Six Handmade Card Ideas That Use Up Cardstock Scraps

As a card maker, I have endless paper scraps and it's become a challenge for me to figure out how to use cardstock scraps up. I've shared a few ideas in the past, but today I have six new handmade card ideas that use scraps to share with you. 

Though I have tons of regular scraps, I decided to do something different today. 

This might be controversial but I hope you can see the method to my madness.  I suffer from Full Set Syndrome—when I get one of something, I want to have them all.  But after 20+ years of cardmaking, I’ve learned that I don’t need it all.  And that means that I have several swatch books of papers I probably won't be buying. So I decided to put a few of my swatch books to good use.  For these cards, I used my Bazzill Fours swatch book, but whatever you want to get rid of is perfect for this idea.  

12x12 Cardstock Shop also sells Mystery Scrap Packs which would be perfect for this project too. 

Let's get started with my scrap busting project. I removed the metal screw from my swatch book and matched up my swatches in color combos.

Next, I took some small dies and began the process of die cutting.  In most instances, I was able to make 2 of the same card from each color combo.  Small dies fit perfectly on the swatch cards as well as some sentiments.  

Don't forget those swatch books hold valuable paper that should not be wasted! Whether you use up old swatch books, grab a Mystery Scrap Pack from the shop, or use your own scraps, I hope the cards below inspire you to think outside the box. 

Dies used:

Leaf die from Spellbinders

Happy Die from Hero Arts

Flower dies from Concord & 9th

Ballon dies from MFT stamps

I hope this has inspired you to tackle your own pile of scraps and think of those swatch books differently!

-Kate

@katedeignancards

Here's another idea for using up cardstock scraps!