December 15, 2025 by Born To Organize

Crafting With Scraps

What do paper napkins, a worn-out tote, and paper off-cuts have in common? They’re all part of today’s year-end “ScrapHappy” post, a challenge put forth by Kate at Tall Tales of Chiconia.

My friend Pauline sent me these cat napkins several years ago after a kitten with perfectly divided facial markings stowed away in my husband’s car.

Original art by Rosina Wachtmeister.

We kept her, of course, and named her Tessa. Pauline had the napkins in her craft stash, but once Tessa arrived, she sent them my way.

A tortoiseshell cat lounging comfortably in a woven basket, playfully twisting on her back with a green wall backdrop.

I’ve moved the napkins around my craft room, pulled them out several times, then put them away again. Pauline was a dear friend and a good soul. She was crafty, clever, and wise. We met through blogging. After she passed, these napkins seemed too precious somehow. I can hear Pauline telling me to get over myself and to get on with it, so today I turned two of the napkins into cards.

Early next year, I will send the cards to Pauline’s daughters in New Zealand. I’ve made two, and hope to make a few more.

The tote bag came from my friend Marcia, who lived part-time in Madrid for several years to be close to her son and grandson. I used the cotton tote as intended, but after a wash, it lost its stiffness.

A cotton tote bag featuring a black silhouette of a stretching cat with the quote 'Mi trabajo es dormir, alguien debe equilibrar las energías del planeta.' — Translation: My job is to sleep; someone has to maintain the balance.

The image delights me, and I couldn’t bear to toss it, so it sat for a time, too. I’ve turned that muslin scrap into a toss cushion, using the last of my pillow forms. Kismet.

A decorative cushion featuring a black cat silhouette and a humorous Spanish text that translates to 'My job is to sleep, someone must balance the energies of the planet.' The cushion is sitting on a gray couch next to a purple pillow.

The off-cuts of Christmas paper make the perfect bookmark, and since I regularly replenish a supply in our Little Free Library, I enjoyed using these scraps with some seasonal flair. There is very little “make” here, just a punch at the top threaded with a bit of cord. I stamped “Peace” in black ink, a sentiment worth sharing, and one that offers hope.

And on that note, I hope you and yours are managing during these emotionally challenging times.

You can see what others are up to for ScrapHappy day at the links below.

Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Chris,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv, Karrin, Alissa,
Hannah and Maggie

Thank you, Kate.

September 14, 2025 by Born To Organize

ScrapHappy Halloween Cards

I never thought I would say this, but I’ve finally exhausted the majority of my Halloween paper scraps. Sadly, crafting stores in my area are closing at a rapid clip. We’ve lost The Paper Source, JoAnn’s, Beverley’s, and my long-time favorite, Creative Escapes.

Shopping online has its benefits, but I miss the pleasure of looking at paper and embellishments up close, holding them, comparing colors and features while chatting with the creative women working or shopping at the store. I feel the loss.

I’ve loved Halloween my whole life, so making cards has been a natural extension of that. These card styles lend themselves well to scraps, and they’re fun to make.

Without further ado, here are this month’s scrappy, not to mention spooky, cards. Thank you for stopping by.

If you would like to share your own crafty creations, please get in touch with Kate.

You can take a look at other ScrapHappy posts at the following links:

Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda,

Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan,

Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,

Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,

Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,

Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,

Viv, Karrin, Alissa,

Hannah and Maggie

July 15, 2025 by Born To Organize

ScrapHappy for Paper: Cards and Craft Kits

I have several scrappy projects to share this month. I’ve been in the groove, so to speak. At the end of this post you’ll find links for other participants of Kate’s monthly ScrapHappy challenge.

First up, crafting kits for our Little Free Library. These kits are part scraps and part up-cycling.

