Wednesday Sponsor Giveaways : Paper Relics, Shabby Chic Crafts, & Scrap Etc. Events

In each layout try to use one item from your scrapbooking stash that you wouldn't normally use. I find this stretches my creativity, plus it forces me to use MOST of the items I have purchased. I waste less and spend less.

Sometimes it’s hard to be frugal with all the wonderful products available on monthly basis. Lately, I have challenged myself to put together layouts without purchasing any new materials, not even the tiniest thing. The outcome has been really surprising because you look at your materials in a new way. So, I guess my tip for frugal scrapbooking would be to once in a while look through and organize your materials, you might have forgotten you had “this or that” which can be used on a new layout…saving you $$$.
*I would be available to travel to Atlanta, GA...

Count me in for a chance to go Atlanta!! Wow!
I save tons of scraps of paper to use on layouts later. My tip is to go ahead and cut them with a large circle and square punch (those I use the most). They take up less space to store and you can grab them and get busy!

I like to reuse the packaging from my supplies (plastic coverings, cardboard backings, etc.) on my layouts. I'll cut out or punch shapes from them, just like chipboard.

Hello, my frugal scrapbook tip is to really cut down on my adhesive use. I know when I first started, I glued everything down as if it were going to be thrown from an airplane :) Yes, I would LOVE to attend the classes in Georgia. Please include me in the drawing. My husband and I could use a little golf/scrapbooking getaway :)

I shop the $1.99 bins at Archivers and garage sales for stamps and dies. I take my small scraps and punch them into different sizes of circles and keep them in a dish on my desk. They are always easy to incorporate into a layout.

I love to use put all my scraps together and then just sit down and make a bunch of cards at one time!
Brandi
P.s. Scrap ect is driving distance for me!

I never used to use my scraps, but now I use them for cards right away. That way they don't get "stored" never to be used again.

Ali,
You have such awesome giveaways! I am a pack rat and save absolutely everything!
hugs,
Margie Rowles

I use cookie cutters! I trace the cookie cutter onto a piece of cardboard- from a cereal box usually, then cut it out and decorate it. I used cookie cutters to make Christmas cards for '08.
You can see it here: http://canyoupixelthis.blogspot.com/2008/12/card-tutorial.html

My frugal tip
I make one card or more from the scraps left from a layout, before I put them away. I keep white and ivory card blanks beside my scrap space.
I live in Australia, so won't be able to make the retreat
Thanks
Ange

My frugal tip is that I save all cardboard inserts that come with sheets and lots of other items, even junk mail! I use these later to make small albums or just front and back covers for albums.
I live in hotlanta, the ATL, beautiful Atlanta and would LOVE to go to the event! So please enter me in the drawing for this as well, thanks Ali! What a reward this would be for me as I finish finals at Georgia State University just before the event!
Thanks for all the great frugal tips everyone!

Ali- At this time, I do not have an ounce of willpower, so my only frugal tip is to resist all temptation- and avoid shopping. Using what I have is not nearly as fun as shopping, but there is a sense of satisfaction when I use something from my stash I have had for a long time!

Hi Ali,
I only buy things (besides paper) that I will use more than once or twice. Stamps, tools, etc... no stickers....and rubons are a splurge if I find a good deal.
I live in Charlotte, NC and could definitely attend the Scrap event.
Blessings,
Alicia J

I live 30 minutes outside of Altanta and would love to have tickets to the event (that's too expensive to justify to hubby otherwise)....I don't have a really frugal tip, but they had a recycling prompt at Cocoa daisy this week, and when I was brainstorming something to create on the prompt I realized that some of the packaging backing on chipboard and decorative brads is the perfect size to mat small photos. All you have to do is paint it whatever color you need.

Shop your stash to make Photo Album Scrapbooks
We all have leftover prints of events, pics are not great but we can't let go of the. I use this pictures and an inexpensive 2 or 3 up (4x6 2 or 3 slots a page) to make an album, since the highlight of the event have been scrapped and this shots are not the best ones, I go trough my "buyers remorse" paper stacks and make matts and embelishments for this pictures, then I slide them into the photo albums, it is cheap and it allows you to let go of the guilt of not using the paper.

My tip is: stop planning too much and just relax!!! Thnaks for the great blog and give-aways as always.

I'm another "clear the stash first" girl! That helps me stay in budget...I have to use up most of it first.

I'm afraid people probably wouldn't use my name and the word "frugal" in the same sentence - but I'm trying! Little do they know that I save almost all of my cut off scraps. I organize them by solids and patterns and within that, sorted by color. I refer to those first, except for my background initial card stock. See, that's frugal, right?

Buying together with friends and then splitting it all up has really helped make my scrap money go farther. Thanks for the chance to win - that is about as "frugal" as we can get!