What to do with these scraps?

I have always saved all my scraps of paper. Cardstock in all colors and all my pattern paper scraps. But as I was cleaning up my Scraproom last night, I reallized that even though I always try to use from my scrap box first, I have alot of it.
Some months ago I punched flowers from all my cardstock scrap and made layered flowers, but I dont want to do that again.

I need your help///Opinion
What can I do with all my scraps.
what size scrap is too small to save?
And are the scraps worth saving?

Looking forward to your comments/advice

I used to every single piece of scrap. It was stupid crazy. then I realized keeping a 2" x 2" piece of pattern paper, just that one piece was ridiculous. Same with card stock. So I cleaned out everything and got rid of every scrap that wasn't at least big enough to mount a 4x6 picture on. And if it was pattern paper it has to at least half a sheet.

I think most of us scrappers tend to be hoarders, by that I mean we think we must keep and use everything. Then before we know it we are so overwhelmed with scraps we can't scrap!! If I have some scraps from a page a did 4 years ago, I'm probably not going to use them.

That's my insight on this ever growing epidemic!!

Up until the past year or two, I threw out pretty much all scraps. I have too much stuff (in general, not just scrappy) in our apt, to worry about bits and pieces of things, I just couldn't deal with it. I recently started keeping patterned scraps in one folder, cardstock in another. I did just throw them all out recently, since they were accumulating faster than I used them, and decided to just start a new batch.

Usually it has to be about a third of the page left for me to bother keeping it, though I do sometimes save smaller pieces since I also make cards and ATCs. depends on how much I like the paper

I recently dove into my box of scraps and made my own "kits" from them. I challenged myself to only use those pieces and a 12x12 base sheet for my layouts. I also got several cards out of them. When I got absolutely sick of the kit I was working with, I chucked the remaining pieces.

You can see some of my results http://kelseymel.blogspot.com/2012/11/scraps-and-announcement.html and http://kelseymel.blogspot.com/2012/11/pink-for-boys.html. (Not pimping my blog, just sharing if anyone's interested!)

I will say that I don't save every scrap I have. I must LOVE the paper to save it. If not, I make a pile and donate the scraps to my son's class. They love getting scraps.
Even doing that, I have tons of scraps! I do challenge myself to use ONLY scraps somedays. I have done layouts with strips across the page of different papers. Uses up scraps. Patch work layouts are a good use of scraps. I have the tasteful trims die from stampin' up, I use it to die cut strips to use as borders and accents with scraps as well!

Melissa great stuff on your blog. Thank you for sharing.

I save pretty much all scraps - even some of the tiniest stuff can be used to cut letters or other small shapes with my Big Shot.

I have a container that is about 2' x 2' and about 1 1/2 feet high. Since I scrap about 400 pages a year it gets full very quickly.

Last time I gave it all to a friend who makes cards and it is nearly full again.

I love Bonnie's (sbartist) system for keeping scraps but I have too much for any logical system to work for me.

I may take it all to the next crop and let everyone have what they want - I'm just not sure.

I keep thinking I will use it with the Big Shot and I do but for every piece of scrap I use with the Big Shot I add 10 more from scrapping.

I'm drowning in a sea of scraps.

I have a plastic Iris type container that i throw all my scraps into. I keep anything that is big enough to use a punch on. If it's really small, I shred it (my son loves shredding old paper!)

The box is pretty full now, maybe room for a bit more.....My rule is that when it's full, I either use it (make some cards or something) or shred it! One thing I use scraps for a lot is to make banners, tags etc. that are so popular now. I also diecut generic shapes to place under other embellishments...circles, pinking circles, scallops etc....
I won't keep more than the container can hold....

Melissa, love the that first layout and card you made with scraps!

Alison

Punched out shapes/mini diecuts & cards are my main 2.

Tags, as well.

what do you do with the scraps?

What do you do with your scraps?

excess scraps

I think the trick is figuring out a system where you will actually use them. That way it doesn't just become a hoard of scraps that never get used and continue to grow and grow.

