scrapbookers I have a ?

[ntburns22]

Since we moved to the boonies I have way too much free time on my hands. So I am thinking of scrapbooking. All the books I have found are $20+. Is there anywhere that I can find a cheaper one to experiment with for my first book? I don't have alot of stores around but I do love to shop online now. DH is getting scared because I can go shopping all day everyday.LOL

 

[mudnuri]

Personally, I wouldnt buy a "book"

I use Creative Memories books/pages and that way I buy refill pages when I'm getting low, and only a book when I have the extra $$.... I prefer the type that you can remove pages add pages etc... sometimes I'll find pictures that belong before a page already completed (the girls books are chronological)...

Also, with scrapbooking, I again, personally do not think "cheap" is the way to go...these are memories I hope my daughters will be sharing with their grandchildren in 40-50 years!

Brandy

 

[tnhillbilly]

The Dollar Tree in my region have some books. Nothing fancy, but you could use them to see if it is something you would like to do. Dollar Store also has some stuff, Big Lots has some also that is not too high. If you put your pages in the page protectors you can always put them into another book later. Have just started myself and have been getting advice on where to shop and get good products that will not break the bank.

 

[disneysnowflake]

I wouldn't use Creative Memories if you plan to move your pages around. You buy the pages from Creative Memories and put your photos directly on the page. It's not like the albums with the page protectors where you can move your pages around as you'd like. I think Creative Memories is expensive. That's just my opinion anyway. I've been scrapbooking since 1996.

I'd check the Dollar Tree like the other poster said. Also, if you have a JoAnn Fabrics you can get albums there pretty cheap when they have a sale.
WalMart also sells scrapbooks. Look on JoAnn's website. Sometimes they have sales on there.

If you plan on doing 8-1/2 by 11 pages instead of 12x12 you can just get a big 3 ring binder at WalMart for around $4 or so. You can also get 8x11 sheet protectors at WalMart in larger quantities in the stationery dept. I noticed if you buy the sheet protectors of the same size in the WalMart craft dept you'll pay more. At least that's how our store is.

Another tip is paper. At JoAnn you can buy big paper stacks. They are 12x12 sheets. They come in a pack of 180 sheets. JoAnns will have these on sale quite often for only $9.99. They come out with different stacks for seasons. I've bought these for some time, and it's a lot cheaper than buying paper by the sheets. The colors and styles are really cute, too.

Hope some of this helps.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Michael's (craft store) has the refill pages which you can do up and then when you have enough, go buy a book. I prefer the 12x12 size of book - you can fit more stuff on one page.

Warning - scrapbooking is far from cheap! I recently spent over $220 just on "extras" to complete some pages in my books. Mind you I am working on 3 books at once (family, DD, DS book #2). There is so much fun stuff out there. Make a list and try not to stray from it. It is so tempting when you get inthe scrapbooking section!

My friend got me into it a few years ago, and I remember joking about it with my mom that my friend said she spent $300 at Michaels. I was like, are you crazy, why spend that much on a scrapbook! Now look at me, 3 years later, sitting on probably over $1,000 of stuff!

Have fun!!!

 

[ntburns22]

Thanks for the tips! I just wanted to be able to find some less expensive stuff to start with. I am far from crafty. I did not want to spend alot of money until I know I am able to make the pages look nice. Keep more ideas coming.

 

[lbgraves]

I have been getting all of my scrapbooks & photo albums from Kohl's online. They have half price sales on these quite often & also run .99 shipping specials where it is only .99 per item you order. They run 10-14 that way for nice books that are toploading. You can also get the refills there.

 

[mking624]

I, too, would not buy a bound book. Get an album that either has rings or is postbound or something...that way you have the flexibility to add/remove pages as you wish.

