Using Your Scrapbook Papers for Card Focals

When needing for a quick and easy card, try cutting out a portion of your scrapbook paper as a card focal!  The focals on both this card and the one to follow come from Paper Pizazz books from Hot Off the Press.  This first one comes from the book "Janie Dawson's Sweet Companions".  In this book, most of the 8 1/2 x 11" papers come in sets of two.  One page has a picture and saying in the corner. The second page is a coordinating pattern.  Here you can see I cut out the picture and saying to use as my focal.  I used some of the remaining paper for the background - the ribbon-like strip across the bottom was printed on the paper already.  I cut out the little sun to serve as an accent.  A bit of plain turquoise paper for mats and a decorative strip on the side and I had a quick and easy card ready to go.

The focal on this card came from the book "The Cat's Meow".  It's done in a similar way to the previous book -- one page has a picture in the corner, the second page has coordinating paper.  I used the picture in the corner for my focal, cutting it out in such a way that some of the paper shows for a border. I then matted that on plain blue paper.  The punch used on the white sides is the "Doily" one from Martha Stewart.  It's one of my all-time favorite punches.  It gives such a lacy effect.  You can't tell from the picture, but the "Happy Birthday" is foiled in a shiny blue.  Looks really good in person.