What do you do with the ugly paper?

[tyshero]

I was trying to get my mojo out of hibernation tonight by making some Christmas cards. I was looking for some papers for backgrounds, and realized that there are at least one or two patterns in every single pad of dp I have that I do not like. I decided that some of it would be destined to be the back layer of cards, where only 1/4 inch or so would be showing so you couldn't really see too much of its ugliness.
The rest of it might be destined for my daughter's crafting supplies.
What do you do with the paper you don't love?

[Diana stamps]

I give mine to the senior center or the local elementary school.

[sparcl77]

You could use it to make envelopes or to line the inside of your envelopes.

[bb&kk]

It isn't double sided paper? I use SU! paper and it is double sided so I can always find a side I love. I think the envelope and envelope liner idea is a really good one.

Paper flowers that you scrunch can sometimes mask paper that is less than beautiful.

[arlenevita]

You could sponge or wipe ink over it to change the color, distress it with white ink to tone it down. Donating it works, too!

[cdjkssss]

I use lots of my smallest scraps of patterned paper to make what I call "Frankenstein paper". I run a strip of lightweight paper (usually pieces of my used-up grid paper from my table) through the Xyron to make it sticky, then just start laying little strips of various papers side by side, leaving no gaps. When I have a piece all covered up, I run it through my Big Shot with various dies. I love doing this with different border dies, and also with stars, hearts and butterflies. I have added strips of some of my "ugly" papers to these with great success. In small doses combined with lots of other papers, they work just great.

[cobby]

I have a neighbor that crafts and buys lots of DP. She gives me what she thinks is ugly; and I give her my rejects. Luckily we have different taste. In case we both really love something we will each take one or two of a pattern depending on how many were included in the pad.

Anything that neither one of us likes goes to the elementary school art teacher.

[lylacfey]

I give my Mom the uglies and she just loves them. Then she makes something out of the world beautiful with my ugly paper. I keep thinking "How the heck did she do that?" It's like magic. She tells me I do the same thing with her uglies she gives me. We have such different tastes. I also make envelopes out of my reject paper too.

[Metalcharm]

I wrap up smaller presents with the 12x12 papers

[lutheran]

My uglies go in a pile and eventually make it to the preschool at church. If it's not something the kids can use, the teachers use it to cover bulletin boards, etc.
Mary Beth

[deeth1]

Here's some ideas for using them:

Try using some of those papers with a template to cut out boxes. Some prints don't work for cards as they are too bright or busy, but they look great on a birthday or holiday gift box.

The 12 X 12 papers can be used to make fun school book covers.

Smaller pieces work for post a note pad covers.

Candy bag toppers or treat boxes

For the heavy weight cardstock print papers, create small storage boxes for your ink refills or embellishments.

Let the kids use the print paper to make paper jewelry beads, then string together for necklaces or bracelets.

[CraftyMel2]

I turn mine upside down and use them as scrap paper Nothing too creative or different, that's for sure! But, my table is clean and I can stamp out an image to practice or check the color, doodle while I am thinking...

[Ldumont999]

WOW... I'm thrilled with all the ideas you guys shared here. It has given me so many more uses for the uglies in my stash. I know that one person's trash is an other's treasure... so I usually cut them in quarters and WISH RAK them. I know I've gotten some wonderful papers through WISH RAK that I'm sure other people didn't think were so wonderful.

[ch]

Quickly donate it and don't look back!!

[cbet]

There's a tutorial out there to make a bow like you pop on a gift with patterned paper - the first one I made, I used a sheet of the most butt-ugly paper I owned (because I was just testing the tutorial, you know?) And I could hardly believe it, but as a bow, that hideous paper looked pretty darn good.

[vdoyle8]

I save some of my uglies for practice cricut cuts.

[stampwithjoanne]

Toss it in your Goodwill box. You can't make lemonade out of lemons!!

Or, I have a box that I allow my 4 young nieces rummage through as they make cards.

[go90feet]

Give it to my DD to use, or put it in a box and pass along to others at our school. Usually the preschool teachers will grab it for something. Preschools usually don't care what it looks like as long as they can cut/color/stamp/ decorate it all up!

[winnieu]

i use them for die cuts like flowers or other shapes..Sometimes loud or wild patterns look better in small doses.

[cardmaker2]

Some great ideas I never thought of! Thanks for sharing. I generally take them to school, I work in Kindergarten. The crafters love it all

[rlayton]

My 5 and 3 year old granddaughters have a box of paper...uglies and larger scraps from my scrapbooking. They love to cut and tape and create with it. They come up with some great projects ...rings, crowns, and all manner of things that they can identify and I cannot. It is one of their favorite things to do when they are at my house.

[Cartermrc]

I try to leave them in the store! I avoid buying the large paper pads because I only like about 10% of the designs and that's not worth it.
When I do end up with a pattern I don't care for I fussy cut and punch it just to use a section for flowers, mats, etc.

[buggainok]

I have granddaughters 11 and 12 who are really into making origami. The size paper they use is 6 x 6. So a 12 x 12 sheet of pattern paper makes 4 great origami squares.

I use my paper cutter to make the squares and they are thrilled to have anything I give them!

[kphorse]

I shuffle it off to the local pre-school...The little tykes think it is great!

[KoffeeKat]

I love the paper beads idea. Hadn't thought of that one.

Otherwise, all of the above for me.

[Gizelabella]

Great ideas!! Now just to get back into my Craft Room!!!