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

I like to save the stiff plastic packaging that comes on some embellishments and use them for paint trays. I've done this for years and just keep a small basket of them next to my paints.

I love to use the squished pennies you get when you go on vacation. They make a great page accent and the kids remember how fun it was to see the penny get squished!

I have started simplifing. Focusing more on the story and less on adding stuff and things to the page. I have given away 'stuff' and will be selling 'stuff' in an upcoming yardsale. This in itself is not frugal, but sure has cut down on my shopping and buying unneccesarily.

I use my scrap bin to take care of my paper punches when I can. Instead of punching out of a big sheet, I try a part of a sheet... not earth-shatteringly cool, but it is what I do!
Thanks for the great giveaways!!

I love to save the brochures from tourist attractions and restaurants. I cut them up and use them for titles or filler on the page.

Lately, the kids and I have been making Shrink Art - I'm planning on using these on a page. The kids drawings are so fun and imaginative - plus in their own hand - it doesn't get better than that!

if i'm mating a large picture i cut out the inside of the mat to use for something else on the page! :)

One of the easiest things I do is to save my scraps and use them on future layouts!

I make alot of my own embellishments from felt. Felt seems just right now - charming, retro and great colors. Owls and trees are my fav right now.

One of the ways I'm frugal in scrapping is I often scan in birthday card designs to decorate the birthday pages... I love to keep the signatures and well wishes of from the person... a great way to document their writing.

My furgal tip: If you don't have the right color staple for your layout, just use a sharpie to color the staples.

I don't know if you have seen the House of 3 website as of yet, but by purchasing the digital design on their site, & downloading it onto cardstock allows you to use it on multiple, multiple things... unlike a piece of paper that obviously can only be used one time. To add to this you can use the design both digitally & on paper. You can even use part of a design! So many uses for one design. Fun to learn a new digi technique as well & the ladies @ House of 3 make it so easy! There are a lot of other opportunities on the internet to do the same - Ali I know you have one where your digital designs are available too!
Sure would love to attend the Scrap Etc. event. A dream come true.

my frugal tip... don't hoard! as much as i would love it.. my budget just does not warrant it.. i tend to go to my LSS - with a list and a LO in mind.. (oh and being on the DT for the LSS is frugal too.. i get lots o' free stuff!) (and i could find my way to atlanta very easily!!!)

my tip- in anything paper can and will be used. with that being said- i LOVE to use bright packaging from any items- i just finished a page where punched hearts were from a polka dot lipgloss package that was a stocking stuffer from christmas.
my other fun tip- is i save ALL of my clear emblishment sticker holders- i love the look of acetate and stamping over photos- and these little scraps save me money on items.

For me, the only way to be frugal is to not even go into the stores...and to use what I already have, of course!

I go to antique stores and look for buttons...usually there will be huge jars of cool and unique antique buttons for a low price! These give my scrapbook pages and crafts extra oomph and a vintage touch.

Hmm frugal. Use your scraps of paper to make cards or use them as a collage background.

Watch for sales! I try to stock up on adhesives & basic colored cardstock (white, black, browns) when they are on sale to save $$$ in the long run.

Use the stuff you have instead of hoarding it...either that, or go digital and then you can hoard it and use it over and over.

I save everything too! Before scrapping I did a lot of collage, and everything has a use. Plus I collect thigs that catch my eye out of magazines, or things like a pretty patterned paper napkin. I put them in notebooks with pocket pages so I can flip the pages and see what I have.
:-)

hmmmm....frugal tip: I always save my paper scraps and organize them by color in {free} pizza boxes. And I could totally go to the event in Atlanta - I live in Charlotte. And my birthday is at the end of the month, too. Now THAT would be an awesome 40th birthday.

What great giveaways today!!
My frugal tip is to go green on your layouts and cards (evry once in a while.) I have used ripped pieces of white net bag from garlic & pieces of the green net bag from tomatoes, twist ties work great for attaching embellishments to chipboard letters. Packaging can also be repurposed- make a " transparency " with Staz on, stamps & a plastic thickers bag. I also agree that to use your stash is the best way to be a frugal scrapper.

I like to cut out designs from pattern pappers to create embellishments. I like to use a craft knife instead of scissors for this.

I sometimes create a background with watercolor crayons and a wet paintbrush and some paintpens to create doodles. Of course this is not frugal if you don't have the watercolor crayons already. I love the collage scraps and I love to make collages out of my own photo's. That is sort of a frugal collage tip though. Then I don' have to find and buy copyright free images (though if I don't post them it doesn't matter)

My best frugal scrapbooking tip is to shop your stash rather than buy the latest and greatest all the time. And, look on the net for ideas and inspiration.