Be Resourceful: Five Ideas for the Paper You’ve Already Purchased

All this month we are sharing ways to Be Resourceful and we challenged Kelly White with Heartland Paper to come up with five ideas for using the paper you’ve already purchased.

Here are the five ways you can use the scrapbooking supplies you already have:

1. Make Cards

Because of their small size, cards can be made from scraps of paper.

2. Mix Fonts

You are often left with just a few letters of an alphabet font set. Combine miscellaneous letters from different fonts to spell a word or saying. This will give you a whimsical, fun look.

3. Make Mini-Books

Another small project that uses bits and pieces of paper. Mini albums can also be done quickly, so they are great when you want to get something finished fast!

4. Re-Think Products

Try applying glitter, paint, ink, etc to a piece you already have to give it a different feel. Match the feel of your product to the theme of your project. For example, adding glitter to ordinary letters will make them pop on a princess page.

5. Make Collage Layouts

Use your leftover “junk” paper scraps to create a basic image or shape – the different patterns and texture of your paper will help create a patchwork-look that will dress up any page. See our apple projects below for inspiration!

APPLE COLLAGE

Supplies Needed:

• Scraps of miscellaneous prints

• 12×12 junk paper for pattern

• 1” square punch

• Adhesive

• Scissors

• Distressing Ink

Instructions:

1. From a large scrap of paper, freehand draw and cut a large shape that corresponds with the theme of your layout. (heart, star, apple)

2. Using a 1” square punch, punch squares from miscellaneous scraps of papers. Papers don’t have to match completely; you want it to look mismatched like a patchwork quilt.

3. If desired, ink edges of squares using a stamp pad.

4. Apply adhesive to the entire front side of the freehanded shape.

5. Randomly apply mismatched scrap squares to shape until the entire shape is covered. Overlap edges of shape completely.

6. Turn shape over and cut away excess papers, using the original line of the shape as a guide.
7. Apply shape to layout.

Heartland Paper has two locations for your scrapbook shopping needs: