I need a challenge

[BernardandMissBianca]

I used to toss all my scrap paper, now I'm really bad about keeping it all. but now what? I am over run with scraps. Not big pieces but pieces that are like 1" x 3". The experts say to never toss a piece that is larger than your smallest punch well I have to micro mickey punch. Give me a 1/8" piece and I can punch stuff out. But how many confetti size mickey heads can 1 semi-sane person have?

What do I do? And yes I already have a bazzillion tags.....

[rlovew]

Try making some Serendipity Squares- you use all sorts of leftover scraps for that.

Rebecca

[Michele]

Try making some Serendipity Squares- you use all sorts of leftover scraps for that.

Rebecca


Serendipity Squares? Can I see an example? I don't know what these are. I'm looking for scrap uses too.

[rlovew]

I only learned about them in the last few days but you take 1 complete sheet of cardstock and you randomly glue small scraps across it. When you have it fairly well covered then you cut it into squares about 1 1/2 to 2 inches- all of them will have random designs in those colors on them. You can mount them onto a larger square if you wish.

Below are some example of the squares in action as well as instructions in another language. I don't know that you will be able to just click on the links you may have to put them in your browser.

http://www.scrapbook.it/Archivio%20Tecniche/Serendipity%20squares/Serendipity%20squares.htm

Another good example of some serendipity tags can be found here ...
http://gallery.lifetimemoments.com/showphoto.php?photo=17371

And here is a great one of some serendipity squares and some serendipity alphabet letters!
http://gallery.lifetimemoments.com/showphoto.php?photo=16683

[Michele]

Thanks SO much for the links!!! (Looked like Italian) I really like those. That will put my scraps to good use. Thanks for the question B&MB!

[laura&fam]

What a great idea - thanks!

[PrincessNancy96]

Thanks Rebecca!!!
Thanks B&MB!!!
I love those squares!!!
I am like you B&MB... I have file folders of scrap papers.. my kids laugh at me.. now who will be laughing with they are gluing these down to the sheets of cardstock for my use!:rotfl: I let them complete their own page to be used in their books!!!

[Twigs]

I love making serendipidy things. When I do, I do not leave any of the base paper showing, and then I sometimes use a gold, bronze or silver ink to stamp some small random images around the page. When it is cut out it really adds something to the object. I also use it for borders, and borders on journal boxes or photo mats. And letters cut out from the page look great too.

[marlynnp]

Or you could do a mosaic layout. I'll check if I have one loaded in photobucket.

[marlynnp]

Found it.... now if I remeber how to add the photo it will appear below!:lmao:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/marlynn_p/pm.jpg

[marlynnp]

The finished page now has a title on it.... Crisp Crunchy Autumn and the facing page has pics of jumping in leaves, etc.

[wilma-bride]

Found it.... now if I remeber how to add the photo it will appear below!:lmao:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/marlynn_p/pm.jpg

That looks great - I love it :thumbsup2

[PrincessNancy96]

Found it.... now if I remeber how to add the photo it will appear below!:lmao:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/marlynn_p/pm.jpg

Love it!! Great idea!!!

[StregaNona]

Oh! I wondered how to make serendipity squares. A friend sent me some she made. I am not creative, so I had no idea how easy they are. Thanks for the directions!! Cute autumn mosaic, too!

[Lisa]

If a scrap is smaller than a 1" square, I throw it out. Anything bigger I save.

However, now that I have seen serendipity squares, I may have to rethink this. :lmao: Okay, Buffy, it's definitely going to be your fault I'll have all these little puny pieces of scraps all over my scrapbooking room. :scared1:

[BernardandMissBianca]

If a scrap is smaller than a 1" square, I throw it out. Anything bigger I save.

However, now that I have seen serendipity squares, I may have to rethink this. :lmao: Okay, Buffy, it's definitely going to be your fault I'll have all these little puny pieces of scraps all over my scrapbooking room. :scared1:



Oh no you're not blaming me for this one! :rotfl2: Besides which, I'm still mad at you. I spent money today. And I got in trouble for it from DH (j/k). I told you never to call me at this number. :rotfl:

I like the squares though. I'm not nuts about the mosaic, I have some mosaic page kits but man those took for ever to do. My mom on the other hand loves them.

[Honeybehr1]

My sons preschool has a cutting table where they practice using scissors and they use card stock/condtruction paper. Maybe a preschool could take your scraps

[BernardandMissBianca]

My sons preschool has a cutting table where they practice using scissors and they use card stock/condtruction paper. Maybe a preschool could take your scraps

I have already dumped a ton of stuff on our art teacher, pre-k, kindergarten etc. They run the other way when I come in with stuff. LOL

I think I'm going to try the serendipity squares and we'll see how it goes from there.

[Lisa]

I think I'm going to try the serendipity squares and we'll see how it goes from there.

Shall I put you down to present this new skill at the next workshop? :rolleyes1

[hopemax]

I'm wondering how many serendipity type items will work their way into the first round of swaps. :)

[MazdaUK]

They look great ways to use up- the odd bits - I hate throwing away paper even if its just the bits left after I've punched LOADS of shapes out and its so flimsy I can't get it back in my folder! I have to watch out if DH is about as he'll go - oh, this is finished - and bin it before I can go Oy!

[AlexWyattMommy]

The mosaic looks so pretty. But I suffer from not enough patience syndrom and could never do that.

The serendipity paper looks really pretty, but the instructions looked Italian to me too and that's all Greek to me.

What kind of glue do you use?

[rlovew]

The instructions I had for them- a different PDF that I have no idea how to post suggested using a xyron or sticker maker- you can use any glue you would use for paper though I suppose.

[New England Eeyore]

Here's a link with instructions in English.
http://www.scrapfriends.us/articles/article_serendipity_squares.htm

[BernardandMissBianca]

Shall I put you down to present this new skill at the next workshop? :rolleyes1

Can you say Bite me?:p

At least let me build one first.

[Lisa]

:scared1: :laughing:

:lmao: :rotfl: Folks, this is the true Buffy we all know and love.

At least let me build one first.

:idea: May I suggest you get cracking then.:lmao:

[BernardandMissBianca]

:scared1: :laughing:

:lmao: :rotfl: Folks, this is the true Buffy we all know and love.

At least let me build one first.

:idea: May I suggest you get cracking then.:lmao:

Alright already, geez Louise. ;) I might work on it tonight but I need to clean the bathroom and wash the living room floor first. I have to at least pretend I do something around here or DH will take my computer away. LOL And I'm still hoping to get the Cricut or the Wishblade. which BTW I saw the Cricut at Walmart today for $194.

[PrincessNancy96]

Yes, I'm hoping there is still one there next week.. my mom is going to buy one.. so I can use hers.. It's an hour drive..but she'll watch the kids while I play!! Bonus!!

[KAMommy]

Y'all crack me up!

The serendipity squares look cool. But I don't know when I would have time to make them. Much easier just to throw the scrap away! (Will I get banished from the boards for admitting I do that?)

B&MB and Nancy - I highly recommend the Wishblade (or the CraftRobo). I LOVE mine, and I really haven't even scratched the surface of what it will do.

[BernardandMissBianca]

Y'all crack me up!

The serendipity squares look cool. But I don't know when I would have time to make them. Much easier just to throw the scrap away! (Will I get banished from the boards for admitting I do that?)

B&MB and Nancy - I highly recommend the Wishblade (or the CraftRobo). I LOVE mine, and I really haven't even scratched the surface of what it will do.


I really want the Wishblade but I can't use it on my Mac. So I would have to wait until I get a new computer with an Intel processor or with a Microsoft dual boot.

And I'm getting impatient, I seriously lack patience.

[rlovew]

The new craftrobo software runs on a Mac OS X system, of course I don't know what system you have but I love my craftrobo pro.

Rebecca

[elastigirlfan]

I love the serendipidity squares...I'm defineltly going to try them. Last night, I was organizing my new scrapbooking room and taking all my scraps and putting them in a container, wondering what I was going to do with all of them....now I know:teeth: I also love that mosaic...Wow!!

[KAMommy]

I really want the Wishblade but I can't use it on my Mac. So I would have to wait until I get a new computer with an Intel processor or with a Microsoft dual boot.

And I'm getting impatient, I seriously lack patience.

I totally understand about the lack of patience. It even happens after you have the machine. I wanted mine to do everything NOW, but it does take some time to learn - a downside to some, I'm sure. Fortunately, I love playing with techie toys!

[BernardandMissBianca]

The new craftrobo software runs on a Mac OS X system, of course I don't know what system you have but I love my craftrobo pro.

Rebecca


Cool! Now to convince DH to buy me one.

[MyLittlePiglet]

For those you have actually made these... what other adhesive besides zyron works well? I imagine you really want that so that the peices really adhere adn flat at that. Can anyone tell me about the different zyron machines? What is the smallest most basic one?

Thanks
M

[rlovew]

For those you have actually made these... what other adhesive besides zyron works well? I imagine you really want that so that the peices really adhere adn flat at that. Can anyone tell me about the different zyron machines? What is the smallest most basic one?

Thanks
M

I haven't made them yet but will be doing them this month. Any adhesive that will cover the entire paper you are sticking don would work- you just couldn't only do parts of it.

