Susan R. Opel
While Kelly is off gallivanting in the mountains of Idaho with the ladies of the Smith family, I volunteered to fill in for her so she could truly be on vacation. So hello, blog readers!
Remember that blog post on July 27 from Go-to Gal Betsy Veldman where she talked about what she had done with her patterned paper scraps? Wowsers, did that concept change my world! And based on how the concept was pinned and repinned (on Pinterest) and tweeted and retweeted (on Twitter), I was not the only one!
I’m not gonna lie, I’ve got a serious addiction to patterned paper, and with that comes one unhealthy assortment of unloved scraps. Since that blog post, I’ve made a total of 39 card bases using my scraps. I thought I was doing well, but my friend Nicole Maki ‘fessed up to having finished 67 card bases. I better get MOVIN’!
I’ve decided that these scrap cards will make perfect gifts for Christmas, but I already sent a set to my sister-in-law for her birthday. The set below is one that is in progress. I played with angles and had a ball just matching up fun papers. The sentiments will be attached at a later time.
And with the help of my Martha Stewart Scoring Board – I LOVE THAT THING! – I scored lines on the back side of the card front at angles in one inch increments and then used my 7/8” square punch on even smaller scrap pieces. More time intensive, yes, but a fun effect.
Here’s a little tutorial of how you can tame the stash and make some fun cards as stocking stuffers (or you can be greedy and keep them for yourself)!
First, cut a bunch of card bases. If you have 8 1/2” x 11” cardstock, you can trim 10 sheets in half, and have 20 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” card bases.
Next, trim a bunch of scrap strips to 3/4”. I did this while watching a Charlie’s Angels marathon one Saturday. Because I like to work in terms of color, I then sorted my strips into color families and bound them with a rubber band.
Then, I chose a black with white dot strip to give my card set continuity, and off I went coming up with possibilities for all five of my cards.
Once I had a bunch of options, I grabbed one of my card bases and started to lay all of the strips in order to see how they would look. There’s a little section left on the right hand side, so I just put a tiny strip of shimmery white at the end of each card. I was too lazy to figure out the math on that one.
Cover the card base with adhesive and adhere the strips side by side. Grab your scissors and trim the excess once everything is all glued down.
Up next – sentiments! I have a little trick where I create a page full of computer generated sentiments (created in Microsoft Word). They work perfectly with my 2” circle punch. Add a colorful scalloped circle behind the sentiment (you can use cardstock scraps for this), and your sentiment is ready to go. You could definitely stamp the sentiments if you wanted to.
Finally, I added a black ribbon on each and tied it in a bow, and then I adhered the sentiments with foam tape for a little bit of dimension. Note, too, that the black with white dot strips were all placed in the number two position on each card for cohesiveness.
I almost don’t want to give these cards away, but I’m going to! Leave a comment telling me which of the above tips or ideas you found most helpful. I’ll pick one winner to take home my card set pictured above plus 48 sheets of Close To My Heart cardstock (for card bases), the Sizzix Accessory Tool Kit (I use mine all of the time – a $29.99 value), the Fiskars X-Large Lever Circle Punch, and two sheets of my custom thanks sentiments ready to be punched! All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Sunday, Sept. 4.
Addicted to patterned paper scraps,
Susan
I love this idea and I did a few cards but now I think I’m going to do some sets…love how you coordinated with the black and white on each in the set! Would love to win your goodies. Thanks!
Love your cards! Just like little quilts! I need to give this idea a go for sure!
Wonderful cards! I think all the tips were helpful, but I think the most helpful was keeping them in the same colour families. I have all my scraps mixed together and would like to change that to make them easier to use up. The page of computer generated sentiments is also an excellent tip for me – I always forget that I can print my sentiments on cardstock.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I agree…reminds me of a quilt. Love the cards with the squares done on the diagonal.
Wow, your cards are beautiful! (and that prize is just fantastic!) Thanks for the opportunity to win
I LOVE this! I have a WHOLE drawer full of scraps!!!!!! This has helped me come up with ideas on how to use those up! Can’t wait to get busy!!!! Great giveaway too!
Those cards are fabulous!! Although it seems obvious now that I’ve read it, the most helpful tip is to keep the strips together by color family. I am going to do that and try this!! Thanks!
I loved this idea for scraps the last time I saw it, but seeing a practical application is even better. Maybe I’ll actually get into my scrap pile this weekend and do some good now!
An awesome idea! Great for those times when you can’t settle on a color or need to make a bunch of cards at once and want them to be uniform. Thank you for the tip. I love it.
I love how you scored the card to see where to put the squares of paper! Too cute! Love the cards and the giveaway!
Love this idea of using up scraps. The finished project is so cute that no one would have any idea of what your real motive was behind the project.
I found the computer generated page of sentiments to be the most helpful. Love the coordinated paper on each card. So simple!
I think your cards are fun and way too cute! And…such a great idea on how to use your scraps up. I like the idea of the using the computer to fill the paper up with sentiments and then punching them out. I think that I will have to try that tip out.
These cards are fabulous! The tip of using the black and white dotted strip in the same place and on all the cards is so very clever. This would make gift-giving so much easier!! Gotta’ give it a go soon!
