Money-saving Tips for Scrapbookers...
Scrapbooking costs money. Starting up a
scrapbooking hobby can cost a lot of money. Here are some
ideas to help decrease your costs:
Wait for sales. Many
scrapbooking stores will have special sales each week or month. Wait
to buy your paper until they have a 20% paper sale, for example.
Scrapbook with a buddy. This
allows you to share supplies such as scissors, punches, templates,
embossing tools, etc.
Go to workshops. If there is
something unique you want to do, but you don't want to buy a template
for that one time, then go to a workshop and use theirs! This is
especially true for punches. Many stores will have punch workshops
where they allow you to use their punches to punch out as much stuff as
you want!
Realize you don't need
everything! Kristen Barnette started scrapbooking before there were a
lot of templates, die-cuts, fancy scissors, etc available. She made
some of her best pages with paper, regular scissors, a black pen and
some imagination!
Use a die-cut machine at a local
school or church! They have thousands of designs and all you need to
bring is your own acid-free paper. It might cost you a little to use
the machine, but in the end it will save you a lot! Also, you might
volunteer to exchange some of your time in exchange for the use of
their machine.
Trade extra or "I am tired of
this" supplies with another scrapbooker.
Shop around. Walmart and Sam's
clubs will suprise you with their selection and prices. Just make
sure to look for the "acid free" and "lignin free" labels where
applicable!
An added note on the "shop
around" suggestions: Office Depot, Staples, and other large office
supplies stores have some acid-free paper. Companies like Hammermill
make only acid free papers and they have many colors and weights!
Copy friends' stencils by
tracing the design on a cheap filing folder and cutting it out!
Save every scrap of paper! Keep
them in a box for future use. One can make pages upon pages just
using old scraps - plus they are great for punches!
Use cookie cutters for templates
or die cut shapes!
Buy one die-cut and use it as a
template to make more in different colors instead of buying
several different colors.
Use stencils. A small
investment in a nice alphabet stencil can save you a lot of money on
letter stickers!
Shop prepared. Take a notebook with
all of your pens drawn on it, your punches punched in it, your stencils
lined in it, etc to make sure you don't buy duplicates!
Do you have other money-saving tips? Please mail us!
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