It’s summer holidays here, so children are looking for things to do. I started with a stack of envelopes that I’ve had for years. I had ordered Christmas cards with our return address printed on the envelope. Instead, they mailed plain envelopes. Without any prompting from me, the return-address ones arrived the following week. All these years later, I still have a stack of unused envelopes, which led to the creation of these crafty card kits.

I cut half of the envelope flap and sealed it shut, then trimmed the other half and closed it with washi tape for a “secret compartment”. I folded the envelope in half, then cut scraps of yellow paper to use as the cover. I used one of my tag dies to cut the white paper, stamped it with black ink, and colored the image with markers as a sample, but left it for the crafter to color it themselves.

The second card uses the same envelope but with the flap at the bottom to make pockets. I cut three shapes for the cover and added an iridescent butterfly to the kit. I hope the children enjoy them.

Next up, a thank you card for my friend and neighbor. Val brought me a box of chocolates from the Big Island of Hawaii. I made her card using leftover glitter paper and the front of an envelope I would have otherwise tossed, with an island-themed vibe.

I embossed the paper to suggest water drops, with a special thank you to World Wildlife Fund for the complimentary gift wrap and a cool envelope for card-making.

Over the weekend, I created the following card using a prompt from a Facebook card-making group. Natalie is all about clean and simple cards with a lot of white background. She presents sketches to the group as a starting point, and we build upon them from there.

I used a textured white paper as a background, then cut circles from the patterned mailer. After applying green and orange oxide ink to a scrap of white paper, I cut the shapes with one of my dies. I had just enough of the remaining scrap to create a sliver-thin border.

Please join us with your scrappy, crafty creations by contacting Kate for more details.

Kate has provided these links for everyone who joins ScrapHappy from time to time (they may not post every time, but their blogs are still worth looking at).

Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda,

Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan,

Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,

Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,

Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,

Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,

Viv, Karrin, Alissa,

Hannah and Maggie

March 15, 2025 by Born To Organize

ScrapHappy: A Balm for the Soul

My recovery from hip replacement surgery is going well. Without needing ice packs and elevated limbs, I could comfortably sit at my crafting desk to make a few ScrapHappy cards. Thank you, Kate, for bringing us together for these monthly challenges.

I have an inordinate amount of green paper scraps spanning many shades, solid and print. I managed to work four green scraps into three cards. I will continue to challenge myself to use more. I have an unappealing shade of leftover green paper from a paper pack that I will never use, so it went into the “scraps for testing ideas pile,” allowing me to cull the useable greens.

The first card incorporates two shades of green and a blueish background from a Halloween pack, believe it or not. As I’ve challenged myself over the years, I’m more confident about mixing the unexpected. It’s fun.

card made using green and blue paper scraps

Once or twice a year, I receive a coupon mailer from a clothing company called Tommy Bahama featuring beautiful tropical art, something I can’t bear to toss. I set the envelope aside and waited for inspiration. This month, I incorporated the front and back of the envelope into two cards.

Tommy Bahama Envelope with tropical flowers

This first card uses a cutout from the front of the envelope, set behind a trellis die-cut using a green scrap. I inked a piece of white paper to get the shade of blue I wanted, then sandwiched the trellis, orchid, and blue paper, matting a sliver of purple to tie the colors together.

The final card uses the back of the tropical art, one more green scrap (yay), purple scraps from my sister, and a butterfly transfer to tie it together. I enjoy using up what I have, repurposing when I can, and, most of all, creating cards to send to friends.

three dimensional card using green and purple scraps, butterfly transfer

These are difficult times. If you’ve been looking for a way to reduce stress, creative outlets like card-making, sewing, knitting, gardening, painting, or writing are a balm for the soul.

Here’s a list of contributing scrap-happy bloggers:

Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Nóilin, Viv, Karrin, Alissa,
Tierney, Hannah and Maggie

June 15, 2024 by Born To Organize

ScrapHappy June Cards

On the 15th of each month, Kate invites bloggers to join in the fun of creating something from scraps. Participants create with fabric, metal, paper, and sometimes all three. If you have something to share made from scraps, please join us. You can contact Kate, linked above, for details.

