TIPsy Tuesday - 8" paper for 12" Layouts

Smaller paper pads – 8” x 8” or 6” x 6” are usually touted for card lovers or making mini albums. You can use them on 12 x 12” layouts, too!

I used to only by 12x12 paper but I’ve accumulated some 6x6’s from Stampin’ Up! as hostess options and also bought 8x8’s because 1) they are very economical and 2) often a smaller scale version of the pattern is actually more attractive and useful.

At first, I used mine for cards only, but soon they began to find their way into my preferred size scrapbooking album: 12” x 12”. Here are a few ideas for using these smaller page sizes:

• Create colored strips across your page as in the layout above. The pages in these types of paper pads are already color coordinated for you.

• Die cut your borders in multiple pieces and just glue them together. The “bracket” border above was cut on my Cricut using SCAL software in two pieces and matched up in the center.

• Die cut or punch other designs from the pattern paper. Because smaller paper pads are usually a smaller scale version of the 12x12 paper design, the small print is perfect for a punched flower or die cut letters. “Diet” is cut from some October Afternoon paper here:

• Use bits and pieces in a collage. Here is more of the Daily Grind…

• Color block. The red paper here is from a 6”x6” Stampin’ Up! paper pad.

You could also use some of the subtle patterns for photo mats.  Lots of ways to use a small inexpensive paper pad.

Thanks for stopping by!


Ingredients:  DSP and brads:  Daily Grind by Fancy Pants; Notebook by SU! for background
Ribbon:  Pacific Point, Certainly Celery by Stampin' Up!
Pewter grommet by SU!
Stickers:  Mini Market by October Afternoon
Fonts:  Lucida; Arial