Cut Your Scrap Time in Half

Hello again!

 One of the biggest roadblocks scrapbookers seem to encounter (besides missing mojo - ha!) is a crowded schedule that leaves little time to actually scrap. Today I've got an easy solution for you to try the next time you have a few minutes and want to crank out a page.
All you'll need is three different patterned papers cut into 2 rectangles and 1 square. Scraps are fine - you may recognize these pieces from my "Killer Stash Kit."

4 x 6 Rectangle

4 x 10 Rectangle

8 x 8 Square

You'll also need one piece of 12 x 12 solid cardstock or tone-on-tone patterned paper. From these, you can create at least 5 different layout variations, and from each of those, you can get four slightly different looks by simply rotating the page.

Variation 1

Variation 2

Variation 3

Variation 4

Variation 5

Note: These are only examples. There are MANY ways these pieces could be combined to make the basic layout.
I chose Variation 1 to create this layout about my bestie:

And used the corners created by the paper layers to guide the placement of my embellishments.

There you go - a super-easy, super FAST way to scrap a page. I'd love to see your creations using this process. Please leave me a comment below linking to your work.

And, if you'd like to discover how to build a killer stash kit from your existing stash, be sure to grab my free e-book 10 Easy Steps to a Killer Stash Kit.

Scrap Your Scraps Design Team Member

Using Title Strips

If you are anything like me, you will have a stash of cutoff title strips just hanging around waiting to be used..... look familiar?

Well, I would like to challenge you (and myself!) to get rid of some of this pile by turning them into layouts.... don't cut another piece of patterned paper, but rather use what's in your pile and create some new memories.

I have made three different layouts using strips in different arrangements.

On this page I've just added pieces of different strips at an angle and then combined them with stamped aeroplanes and some stickers. I also added one title strip as a border next to my photos.

On this next page I have stuck a variety of title strips in various shades of blue, pale yellow and green together across my page.  Added a strip of photos down the middle and then embellished with stamping, stickers, brads and diamante.

My final layout is a bit more complicated yet fun.  I dug through my pile and sorted out the colours that would best match my photos.  I then lay them in a sort diagonal basket-weave pattern.  Once happy I interwove the strips, cut them shorter where needed and eventually stuck them all down to the background cardstock.  I finished off my page with two photos, more stickers and a little bit of stamping on the edges.

My pile is not greatly reduced but I can safely say that I feel much better now that I have started making inroads into my stash.  I have a board on pinterest just dedicated to layouts using strips which is where I got the ideas for these three pages from. You are welcome to check it out here.

Get creative and show us your layouts using title strips.

Scrap Your Scraps Design Team Member

Here is a twist by Connie...If you don't have title strips or not enough of those title strips just use the  scraps you have to create your layouts!

I made this page using leftovers from a kit class I had given.  I cut the strips and placed on a heart cutout.  After the heart was covered I trimmed the excess paper off.  

Picture is of my youngest Daughter Cherish. 

Scrap Your Scraps Design Team Member

Making a Kit From Your Stash

Hello again! Wow, time flies, doesn't it? I can't believe it's been a whole month since I was here sharing with you one of the ways I organize items in my stash.

Today, I'd like to show you something else I'm passionate about - scrapping through my stash by creating my own monthly kits. I've been doing this for a year now, and I have seen so many benefits, not the least of which is that I've put a serious dent in my stash!

So, how does it work? Well, first, I find some some sort of inspiration to draw on as a basis for my kit. It could be a color scheme, a challenge, a mood board, or a scrapbooking collection. (See different variations on my blog). This month's inspiration came from a collection of October Afternoon goodies I snagged on Scrapbooksteals.com.


Here's what my January Scraps & Stash kit looks like (read all the details here):

Since creating my kit, I've been working with it all month, and over the course of three crafting sessions, here's what I've made:

Session 1

I started with a double-page layout about my sweet little great-nieces.

Then moved onto a single page.

Then finished up with a greeting card made from scraps. (Why, oh WHY does Blogger turn my photos sideways?)

Session 2

It was a busy week, but I squeezed in a little scrapping time to make this page about my son.

Session 3

And managed to fit in a bit of creating this past weekend as well.

And I've still got quite a few items left to work with - two full sheets of cardstock, a few sheets of patterned paper, three of the 6x8 sheets, and lots of diecuts and journaling cards. I'm hoping to squeeze in a few more projects this weekend, and then I'll be ready for a new kit!

I hope I've inspired you to create your own Scraps & Stash kit. If you'd like a step-by-step guide that walks you through the exact process to assemble your own amazing kit, click here to get my free e-book "10 Easy Steps to a Killer Stash Kit."

Go try it out!

Scrap Your Scraps Design Team Member