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About a year ago I purchased a file tub and about 60 hanging files to go in it. I labeled each one with a SU! color, even cutting out small scraps of paper to go into the hanging file tab. I love it... still do. Whatever colors I need I pull out the file and I have all scraps and whole pages in there to choose from... it's really helped me stop cutting into whole pages and I've been keeping just about every piece of scrap created *just incase I'll need it later!*
Anyway, what I've started to find is that all of the small pieces are settling down at the bottom of the files and makeing the bottoms of the files thick. This is turn is making it hard to put the files back in and they system I loved because it was so organized is now getting sloppy and messy.
So my question to you is, at what point do you decide to keep a scrap or toss it?
__________________ Kathryn
Do you know if there's a 12-step program for stamping? No, seriously, is there??
I keep the scraps if they are large enough to use one of my punches. I put them in ziploc baggies and keep them with the larger and uncut papers of the same color. Sometimes when I have time, I punch flowers out with the scraps and keep the flowers in another small container.
I too only keep small pieces if I think there's a punch I could use on them.
I also use small scraps to "test stamp" on -- to see if a certain color ink will look right on that color paper.
I only keep what is big enough that i feel that I can/will use it again. If it's so small that I don't think I will ever use it, it makes it's way to DD desk, so it's not totally a waste because she will glue it to something.
I rarely keep tiny scraps anymore. I used to save every little thing and it just got too unruly and I realized that I wasn't using those itty bitty pieces anyway. Now anything narrower than 1/2" and shorter than 6" gets tossed in the recycling bin. I also go through my scrap containers about twice a year to weed out anything I really don't think I'm going to use. It's kind of the same concept as weeding out one's closet.
I keep absolutely everything. The thin strips get used where papers meet for example , some narrow pieces look neat when crimped and the tiny pieces I take my quilting rotary cutter to and make "confetti" and it's great for flowers or lots of other embellishments. I just find that no piece is too small. But then I do that with my quilting, too - keep all the tiny pieces and they are used in many ways.
I used to keep everything, till I realised that I ended up throwing most of the smaller scraps out unused later down the road. If it's any shade of green, or patterened but overall green, I'll punch leaves out of it using any of my leaf punches; they will always be used. Otherwise, if it's too small to fit a sentiment on it's too small to keep. So I voted for the business-card size option.
I tend to throw out anything under a card front size .. i worked out they eventually get thrown out anyway. Keeps it more organised and tidy this way I've found.
I keep strips that are 1/4 inch or wider. Sometimes they make neat weaves for backgrounds. For the ones that are smaller, I've thought a mosaic might be interesting ... yeah, I may eventually toss them! LOL!
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
I rarely keep tiny scraps anymore. I used to save every little thing and it just got too unruly and I realized that I wasn't using those itty bitty pieces anyway. Now anything narrower than 1/2" and shorter than 6" gets tossed in the recycling bin. I also go through my scrap containers about twice a year to weed out anything I really don't think I'm going to use. It's kind of the same concept as weeding out one's closet.
If I think I can use it I keep it. I also use the can I punch something out of this rule. I keep all DSP and put them back in the package with the other sheets of that set.
I do like the idea of going ahead and punching some stuf and storing it.
I keep it even if it gets under the credit card size.
One procedure you can do with a piece to small to hold in a punch is put it on a sticky note to add length, I do that often.
This procedure would work great for this card layout done by LateBlossom: CAS11 Quilted Birthday by LateBlossom at Splitcoaststampers
I keep all of my scaps, because face it I am addicted to paper. I always seem to find a use. Lately I have started quilling. The flowers on this card were made from scraps that were just big enough for me to punch a 1" circle. The flowers on this card were made from strips that were 1/4" wide and 4" long.
I tend to hold on to all my SU & PTI scraps since I have color specific ink and I have to order in order to get more. Other cs, I hold on to business size pieces and larger. I use a file carrier thingamabob to carry almost all of my scraps...except PTI and SU. I use Cropper Hopper Sticker files (the large thin vertical ones that can be put into their 12x12 vertical paper holders) which has different size pockets for my SU & PTI scraps and its working really well for me!
I keep a lot of scraps and I have started to make sure that when I sit down to create a card I go through those scraps first! I have come across patterned paper that I just loved and only have a small bit left but its enough to use as an accent on a card so if its larger than a business card it get filed away.
I tend to save any paper scrap that I can either use a punch on (and I have some pretty small punches) or stamp and inchie on. I separate all my colour groups into ziploc baggies and have those in shoe boxes. I use my scraps for sentiments, tags, flowers, all kinds of things.
my scraps are slightly larger than a business card because like many of the other posters, if I kept EVERYTHING i would be living in a pile of confetti... My standard is not "punchability" because I don't use punches, rather my standard is if I can use it as a layer on a card, i'll keep it.
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If it is still big enough to cut down to an ATC size then I do that. If it is smaller I usually put it in a ziplock bag for me to use for my punches. This way my scraps are either made into a punch or an ATC card. Less waste!
I voted business card size. If a scrap is punchable then I will keep it, otherwise out it goes. I used to keep every little scrap until I realized that I was just being overrun with paper. I keep each color scrap in the folder with its respective color (would be way too hard to have them in two separate places).
Like some OPs have said, my general guideline is if it's too small to use with my smallest punch, it gets tossed. With my favorite colors, though, I keep every shred of it since SU has a habit of discontinuing my faves...lol.
__________________ "As a matter of fact, I am a mad scientist!
I voted the business card option. Unless it's a very special decorative paper that I could use in a vintage collage, I've learned to just toss anything smaller than about 2x2. And I'm still overrun with scraps! Once in a while I force myself to pull out the scraps and use only them to create a card. The results vary widely. LOL!
I keep the scraps if they are large enough to use one of my punches. I put them in ziploc baggies and keep them with the larger and uncut papers of the same color. Sometimes when I have time, I punch flowers out with the scraps and keep the flowers in another small container.
I haven't read the whole thread but I agree. It makes me feels frugal when I don't have to pull out a fresh sheet of CS to punch a few items.
I keep the scraps if they are large enough to use one of my punches. I put them in ziploc baggies and keep them with the larger and uncut papers of the same color. Sometimes when I have time, I punch flowers out with the scraps and keep the flowers in another small container.
I haven't read the whole thread but I agree. It makes me feels frugal when I don't have to pull out a fresh sheet of CS to punch a few items.
it depends on the paper and if i feel it can be used. But mostly i would say business card sized. I have some really pretty asian and italian hand made papers and I try to save as much of those as possible since I like them so much. Ive recently organized all my scraps, that made me feel much better about keeping scraps. I can see what colors i have the most of etc.
One procedure you can do with a piece to small to hold in a punch is put it on a sticky note to add length,
This is a great idea, because there have been times when I wanted to punch something and I couldn't hold onto it to get it placed just right in the punch. TFS.
One procedure you can do with a piece to small to hold in a punch is put it on a sticky note to add length,
This is a great idea, because there have been times when I wanted to punch something and I couldn't hold onto it to get it placed just right in the punch. TFS.
Wanda
This is a great idea. I have often considered piece unpunchable due to not being able to get them in the punch.
As for me, it depends on the mood I'm in. I also put scraps in the hanging file with that color of paper. If I don't feel like filing it, I will put it in with the paper recycling. If I just made a card where I needed a narrow strip of paper, I am likely to save narrow strips. It just depends. I also keep a tin of smaller pieces of dsp to be used at a later date. Sometimes I'll throw solid color scraps in there as well. Again, it depends on my mood.
I must confess I keep way more than I suppose I should, but I look at almost all my scraps as "useable" in one way or another. I have 2 file cabinets for my cardstock. Each color has its own hanging file for the full sheets, with a file folder for the scraps. When I need a color, I check the file folder first, to see if there's a piece of the size I need. For small scraps, I use my small flower punches to make flower embellishments. I keep adding these to a small decorative jar I got at Michael's. When it's full, I have an inexpensive gift for a stamping friend when the need arises. I even keep strips 1/4" to 1/2" wide. I also use them as a layer instead of ribbon where 2 papers meet. I can use them as 'weavers' as mentioned above. I also go to my file folder of smaller pieces if I want to see how a particular background stamp will look in a particular color ink on a particular color cardstock. Better to find out it looks bad on a small piece than my actual card piece.
what is the smallest scrap size you keep?