I’m sharing three cards this month: two made from a reflective folder once used for school papers and a collage card.

My friend Mary Ann, also a cardmaker, gave me the folder and challenged me to create with it. Her scrap became my scrap; now it’s a pair of cards.

I love this sort of challenge, though I’ll admit that the intense shine and reflection of the folder gave me pause. It worked out in the end, though, and I had fun.

The pink card is my beginner’s attempt at collage. I follow a fabulous collage artist in Canada, and she inspired me to give it a go. You can take a look at Wilma’s gorgeous work here.

For the background, I used scrapbooking paper passed on from my sister featuring dress-maker patterns. I inked similar paper before die-cutting it into flowers. The pink sewing machine comes from a leftover piece of gift wrap. I used a few odds and ends of rub-on decals to add a bit of green and light pink. I want to study this medium in more detail to continue making this card style. It’s fun.

The following bloggers enjoy taking part in ScrapHappy. Click on any of the links below to see what they’re creating.

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Nóilin, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa ,
Lynn, Tierney, Hannah and Maggie

December 15, 2023 by Born To Organize

ScrapHappy December: Covered Booze Box and a Few Scrappy Cards

It’s the middle of December, or in Kate-speak, it’s time to show off our monthly ScrapHappy challenge as we wind down the year.

I have a few things to share this month, starting with a Christmas card made from a damaged gift bag.

After removing the striped paper from the sides and bottom of the bag, I selected the lower corner of the bag facade featuring a panda plushy. Those eyes melt my heart. Once cut to size, I used a dry embossing folder to add texture to the card, then cut it with a stitching die from my stash.

I created a mat for the card using the paper from the side of the gift bag and then added a thin border of gold paper for contrast. I used my glitter gel pen to add highlights where the original artist used them on the bag. A small greeting embossed on a heavy vellum finished the card.

Next, I created a series of cards using leaf skeletons gifted by my friend Mary. She said, “I thought you could use these to make cards,” so I did. The leaves came in an assortment of sizes and colors.

My last share is a wooden box gifted to Mike with a bottle of long-forgotten alcohol. I claimed the box for storage on my crafting table as it is sturdy and the perfect size for the various plates I use for my die and embossing machine.

It sat unadorned for a year before I gave it the Washi tape treatment. The wooden box has a slot for the lid, so one of the four sides needed leveling. I settled on take-out wooden chopsticks, building the edge in layers till even.

All three of these projects were a lot of fun. On that note, please look at some of the other fun ScrapHappy projects at the sites linked below.

Thanks, Kate, for inspiring us to put our scraps to use.

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy,
Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Nóilin, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa ,
Lynn, Tierney and Hannah

November 15, 2023 by Born To Organize

ScrapHappy for Someone Else’s Scraps

My friend Mary Ann is a cardmaker, among other things. She sells her wares on Etsy and at several craft shows near the holidays. As such, people give her “stuff,” hoping she can use it.

Lucky me.

Someone gave her this stack of parchment-like paper with a rectangle of gold foil in the center. She, in turn, passed them on to me. There are over 70 lustrous sheets, and I could hardly wait to tuck into them! Today’s scraphappy post is brought to you by a friend’s, friend’s scraps.

I made three cards covering Halloween, Christmas, and Autumn.

I used one of the foiled sheets as a background, then used my die cutter to cut the leafy inset. The rest of the card is done with ink.

The Christmas tree incorporates the gold center and part of the parchment for the trunk. The green scrap below has been kicking around in my supply drawer for years. I’m glad the paper found its purpose.

The last card has a simple design and as such it’s my favorite. All of these cards were fun to create, though.

I also made a gift card holder using a small envelope template I’ve had for years.

Thank you, Mary Ann!

If you’re a scrappy maker (paper, fabric, metal, etc.), consider joining us for this enjoyable endeavor.

