Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tuesday's {Tip} Printing on Small Scraps

Several of you have asked that I share how I print on small scraps of paper. I took a few photos this morning, and I hope this will help you get the most out of those tiny pieces of leftovers! :) If you want to see how I store my scraps, look here.

Now, I save a lot of scraps. I always go to my scrap bin before ever cutting into a new piece of paper. I do not measure the pieces I keep. If it looks like I can use it, I keep it. To start, here are the supplies you will need:

**A scrap piece of printer paper. Yes, I save those too even from junk papers I get in the mail. I reuse it for everything!
**A cardstock or patterned paper scrap.
**A ruler.
**A pencil.
**Repositionable adhesive.
Next, measure your scrap piece of cardstock/patterned paper. My Kraft piece measures 3 1/2" x 2". You will need to know these measurements so that you don't type outside of the margains of your scrap piece. Now type your text into your word processing software keeping in mind the measurement of you scrap piece. You can see here how I did not let my text go past 3".Now, print your text onto your scrap piece of PRINTER paper (not the cardstock/patterned paper piece).

Hold your cardstock scrap BEHIND the paper your just printed on and hold it up to a good light source. I use my Ott Lite because it is right there where I am working. I move the cardstock to where the text will print just where I want it on the scrap piece. Then I use my pencil to draw the edges of the cardstock onto the printer paper. You can see my messy lines here. You will use those lines to line up your scrap piece.Now put repositionable adhesive on the back of your cardstock scrap and place it on the printer paper lining it up with the lines your just drew. Re-print your text. This time it will print on your cardstock exactly where you wanted it.Now, trim your piece as desired, and you are ready to go! You can also pre-cut your piece using your Cuttlebug die or whatever you would like first and follow the same steps. I have done that before too, and it works beautifully! I hope this helps you save a bit and helps you use up those scraps! Happy printing!

18 comments:

Bonnie said...

Great tips Patter! Now maybe I won't waste so much paper! lol!

Anonymous said...

Great tip! I'm always saving scraps, and now I have a way to use them. Thanks!

Connie Mercer said...

Great tip!! TY for sharing.

Bev J. said...

Thanks for the saving tip-I am getting more and more scraps and this will help to use some of them up.

Kelly said...

Cool! Great to know that works!

April said...

Wow, great tip Patter!! Tanks for sharing your genius... ;)
- April

Anonymous said...

Thank you VERY much for showing this step-by-step. Excellent demonstration!
Long live the scrap hoarders! I'm like you, can't bear to see waste, even of junk mail.

Ally's Corner said...

Thank you for sharing all these little secrets. It helps us not so great scrapper be a lot better.

Amy said...

oh my goodness...I never would have thought to do it that way..Thanks for a great tip Patter...! I need some homeschool help and am having trouble finding you email address..could you email me please at
amycastellano@charter.net
thanks so much!!

Jennifer said...

Great, great tip! I would never have thought to try this. I will now.

CreativeMish said...

You're a genius! What a great way to use up scraps..

Kathy said...

You always amaze me--When I grow up I want to be just like you :-)

Cindy said...

Thanks Patter for the great tips!

Unknown said...

This is a great TIP! Thanks!

Cynta said...

this is great I definitely will use this

Anita said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sarah Bennett said...

Patter- this is cracking me up more than I can tell you! My kids always laugh at me for being the most computer illiterate person they know. Well, this is almost exactly the way I figured out how to do it, too! The only difference is, I don't measure. I just type what I think looks the way I want it to look, then I print it out. I then take a piece that will fit and position it as you do (I wish I had an Ott light on my desk for this reason!). I figured there must be a much simpler or "obvious" way that I just wasn't aware of. So, you have just made me feel SO much better! I am always thinking I know so little and likely am doing things "wrong"! You have made my day!! And thanks for pointing out the measuring part- now I can use whatever scrap I want! I love frugality! :-)

dstandard said...

You are a genius!!! Thanks Patter!

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