Turn Your Scraps into Cards

For those of us that save cardstock and patterned paper scraps, our scrap drawers get full very fast. A quick and wonderful way to use up scraps is to turn them into cards. With today's increased use of e-mail, the internet, cell phones, text messaging, and instant messaging, many people, including scrappers, rarely mail cards. I know personally that my postal mailbox is filled with junk and bills each day. What a wonderful surprise it is when I receive a handmade card from a special friend. Cards can be read over and over, and they can be saved for generations to come. So, your challenge will be to brighten someone's day and lighten your scrap load by making a card.

Two of my favorite card base sizes are 5.5" x 8.5" (half a sheet of 8.5" x 11") and 4" x 11". The 4" x 11" size is a common leftover scrap for me. When I cut my 12" x 12" paper down for 8" x 8" pages, I always have a wonderful strip left that is just perfect for cards. There are many other sizes that you can use but remember, the goal is to use those scraps.

Bone folders are used to crease and smooth out the fold on a card. You can find bone folders at your local craft store. I personally do not own a bone folder. I find using my scoring blade on my trimmer works well to make a crease. Then to smooth the crease, you can use a credit card (those fake ones that come with credit card offers work), a ruler, the back of a butter knife, a Pampered Chef stone scraper, a used gift card, or a popsicle stick. I actually use a hard piece of plastic that I had lying around the house.

Have fun when creating your cards. Use ideas from layouts you have created, look in the Scrapjazz gallery, get ideas from card magazines, or use card sketches. Some wonderful card sketches can be found at:

These sites not only make card-making easy but fun too. It is amazing to see all of the wonderful sketches that are available just for cards.

It is time to make your card now that you have cut your scrap paper to the correct size, scored and folded your paper, and chosen a sketch. Just have fun. There is no right or wrong. Use your scraps and cut strips of paper, shapes, and die-cut letters. For the inside of your card, stamp a sentiment, handwrite a note, use your computer to print a greeting, or print a poem on vellum and attach. Do not forget to sign the back of your card. I always make a die-cut frog from my scraps and sign it "Toadily Handmade by Patter 2006." Come up with your own personal touch for your creations.

After making your card, what better way to show it off than mailing it in a clear envelope. After doing a little research and working with my postal carrier, I discovered that cards go through the postal system just fine with small brads, eyelets, stapled ribbon, and small chipboard pieces. First Class postage costs $0.39 for items weighing up to 13 ounces. If your card weighs over 13 ounces, you will need to attach additional postage. Use a small food scale to weigh your card if you are unsure. The only instruction my postal carrier gave me is that the stamp must be on the outside of the envelope; however, the address may be on the inside. I use a scrap piece of white paper to write the address. I then slip that in the envelope so that the back of the card is covered with the address. The other side of the envelope will show off your beautiful card. I also created an address template in Microsoft Word so that I can easily address my cards when I have finished creating them.

I hope you are encouraged to use those scraps and to make those special cards. Just remember the joy you will bring to the person receiving your creation!

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Related Links:

Handmade Holiday Cards

Build-a-Card Set

Got Scraps? Make a Card.