Scraps, Scraps and more Scraps

  That's great you got that many cards out of scraps. I keep all my scraps in a box. When it's overflowing I sift through and toss anything I don't see myself using. 

good for you for actually using them for something!

I only keep and use mine for layouts (I don't make cards), and I've gotten pretty ruthless about tossing them. I used to keep pretty much every scrap, down to only 1-2 inches square (thinking 'hey, I can punch something out of that, I should keep it').

I finally realized a few things:

1)  I don't ever USE the scraps that small (I will never actually punch ONE butterfly, etc. out of that scrap of paper and use it)

2)  I have more 12x12 sheets of paper than I will ever be able to use in my lifetime-- why am I keeping those teeny pieces?

3)  When I DO use scraps, it's usually for layering on my layouts, so I gave myself permission to toss pieces smaller than about 4x4; if they're smaller than that, I won't use them and they just take up space.


I did see a couple youtube videos on how you can use ONLY scraps to make a background for a SB page; I've done that once or twice, but it's not really my style.

For almost a decade, I've stored scraps in two stackable, white, wooden, PB letter trays with solid colors on top & patterned papers on bottom. I've found inspiration for new color & pattern combinations on layouts from this simple organization. While I tend to keep & use scraps from 12x0.5" strips to 11x12" blocks, I suggest donating your unwanted scraps to a local daycare, church preschool ministry, elementary school art department, after-school art program, or any children's organization. Everything will certainly be used & appreciated; you will have more storage space, while encouraging children's creative endeavors. HTH, & happy cardmaking!

I turnover my scraps quite frequently. If they're more than a year old, I toss (smaller pieces) or give to DS (bigger pieces) to make room for new scraps.

I have so manu scraps. I really need to go through them and toss the smaller ones out and organize the larger ones. Maybe even make some cards.

I have been going through some things this morning and found a bunch of scraps. Between the ones I found, and the ones I had, it is definitely time to either cut them to specific sizes that can be used for layouts and cards, or else toss them.

I think I am going to make several stacks of specific sizes with the scraps, organize some of those into card kits, and then offer the rest to my scrapping group.

I just wanted to thank all of you that said you toss your scraps. Isn't it funny how we keep things that we know we won't use? Even funnier that I feel like this thread has kind I given me permission to throw out scraps. As I've been getting ready to move I've been thinking about tossing my scraps. I quickly looked at my scrap bin as I packed and the first thing I noticed was that it smelled dusty. Yeah, time to toss it. I'm very good about purging things to avoid household clutter in every area of my home…except my scrap supplies. I have time to purge before I move! Why move stuff that I don't need?

Thanks, ladies!

I use those drawers too by colors of the rainbow, pink, a mixed brown/black/grey, and white/cream. For patterned paper, if it is part of a collection I keep it with the collection. Otherwise, I put it by the the first color I think of when I see the paper, and don't give myself time to think about it.

I did the same trimming for a bit but have completely let that fall by the wayside. Thanks for the reminder!

Because I have a big drawer for each color, and apparently am not nearly as prolific as all of you  there hasn't been a need to purge. I'm also really good at going to the drawer first for cards, photo mats, whatever. It's super easy since I just need to turn my chair and pull out the drawer. With it being so big (12 x 12) there is plenty of room to move the paper around and not have to take it out to go through it.

I used to keep every single piece of scrap that I had left over, every single little sliver and that was fine in the early days when I had enough supplies to fit into a 5L tub but these days I have to be more space conscious and I have enough paper to last me for the next 20 years so instead I only keep things above a 4x4 size. Small scraps are in a folder sorted by colour and then pattern types and the larger scraps go into 12x12 envelopes. I do try and use scraps before I cut into a full sheet and about once a year I will go through and purge bits from the scraps. Any offcuts and cricut waste goes to my kids school the teachers are always appreciative of that stuff.

You can dissipate the guilt a little by donating any scraps you won't use to a school, preschool, daycare, church that has Sunday school, or scout troop instead of throwing them out or recycling them. They are always scrambling for good quality craft materials for the kids to use, and they would love to have them. When I go through and purge mine, I put them in a big box and the first person I can think of to ask that might want them, gets them. And to be honest, I haven't ever had to ask more than the first person on the mental list that pops into my head either. They are always spoken for right away!

Fifty cards in a week is very impressive! I love when I can think up ways to use up some of my many scraps. Good for you!

Ha ha, you should see some of the projects those kids make with the stuff I would otherwise recycle! They do paper weaving and paper chains with the thinner strips plus collages, handmade paper and other things where the size of the pieces really doesn't matter. I do give them a fair amount of bigger pieces too in case they want to diecut stuff out of it.