Scrapbooking on a Budget

Michael's, Dollar store and clearance sections at WalMart & Target.

I never buy anything for my supplies unless it's on sale or clearance unless I need something very specific. Hobby Lobby has a virtual coupon that you can access on their website on your cell phone. Every time you go in the store you can save 40% on one item! They have different scrapping stuff on sale 50% off every week. Use coupons and shop clearance as much as you can! I have acquired quite the collection of stuff over the last couple of years this way!
Also, always keep a lookout for stuff at garage sales! I have gotten SO much, including storage for my stuff, that way!

I was so nervous when I found scrapbooking. I went to a shop that had crops. I took a few pictures and when I attended I was handed the materials and a person was there to help me form the pages.

The biggest mistake I made was the format.

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Style of scrapbooking I want to do:

I do not like using a 3 ring binder for a scrapbook. I don't really care for the 8 1/2"X11" pages at all. I prefer the 12"X12". So all the pages I had made before I found what I liked are going to have to be redone at some future time.

I think that contemplating what you want the finished product to look like is important. I wanted the big square scrapbooks that I could do lots on one page. Not binders that didn't fit on a shelf side by side very well.

I found I liked the 12"X12" with the posts in them. Here is a link that gives some basic ideas and guidance for a beginner.

http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/gettingstarted/a/choosea...

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Once you decide on the style of book you want to attempt you can wait until Hobby Lobby or a store close to you has a half price sale going on.

Hobby Lobby has scrapbooking papers on sale this week 50% off. I would start off buying a few papers that I liked and perhaps some stickers.

http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/entire_ad.cfm

I also would buy the packages of papers because I am horrid about matching stuff. I can never be a quilter. I just can't match the stuff like some can.

I bought the solid cardstock that are just bigger than the pictures I was going to put in the book. That way I just glued the pic to the cardstock rectangle and then glued that onto the solid/patterned 12"X12" paper.

This photo page is 1 12"X12" light green page then a few pictures placed on a darker green cardstock rectangle then glued on the page. It tells a story but is very simple.

http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/image/layout/3634963.html

This one is on a orange 12"X12" paper and then a couple of pictures are placed on a light orange rectangle then glued onto the paper. A border can be purchased, like one long sticker, or like a roll of ribbon on a spool. Then it is stuck on. A flattish flower completes the look. It is glued on too. The page protectors in the album will keep the flower on the page even with a lot of use.

http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/image/layout/3634959.html

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Layouts

Go to several scrapbooking sites and find a link for layouts so you can see some styles you like. I did not make a single scrapbook after the first couple of pages I attempted without having a copied layout I wanted to copy.

http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/layout/0/1.html

I spent hours looking at layouts. I knew I wanted them hands on, not digital. I wanted to be able to hold and move my stuff around.

I guess I will eventually learn to do digital but for now I like using the pictures up.

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Go to local crops. You pay something like $10-$15 and should get all the supplies you need plus some refreshments. It could be a great inspiration for you to just sit and watch others too. I can copy anything I see then as my confidence grows I can start branching out and figuring out my own style.

Take it slow, only buy a few things that are staples, like solid card stock, papers you find attractive. A few stickers to accentuate the story. Take your time.

You have to keep your eyes open for coupons and sales at Michael's. Joann's, etc., but also check Big Lots,(if you have them) and dollar stores for supplies, I have found some cute stuff : ).

Walmart and Mchaels...especially with the 40% off coupon!

Michaels, JoAnn Fabric and Hobby Lobby.
Michaels and JoAnn always have coupons and great sales on paper, especially the packs of paper!
Hobby Lobby is great for purchasing the adhesive and a lot of the tools or little things you want to put in them for decoration.

JoAnn Fabrics! They have sales and clearance items in scrapbooking a lot. They also put out 40% off coupons on one item often, both in the newspaper and with your print out receipt. Enjoy!

Michael's has store coupons in every Sunday paper that you can use to get scrapbooking supplies. You can also print coupons fro Hobby Lobby's website, too. Every week both of these stores will have discounts on certain departments around the store. I suggest waiting for the scrapbook stuff to go on sale for the week (usually 30-70%!) then take in one of your coupons and you can get stuff nearly free.

I do scrapbooks for my kids and grandkids. I use the computer to make the pages and stickers are fun. I always kept journals on the kids and my granddaughter so I put that on there. I use the word processor to make titles for the pages. I put stickers that go with it or just fun little designs. I also use stencils for different shapes and designs. For birthdays I add napkins, invitations or whatever will lay flat. At Christmas I keep the cute cards and cut them out to stick in corners or make a title page. You can cute the words "Merry Christmas out with pinking shears or even the scrapbooking sissors to give it a fun edge and not making being straight so important. Same can be done with birthday cards, halloween cards and even wrapping paper that is used for their presents. Things don't have to be expensive. I use a 3 ring binder and at Sams club I get a big package of the page protectors and big packs of colored card stock to use rather then the expensive scrapbooks. I do cover the binders with Material to match their favorite things or pretty material. They aren't hard to make.
Here is a link to my album that has some of the scrapbooks I made from the binders.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.133059836700.11...

You already have some great suggestions. I'L. just add that QVC has some great deals sometimes. If I remember correctly they have "starter" sets. There's tons of options out there now. I remember when I first started it was harder to find things. Target, Walmart, etc didn't have sections for scrapbooking. Now it's everywhere but no, it's not cheap.

If you are just thinking about trying and have not started yet then I wouldn't go crazy buying a lot of stuff. Start small to see how you like it and/or have the time for it. I have tons of stuff but no longer have time to scrap. I can't wait until I actually have some free time for it. I really loved it and it's almost therapeutic for me to get lost in the creativity.

Another idea would be to get a group of friends who like to scrapbook. I used to get together once a week with a group of friends and co-workers and we would get some pages done and trade items.

Have fun!

I got the Michaels app on my phone... that way I don't have to save the coupons I just click on my app and there is whatever the current deal is and they just scan it from my phone. There's almost always a 40% off one item coupon which is good when you have to buy another book or giant pack of paper (the pricier items).

I also hit up the dollar store and big lots now and then when I am feeling more broke.

I probably spend the most money on glue (over time). And actually printing the pictures (I'L. print up like 200 at a time for shutterfly maybe once a month)

i agree to shop on coupons. I would buy a pack of colored paper and work 2 page lay outs at a time. Buy the theme and use it and then budget the next theme. I just seem to collect so much stuff over time and end up with so many odds and ends of things. Craigslist sometimes has creative memory people selling stuff or people give it up and have stuff for sale on there. I would do the layouts and then buy the albums and protectors later after you make a whole book theme so your not overwhelmed. Store them in a container for a 12 by 12 . It works great.