Scrapbook My Life

Scrapbooking is a fun and enjoyable hobby, but shopping for supplies can get very expensive. I find myself wanting to buy every pretty paper and embellishment that catches my eye, but restraint is necessary if I have any hope of sticking to my family budget!

The key to smart shopping is to watch for sales, compare prices, and only buy products you’ll actually use.  Here are a few tips to consider during your next trip:

• Scrapbooking supplies fall into two categories: consumables like patterned paper or stickers and non-consumables like punches or rubber stamps.  In most cases, non-consumable supplies are the better bargain, even if they cost more initially.  For example, a set of alphabet stamps in a versatile font can be used repeatedly, while a sheet of alphabet stickers can only be used on a limited number of pages.
• Invest in a quality paper trimmer.  It may eat up a lot of your budget in the beginning, but you’ll save money by not having to replace poorly made trimmers that break and don’t cut straight.  Plus, with a good paper trimmer you won’t waste paper by cutting crooked photo mats and journaling blocks.
• Cardstock is almost always cheaper than patterned paper.  Use cardstock as a background for your layouts with smaller amounts of patterned paper as decorative accents.  Cardstock is cheapest when purchased in multi-packs, but when you’re buying by the sheet remember that lighter colors will generally cost less than darker shades because of the dyes used in the printing process. 
• Buy basics in bulk whenever possible.  Stock up on plain vellum, adhesives, and commonly used embellishments like eyelets or metal-rimmed tags when you can find a good sale. QVC is a great place to purchase your favorite embellishments in bulk. 
• Only purchase themed scrapbooking supplies as you need them for specific layouts.  Neutral supplies are the most versatile purchases.  Also, don’t forget to take your pictures with you when shopping for a specific layout.  An embellishment that seems “just right” at the store often looks “all wrong” once you place it next to your photographs.
• Create a filing system to save the receipts for your scrapbooking purchases.  Then, if you later decide you don’t want or need an item, you’ll be able to return it without a hassle.

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