Last fall when my niece was visiting us, we spent some time making cards (and doing many other things too.) At the end of our visit there was a lot of paper scraps and supplies spread all over my work table upstairs. My niece picked up a few smaller pieces of paper and asked about making some little cards with the left over scraps. What a great idea!
The tiny Valentine cards I sent to my two nieces were born from that idea. Using up the left over scraps.
I never throw my scraps away. They tend to come in handy at some point in my card making, and here I was digging through the plain paper scraps and designer paper scraps to make tiny cards. Now they have come in handy again.
For these tiny cards I used a heart-shaped punch and simply punches out the heart shape from the designer paper. I chose papers I thought each niece would like and tailored it to them with the colors. They can use these cards anytime of year to write a little note to a friend and it will be something special. YOu can even punch a hole and add a ribbon to turn it into a gift tag. The next time I do this I will cut the cards to size and punch out the design and also add a stamped element and let them each assemble their own like I did for my niece in this post.
Whether you use scraps of designer paper, old maps, scraps of fabric or even cards that you have received in the mail, this is one way to create another neat little card. A perfect way to reuse and recycle. I know I will be making more of these and including them in different gifts that I send to them.
Do you save scraps of paper or fabric with the hopes to use it later? Do you ever get around to using it?
Sincerely, Emily
You can see what else I am up to over at Sincerely, Emily. The topics are varied, as I jump around from gardening to sewing to making bread or lotion and many things in between.
Not Dabbling In Normal 
Of course I have reams, drawers and shoeboxes of scrap paper, material and yarn. And I need it all for that one card I intend to make……. Tomorrow 🙂
The high school art teacher knows of my addiction and asks for donations yearly…… Phew! Leaving me to soldier on collecting ……. Dryer lint, flotsam and jetsam from pockets, old seed pods, bird feathers, hornet nests, rocks, bottle caps and other crud most people step over, missing completely…… How? I just don’t know!
Hi Sandy – Oh my gosh I am giggling. I do the same thing! How wonderful that the high school art teacher calls for donation. I don’t have that. I love it when I actually use some of that collected stuff!
A great idea for re-using scraps, kudos 🙂
Ta!
You come up with the neatest ideas! I wondered if you make little envelopes to go with them or just do without the envelope? Nancy
HI Nancy – No, I didn’t make little envelopes. I know one of my nieces likes to just hand her little cards to friends, so I figured they would be fine without envelopes. I used to make envelopes for cards years ago. It would be fun to make little envelopes for them.
I am a skrapaholic! I have a room full of scraps & never throw anything away. Mostly fabric & feed bags.
I figure it’s a shame to waste!
These are so cute! Sometimes a little something is better than a big something. May day is coming. Did you ever make May Day Baskets? It’d be sweet to include a little card that could be passed along to another with a little basket of flowers.
Michelle – I think the same way – what a shame to waste and I am always so thrilled when I use something that I saved (and I am so glad that I saved it) Unfortunately saving things (for me) can get out of hand & I have been working on clearing some of it out.
I remember making May baskets out of the green plastic baskets that strawberries came in in the grocery store. We would weave colorful pipe cleaners in the baskets and fill them with goodies. Then we would take them to our friends houses, put them outside the door and ring the doorbell and run away so they had a little surprise. I think a tiny card would be so cute with a May basket. Great Idea!!!
I actually acquired some of those little green basket and am going to use scraps of fabric to weave through the slots and to make handles.
I am going to take and teach Lena what May Day is all about this year.
I don’t know that the kids even do it anymore but think it’s something that needs to be brought back if not.
and I know what you mean about out of hand LOL it’s the same way here.
My thoughts instead of clearing out, pass it on.
Start a group, a SCRAP EXCHANGE!!! Yes. No fees just trades!
Or an “I need to get rid of this” group that gets together weekly/monthly and creates stuff out of what everyone has brought!
You could make it a girls only fun day with snacks & wine ….
I love the idea of a “scrap exchange” oh what fun that would be. I never throw stuff, it all gets passed on to a thrift store.
These are precious. Very innovative.
thanks
ATC Artists Trading cards are great for using up scraps of cards and you can also use them like a tag on a card. Great fun.
I have heard of Artist Trading Cards, but don’t think I have seen them. I like your idea of using the little scraps as a tag on the card too. So many options!
[…] my niece that had a birthday this week. This was a super frugal gift, because I used some of those left-over scraps of paper that I save. I found the original on The Girl Creative.I tweaked the pattern for me and simplified […]