Use up some Ribbon

If you are anything like me you have ribbon coming out the wazoo! HEre is a great way to add pizazz to your page and use up ribbon in the process! - Create a ribbon frame around your page!

This frame is easy to do - and is great for boy or girl pages... Here are the instructions for using the template below...

1. Using light box trace the lines from the template ontothe back side of your paper. Make the lines ¼” longer than the with of your ribbon. Use your ruler as a guide.
2. Use your craft knife to cut the slits.
3. Place a piece of scotch tape over the end of your ribbon to create a tab, this makes threading the ribbon through the slits easier.
4. Begin by weaving down A, up B… Down C, up D… down E, up F and finally, down G, up H. Tie the ends together to form your bow.
5. Rotate frame as desired to position bow along the top or along the base of your page.

Practice a few times and soon you'll be framing lots of pages with ribbon!

Serendipitous... is that a word?

Here is a layout I used Serendipity squares to create - it shows my daughter Megan "showing off" her talents!

This is a tag I made ... I added bubble stickers for "pop"... And finally, another layout...showing how versatile serendipity squares are!


Have fun creating... and check back next week for more inspiration from 1 Creative Bug!

Save the Negative!

For those of you that know me in real life- you know I am definately a positive person - I avoid the "Debbie Downer's" of life as much as possible - but today I'm going to show you when the NEGATIVE is a good thing!

Save the negative when using punches and die cuts and use them to create a cool look on a layout! This is a layout for my Book about Me - titled Little Teacher!

The journaling says: In the beginning there was a shiny chalkboard and a room full of stuffed animals. I would spend hours and hours teaching them to read and do math. I guess it was natural for me to teach.

So there you have it - 1 Creative Bug's week of Scrapping with your scraps... I normally don't post on Saturday's but I have a few more layouts to show you - so stop by and check them out!

Tear it up!

Create a quick mosaic frame by tearing coordinating paper scraps and gluing them down - I call that Scrap Savy!

Tomorrow check back for an out of the box idea for using scraps - and an Orange layout!

Use Patterned Paper Scraps...

I simply layered scraps of patterned paper to make a background for this layout of my daughter... she was 1 year old and so precious. (She still is precious).

Sve those scraps and check back tomorrow for another Scrap Savy Layout from 1 Creative Bug!

Serendipity Squares!

This technique is an oldie but a goodie - and fits right in with our theme of Scrapping with your Scraps to save money!

In the world of scrapbooking the word “serendipity” is used to describe paper shapes that have been collaged with various scraps, stamps, stickers and more!

The American Heritage Dictionary defines serendipity as:
making fortunate discoveries by accident.

If you have never given Serendipity Squares a try, or if it has been awhile...

here is what you will need:

3 or 4 scraps of coordinating cardstock

Scraps of patterned paper that match the cardstock.
Any glitter paper, vellum, etc that you have.

Small rubber stamp and Ink pad

Left over stickers, buttons or other desired embellishments

Punchies ( punched or die cut shapes) work GREAT!

1- 6 x 12 sheet of cardstock - this can also be a scrap - when you are done it will be completely covered so it's color is irrelavant.

Quick drying adhesive - a glue stick or Xyron or "Scrapbook Adhesives" adhesive sheet . Xyron and the Adhesive sheet should be applied to the paper BEFORE you tear it.

Ok- you are ready to begin:

1. Begin by randomly stamping all over 1 or 2 of your cardstock scraps. Don't stamp on vellum unless you plan to emboss and heat set it.

2. Tear all your scraps into small bits. They should be under 1" in size. Tearing adds charm - resist the urge to cut!

3. If you need to, apply adhesive to the back of the scraps and glue them down randomly to the 6 x 12 base sheet. The papers should overlap, change direction, etc. There is no rhyme or reason to adhering them to the base page.

4. If you have stickers, die cuts, punchies or other flat embellishments go ahead and add them now. Any 3-D embellishments should be left until later.

5. Let the glue dry if needed. Cut the entire mess into 1" squares.

Now you are ready to get your squares preped for your layout - you can mat them, add 3-d embellishments, letter stickers, etc.

I used mine to create this nifty title:

That's it! Serendipity Squares - quick, easy and thrifty to make!

Check back tomorrow for anothe cool Scrapin with your scraps project!

Save Money and still Scrap!

Scrapbooking is not really a hobby - it's more about the memory preservation. We need to preserve our memories for richer or for porer as the saying goes! This week I'm going to show you some cute layouts using scraps!

If you are not a scrap saver - now is the time. Personally I don't save every tid bit and scrap - but If I have a 3 x 3 piece or bigger - it's saved!

Let's begin by talking a little about organizing your scraps.

If your scraps are all jumbled together in one huge messy pile you are less likely to use them.

If they are well organized and close at hand you will find yourself reaching for scraps before a new sheet of paper! - This is crucial - you are not going to use what you can’t see!

I have a few quick, easy and inexpensive tips for organizing your scraps...

The first thing I recommend is separating your scraps into three categories:

CARDSTOCK, PATTERNED PAPER, AND SPECIALTY PAPER

Next, decide how you want to store your scraps- think about where you are going to keep your organized scraps so they are handy. I keep mine just below my work table for storage, and pull them up on top while I’m working. I couldn’t do that with a huge storage drawer system.

You can store scraps in:

Zip top baggies
Accordion file
Plastic drawers
12” X 12” 3 ring binder with page protectors
Hanging file folders
Large envelopes

Now, sort your cardstock by color- you can do color “families”, or go all out and give each color it’s own baggie/drawer.
You can sort your patterned paper and specialty paper by color also or just assign 1 drawer/bag to these papers- the choice is yours!

Once your scraps are organized you are ready to begin... tune in tomorrow for the first project using scraps!