Scrap on a Budget

Hi all,

Ok, I am still kind of new so if this topic has been added let me say sorry for the duplication in advance.

I can afford all the items for scrapbooking however if I continue this path, I will go broke And then I won't be able to do this anymore

So with having said that, do you wonderful most helpful fellow scrappers have any tips and tricks of the trade where and when to save money for those who do not have alot but enjoy scrapbooking?

Thanks as always for all your kind words and help!

I stick with the clearance aisles as much as possible. Use those Coupons ! And I don't use a lot of embellishments on my pages. Lastly, even though it was expensive up front, a great die cutter that can cut the fonts on your computer is a money saver in the end.

Another cool idea is to stick to items that can be used over and over and over again. I find patterned paper and embellishments eat up a huuuge portion of my sb budget really easily. So if you want it to be something you can keep doing. Consider priorities.

What will you use the most?

A few examples:

I want an ATG gun since adhesive is something I will always need and overall, it saves a considerable amount of money. Shop around and you can find them cheaper too...much cheaper.

A good paper trimmer is something you will always probably use so that is worth the money.

Beyond that I am finding I love stamps and inks. You can use ink alone in soooo many ways. You really don't even need pp with it (I still love patterned paper though). There are quite a few stamps that have a ton of versatility too. Granted, I love turtles so I tend to end up with way more turtle stamps than anyone will ever need. However, the basic stuff like journaling spots, arrows, flowers and such can be used over and over in quite a few different ways.

I shop at acmoores with the 40 and 50 % off Coupons and i go to big lots walmart. they all ways have stuff on sale at walmart i usualy buy my paper tho at joann fabrics. Good luck

Gotta agree about the journaling stamp. I don't do much stamping, but I love my journaling stamp, just a basic one with lines, but I use it quite a bit.

Both Michaels and JoAnns have $1 scrapbook stuff. I buy from there alot.

I usaully look at the flyers from Joanns and Michaels to what's on sale.

i ahop online only since i do not have many stores around me but i alway shop the clearnce stuff.. and i also buy from ebay when i can get a good price

Take a good look at the tags that come on clothes. I save those that r made thick or have a unique shape. I cover them either w/paint or pp.
I love tags but am always searching for tags that have a different shape of made of thick material.
I have saved from clothes these kinds of tags:

leather
chipboard
unique shapes...all from clothes.

AC Moore is great but although the coupon is great and good selection - the smaller scrap stores have so much more - check out their "clearance items and ask them when they will be adding stuff to their clearance bins!
Dont buy the $1.00 scrap stuff at Target (the $1.00 section when u walk in) - poor quality!

Really - where?

Coupons!!!

Thank you to all for the excellent ideas...keep them coming

The die cutter truely is one of the items I would love to get!

Take time to look for ways to embellish that require time and effort, not money. You can make some really neat embellies using different techniques.

I adore flowing, ornate, feminine embellies. I scrap for guys more often than not. I have a stash of girly things that I don't use and I have a limited number of boyly things that I use again and again. If I'd shopped by how I actually scrap and what I use, instead of things that I think are pretty, I could have saved some $$$$.

I would say to hold off on the die cutter though until you know that this is a hobby that you do want to stick with. Just because it IS so much money for one.

I buy clearance at Joann's -- mine has some bins where they put their season stuff. I've gotten ribbon spools for $.10 instead of their normal $1. Also have picked up some card sets for $.97 instead of the $2-3 they normally retail at. And there's always extra parts to them that I can use for other projects.

Also, I buy a lot of the Studio G clear stamps. For $1, you get a lot for your money and they are versatile.

I invested in some good Autumn Leaves stamps -- flourishes and journaling spots. They are great in so many different ways. PLUS, I use Coupons or only buy them on sale.

Check out your WalMart/Target/etc. when they are restocking (T's did theirs a few months back and I got a set of Autumn Leaves stamps for $2.50!, WM just did theirs but may still have items marked down -- mine did at least).

Coupons , Coupons , Coupons !

Target's Dollar Spot is a good place to find some stuff -- I got a bunch of paper flowers in February which I'm still using (and what's great is this stuff does go on clearance at times for $.25!). Be forwarned that their ribbon deal is not necessarily the best -- you don't get as much as you think you do.

you may want to read through this thread, it is long but you may get ideas there!

http://www.scrapbook.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/86606...

CMLeach,

I actually have been scrapbooking for over 10 years now...I think I went from hobby to addict LOL

I just have been so into old school that I am not coming out of my shell

The stamps are an awesome idea, I emboss mine for cards. I don't know why I didn't think of using them for scrapbooking earlier

thanks for all the ideas! I love them...keep them coming

First idea is to stick to mostly cardstock. It's cheaper than PP. I only use PP as an accent. Second, try thinking Outside the Box . I use used up giftcards (the ones that are decorative), make your own pp using stamps, THey're non consumable and you can get very creative. BUy silk flowers on sale or clearance and seperate them instead of using special SB ones. They're also expensive. Trade with any fellow scrappers. Go to a SB used sale. We have one here twice a year. Not sure if you have a local SBS or not. Shop Ebay, just be careful of shipping prices! Buy those fake jewels in the craft section. They're cheaper than the SB kind. Don't buy double sided paper. It's more expensive and you don't get double for your money becuase you can only use one side at a time anyway...unless you use a piece of cardstock and use a little of both sides of the PP. Then you're only using 1 piece instead of several PP's.
Hopethat helps a little!!

Oh yeah, I remembered some things...I collect the chipboard coasters restaurants give you for your drinks now. You can paint them, use as is or run them through a die cut machine! How about plastic bread tags? You can add rubons or stamp with a solvent ink.

I've started paper peircing. I found some regular stencils in the $1 section at M's and use them for my peircing patterns and then use embroidery floss to sew the pattern onto the paper. Also, I've been wanting to try this but haven't yet...cereal boxes. I've read where scrappers save cereal boxes and cut out their shapes or fonts and decorate it. This is something I would like to look into. Also, WM and Target have good prices on their SB supplies. I also like to look through the M's sales ads...I'm like a kid on Christmas morning ripping open the paper in search of the M's sales paper!!!