Hi friends!
If you’re anything like me, you probably have a collection of Christmas paper scraps that are just too pretty to throw away. Little strips of patterned paper, bits of book pages, leftover die cuts, ribbon, lace, paper doilies – all those odds and ends that seem to multiply in our craft rooms!
Well, today we’re putting them to good use!
In my latest video, I’m sharing how I make Christmas clusters using scraps and bits and pieces from my craft stash. If you’ve never made a cluster before, don’t let the name make it sound complicated. They can be incredibly simple!
And let me just tell ya, I have been HOOKED on making clusters and using up my scrap papers – as well as masterboards, which you can cut up and use for clusters too.
Oh my. It’s a whole new world, and I am just LOVING it!
Start with a couple of scraps of patterned paper……
…..layer them on (don’t overthink this part!), add a little texture with lace, a paper doily or cheesecloth & staple (or glue) together.
Then add a focal point. That could be a stamped image, die cut, sticker or something you’ve fussy cut.
And really, that’s a cluster!
From there, you can keep it simple or have fun adding more layers, tags, tickets, sentiments, ribbon and little embellishments.
There are no hard and fast rules, which is one of the things I love about making them.
From Scraps to Christmas Cards
Once I started making these, I couldn’t stop!
It’s so quick and easy to use finished clusters to create a whole stack of Christmas cards. Because the clusters do most of the work, I was able to prepare my card bases ahead of time, add some simple embossed backgrounds and then start putting everything together.
Card Measurements:
- Card Bases – 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ (when folded)
- Patterned Paper – 5 1/4″ x 4″
- White or Vanilla Layer (run through embossing folders) – 5″ x 3 3/4″
It’s a fun way to mass produce Christmas cards without making every card exactly the same. Each one still has its own personality, and you’re using up supplies you already have.
A Free Christmas Printable for You!
And because I wanted you to be able to craft right along with me, I created a FREE Christmas Clusters printable PDF as my gift to you.
Inside you’ll find lots of vintage-inspired Christmas pieces that you can print, fussy cut and mix with supplies from your own craft stash. I’ve also included a visual cheat sheet showing the basics of building a cluster if you need a little inspiration to get started.
A little note about using these printables:
You may use these printables in handmade cards, journals and other craft projects, including items you make to sell.
Please do not sell, upload, email, share or redistribute the PDF or individual digital images themselves. If someone else would like a copy, please share the link to this original download page instead.
I hope this gives you a little inspiration to pull out those Christmas scraps you’ve been saving and have some fun with them!
Whether you keep your clusters simple or pile on all the little bits and pieces, there really is no right or wrong way to make them. I’d love to see what you create – and I hope you enjoy the free printables too.
More Ideas for Using Your Paper Scraps
If you’re in the mood to keep using up your stash, you might also enjoy these:
- Four Cards From My Stash Using What I Had on Hand
- How to Turn One Masterboard Into Beautiful Cards – Use What You Have
Have a FABULOUS day & happy crafting!
Leave a Reply