Save Money on Scrapbooking

by Nicole Humphrey | More from this Blogger

06 Jun 2006 07:56 AM

It can be hard to save money! When there are so many new embellishments, papers, books and other goodies, it is hard to be a frugal scrapbooker. But there are many things you can do to trim your scrapbooking budget, no matter what the size of your budget is.

• Instead of purchasing every scrapbook magazine or having a subscription to them, just ask your local library to get a subscription. Usually if there is interest they will, and then you can read it every month for free (and copy only what you like - for instance a particular technique or tip, or perhaps a great layout).
• Visit the various Internet scrapbooking forums, because most of them discuss the magazines in full and you can find out what's going on there.
• Love paper? Then only purchase paper for the specific pages and layouts you are working on. Don't fall into the paper trap, and purchase paper just because it's cute or you might create a layout later. If you haven't started planning a page, it's probably best to wait to purchase the paper.
• Before heading out to the store for an embellishment, look around your house first. You can often find perfect items to use in your albums.
• Attend classes, and crops. At these you can use the store or hosts' supplies. This can save you from having to purchase decorative scissors, punches, die cuts machines and dies, and you can just use them while you're there instead.
• Some scrapbook stores have swaps they host as well. You can bring in a couple of supplies and swap them with others, and get new items to use in your albums. Check and see if your store does this, and if so, trade. You might just find the perfect item you've needed to create a layout!

If you have any other creative ideas you'd like to share, please do!

Learn more about Nicole Humphrey

Nicole Humphrey is a freelance writer, consultant for CTMH and a Sr. Blogger for families.com. She resides in St. Charles, Missouri with Mike and their five children and two furbabies.

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