Crafting of any kind can become expensive and I’m always looking for ways to use my products rater than wasting them. That means when I have scraps of Designer Series Paper (DSP) I keep them in their original pack along with the full sheets. I must admit that I keep tiny pieces, I mean, really tiny. After all I never know when I’ll need that small piece for a project. Today was one of those days when my tiny scraps of DSP came into their own as I created a pretty bookmark. Whether you call it paper tole or paper piecing, it’s a fun technique that gives lovely results.

BOOKMARK FIRST
I began by cutting a 2″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Thick Very Vanilla Card. Then using the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch I shaped one end of the strip.
Next I lightly pressed the edge of a Gray Granite ink pad along the bottom edge of the bookmark. This would become the ‘ground’ to prevent my lady from appearing to float in midair.
Finally I used Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the lady from the Senior Years Stamp Set so she was standing on the ‘ground’. Then I followed this by stamping the “Happy Retirement” sentiment in the space above her head.
Before going any further I used an Ivory Stampin’ Blends alcohol marker to colour in her face, hands and legs. Now I was ready to stamp and cut my scraps.
PAPER TOLE
I was feeling rather lazy today and couldn’t be bothered to search through different packs of patterned paper. So I reached out and grabbed the only pack that was within reach. It was the Whale Of A Time 6″ x 6″ DSP that I used for yesterday’s zebra card.

I tipped up the pack and all the small scraps I’d kept fell out onto the desk. These were perfect for my paper tole technique, I just had to select which ones would suit my project. In the end I found a scrap of the yellow paper from yesterday and a couple of blue pieces.
The paper tole technique is really easy. All I had to do was stamp parts of my lady image onto the scraps of paper. Next, with Paper Snips, I cut out the parts of the image I needed. Finally I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to attach the pieces of DSP onto the image stamped on the bookmark.
I could have used card scraps to create her hair but I had a different idea. Instead I stamped her head onto Vellum Cardstock and once the ink was dry cut out her hair. As before I used liquid glue to attach the piece to the image on the bookmark.
ALMOST DONE
I was almost done with the lady, just a couple of details needed adding. First using a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker I coloured in the top of her glasses and the beads around her neck. Then I added some Shimmery Crystal Effects to her earrings. Of course this wasn’t the most sensible plan as I now had to wait for the Crystal Effects to dry before I could finish.
Eventually I was able to thread a piece of 3/8″ Denim Ribbon through the slit at the top of the bookmark. Then using Mini Glue Dots I fixed the ribbon to the top of the bookmark on both sides, and I was finally done.
I love paper tole as a way to add colour or pattern to stamped images. Here are some other examples…
- Don’t colour an image, fussy cut
- A project for the golf club
- Finding a new idea for foil sheets
- Tiny woven threads
MANAGING SCRAPS
The reason many people don’t keep their scraps is that they can never find what they need. I can understand that, it’s really frustrating. If you always end up using ‘non-scraps’ because you can’t find what you need, you might as well throw the scraps away and save yourself the stress. But it doesn’t have to be that way… I have a single square biscuit tin that holds all my scrap card. Each colour has its own plastic pocket and I always look in there before reaching for a new sheet. It’s a system I’ve used for more than five years now and I know it works. Since setting up this system I’ve never had more card scraps than my tin can hold. I’ve probably also saved myself a ton of money because I’m using it all and not buying stuff I don’t really need.
In case you haven’t seen it, here’s the video I made in 2017 showing my scrap organisation solutions. Three years on I can confirm they’re still working for me.
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