Have you ever finished a project and wondered what to do with all those paper scraps? Or maybe you realized you printed extra cards and now you are not sure how to use them? Today I want to share a few tips on one of my favorite techniques for making the most out of small paper scraps while creating a layout with a big visual impact: repetition!

For this project, I used repetition in different ways. First, I printed 3x4 cards from the Fierce collection and then cut them into 0.5x3” strips.

One of my favorite ways to create repetition is by arranging colors in rainbow order. Even when using lots of small pieces, the repeated color and shape sequence helps everything feel connected and intentional.

Easy ways to create repetition

Repetition through color

You can recreate this pattern using scraps from the same collection since the colors are usually designed to coordinate together. You can also mix scraps from different collections and create monochromatic patterns.

Repetition through shape

Use the same shape to fill the entire background. I usually apply this technique with basic shapes like squares, circles, stars, or hearts.

Repetition through rhythm

Arrange the elements using the same angle and spacing between them. This helps the design feel more harmonious and balanced.

Progressive rhythm

Repeat elements while gradually changing their size or color. For example, you can start with small flowers on one side and slowly increase their size or create an ombré effect using different shades of the same color. You can also create clusters of three similar elements in different sizes.

Since my background was already very bold and I wanted it to remain the focal point of the layout, I decided to keep the photo and title cluster much simpler. I used papers with subtle patterns behind the photos to help them stand out.

Finally, I added two more repetition techniques: I layered tone-on-tone phrases over the background pattern and repeated hearts in different sizes to add a few extra details to the design.