| Memories are priceless, but the cost of preserving | | | | Subscribe to Joann.com's email newsletter at the |
| them can be high. | | | | store's website: |
| Here are nine tips for making the most of your | | | | http// This store frequently offers special |
| scrapbooking budget.1.Be on the lookout for | | | | discount codes to newsletter subscribers. But keep in |
| scrapbooking supplies everywhere you go. | | | | mind, when you |
| I once made the cutest shabby chic card with the | | | | are shopping the sale aisle, a good deal is not a good |
| corrugated cardboard | | | | deal if you |
| liner in a light bulb box. Another example: you can buy | | | | never use the product. Buy only those things that you |
| 100 brass brads | | | | love - and |
| for less than a dollar at the local discount store and | | | | know you'll use.7. When shopping for tools, keep |
| then customize | | | | quality and versatility in mind. |
| them to match your layout with acrylic paint and/or | | | | Investing in quality tools will ultimately save you money, |
| sandpaper. Or | | | | because you |
| look in the clearance bin for ribbon, fiber, and fabric | | | | won't need to replace them very often. You'll also |
| remnants - or | | | | want to look for |
| bouquets of silk flowers, which you can take apart | | | | trimmers and cutters that allow you to replace only |
| and attach to your | | | | the blade - and not |
| cards and layouts with brads, eyelets, bottlecaps, or | | | | the entire cutting system. The Coluzzle, by Provocraft, |
| button. You'll | | | | is one of the most |
| find all kinds of treasures at office supply, hardware, | | | | versatile cutting systems available. It takes a little |
| and dollar | | | | practice, but |
| stores, as well as flea markets and garage sales.2. | | | | once you get the hang of it, you can cut a huge |
| Keep your supplies organized. When your papers and | | | | variety of shapes and |
| embellishments | | | | alphabets, as well as envelopes and tags - all with |
| are logically arranged and easy to find, you'll always | | | | very inexpensive templates.8. Save and organize your |
| know what you | | | | scraps. It's amazing when a small scrap is perfectly |
| have, which means you'll buy fewer duplicates. And | | | | suited for a card of scrapbook. And you can always |
| you don't need | | | | use the backside of |
| expensive racks for storing your paper. The large 14" | | | | white-core cardstock or patterned paper when you |
| Ziploc bags | | | | need white. Or give |
| are perfect for storing 12x12 paper. You can even | | | | your scraps to your children. My kids are constantly |
| hang the labeled | | | | making friendship |
| Ziploc bags from skirt hangers to maximize your | | | | cards out of my scraps. They each have a basket |
| space. A few | | | | on the family scraptable, |
| inexpensive baskets or plastic containers can hold | | | | and at the end of a project, I divvy up all my scraps in |
| your adhesives, | | | | the three little |
| pens and trimmers. And a common tacklebox is great | | | | baskets. They love the new art supplies, and I love to |
| for small | | | | share my love of |
| embellishments. Or use resealable Ziploc bags to | | | | scrapbooking - and my time spent scrapbooking - |
| organize brads, | | | | with them.9. Network with other scrapbookers for |
| eyelets and other small embellishments by type or | | | | more low-cost ideas. Arrange a |
| color and store | | | | supplies swap with your scrapbooking friends. And |
| in a shoebox.3. Here's a little known secret. You can | | | | read through the scrapbooking |
| join a scrapbooking direct | | | | magazines for more money-saving ideas. In the last |
| sales company, simply to get the discount on your | | | | few issues of Scrapbooks, Etc. |
| own supplies. Of | | | | and Memory Makers, for example, I've read (and then |
| course, you'll need to make sure the monthly | | | | used) the following ideas:(1) Take photos of interesting |
| minimums are low enough | | | | signs and cut out the letters for fun, eclectic |
| that you'll be able to meet them with your purchases | | | | alphabets.And (2) make your own stamps from your |
| alone. Here is | | | | favorite font or images with a |
| one such company with monthly minimums of just | | | | computer printout and some foam board.You can |
| $25 wholesale per month. | | | | subscribe to these magazines at significant discounts |
| Details are here: | | | | online. |
| Use your scanner to create a unique patterned paper, | | | | I've compiled the best deals on the industry-leaders |
| perfect for your | | | | here: |
| layout. Scan items of clothing, for example, that match | | | | |
| the clothing in | | | | or see if you can check out current issues from your |
| your photographs. Print the paper and use as part of | | | | local library. |
| your background or | | | | Scrapbooking magazines often feature sweepstakes, |
| as a tag or other embellishment.5. Do a google search | | | | drawings, and layout |
| for "free fonts" and "free scrapbooking." You'll | | | | contests, in which you can win free supplies, as |
| find thousands of free templates, fonts, and other free | | | | well.You can also save on scrapbooking idea books |
| resources for | | | | and techniques books by |
| scrapbookers.6. Check your local paper for 50% off | | | | shopping online. often has these books at an even |
| coupons at large discount | | | | greater |
| crafting stores. Save these coupons for your larger | | | | discount than amazon.com, and their shipping is usually |
| purchases. | | | | much less, too. |