Art Journal Pages from Scraps
So, let’s all talk about scraps. I am a perpetual hoarder of scraps – scrap fabric, paper scraps, an empty container, literally anything I think I could re-use or repurpose. My husband is the same, although his rat pack ways tend to apply only to car parts, lumber and house paint.
I have a container on my desk that I collect scrap paper from various art journal pages and projects. My intent is to always keep them in hopes of re-using them on future pages. And sometimes that happens, but what really happens is I just hoard them. And they never get used. But I can’t bear to throw them away, y’know? Because I might be able to use them! They’re so pretty! I was cleaning off my messy desk one day and finally figured out what to do with these cast-off tiny bits and pieces.
I just figured I’d start a few pages where I could collect and glue down all my extra bits. It was really relaxing to just glue stuff down, and clean out my stash at the same time.
The real jumping-off point that inspired me for these pages was my stained and painted paper towel scraps! I was so in love with the saturation and colours on them from my watercolours that I couldn’t bear to throw them away. They needed to be included in an art journal page.
I hope you feel inspired to start using the scraps you’ve been hoarding! Since I made these pages, I’ve started a few more that I periodically glue more scraps down in. It’s super easy, and super therapeutic to do!
What do you do with your scraps? Do you keep them, toss them, hoard them? I’d love to hear some new ideas on how to use them!
7 Comments
Jean
December 27, 2020 at 12:08 pm
I like sorting my scraps according to colour. Say blues and greys together or pink and teal and then I just attach them to the page with a small piece of masking tape. Then it’s easier to select from there. Or you could sort them according to colour schemes in ziplock bags or hanging files depending on the amount you have. It also creates a mood for ideas to develop from when starting your collage. Anyway that’s just my idea.
Diane
July 17, 2017 at 3:38 pm
I like this idea. I keep my scraps in a gallon size ziplock bag. I do use them in my art journals but I tend to put more in than I take out. Perhaps gluing them into a book, making a cross between an altered book and a glue book would be a way to use them.
Torrie Lynn
July 18, 2017 at 5:20 am
Thanks Diane! I’m the same way – I always end up keeping more than I use. I’ve also seen something called a glue book. It’s a book where you just glue stuff down that you like! I think I might give it a try.
Sasha
December 5, 2016 at 9:10 am
This really reminds me of creating a moodboard. Looks so pretty all together! And inspiring!
Torrie Lynn
December 6, 2016 at 5:42 am
Thanks Sasha!
Jeri Dawn Perkins
November 28, 2016 at 10:29 pm
LOVE the way these turned out! Think I may have to do the same with at least one or two drawers of clippings and shreds and memorabilia and… 🙂
Torrie Lynn
December 1, 2016 at 7:11 am
My scraps have built up enough that I think I need to do a few more pages now too!