Fabulous Die Cut Tip: Cards with Leftover Die Cut Shapes

I recently finished a big project for a magazine article I was writing that will appear in Die Cut Crazy Magazine in September 2013 about Embossing your die cuts.

As you can imagine, after my creative frenzy was over, my desk was covered with die cut scraps. The die cut scraps came from various files I got from the Silhouette Online Store and cut with my Silhouette Cameo.

You know I already keep a box of die cut scraps that I talked about HERE.  But there were so many of these scraps left over from this one project they were just crying out  “USE US UP …DON’T ADD US TO A BOX” !  Well how could I resist such a plea?  

A great thing to make with leftover die cuts are CARDS or TAGS.  I have been trying to make more cards to have on hand so cards was my choice today.

I used a blank 6.5X5 white card base to start each card.  Then I just started moving the die cut pieces around on the card until I determined a design that was pleasing to my eye.  Just a few cuts with my paper trimmer and the original die cut leftovers were ready for a new life.

Card #1:

• I used the negative die cut left overs to form 3 panels on my card. They fit perfectly and was a great starting point. Tip: Use those negative cuts in a new way.
• A few of the embossed die cut pieces were cut down and added to the side of each negative panel for some pattern.
• I had a few of the leftover die cut butterflies so used them as the lively element on the card. I added a few Freckled Fawn Enamel Dew Drops that matched the colors of the leftover die cut pieces. Tip: I used a black pen to draw the flight path of the butterflies to add some movement to my design.
• I trimmed one of the leftover die cut pieces slightly and used it to stamp my sentiment.

Card #2:

• I started by rounding the corners on my white cardstock base card.
• Then I laid out the leftover die cut shapes on the card to form a collage effect.  Tip: think of doing a collage effect like building a puzzle. Pay attention to moving the colors around to finding a pleasing pattern to your eye.
• I added a few layers of more left over die cut shapes on top of the base pattern to add more interest.
• Again, I used a few of the Freckled Fawn Enamel Dew Drops to add some interest to the overall design.
• This time I stamped my sentiment directly on to the card.

Easy peasy, as they say !  And I two fun cards in no time that can go in my stash of cards to be used at a moments notice.  Do YOU ever use up your die cut scraps right away to make something else? I challenge you to do so next time you have a pile of leftover die cut pieces sitting in front of you !