Ugly Paper

I bought a stack of paper and while I love a majority of it (which is why I bought it) there is a good chunk that I just find bad. I can't think of any situation I would use it and even DH who usually likes most of the paper thinks its ugly. What do I do with it?

I'm not going to use it to scrapbook. My kids are in daycare - would they use it for anything? I don't want it taking up room in my precious scrapbook area because I don't have room to store things that I will never use.

I use my 'ugly paper' as scrap paper (recycle concept). Some I cut up and use as note paper, grocery lists. Some I use for practicing with my Expression machine, some (if allowed) I take to crops and mark "free". I even discovered I can tolerate some of it if cut in thin strips and used as borders. My sil has used some of hers for cards that have a crazy quilt design on them.

Don't give up hope! There is no bad patterned paper s, just misguided. I have hated some papers I had, and lo and behold I had a perfect pic for it last week after it gathering dust for almost a year!

Some daycares would be thrilled to receive a donation of those papers.

I'm using mine to create cards. When I see the papers in much smaller pieces or layered, well...they're not quite so bad really.

As an art teacher, I know I would love to get a donation of scrapbook paper. Even ugly paper! Definitely ask your kids' teacher if they could use it.

there is a challenge on this forum for "ugly" paper. i enter it on a regular basis. and i have found that paper i don't like to look at, once it has the right pics or embellies, its not so bad. here are 2 i just did for this month's challenge. and they are both papers i was stressing over because i disliked them so bad.

Harris Picnic - both pages By Lamoo12

Our local Boys & Girls club has Scrapbooking every thursday, so all of my papers that i know I won't use, and don't plan to give to my Grandson who scrapbooks with me, or my Granddaughter who also scrapbooks once in a while, is all going to the Boys & Girls Club. NONE of our local major named stores will contribute anything to them!! Not M's or J's, so I will do it myself!

These are poor kids, who have no one to help out with such a cost, and are blessed to have a young man I've known for since he was a 16 yr old working there and taking the time to teach them how to scrapbook! I plan on donating everything I may or may not use in the future, even if I have any doubt as to if I might!


That's just one more idea to go along with the other terrific ones I've just read on here!
Blessings,
Celia

You never know, some day that "ugly" paper will be the one you will need to make something that will be really beautiful. I have found that out. I love DCWV and some of the paper is "ugly" to me. And I always think what will I ever do with that paper. However, I have found that I have come up with LO that I used that paper. Check out my gallery. I did a sunset on paper I thought I would never use.

I guess it true, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

• Lamoo12 Said:

I love it. My SIL used the one paper to have a write thing to her DD when she graduater. LOL See it is true, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

I was thinking cards and collage quiting patterns. My mother made quilts for years, when I went to the store to buy material with her I never enderstood why she'd pick the cheapest ones that looked like my grandmothers draperies! but when she cut it all up and put it together it looked totally diffrent. so when i have paper i just don't like i take that approach and think what would mom have done with it? try small pieces with a black background. donations to shcools are always good. ask the social workers if they'd like them. my daughter was in a group for a while they did ceareal box scrap books about them their goals and future plans as a therapy feel good about yourself type thing. my niece had to make a scrapbook in the senior year english class. you never know your school could be greatful for the ugly paper kids love anything.

I use it as scrap paper to try out new techniques. I also use the back sides if it is white instead of buying more white paper.

Use it to make envelopes for cards - turn the ugly side in and you'll only be able to see a little bit of it. This has been suggested here in other threads and i finally started doing it - works great, and the ugly paper doesn't look quite so bad that way .

I've also used some as protective sheets when painting, using Mod Podge, etc - when I'm done I throw the messy sheet of paper away and don't have to bother with clean up.

I think just about every single stack of paper I've bought has a couple of not so cute papers and I do from cards, envelopes, mats, borders, and even embellishments and die cuts.

Use it for kids crafts at home too, my 5 yr old daughter loves scrapbooking with mommy and those are the perfect papers for her to play with, she's always found them 'cute' and even better she keeps her lovely little hands off my other papers LOL

i let my kids use the "ugly" paper, but i really have to hate it, because i'm a paper hoarder.

I give all of my "ugly" paper to my dd... she loves just getting any kinds of papers... of course, i give her lots of pretty ones too...

You could always donate it to local daycares or something like that?

have fun, whatever you decide and don't let things get you down.

I use it for cards or sometimes I can salvage a piece of it for a project. If it's totally horrible, donate it to the Girl Scouts or an after school program. You can always freecycle it too.

Everyone gets ugly paper. I use ugly paper in small quantities on stuff, and it ends up looking cute. Think punches and die cuts. Because in every ugly paper, there is a bit of beauty.

I used my "Slabs" for cards and then when I got tired of it, I gave it all to my nieces (ages 5 and 7) for their scrapboooks.

I always pass on the supplies I don't want to my sister...and then she makes super-cute stuff with it

You should definately check out the ugly paper challenge. I've entered twice and it's amazing how some of the LOs actually look great and it's even kinda fun, LOL!!!

• shanbah Said:

As a 2nd grade teacher, I totally agree. More and more teachers are buying supplies with their own money! Any donations are great!

I have TONS of ugly paper, and I also find that if I only use it in small amounts it's not so bad. P

I take it home to my neices and they can have a free for all scrap.

Besides the obvious of passing it on to some lucky soul, namely my dd who doesn't care what it looks like because our tastes are sooooo different, I use it in smaller quantities, ex. for cards, tags, etc. I also turn it inside out and use it for envelopes (printed side in--doesn't look so bad). Also, if it is double sided, I would use the other side, and even if it's just plain white, I can always use white paper for matting, etc. Good luck finding a use. Donating to a day care, school class, club, is always a great idea.