Printing a page of sentiments is such a great idea! I need to utilize my printer more often! Thanks for the tips!
This is such a great way to use up scraps! I love the idea of “computer generated sentiments”. Could it get any easier?
wow, you are loving the scraps, i especially love the square tile ones. Great job and I guess I should also get moving with my scraps
I like the use of the scoreboard and the squares – love these techniques for using up scraps!
Thanks for sharing.
Sandra ltb
oh my goomie, you HAVE been busy with these! i loved Betsy’s post that day and have pondered it like there’s no tomorrow, so this weekend i’m gettin’ to it and using up those scraps! my fave tip from your post today, however, is using the Score Board – that’s PERFECT for keeping everything lined up when using the squares, and i was planning on getting out my 7/8″ punch to play, too! thanks for the tip, Susan!
The cards are great. Love the idea of doing a page of computer generated sentiments at one time.
Playing with paper scraps appeals to my quilt loving soul. Love the idea of doing a whole page of sentiments on the computer sized to work with a punch – great idea. Also love the idea of using a scoring tool to help placement of squares you punch out. Will have to give this a try. Love the cards. What a great giveaway.
I love that you preprinted the sentiments and knocked them out all at once. I tend to make a card after I finish a layout…and then I wonder why I’m out of cards all of a sudden. I really need to sit and make a batch at once.
It’s a beautiful set – love the angled ones, especially. Thanks for the tip about the scoreboard!
Susan -
Thank you! What an awesome way to use up all those scraps, and I have loads. I really love your tip about using Martha’s Scoreboard to create lines for placement of the paper. It makes it so much easier to get straight lines and I like that it frames the scraps. Such a pretty look. Thanks for the tutorial, really appreciate it.
Elaine Allen
I love these cards! Thanks for the reminder about using my scraps and I
love the tip about printing a page of computer generated sentiments.
Keeping the strips together with a rubber band – that saves you some trouble in the scrap basket! Thanks for your tips, Susan!
I already use most of these techniques, myself, but I really like the “scored” one – it makes a really fun look & uses even smaller scraps. Perfect!
The cards are great. The tip I liked the most was using a black and white strip for continuity. Thanks so much for the tutorial, I can’t wait to organize and use my scraps.
Great tutorial! Heading off to the scrap room to try it out now! Thanks for the giveaway!
What a set of cards made by rockin Susan oh I would just be squealing for days! For me I love the sentiment tip. For me I tend to leave cards without them so this helped so would have them to the side & just use them when I need for a card. Thks for the chance.
I think the idea of printing all your sentiments at one time is great. It does save a lot of time. Love the way you added the black and white to each card. It really makes it! Fantastic!!
I now have a great use for all those scraps that I can’t seem to throw away! The cards are so fantastic. I would never have thought of that. Thanks for sharing and the chance to win a fabulous giveaway
I love the way you used your scraps! i totally am going to do this and make a stack to give away! would you be willing to share the link in a PDF file maybe of the thank you circles so we can download them? that would be so nice to not have to re-create what you have already made. ♥
Wow! Where do I begin in telling my favorite tip. They were all wonderful and spoke to me as a scrap hoarder! I liked the part about using the black and white paper in the cards, I liked the multiple messages on a page, and I liked the color grouping. Speaking of liking, I’d also like to win.
Gorgeous cards! I have been on a card making frenzy and love using new ideas to keep it fresh! I cannot wait to give this a try….right now
Thanks for the inspiration!
These cards are wonderful! I’ve definately got to do this with my basket of scraps. And what a perfect idea for a Christmas gift.
I like how you used your computer to print out the sentiments! I always forget about that and its quick to do ! thanks! love the cards!
GREAT cards! I really like the diagonal blocks with the scoring and I like the tip of putting the black and white dot in a series of cards for continuity. I’m going to be in the car for a LONG haul this coming week- I’m thinking these cards may be my car project.
Love using my scraps too and I love how the black ribbon/bow really ties it together visually!
I like all these ideas–anything to widdle down my pile of scraps! But really, I have so much paper scraps from die cutting and embellishment making…I really have to make more cards with those!
this looks like so much fun to do! I especially love the little squares ones….my graphic loving heart is so happy when I look at them
These cards are gorgeous. I have tons of scraps too. I love your technique of making the strips and using them for a background. So pretty and useful. Time to pull out my scraps and start. Thanks for the inspiration.
I love the idea of printing off a sheet of sentiments that you can just punch out and adhere! What a time saver!
Very cute application! I was so inspired by Betsy’s post a while back…great to see a reminder and how it actually was used!
Great idea to have the sentiments fit the punch! Thanks for the great ideas and for a chance to win!
wow!! I love the idea to use up all the little strips of paper! I always have a stack next to my paper trimmer- now I am going to go make cards out of them! Thanks!
Anne
The rubberband tip is superb!! Susan. Love your creations with the scraps…now you have got me thinking…off to chk. on my scraps:))
I love the tip about stamping all of the sentiments and punching them out. I love making cards with scraps
I love the pre-ready page of sentiments. What a time saver!
Fantastic card sets! Love how you did the diagonal rectangles – too cool!
I would love your cards as much as you do!
Thanks for the tip on laying out the ‘matching’ strips and just trimming up to fit the card.