happy scrappiness

I don't really scrapbook, and I only make cards by hand a few times a year, so it may seem strange that I have an incredible fondness for paper punches.
This is a glimpse of my collection. I acknowledge that it may be overwhelming.

Here is one of my favorite ways to use them:

1. After I finish painting, my palettes are often covered with tiny dots and shallow pools of unused paint. I paint the excess onto index cards or canvas paper.

2. After I've collected a little assortment of dried, painted papers, I start punching. This punch from Martha Stewart's holiday collection is incredibly adorable, don't you think?

Most of the punch-outs are pretty just as they are:
It's also fun to add painted details:
After just a few minutes, a menagerie develops:
They'll be great to keep on hand for upcoming projects...ideas are abundant!