January Challenge

You Light Up My Life - by Joni

The green raffia on the ornaments is from a package of sweets someone gave to my husband (he was smart enough to just put the raffia on my scrap book table instead of throwing it away!!). The red border across the top was made with my new Martha Stewart Loopy punch that I got as a Christmas gift.

Now it's your turn to share your project using a Christmas Gift. See the details on the sidebar on how to submit your project for an opportunity to become our Guest Design Team Member in March.

December Challenge Winner

Thanks to all who participated in this our first Scrap Our Stash Challenge. I hope you enjoyed completing your project as much as we enjoyed having you a part of our challenge.

I decided to choose two winners this month.

Our winner for her layout "Christmas 06" is Monica.


















and our winner for her Card "Celebrate the Season" is Rachel

Both Monica and Rachel will be offered the opportunity to be on the Scrap Our Stash Guest Design Team for the month of February. I'm sure they will both be great contributors to our blog.

Now, for the January Challenge - see all the details above We can't wait to see your projects.

December - Scrap Challenge

Below are all the December Scrap Challenge submissions received thus far. Thanks to each of the ladies for being a part of our blog and for submitting their projects. Thanks to you our readers for looking and leaving comments.

Come back on January 1st for the announcement of our December winner and also the announcement of the January Challenge. We are looking forward to each of you becoming an active part and submitting a project for the January Challenge.

December - Scrap Challenge

Forever by Sandi Powers

This is a picture from our wedding. The only paper that was not a scrap was the tan, background paper. The foiled leaf paper (paper salon) was a scrap from paper used to make our wedding guestbook pages. The cardstock scraps are from my Stampin' Up! scrap basket. The letters were cut using the Alphalicious Cricut cartridge. The buttons came from a jar of miscellaneous buttons that my 4 year-old niece gave me for Christmas. She picked out the jar of buttons from the fundraiser sale at church and bought them with her own money. The accent swirls were made by using a marker with a stencil (The Crafters Workshop).

Time is still not up - you have until midnight today to get your project in. See details below in December Scrap Challenge. Don't delay!

December Scrap Challenge

Christmas 2007 by Rachel Lopez
Rachel used neglected photos with her neglected scraps. She feels as if most of her scraps are rectangular which makes creating a dynamic layout a bit of a challenge. She said she had fun, and she is glad she was a good girl and got to use her leftovers.

It's not too late - the December Scrap Challenge ends at midnight on 12/31/09 - see the details below

December - Scrap Challenge - Barbara

Brown Birthday card by Barbara Graves

Barbara's card is made from a scrap of paper she had and the presents are left over from another card that she had made for a sweet 16 earlier this year.

December - Scrap Challenge - Alissa

Weddings 09 by Alissa

Our First Reader's Scrap Our Stash Challenge Contribution is from Alissa.

In her page of the three weddings she has been to this year she used scrap bits of patterned paper. Even the cute owls are kind of scrappy as they only came about because she was printing the photos onto A4 photo paper and the phtotos took up 1 and a half pages and she didn't want to waste the other half page so she printed some owls from google images.

December - Scrap Challenge - Lainey

Merry Merry card by Lainey

This cute card was sent to us by Lainey. She states "everything is made from scraps with the exception of the card base. I'm so happy I found this blog. I need to use up some major stash since the past couple years I've been "collecting" not using".

December - Scrap Challenge - Kelly Day

Like Father Like Son - by Kelly Day
Reader Kelly submitted this layout in which she used scrap black bazzil punched with an EK notebook punch. and a scrap of houndstooth patterned paper by DCWV. She also used some other gray scrap DCWV paper in her Cricut and buttons from her stash.

December Scrap Challenge - Barbara Graves

Daily Journal by Barbara Graves
Barbara made this journal completely with scraps. She didn't need to use a full sheet of paper for the cover and the blocks for the letters were also made with scraps. The letters were left-over rub-ons from a recent project.

