With all the fabulous scrapbook pages you’ve created, cutting out borders and adding paper accents, have you found that you now have a pile of miscellaneous paper scraps? You can use these scraps in other page layouts, but don’t forget you can also use these pretty little pieces of paper in other craft projects entirely.

I like to cut various shapes allowing the paper patterns to fill the space. I then use a fine point pen to add extra accents to the pieces to better define the image. You can create greeting cards, wall art, and a number of different craft pieces just using your scrapbook paper left overs.

Here’s one project I created a while back using different papers to create the entire art piece on a wood birdhouse:

paper decor birdhouse by Jen Goode

I used Mod Podge to decopague the paper in place and then added my own extra “doodles” using a black ink pen.

You can add variations to your paper art with accents from pens, paints or stamps. Try mixing in other items to create pretty collages and fancy wall art. Another fun idea is to use papers from trips such as brochures, maps, shopping bags and napkins and create collages using this tiny pieces of memoriabilia to showcase the adventures you’ve been on.

One of my favorite techniques is adding spacers to give the impression of a more 3 dimensional layout. While working in a frame shop years ago, I discovered the technique of spacers when applying multiple mats to a framed image. This simple 1/8″ to 1/4″ layer adds depth and variation to otherwise flat layouts. Read on…