Budget Scrapbooking – Five Ideas

It’s the time of year when some of the best scrapbook products are landing in stores, and they are often irresistible. Back-to-school product is being pushed aside by Halloween papers and embellishments, and Christmas card classes are just around the corner in scrapbook stores. Is it possible to scrapbook without over-spending?

Of course it is!

Here are five ideas for scrapbooking on a budget in the upcoming holiday months.

1. Window shop to see what the newly-released product looks like and what appeals to you. Then, check your stash for product you already own that will work. Scrapbookers are often attracted to similar product time and time again. Chances are, if you bought paper and embellishments last year and have some remaining, not only will you still like it, but it’s likely similar to the newly-released product that you like, and it can be used instead of purchasing new.

2. If you really want to have some fresh, new product, try sticking to patterned paper and then using some of it to make your own embellishments instead of buying the pricier coordinating ones. Using patterned paper, you can punch scalloped shapes for accents and journal spots; cover chipboard shapes and alphabets; make die-cuts; cut strips to use for borders or instead of ribbon. The possibilities are endless.

3. Whatever products you use for your scrapbooking, use the left-overs to make cards. From Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas and other winter holidays, there are plenty of opportunities to send cards, and by using your scraps to make them, you save the additional cost of buying cards.

4. Take advantage of make and takes. Scrapbook stores often have free or $1 holiday make and take projects that can not only help get your creative juices flowing, but also garner you a useful project such as a scrapbook page, embellishment or card for free. Make and takes also give you a chance to try out products risk-free before you buy.

5. Don’t shop. One sure-fire way not to buy new scrapbooking product, especially if you already have a sufficient stash of what you need, is simply not to go looking for it. If you don’t go out of your way to see the newly-released product, you won’t miss it. Make do with what you have, plain and simple.

Article is taken from Examiner.com

Scrapbooking Tips For Your Scrapbooking Layouts

Scrapbooking is an exciting hobby. It also keeps your memories alive. In this article, I will give you some scrapbooking tips that will make your scrapbooking album more cheerful.

For your scrapbooking layouts, you must be including some photos to your scrapbooking album. The photos will reflect the moment you want to save forever. The pictures you catch in action, also make great idea for layouts. If you use pictures were posed for, try to add some pictures that capture actions and faces, instead of all posed pictures.

Another ideas to your scrapbooking layouts is color schemes. Try to match with your photo when you are choosing the color papers to use with your layouts. When your pictures, paper, and embellishments match with each other, your pages will stand out. If there are some photos that don't match each other, try to edit the pictures and make the pictures black and white, or sepia.

Don't forget to add your journaling to your scrapbooking album. It is quite important to add your thoughts on the moments that were captured in the pictures. It will memorize you well if you look back at your scrapbooking album the other time. Journaling is a great way to express your feelings. Journaling can be in the form of your thoughts when you saw the pictures, or any thing that comes to mind when you think of the photos.

Make your own scrapbooking album that will hold your precious moments. Happy Scrapbooking!