Have you tried using any 6" x 6" paper pads?  Have you told yourself that you can't use them because you only scrap 12" x 12"?  Well, you can use them, and you really should give them a try.  These pads are a collection of 6" x 6" papers with coordinating colors and patterns, just like 12" x12" pads.  It is a good way to have attractive patterned papers without spending as much money.  Most 6" x 6" paper pads cost anywhere from $4 to $7.  Let's look at who makes these paper pads, how to store them, and ways to use these wonderful paper pads no matter what size pages you scrap!

Why Use 6" x 6" Paper Pads?

• They take up less storage space.
• They cost less than larger papers and paper pads.
• You can purchase an entire collection without spending a lot of money.
  

Who Makes 6" x 6" Paper Pads?
Not all manufacturers make 6" x 6" pads; however, I wish they would.  If you haven't guessed by now, they are my favorite way to buy paper.  Some companies that offer 6" x 6" pads include:

• BasicGrey
• Black Market Paper Society
• Collage Press
• Doodlebug
• K&Company
• Making Memories
• Memory Box Co.
• Papertrey Ink
• SEIsisetas.html">SEI
• Three Bugs in a Rug
• We R Memory Keepers
  

These packages usually come with 36 to 48 sheets.  There are definitely enough sheets in each package to make lots of paper creations.

How to Store 6" x 6" Paper Pads

Because these paper pads are so small, they really are easy to store.  They definitely take up much less room than 12" x 12" papers-another plus!  I personally store all of my 6" x 6" paper pads in a bucket in my altered toy bin.  You can see a picture here:

They stack perfectly in my bin.  You could also store them on a shelf, or in a drawer, cabinet, or basket, or you could use a Cropper Hopper 6" x 6" Paper Holder.

Ways to Use 6" x 6" Paper Pads

You can use these wonderful paper pads on just about any paper creation!  I have used them on cards, layouts of all sizes, tags, altered items, etc.  Here are some things I have made using them:

This is a 9" x 9" layout using Memory Box Co. 6" x 6" papers.

To get the strip across the page, I pieced two pieces of paper together.  The seam is hidden under the picture. I also could have just used small pieces and placed them under the left- and right-hand side of the picture instead of putting the strip all the way across.  There are lots of little ways to hide seams and edges of smaller pieces when using 6" x 6" papers.  Here is how I seamed the paper underneath the picture in the layout:

Here is a tag and a card using different BasicGrey 6" x 6" paper pads:

I hope you will give 6" x 6" paper pads a try.  They are so versatile and cost-effective.  But watch out-they can truly be addicting!  Have fun!