Calling all Scrapbookers!

[PhotobookMom]

For those of us who love scrapbooking, it can be a fun, creative, and satisfying hobby. However, it's easy for it to be an expensive hobby, also. I know I've collected more paper, stickers, and embellishments than I'll ever use. Does anybody have ideas, tips, recommendations about how to scrapbook for less money without cutting corners (no pun intended) on the quality of your scrapbook?

Does anybody have experience with these websites for scrapbooking materials?
A Cherry on Top, Scrapbook Shoppe
iScrap
ScrapbookPal.com
ComputerScrapbook.com

[OI138KACY]

There is alot you can create and print by using programs like Paint shop pro. I have done pages like that and they are still nice.
I am not sure...I try to buy all my stuff on clearence or pick things up at garage sales, etc.
I have all my stuffed in a big drawer right now...I am so far behind it isn't even funny!
I really should be able to get to it, with the snow finally sticking to the ground here

[livingfree]

I find the same thing to be true. Here are a few of my strategies.

1. Ask for things I really want for gifts.
2. Join every scrapbooking store mailing list. For example, I am on the Archiver's mailing list and every month we get a coupon for something free, like 5 sheets of paper, a hot spot item or this month we got $3.00 to be used on anything!
3. Join freecycle. You can pm me for more info, but there seems to be a lot of people always getting rid of scrapbooking stuff on there.
4. Make friends with a creative memories consultant
5. This one's not free, but my Michael's every week has a 50% or 40% off one item coupon. I ususally by something that's a dollar or less.

[OI138KACY]

Those are some great tips....Thanks for sharing your ideas with us!
I love hitting deals at Micheals sometimes, they have great deals when they have them.

[canadial]

Meijer always has scrapbooking stuff on clearance - the trick is finding the clearance section in the store. I got a bunch of $2.99 stuff for $0.19 (it was summer stuff but it will still be good this year).

Be sure to take the stuff to a price scanner to make sure it has the correct price tag on it. In the clearance section the price tags some times get stuck to the wrong item.

[janetlr1974]

I like to go to scrapbook classes they are quite inexpensive and sometimes they give you a limited amt of materials and / or you can trade or use something that someone else has ie cutters, pens, paper and IDEAS

[staceytwinmom]

I own a sticker maker and I can make anything (reasonable size) into an embellishment. I can print out any type of clip art and make it into a sticker- it has been very helpful.

[debsiwags]

My tip is this...... simplify.

I have scrapbooked for years... I used to do all the cute brads and cut out all the individual letters to make my page look adorable. I then found a Creative memories consultant who talked me into becoming one ( I am not longer one now) I love their products - I know they are semi pricey but they really concentrate on getting your pics into simple albums. I now make my albums more simple (still cute by my kids standards though - they could really care less) so I save money on embelishments - I still buy paper from the craft store when they go on sale but now I can afford to buy three albums once a year from CM. I love their stuff but it's still hard to play full price... i got so used to the 30% off. But it's too much work - I'd rather coupon.

[Maddy'sMom]

I pay attention to the e-mails I get from Archiver's, Joanns, and such and try to get as much on sale as I can. I use absolutely every Joanns and Archiver's coupon I can. Even if it means that I'm getting a sheet of paper for .20 instead of .40 savings adds up. Clearance is my friend.

I also took the time and saved up money to invest in my tools. I have a Silhouette that I use for all of my die cuts that doesn't require a new pattern every time. I got it the day after Thanksgiving for really cheap! Not to mention that I don't have to spend hours cutting the same pattern out for church crafts...it just does it for me...anyway, I'm off track.

My best suggestion is spend time in the clearance bins. It takes some time, but it is worth it...plus when you are off season in your scrapbooking you can get stuff so much cheaper. I wait until December to scrap Halloween, May for Valentines Day, etc.

[nf1074]

The way I save money scrapbooking is i share my stuff with my sister.
She started me into scrapbooking.
We share our supplies. we buy stuff at Big Lots, and whatever Clarence stuff we find, Target/walmart dollar store.
we also use old post cards, christmas/bday cards wrapping paper. whatever we think would look nice in a scrapbook.
we use diffrent stuff for our scrapbooks.
I also tend to get great deals on EBAY, buying stuff in lots.
slowly building up your stash.