Scrapbook page and "Scrap Cards"

First up today is an 8 x 8 scrapbook page made based on a challenge for WSD.  For it, I used papers and embellishments from my stash - including several old HOTP papers and a "Brad Buddy".  I added some detail to the Brad Buddy rocking horse with Sharpie markers.  The title was made using alphabet cutting dies.  If you look closely, you can see a decorative stitching around the edge made using my sewing machine and gold thread.

When I was finished with this page, I had several scraps of the papers left over.  I'm learning that it works best to USE UP scraps at the time I make them!  So, I started by using a couple of the pieces to form backdrop and border for a swap card I needed to make with the theme "Trees".  

Card #1:

After gluing my scraps in place, I made a couple of trees using Frosted Forest decorative masks and dies from Stampin' Up! using Pecan Pie, Pool Party, and Pretty Peacock inks. After gluing them in place, I added sentiments cut from the same paper pack whose leftovers I was using. 

Card #2:

Now I just had small scraps left over.  I arranged them as a backdrop and glued them in place.  Then I went looking for some sort of focal.  I saw this stamped and colored image (from Stampin' Up! Beside Me stamp set - currently on "Last Chance" sale) sitting on my desk.  I had experimented with using Stampin' Blends with VersaFine ink - only to find out that ink bleeds when the markers come in touch with it.  I had thought it a failed experiment, but decided that though it was an experiment I wouldn't try again, it wasn't so bad that I couldn't use it!  Now I needed a VERTICAL greeting.  I thought about an old stamp I had in my stash from Sweet Stamps (no longer in business).  I stamped that with Misty Moonlight ink onto white cardstock, and added both to my card with dimensionals.

By this time I thought I'd used up my scraps, but came back later and found a piece of the blue left over!   SOOOO. . . . 

Card #3:

Now I had to find something to go with that blue piece.  I still had a focal sitting on my desk, so decided to use that.  Could I find some scraps that would go with the blue and the focal?  I think these do!  This card is designed as a Book Binding Card.  As you can see from the next picture, it has a one and a quarter inch "binding" on the left that does not open, the rest of the card opens normally.

Simply take a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of card stock and score at 4 1/4" and 5 1/2"  Fold in half at the 5 1/2" score line, then fold as valley fold at the 4 1/4" line.  With the fold line on the left, glue card shut between fold lines.  

I found a piece of yellow cardstock for the background, added the blue mat and the focal - then a sentiment from my stash.  A scrap of patterned paper with similar colors along the "binding" finished this card.

Card #4: 

Now I only had one of those focals left and I wanted to get it off my work space!  I embossed a piece of Night of Navy cardstock (used Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder) and went looking for a patterned paper that would work together with it and the focal.  I chose this Early Espresso DSP which makes a great backdrop for it (works with the pink in the girl's shirt, but keeps the masculine feel I wanted).

The card itself is a Fancy Accordion style with lots of folds.  Again I started with a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of cardstock.  This time I scored it at 2 3/4", 5", 6", 8", and 9".  First two score lines are folded as valley folds - then mountain, valley, mountain.  Unless you add a panel that extends more to the right than the card itself, this card will be smaller than an A2 card by about 1 1/4" (which suggests if you started with a piece that was 12" long it wouldn't take much modification to end up with a standard A2 sized card).