If you are making a lot of cards, things can get really expensive. If you are making cards that are really fancy and super nice, it can also be expensive. One way to make sure that you aren’t spending loads of money, but still have the best cards, is to recycle your materials. It might seem a little weird but here are some ideas to make sure you are using everything you can without wasting anything.
You always use paper when making cards. When you have scraps, don’t throw them away. If you are making lots of little shapes, even scraps that are only an inch long are still usable. You don’t need to use a whole new sheet of paper just to make one small shape. Make a pile of scrap when you are using the paper and put it in a box when you are done. Next time you need paper or are making cards you can get out your pile of scraps. Use anything from there first and then go to your new paper. It really helps to have a scrap pile especially when you are using a color of paper that isn’t common, costs a lot, or you might run out of.
Scrap piles work for any type of material. You can put everything in the same box or have separate bags for them that go with the same materials. Even if you only have one scrap from one type of material it’s good to start with one. Scraps are always good for any type of project. There are even many people who make quilts from scrap material. That saves them tons of money because they don’t have to go out and buy more material they already have it.
When you receive a card, you don’t always have to through them away. It might seem a little weird but if you like the front of the card, the inside quote, or even the back, cut out what you want. If you are going to throw it away anyways, then it is a waste not to keep something you know you will use. The designs might be great on a card you make, so you might as well keep it and put it with your craft things.
Wrapping paper is something that everyone gets. There are always the people who love saving it, so if you are one of those people, and even if you aren’t, savings scraps is fun and great for cards. Wrapping paper always has fun designs or really bright metallic colors. Cut out scraps of what you want and put them on cards. Decorate the whole outside of a card with some bright red metallic Christmas wrapping paper and you will have a great Christmas card. You don’t have to save every part of the wrapping paper, just a little bit and use it on your next card. It works great with birthday, wedding, and other types of wrapping paper, not just Christmas.
Using things over again helps to cut down on what you have to buy but it also helps the environment. Just think of it as free materials. You don’t have to save everything, but even a little bit helps to save you from wasting materials that you need and that you will just have to buy if you don’t save.