I have found that carrying one of those 2 gallon ziploc bags in my scrapping stuff makes me use them more since I don't do as much scrapping at home as I would like. I also don't keep them if they are less than 3 inches by 3 inches. For the long strips I figured out over time what I would actually use. I am getting better at using them, but it has definitely been a long process.

A couple of times I have taken the whole bin and just dumped it. While I hated feeling wasteful, it felt good to start over fresh.

Hope that helps.

I'm a CTMH consultant so I mainly use our brand of cardstock. That makes it a lot easier. I have a box of scraps and when I need a smaller piece of cardstock I try to go to my scrapbox. They still add up though!

I have 12x12 boxes I use to divide embellies by subject or product type. One is for scraps. Inside that, I have a small box that I put smaller unused die cuts in.

Each time I start a LO, I pick the photo(s), then the paper including going to that box to see if there is any paper that might work in the LO.

I love having a piece that I can use to mat a photo or create an embellie with and not use a new pristine piece.....if it is as suitable to the LO as anything else in my inventory.

Found this over the weekend.....hoping to give it a try myself!

http://thermoweb.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/happy-2012/

that's a great idea!

I like to cut strips different widths of patterned paper then glue them to scraps of card stock 6 x 6 and make my own 6 x 6 papers. Do one that's all blues or all reds and make pretty papers to use for cards and layouts.

You can also take the strips and weave them and make a weaved photo mat or even make it a background.

I cut mine to 1 or 2 x 12's and 4.5 x 6.5's. If they are smaller than that, they go in the trash.

i start with a layout and the rest of the scrap i use straied away for a card or 2 till all the scrap is gone.so i dont have any more scrap hills....lol... but this way i got lots of cards done as well. . good luck to find your way... hugs magi

I work mostly with paper groups so I keep all the scraps of the pp and any coordinating cs together with the group. When the group is used up I generally toss the scraps of pp unless they are a good size and then any good size pieces of the cs go into a tote with others.
Usually the scrapping happens at my house so all my friends know to look in the tote for any scraps they need.

I love that idea from the Thermoweb site. Gotta try that.

I toss them.

I use my scraps into card making and even on layouts. I save most of the scraps, except very tiny ones. I love the scraps as I don't have to use the regular paper to punch out something or to stamp a sentiment.

For everyone who tosses them: please consider recycling them if you have access to paper recycling in your area!

• ttownsend Said:

Thanks for this idea,,I just tired it on my Altered journal and it turned out great.

I did go into my box of scraps and I got rid of all the really tiny pieces and the pattern papers that were old, or ones I used when I got into scrapbooking. I cleaned out my box, made some flowers, punched some circles and lots of strips of paper to try to make a new design or patten.

I just feel so overwhelmed when my box of scraps and the plastic file with hanging folders gets too full of scraps. I have one hanging folder for each color and it was so full.

Thanks for your ideas, and suggestions.

• KellyCali Said:

Thanks for posting this, I was able to get more ideas from it.

• kelseymel Said:

I visited your blog,,thanks for the ideas for all my scraps.

I have two containers...one for scraps big enough to mat a picture, and one that too small. I only keep it if it's really small if it's very unique and pretty paper...like glitter. Otherwise, the kids like to play with it, and punch it...roll it through my paper wrinkler (don't know what it's called). I have a hard time getting rid of them because I never know which one will work for something in the future. You are not alone!

Loved this idea!

I'm using a lot of these ideas.

You can make a "serendipity" layout.
Click here: http://ifitsgroovy.blogspot.com/search/label/Serendipity%20Challenge

Scroll down and you will see lots of examples (including one from me!)

Love your way to use the scraps in a layout! I may scraplift that one! Really creative and very nice looking layouts.

My fav way to store is the plastic 3 drawers divided by color. I always check there before cutting paper. I used themfor everything from dies, punchies etc.

Great ideas on here! I tend to get the most use of my scraps by making mosaic backgrounds for cards/LOs. I'll have to post some pictures of the cards I've done this with.

This is a video I found that is similar to what I'm talking about, the only difference being I use semi-coordinating colored papers instead of one particular sheet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk7mnHIIfSk

Edit: I should have clicked on Doreen's link, those are awesome examples of what I meant.