As far as scrapbooking being cheap or expensive...it can very easily go either way. If you're dead set on getting the name brand scrapbooking things, yes it's going to be expensive. But I've been doing "frugal scrapping" for years now and my pages look just as good as those who drop hundreds of dollars on their supplies. I've seen Making Memories sell hinges for a few bucks, but my local craft store sold a package of generic ones for 75 cents and they looked exactly the same. I see companies sell a few buttons for a few bucks...I got a bag LOADED with buttons for only a dollar. Old shirts...take the buttons off those. If you go to Michael's at all, head over to the school/office supply section and you can find vellum for cheaper than the scrapping section. I've also found packages of brads (50count) for 50 cents each package at places like Big Lots (in their school supply section). That bendable wire...I've seen Making Memories sell a little bit for more than I'm willing to pay. I head over to the jewelry making section of the craft store and can find a whole spool of the wire for a dollar or two (I get a lot more for less). Thrift stores can be great so you can get clothes for fabrics, buttons, etc. Used coffee grounds or used tea bags can be used for staining paper...to give an antique look. Used dryer fabric softener sheets are great for texture paper. Plan your layout ahead of time...don't just buuy something because you think it looks neat. This will save you a lot of money. Save your scraps...you can use them for future projects.

My husband calls me the queen of frugal scrapping. Anyone who says scrapbooking has to cost a lot of money hasn't scrapped with me. You can have an AWESOME looking page for very little money.

 

[mudnuri]

I wouldn't use Creative Memories if you plan to move your pages around. You buy the pages from Creative Memories and put your photos directly on the page. It's not like the albums with the page protectors where you can move your pages around as you'd like. I think Creative Memories is expensive. That's just my opinion anyway. I've been scrapbooking since 1996.

Thats the thing about scrapbooking, you dont move your pictures. You move the PAGE....Doing scrapbooks is about the decorations around the pictures,the theme if you will, not about sticking photo's in a photo album and calling it a scrapbook....a post bound book, you CAN move your pages around....the way you have your post worded, is that you cant, when in reality, YOU CAN...and FYI, with the CM photo squares, you can remove a photo and move it to a different place on the page if you chose to, but again, scrapbooking is about the page layout.

Brandy

 

[WeluvDisney2]

Try esticker online. http://www.esticker.com

 

[Sandy51]

My Dollar General has tons of school supplies out. I have bought several of the
$1.00 3 ring binders to use for scrapbooks. They also have page protectors in a package, 15 for $1.00. If you like these page protectors, buy several packs of them because they disappear when they take the school supplies off the shelves. I also have found sheets of stickers there and at Dollar Tree.



Sandy

 

[Franne]

You should check out the scrapping board on the Dis, there are GREAT ladies over there that know everything and can help with any question you can think of!!
I personally use CM books, you don't have to scrap on the page itself, they make perfect fit pages now so you can slide it in, without sticking it down to the page, until you are ready. The books are much better quality than the ones you get in Michael's or stores like that. Put them side by side and you'll see. They are expensive, but are worth it because your memories are irreplaceable!

 

[disneysnowflake]

Isn't it true that with Creative Memories your pages are back to back?
So, if you do a page you always have another page on the back? How can you move them around? I don't scrap in order. I never have. If I want to do a page from my nieces birthday in April and then do a page from the 4th of July I do that.
If you put refills in a Creative Memories album, how can you move pages around if you do a 2 page layout? That's why I never purchased one (except for the 7x7 Disney album). I like the cutters Creative Memories have. I like the stickers and the punches, but the albums are not for me. If you scrap in order and do only 1 page layouts then you are fine. I'm a 2 page layout person.

 

[DisneyFreq]

Frugal scrapbooking? What a trendy phrase! Yes...you can do it cheap. I used to live in the "boonies", 40 miles from the nearest walmart (which had a paultry scrapper department...unlike most). I usually went online at Jo annes and signed up for their mailing list. They sent my coupon codes and whenever they sent one for free shipping, I'd usually stock up. However, I have to say, the in-store deals are much better. They keep a line of 12 X 12 post bound albums that have 5 refill pages and a protective cover. Several times a year (I think when the seasons change) they clear out their stock by offering them half price...which makes them only 4.99! I buy multiples b/c I give them as christmas gifts.

Don't start out with the 8 1/2 by 12 size thinking you'll save money. The truth is, b/c most ppl work with the larger size, thats where all the deals are to be found. Another poster mentioned the paper packs that frequently go on sale for $10. There is 180 pages there! I have three of these books. I could be locked in this house for the next two years and I'd run out of pics before I'd ever run out of paper.

