Have you ever sat back and really thought about what to make with patterned paper? It's a big question, right? There are so many different projects you can do with it, and then what do you do with all the left over pieces, right?
I personally love the 6×6 paper stacks you can get. My favorites are the ones from Stampin' Up! because you get several of one pattern, rather than one of each like many companies offer. And if you are at all like me, I don't want to just make one of something when I have created a design I love.
UPDATED: Remember that Today (Nov 28th, is the LAST day of the Stampin' Up! Holiday/Black Friday sale. There are One Day Specials, plus many more items on sale today. Click here to see what is on sale!
The other day, I was pondering the what to make with patterned paper question, and pulled my love of math into it.
A standard card is 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ here in the states. So a typical panel to put on top is 4″ x 5-1/4″.
Starting with that 6×6 shape, if you cut off 4″, you are left with a 2″ x 6″ strip.
Recently I purchased the Warmth and Cheer paper stack from Stampin' Up! I like the traditional colors of this paper stack, very festive! There are 48 sheets with four each of the 12 double sided designs. So I can make four of the exact project with one stack. And at $10 a stack, very reasonable in price, each sheet is only 21 cents. When it is that cheap, why not use an entire 4″ x 5-1/4″ on your card?
And that is how this entire thing came to be. I cut 4″ off my 6″ x 6″ piece and that left me with the 2″ x 6″ piece we talked about above.
I put that entire piece onto a Very Vanilla card base and my card was official started.
But for some reason, I just couldn't go on until I had a plan for that 2″ x 6″ piece. Normally I would just stick it back into the stack, but for some reason it just bothered me to do that. Does that ever happen to you?
I sat and thought and sat and thought and sat and thought…
Then it hit me!
TAGS!
I cut that strip in half, making two 2″ x 3″ pieces.
Next I grabbed my Scalloped Tag Topper punch and just like that, two tags were created!
I measured out pieces of Very Vanilla card stock that would fit perfectly on top, and that size is 1-5/8″ x 2″.
The only things left to do were to stamp, accessorize, & assemble!
I have been a tag making fool as well as feeling very excited about using up more of my paper rather than hoarding it, as I have been known to do 🙂
This paper definitely lends to this idea as we need tags this time of year unlike any other time of the year.
Below are the supplies I used to make this card and tag set. I appreciate it when you order through me, I know you have your choice, and to reward that, be sure to check out the latest Gift With Purchase when you use the hostess code provided on that page.
So “what to make with patterned paper” is a question I often ask myself, and creativity is all it takes to find the answer! See you in the next card making tutorial!
Great idea, Megan. If you REALLY want no waste, you can use the extra 3/4″ strip to embellish the inside of your card. Let’s use up all that patterned paper, ladies!
Excellent tip Debra!
I love your ideas. Often, they coincide with mine. Great minds …. as they say. Thank you.
Love that, Fran!!!
Love this idea and tips Meg. I’ll go through my Christmas 6×6 Paper Stack and make some tags for sure. We can always use tags at this time of the year. I’ll post over on Stamping Family. Thanks for the awesome idea, love it.
Thank you!!! I have lots of little paper scraps and I already have the punch so I will be doing this for sure! Why didn’t I think of this? LOL
Hi Julia! I know how you feel! When I figured it out I felt like a total rock star 🙂
Great ideas Megan and Debra!
Also you can just quarter the 12 x 12 DSP and use each quarter as you suggest too.
Absolutely Chrystyna!!! Great comment!
Tks Meg!
Happy you liked it Luciane!