Crafting processes always create a lot of cut-offs and scraps. But every crafter knows that these are not waste, but another opportunity to create unique elements. Especially, I can not bear to waste cut off of my dyed papers. Whether coffee, tea, or natural plant eco-dyed papers, they are all very precious as a certain amount of time and energy is invested in creating them for journal pages.
So what to do with them?
One of the easiest ways is to use them to create tags for journals. They can be additionally enhanced by adding some random colour. the easiest way to achieve this is by using any type of diluted inks. The application can be by splattering, splashing, blotting using brushes, droppers, sponges, cloths, or anything else creatively appropriate for a crafter. Besides inks, watercolours, natural dyes or simply more concentrated coffee and tea can be used to achieve interesting effects and combinations. Randomness is sometimes the best technique.
The next step is decorating with stamps or stencils. Often, these long strips look like very personalised washi tapes and can be easily used for that purpose. Those with words or quotes are cut into labels, and tags that are punctured for threads. They are already good to go for decoration, yet there is another step that will create even more interesting look, but also provide their longevity.
Embossing! Although it requires additional eqipment like a heat gun and long tweezers, and materials like embossing powders and liquids, they are worty the effort and time. Of course, for vintage look we would choose transparent, honey or linen looking powders to achieve desired look.
You will discover that you have creted a lot of unique add ons for your ephemera collection. And they will last long without a fear for tearing away easily within journals. Happy crafting!
