Killing Kits: Tackling Branding Strips

Hey! It's time to share the latest of my videos in the Killing Kits Series, that I'm working on in collaboration with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. Today, I'm using a little bit more of the leftovers from my 'Planning For Perfection' Counterfeit Kit January 2016. (I made a start on them in the last video to make some Handmade Embellishments & A Quick Card. Be sure to check it out, if you haven't already seen it!)

This time around, I'm tackling a little stack of branding strips (because who doesn't have lots of those leftover?) to make some cute tags that could be added to a layout; used as a bookmark; or added to a gift!

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over in the Counterfeit Kit Facebook Community. I would love to hear from you! 

Little Gift Tags

In between projects, I always clear my desk of leftovers, but to make tidying feel a little less like a chore, I like to gather up some of my scraps and make something small. I find it helps me to use up those teeny, tiny scraps while I still have the incentive!

Stamps help with this process, because the smaller designs really make the most of those scraps - and there's very little waste. So, during my last desk clean, I pulled out some of my stamps from Make The Say Special and decided to make a few little gift tags. I chose my designs and colours based on a few leftover pieces of ribbon which were floating around. It's as good a reason as any, right?

The first tag uses a sentiment from Cruising Through Life, a little cloud from Bon Voyage and a circle element from Blossom Stackers. Doesn't it look like a little sun when it's stamped in yellow? On this second tag, I've used some leaves and floral elements from Blissful Botanicals and FlutterBy. The two sets compliment each other so perfectly. And lastly, a simple little tag made with a sentiment from Boob Tubes and an embellished star element from Learning Year By Year.

*** Please note that although the new website for Make The Day Special is now open, Emily is still working on the shop and we're currently unable to link to each stamp set. I'll let you know as soon as everything is re-stocked on the website. ***

Stamping & Stashbusting

After all my time away, I'm thrilled to rejoin the Make The Day Special DT. I've really missed playing with my lovely stamps - so I was thrilled to have some time this weekend to get stuck in. My fingers are now satisfyingly inky!

First I made a couple of little gift tag backgrounds using some teeny, tiny scraps. It's really simple, just stick them down, then sew them up! I thought the colours would be perfect for spring - even though they're actually scraps from my October Counterfeit Kit. It's the kit that just won't end!

The first tag uses a partial sentiment and balloons from Admit One and a little cloud from Bon Voyage - both sets from Lawn Fawn's Summer 2011 Release. Still one of my favourite stamp collections!

The second tag uses a simple sentiment from Cruising Through Life, another set from Lawn Fawn's Summer 2011 Release, and some pretty stars from Learning Year By Year, one of Unity's Store Kits.

Such super, simple stashbusting projects that I hope will add a little 'something, something' to my gifts.

Leftovers Make Pretty Projects

Last week, I had a big spring clean of the craft room - in which I pulled apart some 'never going to get finished, because I don't like them' crafty projects; reorganised some of my smaller items of stash; and finally started putting away the leftovers from previous projects that were messing up my mojo.

By Monday, my craft room looked clean and tidy, but there was still a large pile of odds and ends - paper scraps, embellishments, etc - on my desk. I just couldn't summon up the energy to put them away, I really wanted to get on with some actual crafting.

So, having already learnt the lesson that Leftovers Make Pretty Projects, I challenged myself to create three cards from all that scrappy stash. Though attempting three cards originally sounded like quite the challenge for someone who used to be afraid of cards, in the end it was quicker and far more enjoyable than tidying it all away. The only extras I used were a couple of stamp sets.

I think I need to employ this technique a little more often - I get such a kick from using up bits other people might throw away. Mini cards are definitely the way forward!

How about you? Do you make an effort to use your scraps? Am I preaching to the converted?