It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #6

I think today will be my final post in this series. Not to say I won't be using my scraps anymore, but I just won't focus my posts on them in this manner. It's sure been fun and I'm glad that I finally got my scraps organized & used! Here's today's card:

Paper: Sahara Sand
Ink: Early Espresso
Stamps: Feeling Sentimental (SAB Preview!)
Tools: Simply Scored, Simply Scored Borders Plate (NEW!)

Aside from my card base, everything is from my scrap bin. I had the banners that were cut using my Big Shot and the Itty Bitty Framelits. I trimmed them a bit to work with this card. Instead of using card stock or DSP to stamp on, I trimmed up a paint chip sample that worked with my colour scheme.

Since this is a "manly" card, I didn't want to add any ribbons or embellishments, so I used the NEW Simply Scored Borders Plate from the Spring Catalogue. I LOVE it!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #5

I'm having so much fun making these cards from my scraps I may just have to continue after today (my plan was to do 5 posts)... today's card features scraps of course, but also a couple of new products and a some sneak peeks!

Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, 11-12 In Color Paper Stack,
Elegant Soiree DSP (retired)
Ink: Island Indigo
Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired Hostess)
Tools: Big Shot, Honeycomb TIEF (NEW!), Distressing Tool (NEW!),
Butterfly Punch
Accessories: Tangerine Tango Ribbon (SAB Preview!),
Tangerine Tango Button (SAB Preview!), Baker's Twine

I had strips of the DSP that I just cut to the width of the Butterfly Punch, punched the butterflies and then lined it all up again when I glued them to my Whisper White piece. Next, I ran the whole piece through my Big Shot using the NEW Honeycomb TIEF. I love this new folder!! I left a section at the bottom for the sentiment and divided the sections with some of the Tangerine Tango ribbon & coordinating button you can earn for FREE starting January 22nd... Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration kick off!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #4

Another simple card today using all my scraps! I debated adding a sentiment or not, but sometimes I like to keep it open until I need a card for a particular occasion. I think this will eventually become a birthday card, but you never know...

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Melon Mambo,
Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Buttons, Linen Thread

Like yesterday's card, all my pieces were already cut and die cut with my Big Shot using the Finishing Touches Edgelits. It was after I glued all the pieces down that I thought I needed some dimension. I just so happened to have flower buttons in all the colours! Three were from the Ice Cream Parlour Ribbon & Button Pack from SAB a few years ago (but you can purchase on the Clearance Rack currently!) and the other two are from the Brights Buttons, I believe.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #3

Today I have another card created from my scrap pile. If you missed my previous two posts, you might want to check them out for some inspiration. Here is today's card:

Paper: Festival of Prints DSP Pack, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo
Accessories: Fabric - Comfort Cafe, 2012 SAB Brad

What I'm loving about all my scrap cards is that they're all completely different! I'm finding that I'm using colours and papers I might not have used together otherwise and my layouts are being determined primarily on the size scraps I have. It's awesome!

No stamps or ink were used in today's card. Everything, including the cut flowers were all in my scrap pile. I also didn't have to cut any of the DSP because the size was perfect. For the flowers, originally, I used my Big Shot and my Fun Flowers Bigz Die.

Once I had it all laid out, this card took me no time at all to piece together. I love using my scraps!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #2

Back again today with another card I created from just scraps. If you missed my post yesterday, you might want to take a look at how I went about organizing my scraps and my first card in this series.

Now, I mentioned yesterday that I was going to get rid of all my die cuts and punches... but because I was actually going to (finally) use them, I held on to the ones I had so that I could created cards with them for my week-long posts on using scraps. Here's what I came up with:

Paper: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, First Edition DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: Established Elegance, Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired Hostess)
Accessories: Lace Trim, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Pearls

Believe it or not, I had all the Cherry Cobbler & Whisper White (but sponged them in Crumb Cake) pieces cut from a Christmas card I made. They were punch outs from the Window Framelits. I just cut the Whisper White pieces into squares. I also had a large piece of First Edition Specialty DSP that I thought would work great.

I glued all the Cherry Cobbler pieces in a pattern and then used the Established Elegance stamp set on each of the Whisper White pieces. I stamped in Crumb Cake and then sponged in the same colour. I love this stamp set because there are so many different images that it works well for a collage type card!

The sentiment is from the retired Hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes. I thought it was perfect because it was vintage looking and seemed to fit perfectly with Established Elegance set. I cut out the center circle and popped up the rest for dimension. To finish off, I added some trim, ribbon and pearls.

This card took longer than others I've created because there were so many elements and pieces to put together... but I'm glad that I finally got around to using these scraps!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's A Scrap Yard Series - Post #1

I don't know about you, but I felt like I was living in a scrap yard. I kept just about every scrap of paper and ribbon that I produced thinking that one day I would use it again. The reality is that if it's not organized and at least a good size, what's the point in keeping it?! Why should I keep a punched scallop circle in Gumball Green? Reality is... it would probably be lost in my current scrap pile and if I ever needed one, I'd just simply punch another.

My point is that with the new year, I've finally come around to organizing my gigantic pile of scraps!

Here are a few rules I set for myself:

1. Get rid of all the tiny pieces - anything shorter than 5-1/2" or too small for a large punch out was not worthwhile in my book.
   
2. Cut every piece of scrap into straight edges - get rid of all those tiny punch outs I was hoarding!
   
3. Separate the neutrals - I decided to keep small pieces of Whisper White & Very Vanilla because I use them a lot for stamped sentiments.
   
4. Patterns and colours - same rules apply as above, but if I came across DSP or colours that were retired and decided I probably wouldn't use them again or didn't have more of it lying around, they went "bye bye".

After sorting through with these rules in mind, I bagged all my scraps according to colour and put them back in my bin. Now it's easier to find the colour and size I need. If it's not in the bag, I know not to look any further!

Since I spent half a day organizing my "scrap yard", I decided to do a mini series of posts with cards I created from just using my scraps. Surely there are others out there like me, right?! :)

Here's the first card in the series:

Paper: Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, DSP: Elegant Soiree (retired),
Everyday Enchantment (retired), 11-12 In Color Stack, Fan Fair, Neutrals Stack
Ink: Lucky Limeade
Stamps: Delightful Dozen
Tools: Paper Piercing Pack
Techniques: Paper Piercing

I know it's my own card, but I'm in love with it. Frankly, if it weren't for my scrap pile, I would've never thought to use five different DSP's together on one card! Funny how they all work nicely together though, eh?!

Tune in again tomorrow for another "scrap yard" card... and why not give this a try yourself. You may be surprised as to what you can create from your scraps!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph