Craft Hoarders Anonymous November Blog Hop

Welcome to the Craft Hoarders Anonymous November Blog Hop! The Hoarders Crew has been hard at work, de-hoarding and creating! Hop along and see what they have made! 

My blog is the first blog in the hop! After visiting me, hop over to Debbie Seyer's Blog next! For the full list of Bloggers, see the list at the end of this post! There are ELEVEN ladies, with amazing projects to share this month! Keep an eye out for Bloggers who are giving away Blog Candy!

I created a matching card and tag set this month. In the past month, as I was trying to think of what to make, and got into a few conversations with crafty friends about using the hoard. If you get two or more paper crafters together, they will eventually talk about "storage" and how to "use up" their products. 

I realized something a few years ago: I am not like other crafters. I don't really view my product as a hoard or a stash. I view it at INVENTORY. Since I create for various companies, for pay, and for teaching more than I create for personal use, I don't really view my product as...mine. I view it as inventory that I need to do my work. Which also means, the way I store things is unique to my particular needs. That leads me to my post today! 

I saw an idea where Kristie - The Best Things in Life are Pink shared how to use a full 6x6 pad to create cards. My pal Kathy Clement - Kathy by Design shared with me how she was storing her paper scraps, and how she was using them. I loved both ideas, but neither idea worked for me, mostly because I don't think I have "scraps." I just have big pieces of paper and small pieces! I admit, I have TONS of paper. Especially Graphic 45 paper! I have so much that is left over from one project or another. I tend to just wade into full sheets and full pads when I create, rather than using up the leftovers. 

Well, I decided to give a try of using up "leftovers" from ONE collection. Just to see that I could do.

Since Graphic 45 French Country was on my desk, I decide to pull all the blue papers from the collection. I only pulled partial pieces. No full sheets of paper were harmed during this crafting experience! I also pulled a set of four sketches from Mojo Monday January 2015. 

Here is the plan of attack:

1. Choose a paper collection and a color scheme or theme (I used Graphic 45 French Country - blue). 
2. Sort out the partial pieces, Do NOT cut into any new 12" x 12" papers.
3. Check to see if you have matching 8" x 8" or 6" x 6" papers. (I had both for this collection.) 
4. Choose items from any partial packs of matching embellishments. (Yep, I had those, too!)
5. Choose your sketches or CAS something you saw on a blog or Pinterest. (I used some older Mojo Monday sketches, which I print and keep in a binder.)

6. Choose cardstock, look for scraps and pre-made cards. (I gathered a stack of large scraps, slightly damaged card blanks, and full pieces with bent edges.)
7. Choose stamps, dies, trims, and other embellishments to match your theme. Try to look for opened packages of pearls or buttons, or use stamps that have been gathering dust. (I have a hoard of Want2Scrap product from an old design team gig. I also have a stack of BRAND NEW stamps, just waiting to be inked.)
8. Create!

Using the sketches makes it easy to figure out paper sizes and shapes for each layer. Having matching chipboard embellishments also takes the guess-work out of the process! This card is 6" x 5" and is a lovely, rustic, French Country design!

I found a canvas bow that I had made at one time or another, but never used. I also found a set of die cut words that I had made to test the die set when I first purchased it. (I keep a few small bins on my desk where I toss odds and ends. It's a treasure trove!)

I created a button by punching a scrap of blue gingham paper with a circle punch, then layering it with punched cardstock. Gluing the twine bow over the "button" hides the fact that there are, in fact, no button holes! I added the tiny black gems. I have a sheet of these gems, but only the huge ones and the tiny ones are left on the sheet!

I also added ivory cardstock to the inside, along with strips of paper. I have TONS of 1" and 1 1/2" strips of paper, leftover from when I cut down a larger sheet. I cannot toss them out! They are too big to throw away, but too small to use. However, they are perfect for adding a bit of interest to the INSIDE of a card!

I recently purchased some stamps from Verve Stamps and wanted to used them. It is very normal for me to buy stamps and then not use them for months or YEARS! So this little stamp was lucky!

I carried on with the next sketch on the page, this time adding a scrap of lace I found. This card is also 6" x 5", my go-to size! I like this size because there is less waste from a 12" x 12" piece of paper. I cut two 12" x 5" pieces and score them at 6" to create two, top-fold cards. There is just a 12" x 2" piece leftover, which is perfect for matting layer strips!

I used a matching pocket and chipboard tag from the paper collection. I fussy cut a sunflower from another scrap of the paper. I lost the "i's" from the die cut sentiment, so I used some of the tiny gems to dot them!

Once again I decorated the inside a bit with some ivory cardstock and paper strips. I always have card-sized pieces of ivory cardstock laying around. For some reason, I get in a hurry and chop away at full pieces rather than look for larger "scraps." It comes from being on design teams and getting so much free paper! I makes me less frugal, but it also creates so much extra "scrap"! I used the same stamp for the inside, mostly because it was still stuck to the stamping block!

This card is a standard A1 size (5 1/2" x 4 1/4"). I found a card blank in this size, so I just used it! I had more of the lace left as well. For some reason I only had about 12" of this particular lace. Now, I have none! I used the sketch very loosely for this card. Rather than the large circle the sketch called for, I used the pre-made tag. 

I created a button from the pre-made punch out embellishment (from the French Country Banners). I also stamped directly onto the pre-made tags (French Country Tags and Pockets). You can see here that I used one of the leftover 1"-2" paper strips, matted with a black cardstock strip. 

And the inside, using another paper strip and a NEW stamp!

By the time I got to the last sketch, I was getting bored. I saw a Graphic 45 ATC-sized tag sitting in my "lost and found" bin, so I decided to create a little tag/card from it!

I created a top-fold card 3" x 2 1/2", with rounded corners. I glued the ATC tag to the front of the little card.

The little ATC is so small, that it's a good way to use up the smallest scraps! I also used a pre-made tag, which I stamped onto.

I added some ivory cardstock and a stamped sentiment to the inside.

And that folks, is how you USE IT UP! Gloria-style!

This set of cards will make a great gift! If I package them in a matching box or large envelope...
Now hop on to Debbie Seyer's Blog!

Make sure you visit all the ladies in the group. They have some AMAZING projects to share. A few of the gals may have Blog Candy to give away as well! 

Craft Hoarders Anonymous Blog Hop List:
Gloria Stengel (you are here)
Debbie Seyer
Jacquie Southas
Tracey Sabella
Donna Idlet
Nancy Dynes
Wendi Robinson
Kathy Clement
Karen Zueger-Brownell
Marisa Job
Christy Houser

Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Black, Natural
Decorative paper and embellishments: Graphic 45 French Country (12x12, 8x8, 6x6 pads)
Stamps: Verve Stamps (Wonderfully Made, Proverbs 31:25), Jillibean Soup Just a Note, My Favorite Things Essential Sentiments, Papertrey Ink Scripted
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Vintage Photo
Dies: Papertrey Ink Scripted
Punches: Stampin' Up 3/4" and 1" circle, jewelry tag
Trims: Really Reasonable Ribbon lace, black burlap string
Gems: Want2Scrap
Canvas Corp: canvas fringe
ATC tag: Graphic 45 Artist Trading Tag - black
Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares, Aleens'e Tacky Glue, Scor-tape, hot glue
Sketches: Mojo Monday January 2015