My first step was to make the Serendipity squares. (See instructions in my article below). Once the squares were done I layered them onto dark green paper to create a border. Next, I painted my background with blue acrylic paint and set it aside to dry. I wanted my photo to emphasize the tiny fern so I cut out a focal window using vellum to place over the photo and secured it with brads. Then I positioned it on top of contrasting paper and added photo corners. I needed to make some room for journaling so with the other photo I made a journaling card with an “open” tab. I tied a string around a mini tag and hooked it to the card with a brad. Finally, for the title I used Scrabble tiles, stamps and cork.

Supplies

• Cream Cardstock & Vellum (The Paper Cuts)
• Brown Paper (Unknown)
• ABC Stamps for Date(Dollar Tree Dist.)
• Mini Tag (Artist’s Own Creation)
• Antique Brads (Making Memories)
• Cork (www.lazerletterz.com/)
• Corner Punch (Marvy Uchida)
• Blue Floss (DMC)
• Blue Acrylic Paint (Apple Barrel)
• Scrabble Tiles (Recycled Game)
• ”Fern” ABC Stamp (PSX)
• Gerber Daisy Stamp (Stampabilities)
• Fern Punch (Punch Bunch)
• Flower Stamp (PSX)
• Scissors (Fiskars)
• Paper Adhesive (Tombow)
• Glue Dots (Glue Dots International)
• 12" Paper Trimmer (Fiskars)
• Stamp Cleaner (PSX)
• Black Staz On Ink (Tsukineko)

My first step was to make the Serendipity squares. (The instructions are in my article). Once the squares were done I layered them onto burgundy paper and cut them out. Then I inked the edges of two craft sticks and stamped phrases onto them. I inked the edges of an envelope and inserted my journaling. Next, I cut the pink mesh to fit onto the background paper. But of course I didn’t use a whole piece. I knew I would be covering the mesh with paper so I removed the inner chunk of mesh to save for another project. I attached the mesh and paper to the background paper using glue dots. I put Magic Mesh across the top and bottom of the layout for border accents and glued 6 serendipity squares on the left side and three onto the right. I double layered one of my photos and attached another photo to the outside of the envelope. Two more photos were added at angles. Finally, I put “Rachel” on using brads to fasten it to the paper.

Supplies

• Burgundy Cardstock (The Paper Cuts)
• Phrase Stamps (PSX)
• Craft Sticks (Making Memories)
• Metal Letters (Making Memories)
• Sack Envelope (Paper Reflections)
• Circle and Heart Punch (McGill)
• Mini Brads (Making Memories)
• Flower Stamp (PSX)
• Dragonfly and Flower Stamp (PSX)
• Texture Stamp (Hero Arts)
• Magic Mesh (www.mypajamason.com/)
• Pink Mesh (ILuvScrapbooking)
• Berry, Brown and Black Pigment Ink (Clearsnap)
• Scissors (Fiskars)
• Paper Adhesive (Tombow)
• Glue Stick (Ross Products)
• Glue Dots (Glue Dots International)
• 12" Paper Trimmer (Fiskars)
• Stamp Cleaner (PSX)

One of the best ways to use up all those paper scraps you've collected is to make beautiful serendipity squares. Serendipity means finding valuable things when you aren't looking for it. Many times in scrapping or stamping we make goof ups and suddenly that flub turns into a great piece of art. That's the look of serendipity squares. Throwing a bunch of scraps and oddball shapes together and creating something new.

First you need a neutral background to start with. Then go through your scraps and find an assortment of scraps that compliment each other. Be sure you have different patterns, tones and use complimentary color families.

Now you need to cut or tear them into strips or chunks small enough to fit onto your background. You can make shapes with paper punches or make simple geometric shapers using scissors. You can tear long strips to spread across the background or bold chunks. The possibilities are endless and the canvas is yours.