Stash Busting Cards with Circle Punches

Instructions and measurements for all cards

Split Circle

For the green, pink, and yellow cards:
Use a variety of circle punches to punch 3 to 5 circles in various pieces of scrap paper. I used a 2 1/2”, 1 3/4”, 1 1/2”, 1 3/8”, 1 1/4”, and 1” punches. The 1 3/8” punch was too close in size to the 1 1/2” and 1 1/4” punches so I should have omitted that one. Cut the circles in half, stack them up, and glue them down in a pleasing arrangement. For the green and yellow cards, I punched an extra 1” piece and left it whole to put on top.

For the orange card, I used one 2 1/2” punch and one 1 3/4” punch in two different colors (so 2 large circles in 2 different colors, 2 medium circles in the same 2 colors) and three 1” circles in a third color. The large and medium circles were cut in half.

Punch a Bunch

The tiny grid is a 1/2” punch, 66 times. The large grid is a 1” punch, 9 times. The shingle card is a 1” punch, 30 times. The party garland is a 1/2” punch, 27 times.

Line ‘Em Up

The purple negative space is a 1 1/2” punch, 3 times, in a 2” wide strip with decoration by a 1” punch, 4 times, and a 1/2” punch, 7 times.

The pink line is a 1 3/4” punch, 5 times.

The aqua and olive patterned paper is a 1” punch, 10 times.

The yellow paper is a 2 1/2” punch with a 1” circle punched out. I used the same 1” punch to punch three holes in the card base. The clear layer is decorated with a 1/2” punch, 3 times.

Supplies

The punches are mainly from Stampin Up, all in discontinued sizes. Their current line includes a 2 3/8” (6 cm) punch for $22 (https://www.stampinup.com/products/2-...) as well as a 2” and 1 3/4” for the same price, but frankly if you don’t already own punches (or can’t find them used) I’d opt for circle dies as a much more cost-effective choice. I’m grateful to have been given many punches, cast off by JM, the mother-in-law of the daughter of a friend of a friend (yeah, that’s quite a chain). These do often turn up used because they don’t often break or wear out, plus they are heavy and bulky to store.

Here’s an example of a nesting circle die set for $8.59 https://amzn.to/48d9xe3 that includes 21 different sizes. That’s quite a contrast to the cost of punches.

The sentiments are from a variety of dies
Avery Elle D-16-01
Crafters Companion 2019 Advent
Birch Press Design 57086 Calligraphy Pop Thanks
My Favorite Things Simply Thanks
Sizzix Tim Holtz 660215 Celebrate
Sizzix Tim Holtz 660223 Celebration Words $22.99 https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/produc...
Simon Says Stamp 111813 Big Thanks $13.49 https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/produc...

I store scrap paper in these bins, set of six currently $51.99 on Amazon which is a screaming deal:
https://amzn.to/3NK5EF8

I am a macro sorter; if you are not, this approach is not for you. I put all the warm color paper scraps in one bin (red, orange, yellow), cool colors (green, blue, purple) in another, then neutral (white, brown, black), and finally metallic / special (e.g. vellum).

Prices are current as of the day I typed this out (obvs.) Amazon links (if any) are affiliate, others are not. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Or I would, theoretically, if anyone ever followed a link and bought something, which I guess might happen someday.

0:00 Overview
0:31 Split Circles
2:45 Punch a Bunch
5:24 Line 'Em Up
7:28 Finished Cards