What do you do with your scraps?

I can't bear to throw away scraps!  I keep little pieces to use when I'm testing out a new small softie pattern.  There's a great (free) bird pattern here:
http://www.spoolsewing.com/blog/2008/05/16/bird-mobile/
The birds are so easy to make and there are so many things you could eventually do with them, besides the mobile, which is lovely. 
I also have been (purposely!!) collecting "scraps" -- actually upholstery swatches for discontinued fabrics-- and making purses out of them.  they are just the right weight, and it's fun to try and come up with pieced combinations of enough swatches to get the yardage I need for the purses. 

I have lots of scraps and didn't know what to do with them until I saw the Crumb Chaos Blocks post. I think I will try that. It looks like fun. Thanks! Susette

Every now and then I give away a bag of scraps on Craigslist (under "free"--I check it obsessively and have benefited a few times so I should really give things away on it too!). 

I also made quilted coasters using this pattern: http://foofanagle.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/simple-coasters/
Two great things about them: you can use even your tiniest favorite scraps, and they can be completed in less than an hour.  (If you mass-produce, you can make several in an hour.)  Also, they're easy to give away!

Flannel scraps can be used to make reusable menstrual pads if you know anyone who uses them.  A friend of mine makes and sells them, so you could use hers for inspiration: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=9087808

I make re-usable gift bags too, just simple ones with ribbons sewn into the seam to make ties.  That way I give away my scraps with every birthday and christmas gift. 

I also have a box of five-inch quilt squares.  When I get down to the last little bit of a fabric, I just cut out a few quilt squares to use it up.  One day I will have enough for a couple of quilts. 

depends on the scraps. if its reusable i recycle it like plastic i use it as a garbage bag on our bathroom and kitchen as well. the papers are being sold in scrap shop as well as the other plastics 

I recently used scraps for the applique on some baby onesies.

I use my knit fabric scraps to stuff little stuffies.  I used to use polyfill for such things until my son started chewing on Bill, the two-legged pony only to find to my horror that the polyfill was leaking out of Bill's little fabric pores.  The knit fabric solves this problem and it gives the stuffies a nice weight without being lumpy like some other fabric scraps can be as stuffing.  I just get out my rotary cutter and go to town.  It's a great stress reliever making stuffing.

I use scraps for making lots of things.  Here's a few:

- patchwork tiered twirl skirts for my girls.
- stuffed toys for my children
- fabric for my children to practice sewing on
- doll clothes
- underwear for my children (knit scraps only)
- stuffing for pillows and whatever other projects my children decide to make which need stuffing
- cut into small pieces and sewn together to make bookmarks
- Yo-yo's
- appliques
- school projects
- Christmas ornaments

I'm sure there's lots more, but this is a start of what I do with my scraps.

Awesome ideas!

I loved the one above about the yo-yos and making
panties and things for children.

One of my favorite things that I've seen posted here is when people use three different kinds of fabric to do a project.
For example-say you are doing a cover for a book.
You may not have a piece of fabric large enough for the project.
However, if you have three scraps of fabric that go nicely together, use them-and you will be able to do the project.
I think quilters have demonstrated this technique on this site -using a kind of patchwork approach!

Thanks for the idea!

I need to go work on my scrap mountain!