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

I've become a better scrapbook shopper....I shop sales at my LSS, I look for dollar finds, I check peachycheap, I shop sales on line, and I find that my pages are more creative and fun to put together with all my "finds."
Can't do Atlanta though....

My frugal tip is to use your scraps to make gift tags, ribbons for presents, use your scraps to make your gifts pretty!
I would like to be included in the separate giveaway for the scrap etc. event in GA, i've been trying to get to that event for a few years now, it's definitely a lot cheaper having it in GA...thanks Ali for the awesome giveaways you do! -angela

My frugal scrapbooking tip is kind of a no-brainer, but digital elements are awesome. You can use them on or with photos before you print the photo, or print the elements out and use them over and over. Or scrap digitally, which is what I've been doing lately.
I would love to go to the Scrap Etc event (and have entered just about every contest for it I can find). I am less than 30 minutes north of Atlanta, so I can easily get there. :)

Oh good, I've been wanting to share this tip...i have a couple of acrylic blocks for my stamps but if you want to have several different sizes, i find that they can be a little pricey...so instead, i have purchased several different sizes of those thin, cheap acrylic magnetic fridge frames (usually at the craft store starting around $1.99 or maybe even less) and use those - it's really the same thing and you can get small squares up to 8x10 if you really wanted. I hope someone can use that tip! ;)

Incorporating junk mail into a few layouts, is always a favorite of mine. Also mail that my kids bring home from school works too. Magazines have a ton of great fonts, pictures, and inspiration. Thanks for the chance to win. Take care, Kim

The giveaways on your blog are always awesome. My frugal scrapping tips are to use my self taught calligraphy skills, decorative lettering and handwriting because I love how your journaling is always such a beautiful as well as meaningful embellishment on your layouts. I also started using my punches and catalogs such as PaperSource to create simple yet pretty embellishments. I usually use my scallop punch and small circle punch to mix and match colors and patterns for pretty flowers. Thanks for the chance to win something beautiful.

My tip is to go through my stash and see if I have older paper or buttons or stickers, etc that I've saved and never used and use with newer paper now. Saves me money on buying new things and uses up my stash! I also use an external hard drive to back up my pictures bc I've had several computers crash and lost pictures of my kids in the past.

using stamping or punching more since these are "reuseable"; delving into my creative reserve by doing more with the scraps in my scrap box

I had thrown away the packaging from Basic Grey's glazed brads, when I thought of cutting out the clear, flat top that covers the brads. That will now become an 'acrylic' page in a mini album! I am also attaching clear letters onto either old newspaper or pages from an old dictionary that I picked up at a second-hand store. I cut around the letters, and use! I always keep cool tags from clothing, and recently reused a nice, big heart attached as a tag on a pair of jeans. It even had an eyelet ready to attach to a layout with twine. All I did was cover it with brown bag paper, sand the edges, and added a short word ribbon. It seems that I can't do a layout or project without using some of my scraps. It is so satisfying to recycle or repurpose 'garbage' and turn it into something beautiful.

I have realized over time that the most expensive ongoing expense I have with scrapbooking is the adhesive. I have switched to the ATG gun dispenser and buy tape from the Tape Depot. I have gotten it down to under $2 a roll for 36 YARDS of adhesive which goes a very much longer way than buying any brand of roller adhesive that is 28 FEET long!
I would find a way to get to Atlanta Georgia if I won the prize for that event.

Frugal these days is trying to just use what I already have, which is way more than I need...but it's so hard trying NOT to buy all the new and fabulous stuff out there. Thanks for the chance to win prizes (I cannot go to Atlanta, the budget won't allow, and neither will the job). Thanks, Ali and all.

I use odd pieces of chip board as masks, they work great and I can use the pieces of chipboard later :-) Another frugal tip is glassine envelopes used by the postoffice when I buy stamps... I reuse them in my scrapbook cause they are so cool.

Hey Ali - I live in Nashville and would love to go to the Scrap Etc. event! :) My frugal scrapbooking tip is using what I have. I have probably spent only $40 on scrapbooking supplies in the past 6 months by concentrating on using my stash. I still have a lot more to use to make a serious dent.

I stock-up on "essentials" like tape and solid color paper when it's on sale at Hobby Lobby (and, using their 40% off coupon from their website helps too!)

After my baby shower I was left with a truck load of gift bags, all with the cutest patterns and graphics. Some of them even had pretty ribbon for handles, etc. Normally I would have just thrown them in the recycle bin, but I realized they would be perfect for scrapbooking. Not to mention I didn't have to pay a dime for them!

My tip is to write it down! You may be sure you'll remember, but chances are you probably won't! I'm running into this now that I'm on pregnancy #2. I thought for sure I'd remember everything the first time and I didn't write it down and now, a mere 4 years later--you guessed it, I don't remember! I'm going to do better this time!
Oh, and I live in CO so a trip to ATL isn't in the cards for me. :(

Lots of great tips!! I have a few things. I keep scraps, at the very least they will become cards, but usually more. I also love to use tags off of things, anything.
And a big hint, look around your office. Clips and such are usually less expensive from stationary stores. If you like the bright colours, use paint to switch it up.

My best frugal scrapbooking tip is to use what you have. I have lots of chipboard and felt around, so I make my own embellishments. You can cut basic shapes pretty easily, and you can use your computer to make a pattern. Use what you have from your office, school or other type of craft supplies (sewing, crochet, or knitting supplies).

My best tip seems to be what alot of other people do and that is to just use what you have. I also like to go to the flea markets and thrift stores(very inexpensive)and see what I can give new life to on a scrapbook page and my art. Great prizes, hope I win one.
Thanks,
Tiffany

When I use a 12 x 12 piece of card stock as my page base I make a 1 inch cut in so I have a 10 inch square left over (use this for photo matting, or for a future use). I then take a 12 x 12 piece of pattern paper and cut 1/2 each off of 2 sides leaving a 11 x 11 piece of paper to place on top of the 1 inch-12x12 piece.
And yes, I do think I can make it to the Scraps Etc event, I'm not that far from Atlanta, GA

After doing a scrapbook layout - I usually use the scraps immediately and make a card while I have all the matching embellishments, etc. out. I often group 6-8 cards together to use as a hospitality gift or thank you gift.

Wow! This is an awesome giveaway! I could actually attend the Scrap ETC. weekend, since I live in GA. Also that's my birthday weekend! It would be perfect!
My scrap tip is to use diamond glaze or stickles to add a little oomph to your embellishments! Thanks for the offer Ali!

My frugal tip is to use what you have on-hand. So many of us are guilty for having a large stash and in these economic times, I think getting back to basics and rediscovering old favorites is the way to go.
Sher Gonzales

Here is my tip:
When using letter stickers like Thickers, if you run out of a letter, try and make it out of another letter. For example, an O can be cut easily into a C and an uppercase E can easily transform into an F.
:)

I use small calendar/journal spot in the front of the Real Simple magazine--works so great. Also I use phrases and cool fonts/words and backgrounds found in magazines!
(Wouldn't be able to make it to Atlanta, sadly.)