thinking of You” card use four 1”x 2.75” strips of patterned paper, one 4”x 2.75” solid color cardstock, one patterned paper heart punched/cut, coordinating ribbon and a phrase stamp. Leave a 1/8” border around the entire card as you work, adhere the four strips to the card 1/8” from the bottom and sides, overlapping slightly. Punch or cut a decorative border on one long edge of cardstock, stamp your greeting at approx. half way down and toward the right. Tie ribbon around this piece between greeting and border and adhere 1/8” from top and sides of card, overlapping strips. Place heart on top as shown. Viola, beautiful!!

 
Select three different pieces of scrap pattern paper and three scrap cardstock papers that coordinate to make this "Celebrate You" card. Stamp or write phrases on patterned paper scraps and punch 1 1/4” circles. Cut one of the cardstock scraps to 3 1/4”x 3 1/4” for the back and one to 3”x 3” for the front of top section. Punch out one butterfly approximately 1 1/2” in size and emboss or decorate or adhere a sticker to a cardstock scrap and trim.  First, adhere large square to top of blank card, 1/2” from top and sides. Add second square, centered on first. Glue circles and butterfly around the square, leaving equal distance between them. Stamp your main phrase approximately 1” from the bottom and to the right of the card. You are done!!

To create this “Cheers” card adhere one 5 1/4”x 4” scrap of patterned paper to a blank card leaving an equal distance on all sides. Stamp or write selected phrase on three different colored pieces of scrap cardstock, stamp a picture on a white piece of scrap cardstock and punch all four with a 1” circle punch. Punch two 1/2” colored circles and one 1 1/4” black circle. Decorate picture and mount on black circle. Adhere all circles in a random pattern on top of patterned paper. Easy!!

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.

Let's go cropping

Now that fall is here and the kids are back in school, the LSS’s are getting pretty busy on weekends with cropping events. Whether you are a newbie to scrapbooking or a seasoned veteran, for scrappers, crops are where the action is!

A crop is a gathering of scrapbookers at a home, scrapbook store, or special event. Each person brings their own materials to create pages while they socialize with friends and other scrappers. A crop could be considered the modern day equivalent of a "quilting bee". It is a time to share supplies, ideas, inspiration, lots of laughs and could be a good therapy session as well! The crop can also provide spouses stress relief. When they hear the words "Honey, I'm going to crop” they know the loved one will be occupied for at least 5-6 hours outside of the house.

When you go to a crop there are no rules about what you should take. People arrive with several rolling carts and storage boxes or just a few bags and files with photos. Some bring large or small die cutting machines, computers and special lighting. Others bring basic tools, pictures and paper. What you bring is your own personal preference. Remember though, you will be the one who has to bring it in and pack it up to take home after the crop, so plan wisely.

One thing we haven’t mentioned about crops is the food. Food is an important part of any gathering and that is no less true at a crop. At the very least you will probably need to plan for dinner while you are there, so food can be the determining factor in where you crop. Some LSS’s supply dinner, some don’t. This is usually the difference in the fee you will pay to go to that stores crop. Prices range from Free to $14/crop and each stores website will give you the details

Archiver’s, Scrap Tales, Scrappy Chic, and The Scrapbook Zone all sponsor crops almost every weekend, so check out their schedules, join the group and let’s go cropping!!

To comment or make suggestions for topics you would like her to write about email her at: scrappysharon26@gmail.com

How scrapbooking can lead to other addictions

It seems as though taking up the hobby of scrapbooking can lead to other equally addictive activities. There are many reasons for this, some plausible, others – well? Let's look into these phenomena.

Once you have created a number of layouts with your scrapbook supplies you will begin to realize that you are accumulating too many scraps and leftover embellishments. One of the tenants of a true scrapbooker is you never throw out a scrap. Who knows, you may need it to cut out titles, or mat a picture, or as a journaling block. While all of these are admirable reasons, the reality is you will probably end up with more scraps than you can use for your pages.

Enter hobby number two – card making. What better way to use up those extra supplies than on a handmade card you can send to a family member or friend? Beware! Card making can become just as addictive as scrapbooking and can require the addition of more supplies. Once you have created your lovely card, what are you going to use to add the sentiment?

Now comes stamping. Great phrases and titles can be found, often at the LSS’s, in the form of a rubber or acrylic stamp. While looking for the perfect letters or words to complete your card you will inevitably see some really pretty stamps with pictures of flowers, birds, animals, you name it. So, why not get some of these to use on cards in place of the paper scraps? And don’t forget the variety of ink pads and pens you will need to create your colorful stamped images. This is hobby number three.

These are just two of the new addictions that can develop from scrapbooking.  Obviously, the possibilities are endless. Stitching, painting, paper making and altered books, to name a few. Does this have to happen? No. Does it happen? More often then not, so be careful. Once you get started scrapping, you may not be able to resist the temptation to go for more. It’s all fun though!

Cricut Club at Scrappy Chic

If you own a Cricut, or have a friend who does like I do, you might want to think about joining The Cricut Club at Scrappy Chic in Livonia. It is really a great deal for the price and a fun time as well.

Membership is $30/year and there are many benefits that come with the price. There is one crop a month for at no additional cost, monthly sales for members only, special prices on Cricut machines and 15% off all Cricut brand merchandise . Best of all, on the day of the crop, you can use the stores cartridges for your creations.

It is a fun time and well worth the price. Stop in at Scrappy Chic and check it out!!