I have the Xyron 250- It is the 2nd smallest. It costs about $20 I think (it was a gift). The refills are about $12.00 each. It will do things up to 2 1/2 inches wide. The smaller one is called the sticker maker and I think it does things up to 1 1/2 inches wide. For the lower end models the difference is the width of the items you can pout through as far as I can tell.

[BernardandMissBianca]

For those you have actually made these... what other adhesive besides zyron works well? I imagine you really want that so that the peices really adhere adn flat at that. Can anyone tell me about the different zyron machines? What is the smallest most basic one?

Thanks
M

I think the best way to go is with some kind of wet glue. I would think you would go through the xyron tape pretty quickly.

The smallest xyron is the 150 which is the X. The refills are around $5-7, and it is 1 1/2" wide. Then there is the 250 - 2.5", 500 - 5", and 900 - 9".

[Twigs]

I don't know if I've missed somthing in this thread, but if you are asking what adhesive to use for making serendipity paper, I have always used a glue stick and it works really well.

This is the site where I learned from:

http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Techniques/Serendipity/35.php

[BernardandMissBianca]

I don't know if I've missed somthing in this thread, but if you are asking what adhesive to use for making serendipity paper, I have always used a glue stick and it works really well.

This is the site where I learned from:

http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Techniques/Serendipity/35.php

DUH! I didn't even think of that!

[pjlla]

I saw this done on the Scrapbooking show on DIY network and it looked interesting, but the links you all provided have really inspired me. I am always looking for some busy work to do while I am waiting at swim, skiing, and basketball. I don't usually bring actual scrapping because .... #1 I am not organized enough to get stuff ready ahead of time and #2 I am afraid I will wreck the pictures when I am transporting the stuff back and forth (and especially afraid in the humid pool atmosphere!). But this would be a perfect project to do while I am waiting!

I have skiing tomorrow, so I am going to grab a big folder of scraps, some adhesive, and some cardstock backing and go to town! Thanks for the suggestions!

BTW, if you are impatient about things and don't want to do a large mosaic, they can certainly be done smaller than the example show (however, it was BEAUTIFUL!). I did a mosaic flag recently and it didn't take too long. I used my smallest square punch (1/2" maybe), had DD punch me the squares from red, white, and blue scraps, and then I assembled the flag. It was about 14 square across and 7 down. Probably glued down and done in 30 minutes. And this was without using my Xyron... I glued each square individually with my Zig pen. It would be much faster using a Xyron.

Good luck to all with this!......................P

[pjlla]

Okay.... I organized some scraps (printed, solid, and disney themed), packed them up along with some black and white cs for backing, and my Xyron and hauled it all to the ski mountain. I completed two 12 x 12 sheets while I waited for the kids. One was mostly pink and white printed paper to use on some "girly" pages. The other was mostly red and blue disney paper. Both of the sheets look great. I can't wait to cut them up and use them on a page (or two or three!). I found it easier to run the larger scraps through the Xyron and THEN tear them up. It was a pain to run the little torn up pieces through the machine and I think it wasted adhesive.

I was at work this morning and they sent me home (they overbooked the substitute teachers), so I am considering this a "found" day and will be scrapping until I have to get DD from the bus at 2:45 pm (that is, if I can pull myself away from the Dis!)........................P

[MazdaUK]

Sounds like I need a xyron if CM tape runner wouldn't be good enough :confused:

[ariel & eric]

I have made some of these for swaps before. I really like the way they have turned out but never thought of making them for myself or making letters or borders. Just thinging recently what I could do with all my scraps again. Thanks for the thread Buffy.

[pjlla]

Just a quick update on this topic. DD (11) is always wanting to "help" me with my scrapping. So I gave her some scraps and my Xyron and let her make me some serendipity squares and a tag to match the page I was working on. I used the tag to put my title on, then I used three 1" squares mounted on solid card stock to accent the left page and three 1/2" square unmounted on the right page. It looks great and she is so proud of having helped create her page! I still haven't cut up the original two sheets of serendipity I made, but I do have plans for them...................P

[MazdaUK]

I did some yesterday and used a glue pen (and got sticky fingers!) Some of my pieces were small, some were odd shapes (I'm not good at tearing) but I was really pleased with the end result. I did a mixture of blue shades, some plain some patterned, and mounted some up on primrose cardstock and the few left over on a bright orange and they look Gooooood!:cool1:

I did fin (because I glued the backing cardstock not the pieces) bits did fall off when I cut up the sheet, but I stuck them back with tape runner. And I found the sheet a bit bulky for my 12" CM trimmer - I cut the squares etc. with scissors, but i wanted the mounted pieces cut good and straight and I did find it a bit of a struggle.

Still, first set done, now I have to use them up :rolleyes1

[BernardandMissBianca]

I still have to try these. Maybe I'll make some at Lisa's crop next month. Although DH is out of town this week so there might be time to play. I have to get my swaps done first though.