Paper Princess's Paper Picks and Tricks

I just finished reading my May/June Paper Craft Magazine.  It was mostly about making cards for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.  However there were a couple of things that I thought might be of interest to share with you. 

New Collection!  BasicGrey, one of my favorite paper companies, was advertising its new collection of papers - Life of the Party.

It looks like a really great line that will be perfect for scrapping your favorite party photos.  I’ve been able to find it on occasion at various A.C. Moore Stores and random craft supply stores in my area, but it’s been hit or miss for the most part.  So, since I have a business that lends itself to carrying craft papers and fabrics, I’m working on opening a retail account with them.  Stay tuned for more information on availability.

Cards, Cards and More Cards.  This issue focused mainly on card crafts for May and June.  Since Mother’s Day had already passed, those cards weren’t as appealing to me as the ones for Father’s Day.

  As I was looking at the cards, I realized that I actually have this paper sitting in my paper stash.  While I won’t be making this card, it gave me some ideas for future scrapbook pages.   If you would like the instructions for the card though, visit http://www.papercraftsmag.com/articles/Walkin__Boots_Card.

They also provide ideas for teacher appreciation cards.  If you are looking to do something special for your child’s teacher(s) this year, consider making a homemade card.  Anyone can buy a ready-made card, sign it from you and your child and send it into school.  If that is all you have time for, that’s great. I’m sure your child’s teacher will be most appreciative. 

However, if you have a little more time, consider making a homemade card with your child.   If you’re a scrapper, card-maker or crafter, then you probably have the materials around to create a card.  If you don’t, there are plenty of online resources – like www.papercraftsmag.com and www.marthastewart.com that have pages and pages of templates, lists of supplies and tips for creating that perfect card. 

One of the things that I’ve been encouraging my daughter to do is be creative.  While she may be too little to cut out the patterns and write the actual sentiment for the card, she is not too little to paste the paper and embellishments together.  She and I can sit for an hour or more, working on paper projects together.  For cards, I will cut or fold the paper for her and then give her stickers, kid-safe/friendly markers and other embellishments to use to decorate the card.  If you don’t want to write in the card and your child is too young to write, try giving them appropriate sentiment stickers to stick in the card.  Don’t worry if they are upside down or catawampus, that’s part of the charm and makes the card unique to them and their personality.

If you don’t have scrapbook paper or craft paper lying around, but you have loads of “art” projects from school, consider using one of them to make the card.  It’s a great way to use something that your child made and give it new life instead of making its way into the tired art portfolio or the ever loving recycle bin at the end of the year.

If you’re child’s teacher has been encouraging creativity in the classroom they will love the specially made card just for them.  Who knows, they may even keep it as a memento.

Sad Stacks and Left Over Paper

If you're a scrapbooker like me, you may have quite a few partially used blocks and stacks of scrapbook paper that you thought at one time were perfect for your project or album.  As it turns out, the paper didn't quite coordinated with the photos you were scrapping or you never got to use it and now you're done with the album.  The paper is just sitting in a your organizer, taking up valuable space, getting dusty, fading, and lonely.

So what's a paper lover to do?  Well, here are a few ideas of how to put that sad stack of paper to good use.

1.  Got Kids?  Give it to them.  Let them get creative with it.  Everything from making their own scrapbook pages to paper arts 'n crafts projects.  If they are too young, sit down and do a project together with them.  There are lots of great craft ideas online.  Download templates and instructions if you need too. 

This past fall, I found some faded orange and black paper.  I sat down with my daughter, who was 18 months at the time, and together we made paper pumpkins for Halloween. We added some details with black markers and crayons and presto we had jack-o-lanterns.

I then found some paper in my Old World Stack.  It was an antique brown paper with a design I knew would never coordinate with anything I would scrapbook in the near future.  I drew leaf patterns on the white side and cut them up.  I gave them to my daughter to crumple them up.  She loved it!  Next we took a  little walnut distressed ink and stickles.  With in minutes we made fall leaves to go along with our jack-o-lanterns.  Then we took them and decorated the windows.  We both had a fun and it was a great way to use up some left over paper.  Note - always make sure the little ones are supervised with scissors and any materials that may destroy your furniture, walls, and/or carpets.

2.  Paper swap.  What's old and unusable to you, may be new and perfect for someone else.  Compile a pile of coordinated papers from your stack (if you can swing it 2 of each paper) and make-up a couple swap kits.  Then the next time you are with your scrapping friends see if they would be interested in swapping papers.  It's a great way to rotate your inventory without spending money.

In the past when I've been on my scrapping retreats, we often have a share table.  We take out papers that we don't want and put them on the table for others to use.  I know I've put out some of my leftovers and have definitely picked up a few that have helped me with my albums.

3.  Donate it.  If you don't want to use it for your own projects or the paper is not perfect for a scrapbook, then consider donating it to a local pre-school or daycare.  I know they are always looking for art supplies and any donated materials are always welcome.  Just check with the person in charge to make sure they can use it or before you drop it off.  The last thing you want to do is have them throw it out.

Of course there are many more things you can do with that paper.  If you've got a favorite idea, please feel free to share it!  I'd love to hear what you do with your paper.