by Cindy Hartzell

Created on: June 21, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

To stretch your scrap booking budget, save your paper scraps leftover from all your layouts to use for paper piecing projects. Most page elements do not require a large sheet of paper, which makes paper piecing a great and inexpensive way to embellish layouts. Trade your leftovers with other friends to get a larger variety of paper colors and textures. Or, raid the recycle bins while you are in the crop room at your local scrapbook store!

Paper piecing can be anything from a simple shape or frame that serves as a background for a picture or they can be an important focal point for your layout. There are plenty of patterns for anything from small embellishments to intricate and complicated scenes. Patterns can easily be found in craft stores, paper craft books and scrap booking magazines. Many retailers offer paper piecing kits; such as the popular tear bear kits. Most kits come complete with patterns, paper, ribbons and other embellishments. Since paper piecing is so popular there are actually plenty of free patterns on the Internet EW56Bhttp://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/scrapbooking/ paperpiecing/patterns.htmlWH6PDZ6EFP as well.

Basic paper piecing process:

The basic process for paper piecing is simple. Once you have a pattern you like, transfer the pattern to selected paper, cut the pieces out, embellish the pieces as desired, then glue or attach them to your layout. Always save a copy of the original pattern as a layout guide. Depending on personal preferences you may wish to make the process more involved. Following are more ways to create patterns and enhance your paper piecing techniques.

Create your own patterns:

In spite of the abundance of paper piecing patterns, there may be times when you have a unique layout that calls for a special touch. Since Copyright laws protect many of the available designs, you will need to create your own paper piecing designs if you plan to sell any of your work.

It is actually quite easy to create your own paper piecing patterns. If you can draw well enough that your designs are recognizable, you can create most any pattern that you desire. Since most patterns are formed by line drawings, coloring books make an excellent source for patterns. Browse through all the on line coloring books EW56Bhttp://scrapbooking.about.com/od/coloringpages/ Coloring_Pages_for_Paper_Piecing_Pattern.htmWH6PDZ6E FPto find a pattern that will fit your theme.

Another great way to create patterns is by using stamps you already

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>