The ones that go with 12x12 paper packs go back into the pack. Others used to go into a giant tote. It was messy, and cluttered and drove me crazy.

I recently gave most of the scraps to my sister for her Girl Scouts troop projects.

The rest I pitched. I'm done with them. I'll start a new box with the new year.

I just organized all my scraps by color so they will be easy to find. I dont throw them out until I cant fit a punch on them. I keep strips for borders, banners, and other add-ons. I love the idea of using strips as background papers...thats wonderful!! My feeling is the name of the game is "SCRAP-booking", so I will use my scraps!!

I actually have a few pages in my gallery in which I have used scraps to create them.

When I buy paper most of the time I buy a whole collection as opposed to just a sheet or 2 so I keep all of my scraps with that collection till it gets down to the point where I cant do another layout with them, or make another mini. Then I take those scraps choose a night and make as many cards with them as I can when I run out of enough paper to make cards with it gets binned (usually). There are a few pieces that I hoard or keep becuase tehy are nutral greys or browns then I keep them and they usually find a place on a layout or a card... I bet I have maybe a handful of patterened paper scraps keeping around. Now cardstock thats another story if it is white cream or light grey I keep them all because they are big enough to stamp a sentiment on... the colors I only keep them if they are at least 2x2 or larger

I did something I've always wanted to do. . . I did some weaving. No reason to my design but it came out okay

• Doreena Said:

I took a look at the ideas here,,they look really nice,,might give it a try soon. Thanks

• michellesmakingmemories Said:

Great video ,,thanks for posting it.

When they are strips, I have put two sided tape on it and added glitter! Makes a wonderful glitter tape! Cut it and use as embellishment!

I love all the ideas about using the scraps of paper. I have two haning file folders. I have one for solid cardstock and one for Pattern paper.

I put each color in a folder with the matching color tab. And I go to these first before i get a full sheet. I have created a lot of projects just using my scraps.

Sharon

I have a great video on my blog about what to do with scraps! I always use my scraps for other layouts and cards. There are so many things that you can do with your scraps on a layout. I like picking different patterned paper scraps and using them as backgrounds sometimes on my layouts. Thats just one idea.

• thehappyscrapper8 Said:

I visited you blog and I couldn't find the video,,could ou share a link for it..Or I might just have to go take a second look and see if I find it.

I TRY to use it right away. After a layout, whatever is left I try to use immediately on a card. Sometimes I am good about this sometimes, due to lack of time, I am not. When I still have left overs they go to the kids. If it is too small for the kids, it goes to the recycle bin. The only thing I actually save is white cardstock because I KNOW I will still use it. Whether for mounting photos (even the small pieces can be used for mini photos) or for stamping, I KNOW white is going to be used so I rarely recycle white CS unless it is a thin strip.

Yep, what Rebecca said, use it right away or it will be left forgotten in a box!
I didn't do that and now I have a huge box full of random scraps. But I have been challenging myself to dig thru the box everytime I make a layout to see if maybe there is something I can use, no matter how big or small!
It's working!
I used scraps on my last 3 layouts! My last layout I actually used 2 scrap pieces and of substantial size too!

like someone already said, you can make cards with them. I have a project where we make cards for a camp called Royal family Kids camp, a camp for battered and abused children. they get cards every day from camp staff, so we go through about 2,000 cards every year! they kids love the cards and you will find them at night pulling out their cards and just looking at them over and over. i make small ones that are only anywhere from 2 to 4 inches big, so that we don't have to fill up a big card with alot of writing. i mean, the purpose is to write to them, but when we have 60+ kids at camp it is hard to write too much on each card. i have forgotten how to put a link here, but if you go to the general scrapbooking thread, and look for "cards for kids" you will find it! hope some of you join us!

Please consider donating your reasonably sized scraps to a local daycare, elementary art teacher, before/after school program, the children's floor at a hospital, or a women's/children's shelter.

I just started making mini albums. I wish that I had saved my scraps because I could use them now. Try getting creative with your greeting cards, use your decorative punches to make embellishments, make tags and that's off the top of my head...lol I also love the idea of donating them.!