Scrapbooking Scraps - Don't Throw Them Away

The most common thing that gets thrown away by scrapbookers is odd-sized pieces of paper. Before you reach for the trash can, stop and think for a moment. How much did you pay for that piece of paper? Do you really want to throw some of it away?

There is an interesting embellishment you can make out of those scraps of paper. It is called a Serendipity Square. To make Serendipity Squares, start by adhering tiny scraps of colorful paper to a larger piece of paper. If you have a Xyron machine, the best way to stick the scraps to your background is by sending them through the Xyron. A Xyron machine is a machine that makes any piece of paper into a sticker by placing a sticky substance on the back. If you do not have a Xyron machine, you can still make Serendipity Square with a glue stick. Arrange the scraps in a random fashion, overlapping and layering them in a way that is pleasing to your eye. Use complementary colors, and do not be afraid to add a splash of color that is a little out of place.

Once you have allowed this paper to dry (if you used glue), take a large square punch and punch out several squares. Now you have your Serendipity Squares! The great thing about Serendipity Squares is that every one is unique, yet they look great together because they were made out of the same scraps. Add these anywhere you like on your page for interesting accents. You can even place a sticker on top to create a unique look.

What about those last few stickers on a sheet that never seem to go with any page you are making? You can create an interesting border or title box using scrap stickers. To begin, mark off either the side or one of the top or bottom edges with a thick line. You should mark off around an inch and a half of space. Take this line from the top of the page to the bottom. Next, randomly arrange your stickers in this space. To make this look like it is totally random, cut some stickers at odd angles. Arrange the cut sides along the edge of the area.

Once you have placed several stickers, embellish with markers. You can add dots or swirls to the area to fill in white space. When you are done, you will have created what looks like a border made from another piece of scrapbooking paper. This is a great way to use up mismatched stickers that have no home. You can even use leftover alphabet stickers to create this look, and it will not matter if they do not spell a word or are in different fonts!

When it comes right down to it, nothing is expendable. Keep a box or baggy handy while you are scrapbooking to hold all those odds and ends and try to use them up as you work, until there is nothing left and you can't possibly think of anything to do with the remaining slivers. Be sure to get every penny's worth from your papers and supplies!

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