December - Scrap Challenge - Alissa

Graduation by Alissa

Alissa said that as she was doing this layout she realized that she was using up things from her stash so it really suited the Scrap Our Stash December Challenge. She stated that she loves using scraps, and that patterned paper is her favourite scrapbooking item.

She used scrap paper to border and decorate her single photo layout. She also used some flowers from her stash to jazz the page up.

December - Scrap Challenge - Wendy Kessler

Christmas Cards by Wendy Kessler

Reader Wendy Kessler made these cards with scraps from a CTMH paper pack. After using a kit/pack of paper to make layouts, she likes to finish up the paper by making cards. She says it's a great feeling of accomplishment to "use it up"! Her favorite use of scraps is using strips of paper to give the illusion of ribbon.

December - Scrap Challenge - Lainey

Deer Dad Birthday Card by Lainey
Lainey used all scraps except the background and base for her Birthday card. She said she had a blast making this card with her daughter. Her daughter helped pick out the scraps for the outfit.

Lainey had never used the Paper Dolls cartridge before (even though she owns both of them). She thinks her and her daughter may be going paper doll crazy soon. She said the paper doll was so fun to make. She also taped a piece of scrap cardstock to printer paper and ran it through the printer for the sentiment.

December Challenge

Only 1 more day to submit your December Challenge. Just complete a project using your SCRAPS. At least 50% of your project should be from scraps - this does not mean cutting a whole sheet of paper into scraps nor does it mean it must be paper scraps! You are encouraged to make anything you desire using your scraps (leftovers).

Once you have completed your project email a picture and a brief discription to scrappinpsycho@live.com and it will be posted on the blog for everyone to see. Your entry must be received by midnight on December 31st. A winner will be chosen and announced on January 1st. The winner will be offered the opportunity to be a Guest Designer for the month of February.

Click on the Label December Challenge to see everyone's projects.

We can't wait to see how you will Scrap your Scraps! Your next!

December Challenge - Kimmarie

Now and Then by Kimmarie

This is a layout Kimmarie created while spending 9 great days scrapping with her cousin. Scraps and background paper are from My Minds Eye, ribbon is from her cousin Angel's stash and the letters are cut from scraps with a Cricut.

You have 3 days to get your submission in. See the details below in December Scrap Challenge.

December Scrap Challenge

All the World Loves a Clown by Kathy

A picture of the 2 biggest clowns in my life!

I used an OLD die cut clown as a pattern to make the clown. His clown outfit was pieced from an old scrap of 8 1/2 by 11 scrap from the Dark Ages! His Hat is actually from an OLD sticker sheet of Birthday Hats. The noses and the clowns buttons are actually small red pompoms that came from my OLD crafting days. The globe behind the O is actually cut from a "Nile Geographic" as Niko calls them.

Now it's your turn - we'd love to see what you have done with scraps. See December Scrap Challenge below to see how you can become our February Guest Design Team Member!

December Scrap Challenge

Pumpkin Patch Kids by Kathy

This is a layout of my 3 grandkidos at the farm. To make the pumpkin shape I drew a pencil line where I wanted it to go. Then I cut scraps into smaller pieces and adheared them over the pencil line. I also used scraps for the stem, leaves and vine. I did the stem and leaves free hand. For the vine I actually traced a chipboard flourish and cut it out. So the only paper that I used that was not a scrap was the green cardstock background.

Time is running out - we would love to see what you have done with scraps! See the December Scrap Challenge details below. You could become our first Guest Design Team Member...

December - Scrap Challenge

Dudes? by Joni

Another layout by Joni using her scraps. Now it's your turn! See all the details in December Scrap Challenge.

December - Scrap Challenge

Advent Calendar by Danielle
Danielle purchased the tree calendar on clearance two years ago, and she finally found the time to make it. She used some scraps and leftover embellishments from an old Making Memories paper line. She punched the squares from pattern paper, then she punched half a circle in the top middle for the drawer pull. She glued all of the squares to the drawer fronts and then came the fun part. Embellishing!!! She used mismatched leftover rub-ons for the numbers and charms, flowers, and brads for the decorations.
From her stash she was able to create a treasure that will quickly become a tradition for her family.

