Cardstock scrap background with punches was the idea behind my Facebook and YouTube Live on 22nd January 2026. These cards came together in a very practical way. I wanted to use the larger sentiment stamps from the Fabulous Sayings stamp set for Coffee & Cards, but I also wanted the cards to feel a little more creative than simply adding Designer Series Paper.
At the same time, I had lots of cardstock scraps, waiting to be used. That’s when up came up with this idea. Using punches to create a background felt like a great way to use up those scraps while still keeping the cards simple and achievable.
Using cardstock scraps at Coffee & Cards
For Coffee & Cards we used Note Cards, so the space was smaller. That meant smaller punches were the perfect fit. I used two retired circle punches, the 1″ and 1-3/8″ Circle Punches. There was also the option of the Heartfelt Hexagon Punch, which is current and very versatile.
The circles were placed more at random, while the hexagon shapes followed a more structured layout. The pieces fitted neatly next to each other with even gaps, creating a completely different look using the same basic idea.
I punched out a whole pile of circles or hexagons in a few colours first, This made it easy to lay everything out and decide on placement before sticking anything down.
For the cards below I have used, Night of Navy, Balmy Blue and Pretty Peacock. For the second card I have used Real Red, Calypso Coral and Daffodil Delight.
For this card using the Heartfelt Hexagon Punch, I used Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather and Fresh Freesia cardstock.
For each of the cards above, I have stamped the sentiment in Secret Sea ink.
At Coffee & Cards, every card turned out completely different, even though everyone was working from the same basic idea. That’s one of the things I love most about this approach. If you would like to see some of the cards the ladies made, you can check them out here.
A standard-sized card version from the live
In the Live, I made a standard-sized card. The card front measured 14.8cm x 10.5cm, which meant I could use larger punches. For this version, I used the 1-3/4″ and 2″ Circle Punches, both of which are current. The larger shapes filled the space beautifully and gave the background a slightly bolder feel compared to the note card versions.
For this card I have used the 1-3/4″ and 2″ circle punches. The Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather and Fresh Freesia circles have been adhere to a 9.2cm x 13.5cm piece of Basic White cardstock. I adhered this to a 9.5cm x 13.8cm Secret Sea cardstock to mat it and then onto a Thick Basic White cardstock background.
For this card I have used the same circle punches as before, and the cardstock colours are Granny Apple Green, Lost Lagoon and Crumb Cake.
For this card I used the Heartfelt Hexagon punch. The cardstock colours are Balmy Blue, Pretty Peacock and Night of Navy.
Which punch shapes do you prefer – circles or the Heartfelt Hexagon punch? What other punches do you have that you could use?
How I put the background together
I stamped the sentiment first on a scrap piece of Basic White cardstock, then punched out a selection of shapes in a few colours. Once the shapes were ready, I laid them out around the sentiment until I was happy with the placement.
After that, I adhered the coloured shapes to a white piece of cardstock, making sure it was smaller than the front of the card base. For my Note Cards, the white piece measured 8cm x 11.8cm. For the larger cards, I used a few different sizes depending on whether I added matting around it, including 10cm x 14.3cm and 9.2cm x 13.5cm.
Once everything was adhered, I turned the piece over and used a trimmer or scissors to trim off any shapes hanging over the edge. I added it to some matting if I was using that and then onto the card base. Lastly, I adhered the sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Simple supplies, lots of possibilities
This is such a fun way to make a card without needing lots of supplies. A little ribbon or a few embellishments can be added if you wish. I found that a small folded piece of ribbon tucked under the end of the sentiment worked really well without overpowering the design.
If you’d like to see this card come together and explore the different colour combinations, I encourage you to watch the replay of the live.
If you feel like giving this a go, pull out your cardstock scraps and have a play. And if you like the Product of the Month, the Fabulous Sayings stamp set, it’s available for $11 with a $150 order, while stocks last, so don’t miss out.
Supplies
- Coloured cardstock scraps
- A cardstock base (Thick Basic White, coloured cardstock, or note cards)
- A white piece of cardstock (smaller than the card front)
- A sentiment stamp and ink
- One or two punches
- A trimmer or scissors for tidying up edges
Here are the supplies I used the Live.
Give it a go and use up those scraps
This cardstock scrap background is such a simple way to create a card that feels a little bit special without needing lots of supplies. It’s perfect for using up leftover cardstock and is easy to adapt depending on the punches and colours you already have.
If you enjoyed this idea, I encourage you to give it a go and see what you come up with. Every version really does turn out differently, and that’s part of the fun. I’d love to see what you create, so feel free to share your cards in the comments on Facebook.
If you enjoyed this project, I also share free crafting ideas and techniques in my weekly Facebook and YouTube Lives. I go live each Thursday at 1:30pm NZ time, and the recordings are always available to watch later. If you’re on YouTube, I’d love you to subscribe so you don’t miss future videos.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope this has inspired you to pull out those scraps and get creating.