Pretty Patchwork Cards

I've been having a lot of fun mixing up my scraps to make patchwork backgrounds.  When I am able to trim the edges of my patchwork piece and see only slivers left, I am finally comfortable throwing those pieces away.

Apparently, the feeling is catching. Here's are some cards my friend Claire was inspired to make with her scrap pieces. (Click any photos for a larger view.)

This Christmas card would be perfect for giving to a man with its plaid and darker colours. I always find those among the harder kind of cards to make!

On this blue one, Claire used some glitter cardstock scraps. I know how reluctant I am to get rid of specialty paper scraps. This idea works well for those!  In the corner, she clear embossed a nativity stamp image over the blue cardstock. I like the subtle look of it.

This one is my favourite! The penguin is adorable. The green and red papers on the sides plus the green bunting that the penguin in the patterned paper holds all echo the colours of the focal stamped penguin image.  This is a truly pieced patchwork card card too. I like the coverage from the mixed patterned papers.

I've been sifting through my scraps too. I'm making some cards for my grandmother. I showed you some I made with my black and white scraps before, and here I have another!

My grandmother does not like dimensional elements on her cards, so I used black Stickles glitter glue instead of brads or buttons at the sides. I coloured the balloons with my alcohol markers and then added the polka dots with a white gel pen.

If you haven't tried making "Scrap Mats" out of your paper scraps, you should! Even though I'm using different colours (all in monochromatic themes per card right now), the cards are unified by their patchwork style. You could easily make some gifts sets this way!