So, what project do you have that has been waiting for years for you to get to? We'd love to see what you create from your stash. See the details in December Scrap Challenge below.

December Scrap Challenge

Christmas Cards by Megan

Megan used the same basic technique as she did earlier in her Layout "Native Texan" layout with the pattern paper scraps and sewing machine stitching. She stamped the angel with versamark inkonto the black card base, then heat set it with clear embossing powder. The words "merry Christmas" were also stamped and she used Heat and Stick powder and black glitter to finish them off.



For this card she also used the same pattern paper scrap technique and machine stitching. She used more of the extra pattern paper scraps to hand cut some holly leaves. Then she used her crop-a-dile large hole punch to create the berries. The leaves and berries were added with 3-d foam and she stamped the saying on the taupe strip of paper with black ink.

Time is running out! Be sure to get your December Scrap Challenge submitted before the deadline - see details below.

$$Frugal Friday Tips$$

There is Snow Place Like Home for the Holidays by Danielle

Danille used the leftover clear plastic packaging from some embellishments to create her acrylic snowflakes. She cut snowflakes out of the plastic packaging with her Sizzix die cutting machine. This technique could be done with most manual die cutting machines, and if the packaging is thin enough, you may even be able to use a punch. You just have to experiment with it.

Danielle then glued the snowflakes to her page and covered them with Crystal Stickles. Her goal was for the layout to have the feel of a snow globe, with snowflakes falling all around. Which she did achieve with her recycled “faux” snowflakes.

Danielle said "this is a good way to save money by using something that you would normally have thrown away". Who would have ever though that something so beautiful could be created with "trash". This technique could also be used to cut out "ghost letters" for a title. The possibilities are endless.

If you would like to share a project with us in which you used this technique just email it with a brief description to Scrappinpsycho@live.com marked Frugal Friday sample and we will post it for others to enjoy.

If you have a Frugal tip you would like to share - send the tip along with pictures to Scrappinpsycho@live.com marked Frugal Friday Tip and your idea could be published here.

It's still not to late to submit your December Scrap Challenge - see details below.

December Scrap Challenge

Handsome Boy by Joni
The only things not from my scraps were the acryclic word "handsome" and the stickles glitter that I added to the flower.

Now it's your turn. Check out all the details in December Challenge below. And get your project in early - it will be posted longer! Can't wait to see what you are going to create with your scraps!

$$Frugal Friday Tips$$

Custom Colored Gems and Pearls by Megan
Why spend money on a bunch of colored gems when you can make your own custom colored gems and pearls with permanent markers?

I always end up with too many or not enough of a certain color and this has been a great way to always have the color I need easily available.

The solution: cut the individual gems off the backing sheet or just cut them away from the rest of the strand and then color them with a marker. "Sharpies" and "Bic Mark It" are the two main brands, and the sets come in lots of colors.

Once your gems are colored, you can cut them away from the strand with an exacto knife and then use the knife to place the gem onto your project. When you have the gem set into place, then you can press it down onto your project with your finger. The possibilities are endless!

Here are several projects that use this technique—some use clear gemstones that have been custom colored and others use white pearls.

Megan has a full step by step photo tutorial posted on her blog: Made by Design . If you use this or any of our other "Frugal Friday Tips - please send a picture and a brief description to scrappinpsycho@live.com and we will share it here on the blog.

If you have a frugal tip you'd like to share please send it along with pictures - your tip could be featured as our next $$Frugal Friday Tip$$.

Don't forget our "December Scrap Challenge". You could be our first Guest Design Team Member. See all the details below.

December - Scrap Challenge

"Take Time" Card by Danielle

I like to create my own cards and this is a great way to use up the scraps that I save. I have had these two pieces for a while and the journal card was the perfect place to stamp my sentiment. The buttons were also left over pieces from the same paper collection.

Your next... Show us how you have used your scraps. See full details on the December Scrap Challenge below.