Tips for scrapbooking, including page layout, designs and ways to save on supplies. Post your own advice here.
The Dollar General stores are now carrying scrapbook items. You can also buy lots of supplies for very little money from ABC Distrubuting and Lakeside Collections. You can find them both on the web. Good luck!
By Michele
I've been scrapbooking for a year now and know a lot of ways to get cheap supplies and lots of layout ideas.
Visit your local library. Not only do they subscribe to all the expensive scrapbook magazines (Creating Keepsakes, Simple Scrapbooks, Paper Works) but they also have the big scrapbook idea books they regularly sell for $20 each.
Visit scrapbooking supply websites. Most scrapbook store websites have a Gallery to view pages others have made. It's a great resource for ideas.
Most local discount stores (Walmart, Target, Big Lots) have scrapbooking or craft sections. Check out these stores first. Their prices are cheaper but they have limited selection. Second choice is hobby stores (Hobby Lobby, Michaels', Joann's, Archiver's). Watch their ads for sales on paper and supplies. Sometimes the ads have coupons for 40% off. Use these for your larger, more expensive purchases. You'll really save a lot. Also, sign up for each of these stores e-newsletters. They'll usually offer you coupons for discounts or free items.
Think outside the box. Visit your hardware stores, fabric store, office supply store and school supply sections. If you're creative, you can devise new uses for everyday objects as embellishments for your scrapbook page. Plus, the price will be much lower for the same item in the school supply section than the specialty scrapbook/craft section of the store.
Hope this helps.
By Cheryl from Missouri
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Papers and embellishments can be very personal - but some tools like scissors or die cuts or alphabets are more universal -
I share a die-cut machine with my sister - we meet about once a month for a scrap night, and we both buy the dies we like, and share all of them, as well as the machine. We also share the fancy scissors, punches and other tools.
Find a buddy - even bulk packages of paper can be shared - sometimes there are things the other does not like.
Also check craigslist.org, freecycle, and yard sales for bits and pieces that others may be getting rid of.
enjoy! - and remember that "real" scrapbooking is whatever makes you feel good - so don't feel like you have to buy that SAME paper or SAME embellishments to make a page. There is no wrong way to do it!
Have fune!
Scrap materials can be found everywhere.. children's coloring books, stickers, even advertisements in junk mail can be used - I've used Precious Moments advertisements - and different sized envelopes that come in junk mail-turned inside out.. I've also scanned party invites and thank you's with characters on them and printed them to be included on pages.
I make greeting cards using a lot of tips I get from scrapbooking sites and craft shows. I have used the ring tab from a soda can on cards to pull ribbon through. Magazines also have beautiful colored paper to use as paper or for ideas of what colors go together. I have cut out pretty wreaths from catalogs, glued them to the heavy white cardstock junk mail I receive and save, used pop dots to raise it off the card...and it looked beautiful. I have also used the inside of a security envelope (that bills come in) with a blue and white striped pattern to make a man's necktie for a giftcard. I used a red marker and made it look like a "rep" tie. I got the pattern online...sorry I don't remember the site. I received a lot of compliments on it. I have used pictures of many clocks cut from catalogs to make a birthday card with the theme "Time to celebrate".
I make cards for soldiers, whose names I get from anysoldier.com. It has been a very satisfying hobby. The soldiers are so happy to get anything at all. They have always responded. My hat is off to them! Last year I found a soldier with the same name as my father and made a card and sent him a note. He couldn't believe I would write to him. Of course, they love to get mail, so cards and letters are most appreciated.
Dollar Tree has a scrapbook section and everything is only a dollar each. I've used muffin papers to make a ''flower garden" with my grand childrens's pictures in the center Just cut the pictures to fit the bottom of the muffin paper, add leaves and stems.
I highly recommend taking a beginners class where you will learn how to use the tools that will make your life easier and the hobby so much more enjoyable. Check out your local scrapbook store and sign up for one.
Then, when you are ready to make a scrapbook one of the best things you can do is buy a kit. Don't overwhelm yourself with all the choices. Find one that fits your theme and use it throughout your book. This makes your selection time at the scrapbook store down to a minimum. All you then have to do is get additional embellishments to customize it and there you have it! Get busy & you'll have that scrapbook done in no time! ~Vivian Perez-Espinosa, Owner of Let's Scrap! in Miami
I started scrapbooking recently and go to a scrapbooking night once a month with a friend. It is done by a Creative Memories person but I bought a lot of stuff at JoAnn's. One thing I did buy was a kit with all sorts of doo dads in in. I can't see how they would work in scrapbooking because they are so large, they would distort the other pages. So my advice is be careful about the kits until you know what you are looking for.
The most important tools for me have been: Paper cutter, corner rounder, tape dispenser (so you don't have to use the little squares) and boxes to organize my photos. I have years of photos and didn't know quite where to start so I took all my wedding photos and started working on those. I also started one of a recent trip to Mexico. I figured that these would be sort of contained.
i found this HUGE list of scrap booking sites & wanted to share it
www.ellies-treasures.com/
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