What to Do With Scrapbook Paper: 13 Ways to Use Your Stash

There is a drawer. In it are pads of scrapbook paper you bought because the patterns were gorgeous, and most of them are barely touched, because every sheet feels too pretty to actually use. So they sit. You buy more when a new collection catches your eye, the pile grows, and the paper you loved enough to pay for is doing nothing but waiting for a project worthy of it.

The project does not have to be worthy. Scrapbook paper is just nice cardstock with a pattern, and it turns into a dozen small useful things in an afternoon. None of these need special tools, most use a single sheet, and all of them are better uses than sitting in a drawer feeling precious.

So here is what to actually do with that stash.

Quick wins from a single sheet

These take one sheet and a few minutes, perfect for using up offcuts and odd patterns.

• Greeting cards. Fold a sheet of cardstock, layer a smaller patterned panel on the front, add a stamped or printed sentiment, and you have a card that looks bought. Score the fold first with a bone folder or the back of a butter knife so the card bends cleanly instead of cracking, and use a photo-safe glue if you tuck a photo inside. Our guide to safe glues for paper crafts covers what holds without warping the paper.
• Gift tags. Cut small rectangles or use a tag punch, thread a bit of twine through a hole, and a leftover sheet becomes a year of tags. Punch the hole before you trim the tag to size, so a misplaced hole never wastes the whole piece.
• Bookmarks. A strip of patterned cardstock, a laminating pouch or some clear tape, and a tassel. Round the corners with a punch so they do not dog-ear in a bag, and they are fast enough to make a stack as little gifts.
• Envelopes. Trace an envelope you already have onto the back of a sheet, cut, fold, and glue. Seal the flaps with a glue stick rather than liquid glue, which can wrinkle thinner paper, and a plain note suddenly feels like an occasion.
• Confetti and punched shapes. Run a hole punch or a shape punch over scraps too small for anything else, and save the bits in a jar for cards, party tables, and shaker pockets. It is the one use that turns true trash into something.

Bigger projects for your favorite patterns

When a pattern is too good for a tag, these put it to work.

• Framed paper art. A single striking sheet in a frame is instant, cheap wall art. Cut it to the frame’s mat opening, or mount it on a contrasting cardstock for a built-in border, and swap it out with the seasons.
• Paper banners and garlands. Cut triangles or circles, punch two holes at the top of each, and thread them onto baker’s twine so they hang evenly. A birthday or mantel garland for almost nothing.
• Covered boxes and notebooks. Wrap a plain box, a jar lid, or a composition notebook in your paper for storage that actually looks good on a shelf. A thin layer of glue smoothed from the center outward keeps it from bubbling.
• Gift wrap for small things. A 12×12 sheet wraps a jewelry box or a candle beautifully, and for anything bigger you can tape two sheets together at the seam. It turns leftover paper into the prettiest part of the present.

Feed your other paper crafts

If you keep a junk journal or make cards, your scrapbook paper is raw material waiting to be used.

• Junk journal pages and pockets. Patterned paper makes backgrounds, fold-out pockets, and tuck spots, and there is a whole world of this in our junk journaling guide. A stash of scrapbook paper is a junk journaler’s pantry.
• Origami and paper flowers. The weight of scrapbook cardstock holds a crisp fold, so it suits simple origami, paper rosettes, and folded flowers for wreaths and bouquets. Trim the sheet to a true square first, since most scrapbook paper comes rectangular.
• Place cards and party details. Fold a small rectangle in half into a standing tent, write the name on the front, and you have place settings that match your napkins. The same collection cut into drink tags and a table runner styles a whole party without buying a thing.
• Drawer and shelf liners. The patterns you love but never quite use are perfect lining a jewelry drawer or a shelf edge. Cut a piece to the drawer bottom using the drawer itself as a template, and a few rolled loops of tape underneath hold it flat without gluing it down for good.

A note on which paper to reach for

Not every project wants the same weight or finish. Lightweight printed paper folds well for origami, envelopes, and pockets, while heavier cardstock holds up for cards, tags, and anything that gets handled. Finish matters too: matte paper takes pen and stamping without smudging, so save it for anything you plan to write on, and let the glossy sheets be backgrounds and accents instead. If you are running low on a pattern you love, you can print more at home from our free printable scrapbook paper, which is handy for backgrounds you go through fast.

And if all this paper has you itching to start an actual album, the beginner’s guide to scrapbook ideas is the place to begin, and scrapbook cover ideas shows how a great sheet of paper makes a great cover.

That drawer of too-pretty-to-use paper was never a collection. It was a supply, bought and then forgotten. Pull one sheet out this week and turn it into a card, a tag, or a cover, and the pile stops being a guilt pile and goes back to being what you bought it for.

Frequently asked questions about scrapbook paper crafts

What can I make with leftover scrapbook paper?

Plenty of small, useful things: greeting cards, gift tags, bookmarks, envelopes, paper banners, and covered boxes, most from a single sheet. Heavier sheets suit cards and tags, while lighter ones fold well for envelopes and origami. It is some of the most versatile material in a craft drawer.

Can I use scrapbook paper for things other than scrapbooking?

Absolutely, and it is often better used that way than saved. Scrapbook paper is patterned cardstock, so it works for card making, gift wrap, framed art, junk journal pages, and party decor. Using it up is far more satisfying than letting a pretty pad sit untouched.

What weight of scrapbook paper is best for crafts?

It depends on the project. Lightweight printed paper folds cleanly for origami, envelopes, and pockets, while heavier cardstock holds its shape for cards, tags, and bookmarks that get handled. Having a mix of both in your stash covers almost any craft.

How do I store scrapbook paper so I actually use it?

Keep it visible and sorted by color or theme in a vertical file or a shallow tray, rather than buried in a closed drawer. Paper you can see is paper you reach for. Pulling a few sheets out where you craft makes the difference between a used stash and a forgotten one.

Is scrapbook paper good for making cards?

Yes, it is one of the best uses for it. A folded cardstock base with a layered patterned panel makes a card that looks store-bought in minutes. Use a photo-safe adhesive if a photo goes inside, and keep a few coordinating patterns on hand so card making is always quick.