Frugal Scrapbooking/cardmaking

**forHISglory** · 03-18-2011, 11:53 PM

I enjoy scrapping and card making, but balk at buying the pricey embellishments. I like the embellishments, but man..... I can't justify the price. So I bought some basic punches: ovals, squares, circles, etc. But then I found that paper and cardstocks sold for paper crafts were also expensive.

So I decided to use some slick magazine covers, advertising inserts, etc. to punch. I have a punch that makes shapes like a big button. I punched out buttons from the cover of a magazine that my neighbor gave me: a nice thick cover, and now I have a supply of buttons for decorating. My neighbor passes on all his magazines and catalogs to us, so I have a great supply of paper for punching.

My mom gave me a bunch of old greeting cards, and I've been punching out shapes from those. I can make new Christmas cards from old Christmas cards, just by cutting out the shapes. For example, I punch out little circles from the old cards, with each circle centering on a star. Then I just pasted the shapes onto another card. Looked great!

Question: How do you do frugal paper crafts? Any ideas?

**mauimagic** · 03-19-2011, 12:10 AM

What great ideas - no wonder I've been saving everything!! Don't know the answer to your question, but I hope to find out some ideas tomorrow. I'm going to a staming workshop - never been to one - but have been buying stamps for years - now if I can only find them!!

**forHISglory** · 03-19-2011, 12:44 AM

MM... share your ideas from tomorrow, OK? I'm very interested in how to be creative on a shoestring.

**mauimagic** · 03-19-2011, 12:47 AM

You got it - it's a group that a mutual friend gets together to craft with. She can't go because of a bowling tournament so I'm heading over on my own - looking forward to meeting some crafty people in the flesh!!

**2ndGenGranola** · 03-19-2011, 04:47 AM

Since most of my paper work is in scrapbooks, I do buy the more expensive paper because I want it to be acid and lignin free. No sense in doing that work if it is going to crumble before the kids are grown.

I use punches/dies/stamps a lot. I can make my own flowers and paper piecings.

**erinalexmom** · 03-19-2011, 07:16 AM

ForHisGlory,
This hobby use to be super popular and is dying down around here. Not sure if thats the case where you live but I have a couple ideas for ya......1) rummage sales (I see lots of people are gettting out of it and sell thier stuff for cheap in thier sale

) 2) if you have a facebook account put a shout out to your friends that you would like to have any scrapbook stuff they dont want anymore 3) freecycle (if you do freecycle, put a shout out on there that you are wanting it) Also, my Walmart has small things like that in the clearance section all the time

Those are just some things off the top of my head. Hope it helps some

**chowder** · 03-19-2011, 09:25 AM

I really haven't got into the cards much,but one year I dried some pansies that I grew and glued them on cards.They were pretty.

**forHISglory** · 03-19-2011, 11:31 AM

Great ideas on the pansies and watching for sales and freebies.
Question on the acid free aspect: I use acid free paper for the pages of the scrapbooks, but use any old paper for embellishments. Will it hurt the pictures to use this regular paper if it doesn't actually touch the pictures?

**2ndGenGranola** · 03-19-2011, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by forHISglory

Will it hurt the pictures to use this regular paper if it doesn't actually touch the pictures?

Some say "yes" and some say "no". You have to look into your reasons.

If you want this to be a family memory and be passed on to future generations, you want it to be as archival as possible.

If you are doing it just for the arts sake, then it really doesn't matter.

I find that scrapbooking is still going strong but many local stores have quit suppling because most companies require a minimum order of $2,000. Online ordering is active. Local places are over priced (because they have to be usually).

**mauimagic** · 03-19-2011, 03:23 PM

How do you dry flowers?

**Trishagirl** · 03-19-2011, 03:34 PM

I try to get my embellishments when they are on sale at HobbyLobby or Walmart. I make my own cards and love buying new stamps etc when the price is right!!! Last week I bought some pretty paper and used it in the card as a background it turned out cute! Be Creative!

**Cricketlegs** · 03-19-2011, 03:44 PM

I have a Big Kick from Sizzix with many dies as well as a Cricut to help offset the embellishment $$$ problem. I make almost all my own flowers from coffee filters, tissue paper, scrapbook paper, card stock, paper bags, fabric and even freezer paper. Add some dye and they are beautiful layered creations that I defy Prima to do better!

I make my own mini albums.

I paid a small fortune for my hardware supplies from the stamping systems, the cutting, the gator, as well as a huge assortment of papers and cardstock and punches.

If you want to really make great pages you need the right tools. My latest purchase was the big scotch tape gun.

I shop the sales. I use use use those Michaels and Hobby Lobby coupons.

**mauimagic** · 03-19-2011, 03:53 PM

Okay - so here's a problem - I am now in year two of a Cricut, gift from SIL, still sitting in its box. Need to remedy this soon I can tell!!

**erinalexmom** · 03-19-2011, 04:01 PM

Oh! I forgot to add! I have also seen stamps at Dollar Tree

I got some cute ones for my sisters baby shower invites last fall

**chowder** · 03-19-2011, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by mauimagic

How do you dry flowers?

I cut mine,cut the stem off close to the flower,but leave enough so the petals stay intact.
I took a very thick dictionary opened to the middle,inserted a piece of waxed paper,laid the flowers out on the paper and covered with another sheet of wax paper.Closed the book flat with a brick on top for added weight and left for a few weeks.I checked them every few weeks until dry and flat.
Hope this helps.