Use Your Paper Stash With These 50 Card Ideas!

In honor of Sale-a-bration and the gorgeous paper packs you can get for free right now with a $50+ purchase, I wanted to share some more ways to USE YOUR PAPER STASH!! I have 50 card designs to share along with a lot of tips and tricks to use up that paper stash, so let’s get started!

Use your paper stash with these 50 card designs! Includes fun fold cards, simple techniques, unique designs, and more.

Designer Paper For Card Bases!

Instead of using cardstock for your card bases, use patterned paper instead! For a regular card base cut your paper to measure 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ and fold it in half. For a front flap card, cut it 4″ x 5 1/4″ and attach to cardstock for the back flap that measures 4 3/4″ (scored at 4 1/4″) x 5 1/2″. For the neat Z fold card, you’ll need two pieces measuring 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ and 4 1/4″ x 11 1/2″ (scored at 5 1/2″ and 11″).

See more details on all of these cards in today’s video!

Cut & Prep Your Patterned Paper

A great way to use your paper is to cut and prep pieces to have on hand for when you sit down to make cards. I like to keep them in these sizes: 4″ x 5 1/4″, 3 3/4″ x 5″, and 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″.

Ideas For Card Mats

Here are some designs to create using those card mats.

Panel Cards

Panel cards are an awesome way to use up your patterned papers. I love to create panel cards! See lots of panel card ideas here.

Scrap Card Ideas

Scrap card ideas are my favorites!! See lots of card designs to use up your patterned paper scraps here.

Click to see 7 ways to use paper strips and paper scraps on your card making and other paper craft projects!

Punch Hack, Criss Cross & Drapery Fold Card Designs

I created these cards amongst others for a recent tutorial on ways to see BOTH sides of your designer papers. See all of these ideas here.

Medallion Cards

Creating punches and using them for card backgrounds is a great way to use your patterned papers.

Designer Paper Card Layouts

Here are some layout ideas for you, along with measurements for the printed paper pieces. All cards use a card base measuring 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″.

Grapefruit Card: 3 3/4″ x 3 1/4″, 2″ x 5 1/4″, Elephant Card: 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″, 3″ x 4″, white square 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″, Lion Card: 3 3/4″ x 5″, 2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

Bee Card: 3 3/4″ x 5 1/2″, 3″ x 4 1/4″, Wreath Card: 2″ x 5 1/2″, 2 7/8″ x 2 7/8″, 3″ x 3″, Oval Sentiment Card: 3″ x 4 1/4″, 2 strips measuring 1″ x 3″

House Card: 2″ x 4 1/2″, 3 1/2″ x 3 1/4″, 2″ x 3 1/4″, Gold Card: 4″ x 5 1/4″, 2 1/4″ x 3 3/4″, 2 1/2″ x 3 3/4″, top piece 2 1/2″ x 3 3/4″, Vertical Strip Card: 3 strips measuring 1 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, Typewriter Card: 4″ x 5″, 2 3/4″ x 3 1/4″, 2 1/2″ x 3″, Polar Bear Card: patterned paper 2 1/4″ x 3 1/2″ and 3 3/4″ x 5″, cardstock mats 2 1/2″ x 3 3/4″ and 4″ x 5 1/4″, Cupcake Card: 3 strips measuring 1 1/4″ x 3 1/2″, 2 – 2 1/2″ circles

Designer Paper Techniques

Watch along with today’s video to see these techniques in action!

I shared four techniques in detail in the video. Let’s take a look at them below.

Patchwork Card

For this card, begin with three pieces of printed paper measuring 4″ x 5 1/8″. Stack them on top of each other and make two cuts, to end up with three pieces. Mix up the pieces to make three different cards.

Quilt Card

Isn’t this design lovely? It’s a favorite of mine! You’ll need four 2″ circles, and a 3″ x 3″ square to put behind them. Fold the circles into squares, and attach to the larger square.

Pocket Fold Card

For this card you’ll need cardstock measuring 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 2 3/4″ and 6 3/4″. The designer paper pieces measure 1 1/2″ x 5 1/4″ and 2 1/2″ x 5 1/4″.

Double Pocket Card

This one uses a piece of designer paper measuring 8 1/2″ x 11″, Fold it in half both ways, and prepare as shown in the video. I love that this card uses almost a full piece of paper!