Reduce, reuse, and create: Making cards with leftover scrapbook papers

Whether you're a seasoned scrapbooker or a paper crafter, you're sure to have a collection of leftover scrapbook papers/ background papers. These colourful and patterned papers are a treasure trove of creative potential, and they can be used to create beautiful and unique handmade cards.

Using leftover scrapbook papers to make cards is a great way to reduce waste and reuse materials. It's also a fun and creative way to express yourself. For this post, I am using leftover pieces from Ciao Bella Paper Sign of the Times Collection.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - -

I covered this idea in a previous blog post (HERE) and since then, have been making a conscious effort to find ways of using every last bit of my paper collections. The papers today are from Ciao Bella Paper Sign of The Times Collection.

I was mainly left with background papers and toppers. Looking at the different images, I could see three distinct themes.

Card idea #1

This card is made using up a whole piece of 12" x 12" paper from Ciao Bella Paper Sign of The Times Paper Pad. I looked at the sheets as a whole to see if I could create a backing panel, plus some embellishment pieces.

The sentiments are left over pieces from other papers but I thought they worked well with the design. I have added glossy accents to the spaceman to make the image stand out a little more.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - -

Card idea #2

As for card idea #1, I have used a 12" backing paper from the Sign of The Times paper Pad to create this card. I began by cutting away the main feature element, which was the flower. This then left me enough paper to create a mat layer. The papers are strong enough to take colouring and I have used my distress inks to make certain areas stand out more. 

As finishing touches, I raided my ribbon/lace "leftovers" box and added these which gives a softer look. To break up the layers, I added a few other embellishments too. I have even used glossy accents on the flower.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - -

Card idea #3

There is a super cool scrapbook paper in the 12" x 12" Sign of The Times Patterns Pad which looks a little macabre but it just sparked this idea straight away. I cut a 6" piece to make my mat layer and then had great fun cutting out lots of the imagery left over. I inked a circle using distress inks and then began layering up all the different elements. 

All the different words are taken from leftover pieces I had already cut out but work so well with this idea. To make these stand out a little bit more, I added some extra inky edges.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - -

No matter what your style is, there is a way to use leftover scrapbook papers to make beautiful and unique handmade cards. So get creative and have fun!

Using your scrapbook papers this way too, takes away the pressure of having to create a project with a set idea as you now have limited supplies. What a fab way to become lost in the creative process. Now I've started doing this, I am definitely going to keep going.

Hope you enjoyed another blog post sharing ideas using leftover scrapbook papers and my previous post can be found HERE.

Until next time, take care,

Lou

xxx

SUPPLIES

If you want to find out about the products I have used, click on the shop link(s)/icon below. Affiliate links are used where I can but at no cost to you & my full affiliate disclosure can be found here. 
 Thank you so much for your continued support.