We have been talking on one of my groups about the different ways to store your scraps or off cuts and what system is working the best. I’ve tried the file folders and ziplock bags and have found my current method the most productive so far.

I use a set of stationery drawers to pop my off cuts into and have a drawer for each Stampin’ Up! Colour family and another each for patterned papers and neutrals.

They are on my table so they are handy when I’m working to just pop the extra bits straight in the drawer and also if I’m looking for a small piece in a particular colour i know which drawer to open and rummage through.

The picture here isn’t that great but you can get the idea of how it is set up and what I’m talking about – well sorta anyways!
Your scraps and offcuts will come in handy when your layering, using punches, doing mosaics and the like. You can even run them through a crimper to make faux ribbon or thru the shredder for extra purty packing for presents & such.

The other night I went through my patterned paper drawer and had enough in there to create this little 6×6 layout.

Mind you scrapping photo’s of this little cutie is that hard to do! I have just used the papers from the ‘Loves Me’ Designer Series Paper pack and a couple of stamps. These papers are in our Summer Mini Catalogue which finishes at the end of March so if you’d like some email or ring me to order them today – who could go wrong with pink & brown??

I cut strips 6×2 and used my corner rounder to make the different edges on them and then layered them over the top of each other and there it is – even the little circle embellishments are from the same paper pack which I have punched out with the 3/4″ circle punch and ‘lifted’ them with stampin dimensionals.

Makes a very quick and easy page – and with a smile like that who needs to write anything other than “love you”.

Your scraps can be used on anything and really should be used more often – besides you want to make sure you get your money’s worth when buying a pack of cardstock or patterned papers as you really dont want to be throwing it into the recycling.

Using your scraps can add a little touch to cards too and here are a couple of samples to show you what I mean. 

      

Now my soft subtles drawer is getting a little full so think I might have to go and make up some cards to use up some of those off cuts!