Paper Scraps--Gotta Keep them

The pages are done and you look around and what do you see everywhere! Scraps of paper! Well let me tell you its a good day of scrapping when you have a lot of scraps to show for it. Now just don't throw those pieces away. Lets put them aside if you have to put just don't toss them in the trash! Use them! Want to stretch those scrapping booking dollars well lets not just throw out the papers that we spent all that money on lets see if we can organize them and then use them for other layouts, projects, cards, die-cuts, punchies, paper piecings, serendipity squares etc.
How to Sort and Organize Your ScrapsThe first step is to set aside a block of time so that you can finish your paper scraps organization project and have everything cleaned up and put away in one sitting. This is where it gets messy! But in the end it is definitely worth it.
Here is how to begin. Sit on the floor with all your papers, turn on the TV and then proceed to sort your stack of papers. Ok so you can use a table or whatever large surface you have. I love doing this in front of a good movie. Sort your paper scraps into piles. Create a pile for each color, and separate colors into piles of solids and patterns.
Now that you have sorted your paper scraps, size up your collection. Its amazing how many scraps you can have. Now if you are like me I like to trim all the bad edges from the papers, so I have nice neat ones. I also put all those little itty pieces in a separate pile. If I am going to be doing serendipity squares, I might just use all of those, otherwise, depending on my mood, I may find them in the trash can!
How to Store Your ScrapsIf you are a scrapper that doesn't have a lot of scraps, then an accordion file will probably work best for you. Find one that has index tabs so that you can easily identify at a glance where each color is stored. Write the color on the tabs and specify cardstock or paper.
For a larger scrap collection, try vertical hanging files in a file drawer. This is what I use! Same goes here, label your folders.
Ok now for the large big time scraps. Get one of those clear drawer files. You got to love these. You can find them at any Wal-Mart, Target etc.Put your colors in these they work excellent! You can see through the drawers and lots of storage. Look around there are plenty of other ideas out there for storage so don't limit yourself. Also using what you have is always better. More money for paper to make more scraps this way!

Now what can I use these scraps for. Well let see! Die-Cuts, punchies, paper piecings, serendidpity squares, cards stamping. You name it you will find something that you need just a little bit of one color. Every layout needs just one more piece of something, so try looking in your files first before cutting another sheet of paper or cardstock!

Article By:
KayDee Designs