Cropped off scraps: Useful? HOW?

“Cropped-off scraps”~ Useful?!!!~ How?
By Ali MacDonald (c) Nov 6, 2008
Originally published at SBCH
Revised and republished May 27, 2009

One of the best things about thinking green is that we are SO much more conscious of waste and are working to ensure that we get as much “mileage” out of things as we can before they hit the trash. For me, this includes the pieces I trim (crop) from my pictures!

I often save the cropped-off scraps as they provide interesting textures and colours that can be used as accents on layouts.

Before I scoop them into the garbage bin, I have a quick look at what I have cropped from my photos.

I ask myself:

1. Is there anything on this cropped-off scrap that can be USED in another way for my SB’ing or cardmaking?

2. Can I utilize the colours this piece has on it? (ie: Scraps cropped from a bright, colourful pic.) Remember that back and white can be just as effective as an accent as “brights” can!

3. Is there any interesting texture?
Look for: mesh fencing, sand, water, pebbles, rocks, waves, brick, wood, grass/hay, siding, roofing tiles/shingles, clouds, leaves, shadows, puddles, flooring, and fence-posts; the list is endless.

Here is a photo showing some of the colours and textures from cropped-off scraps I have saved for future projects.
http://scrapbookersclubhouse.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/pic1-251.jpg?w=293&h=300

You can easily use such portions of cropped-off scraps to embellish cards and pages!

Here are some fun (recent) examples of how this can be done.

A) Twilight Moth Tag:

1. The Tag

Look carefully…Rhododendron leaves that had been cropped from the edge of a garden photo & saved were carefully trimmed for use on this tag. They add a touch of realism.

2. Leaves cropped from photo

Additionally, since the cropped off photo scrap was glossy in this case,(not matte, as I usually prefer) it added a bit of sheen under the moth which gave a nice effect to this muted tag. Here is a photo of the underside of the tag, where you can really see the leaves I added after they were trimmed from the cropped-off photo scrap.

3. underside of tag

B) Festive Card:

Colourful strips trimmed from a toy photo were used on this birthday-themed card!
Birthday card

C) Summer Layout:

Cropped-off scraps from photos of the kids in the pool make perfect turquoise “Colour-Blocks” on a summer-fun pet LO. This is our dog Ocean- the youngest of 2 dogs.
Summer LO

D) Sympathy or Friendship Card:

This cropped-off scrap boasted brick-work & a bit of “Bleeding Heart” floral interest- too beautiful to discard. This could be used either as a friendship card or as a sympathy card for a close friend.
Sympathy or friendship card

E) “Boo to You” Tag:

A cropped-off scrap of a black and white outdoor scene is perfect used on a tag made for a Halloween treat bag!
Boo to you!

Have fun seeing what possibilities lie in those “cropped-off scraps!” I’d love to see what you can come up with! Feel free to place a link to your creation in the “Reply” section below.

Thanks for allowing me to share this green scrappy idea with you here at SOS, it has been percolating in my “noggin” for awhile!! (Article originally published on SBCH Blog.)

Wow Ali! GREAT ideas! I save most all of my paper scraps, but hadn't really thought to save my pic scraps! Tons of uses!! THANKS!!