One of the cleverest uses of scraps I’ve seen featured in a scrapbook layout was a collection of candles made from leftover pieces of ribbon placed on top of a die cut birthday cake and topped with rhinestones to mimic flames.
Now, that’s creativity at its finest.
I wish I could say I came up with the idea, but alas, I am not that ingenious. However, I have recreated the scrap ribbon candle in a number of my own birthday layouts. More importantly, the idea inspired me to find other ways to turn scrap material into embellishments for my page designs.
Currently, I am trying to breathe new life into all of the leftover ribbon I collected during the holidays. A good chunk of the Christmas ribbon I saved is white; however, I have been busy using chalk and ink to color it to match various layouts. On the larger pieces of white ribbon that I haven’t colored, I used stamps to create a decorative border. This technique works exceptionally well if you crafting a baby-themed layout. Stamping rubber ducks and block letters on thick pieces of ribbon is an easy way to make a page border or a frame for cute pictures of newborns and infants.
Another idea I have been working on includes setting eyelets though a strip of ribbon to create a trim for a journaling block. The downside to this creation is getting it to securely stick to your layout. Personally, I don’t like the look of staples. In fact, I don’t recommend staples for any type of embellishment. With thicker ribbon you could use glue dots or decorative stick pins. Another option is double-sided tape or strong liquid adhesive.
Finally, if you are planning to repurpose ribbon that has been attached to a gift bag or box, you might consider pressing it first. You want to keep your ribbon free of tangles and knots, so it looks appealing when placed on your layout. A good place to store extra ribbon is on an empty paper towel roll.