Often I examine things I'd normally throw away. The extra buttons that come on shirts, confetti, cards, charms that have fallen off of jewlery/clothing. These make great, FREE, add ons. I also raid my moms fabric room. She has a great big cabinet full of scrap lace and ribbon. I about choke when I see these specialty cards with about 5 specialty yarns/ribbons (probably only about 12 in of each) b/c they cost like $13! I could buy the whole spool of ribbon for a fraction of that...why are ppl paying so much for pieces??

When you travel, keep your eyes open for scrap stores. I was in Destin a few months ago (not really traveling, but it is a travel destination) and I stumbled upon a joint called the Scrapbook Clearance Center. I got a huge bag of stuff for $25.

Once you've established what materials you use MOST frequently, buy in bulk when you find the item/s on sale. For example, if you like using stickers and you find yourself repeating a certain theme (like beaches, I live near them so they're in a lot of my pics), if stickers are half off, pick up a variety of stickers in that area. Don't buy soccer stickers just b/c they're cute and on sale (I've done this) if you don't know anyone that plays soccer. (I WILL USE THOSE COWBOY STICKERS ONE DAY )

Learn one new trick at a time. Each "area" of scrapbooking means new tools AND supplies and obviously more money. SO, I advise you research and be sure what you want to do next before investing the time and money. (Examples: stamps, embossing, eyelets/grommets)

Scrapbooking is addictive...which is why it is so expensive. Every year I bring home more supplies than the last, yet I don't scrapbook any more or less. You just see neat stuff that you know you'll use eventually...bring it home, and it gets burried and you forget you even have it. If you're an online shopper I suggest you stay away from ebay.

 

[mudnuri]

Isn't it true that with Creative Memories your pages are back to back?
So, if you do a page you always have another page on the back? How can you move them around? I don't scrap in order. I never have. If I want to do a page from my nieces birthday in April and then do a page from the 4th of July I do that.
If you put refills in a Creative Memories album, how can you move pages around if you do a 2 page layout? That's why I never purchased one (except for the 7x7 Disney album). I like the cutters Creative Memories have. I like the stickers and the punches, but the albums are not for me. If you scrap in order and do only 1 page layouts then you are fine. I'm a 2 page layout person.

well every book will have a front/back to a page. Doesnt matter if its creative memories or any other book. It's taken some creative work when I want to put a page in where it doesnt belong, usually I'll do a filler for the 2nd page that coordinates to the other.

If you do 2 page layouts- you are still okay with creative memories, because its left/right for a 2 page. Then you turn the page, and do another 2 page layout. The only difference with creative memories albums compared to the other ones is you can add more pages, they last a long longer. I know they are more expensive than some others, but again, I go for longevity, not cheap...???

Brandy

 

[DiznEeyore]

Like Franne said, you can move your pages around in a CM book -- just slide the page protectors on the page that's in the book, and then slide the page you create (on another piece of paper or cardstock) inside, on top of the white page. You don't have to fasten them down.

Now, EK Success has just come out with wonderful Disney albums (black embossed Mickey faces in 12x12 and 8x8) that are post-bound AND side loading. I'm hoping more companies will start doing this -- it's the best of both worlds!!

 

[CDoobee]

What is EK Success? Is it a website?

Thanks!

 

[ilovedale3]

EK Success is a company that makes lots of different scrapping products like stickers, pens, embellishments, etc.

 

[CDoobee]

Thanks! I found the website, and there are a couple of stores within about 10 miles or so from me. I'll have to check them out!

 

[4greatboys]

I saw a cute scrapbook kit at Target this weekend that had the book and some papers in it for $14.00. Michaels has some sales on their stuff regularly and I made my mil a scarpbook of our June 2004 trip for Christmas last year and got it on sale for $9.99.
If you dont want to get a book right away just get some papers (I use 12x12).
There is a also a good sketck book by Becky Higgins put out by Creating Keepsakes that has stetches of layouts and some examples of what others of have done. It might help you to get the idea's flowing.
Plus you can order tons of stuff online.
Good Luck and a small warning--It can be addictive!