Craftin' Around the World March Design Team Reveal - Tic-Tac-Toe

Hello, fellow scrapbookers!

If you're looking for a fun way to jumpstart your creativity this month, you’ve come to the right place! The Craftin' Around the World Facebook Challenge Group has a fantastic set of challenges for March, and I have my March Design Team creation here to share with you. Whether you're a seasoned scrapper or just getting started, there's something for everyone. As always, there are two sketches—one for a scrapbooking layout and one for a card—with an open theme, so it’s perfect if you want to scrap a topic that’s close to your heart. The extra challenge for inspiration this month is the Tic-Tac-Toe Board. This challenge is a personal favourite! It’s such a fun way to get creative. You pick three elements in a row (vertically, horizontally, or diagonally) and incorporate them into your layout.

I ended up doing more than one row because, why not have extra fun and challenge myself? (You'll see below how I included circles, flowers, die cuts, bling, patterned paper, butterflies, and the colour pink!) I am also on a mission this year to use up my surplus patterned paper supply, so I decided to use just scraps for my creation.

 For my layout, I pulled out some of my leftover patterned paper scraps from previous projects. I don’t know about you, but I always end up with scraps—small bits of beautiful paper that I just can’t throw away! This challenge gave me the perfect excuse to use them up while still keeping my layout fun and fresh. So, to start my process, I selected a photo of my parents on their 56th Wedding Anniversary and placed it alongside my tub of patterned paper scraps. I then riffled through it to pull out patterns and colours that I thought would complement the photo. I picked flowers first, as that was one of the elements from the Tic-Tac-Toe board. I then found a check pattern to match my Dad's shirt and looked for colours to complement the rest of the design.

We all end up with leftover patterned paper scraps, and it's easy to let them pile up. Here are my favourite five fun and easy ways to use those bits and pieces:

1. Use Scraps as Decorative Borders – Create a border with strips of patterned paper along the edges of your page. It’s an easy way to frame your layout and use up those leftover bits.

2. Create Die-Cut Embellishments – If you have small scraps, they’re perfect for die-cutting. Use them to create flowers, hearts, butterflies, or other shapes to decorate your pages or cards.

3. Make Tags – Cut your scraps into small tag shapes to use for journaling or as fun embellishments. It’s a simple way to add more layers to your projects.

4. Layer Them Behind Photos – Don’t toss out those tiny pieces of paper. Instead, use them behind your photos as a fun, colourful mat. It adds depth and brings more interest to your page.

5. Create a Sunburst Design – Turn your scraps into a dazzling sunburst pattern. Cut patterned paper into strips or wedges, and arrange them in a fan-like shape starting from the centre of your page. It’s a bold and beautiful way to use up those scraps and create a radiant effect on your layout or card.

I’m so excited to see how others interpret the Craftin' Around the World challenge for March, and I hope my layout has sparked some ideas for your own projects. Whether you’re new to scrapbooking or an old pro, challenges like these are a fantastic way to get out of a creative rut.

Let’s make March the most creative month yet.