Thanks as always, Kate. Please follow the links below if you would like to see what the other makers are up to.
Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda,

Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy,

Jan, Moira,Sandra, Chris,

Claire, Jean, Jon, Dawn, Gwen,

Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, Edith

Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,

Debbierose, Nóilin, Viv, Karrin,

Amo, Alis

August 15, 2023 by Born To Organize

ScrapHappy: Bookmarks and Craft Kits

It’s another ScrapHappy post inspired by Kate and her friend Gun.

I’ve made cards at my crafting table during the hottest part of these too-hot days. Card-making leads to scrap-making, and that’s what today’s post is all about.

I assembled twenty paper crafting kits and placed them near the children’s Little Free Library. They are always popular and fun (for me) if I’m lucky enough to be in my craft room when a young one claims one of the kits.

Using scraps passed on by my sister, I made an assortment of bookmarks for the Little Free Library.

I have a drawer full of beautiful ink, so I pulled out six to represent the rainbow.

I used stencils to add color, then stamped an image or a quote on the bookmark.

I applied ink to the last pair without using a stencil, and I like the look of the saturated inks.

My last make is a blend of scraps and upcycling. This beautiful envelope arrived with promotional material for Tommy Bahama stores.

I cut the most prominent section for the front of the card, adding a scrap of velum below. I fussy-cut the other flowers and used them to decorate the envelope. I have as much fun using new products as I do with scraps.

If you’re a scrappy maker (paper, fabric, metal, etc.), consider joining us for this enjoyable endeavor.

Thanks as always, Kate. Please follow the links below if you would like to see what the other makers are up to.

Kate, Gun,Eva, Sue,Lynda,
Birthe,Turid,Susan,Cathy, Tracy,
Jan, Moira,Sandra, Chris,
Claire, Jean, Jon,Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny,Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,Edith
Ann,Dawn 2,Carol,Preeti,
Debbierose, Nóilin, Viv, Karrin,
Amo,Alissa, Lynn,Tierney and Hannah

July 15, 2023 by Born To Organize

ScrapHappy: So Soon?

The 15th of the month arrived in a flash. I hate to miss one of Kate’s ScrapHappy posts, so I pulled some paper scraps and made a pair of cards.

I used my Silhouette Cameo die-cutting machine to cut the circles. It feels like a touch of magic when you fold the edges of the circle into a V, showing the reverse side of the paper. I alternated the pattern to show off both sides of the print.

It will surprise no one that I have lots of floral paper in my stash. It’s what I’m drawn to again and again. The last two pics are closeups of the paper quilt. I used white water-color paper, but for some reason it looks blue in these shots.

That’s my small contribution this month. Please click the links below to see what other makers are up to. Thanks as always, Kate.

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy,
Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Jon, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, Edith
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti, Debbierose, Nóilin, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa, Lynn, Tierneyand Hannah

May 14, 2023 by Born To Organize

ScrapHappy: Tablecloth

Thank you, Kate, of Tall Tales from Chiconia, for inspiring us to put our scraps to good use. I enjoy the challenge but don’t often make, photograph, and post on the same day. Phew!

It’s not the first time I pulled out this green scrap of outdoor material. I considered making a tablecloth this time last year but then realized it had white paint near the center. I vaguely remember using the material as a drop cloth (silly me) or simply getting it too close to an outdoor painting project. So I folded the scrap and put it away.

I found this lovely silky square in my “treasure” drawer a few days ago. The drawer is a place to keep small gifts and tokens of remembrance that don’t otherwise have a home. This lovely Tana Lawn pocket square is a gift from my friend Kelly. She brought it back from her trip to England a few years back. Something clicked in my brain, and I thought: I bet that matches the green fabric (it does), and I wonder if it will cover the paint (yes, it will). The tablecloth was a simple make, both pretty and practical, with a touch of friendship on the side.