Save Money While Scrapbooking: Embellishment Containers

I love containers.  Every shape, every size, every colour, every style.  My desk at work has multiple little containers for pens, paperclips, business cards, post-it notes.  My desk drawer has containers to hold things.  My scrapbooking space is filled with boxes and tins that often contain further little containers.

I am obsessed.

I am also cheap.

Finding containers that work for you, your supplies, and your space, shouldn’t mean a drain on funds.  There are many ways you can have the storage you want, at the prices you deserve.

Shoe Boxes: Remember when you were little and all of the teachers had you decorate your own shoe box to store craft supplies?  Why not do the same now?  Plus, you have so many more skills…and embellishments…now!  Patterned paper looks amazing to cover a box, and if you are worried about damage, cover the entire box with either Modge Podge glue or self-laminating sheets.

Food and Spice Jars: Glass containers of any shape and size are handy for all types of embellishments, ribbons, etc.  By removing the labels, decorating the lids, and adding a label, you’d hardly know they were once used for something else.  Plus, you can use rub-ons or stamps and StazOn ink to decorate the glass.

Scrapbooking Embellishment Containers: There are a lot of embellishments, particularly flowers, that come in either neat glass containers or plastic tubs.  They can be reused to hold other supplies when the original contents are gone.  As well, brads/eyelets/beads sometimes come in little tins or plastic vials which are great for further storage or for using for projects.

Photo Boxes: I bought a bunch from Michael’s when they were having a Boxing Week sale, and although they are supposed to be for photos, I keep most of my embellishments in them.  They have a label at one end that also assists in remaining organized.

Fishing Tackle Boxes and Containers: I refuse to spend double the amount of money for a container in a scrapbooking store that is pink or purple, when I can buy the exact same thing at Wal-Mart in the fishing aisle for half the price, but in green or blue.  I’m not a girly girl, so actually prefer the non-princess colours.  Plus, the price is right!  As well, if you are looking for sturdy scrapbooking tool bags, check out the ones intended for carpenters, plumbers, and electricians.  They will last longer, are a fraction of the price, and often contain a plethora of pockets that are great for all those tools!  Wal-Mart and Home Depot often carry the best selection at the best price.

IKEA: What blog post would be complete without a reference to IKEA?  Oh, IKEA, how I love you so…too bad we don’t reside in the same city… ANYWAY – IKEA often has a bunch of great storage containers that are amazing for scrapbooking.  They are large enough to hold papers, stamps, and larger items.  The colour selection also helps keep your scrapbooking space coordinated, funky, and fresh.

Whatever containers you choose to use, make sure they work for you, your supplies, and your space.  Check with others for their ideas, as that is when you’ll get the truest reviews.

- Tanya

Save Money While Scrapbooking

Having both Scottish and Ukrainian blood flowing through my veins, I have become a bit of a “frugal” person.  While I am completely willing to spend the money on my hobby, I am also compelled to ensure that I am getting the most out of spending my hard-earned cash, and I am sure that you are too!  Nothing is more frustrating and upsetting than seeing new scrapbookers being ‘roped’ into paying ludicrous prices for items that they can find elsewhere for cheaper, or create the items themselves for far less.

Often, though, people pay for convenience.

Consider 600ml bottles of any name-brand soda.  They are often anywhere from $0.99-$1.69, depending on where you buy them, yet a 2L of the same soda can retail for the same price, if not less!  CRAZY!  I am the first to admit that I am guilty of this atrocity.  I pay for the convenience of having a cold drink, rather than waiting for it to chill, or until I get home.  In my shopping and scrapbooking adventures, I see the same thing happening with scrapbooking supplies.  How many times have you visited your local store and purchased something because you are there, and didn’t consider ways to cut the cost of the items?  Happens more than you realize, I bet!

Being the seasoned scrapbooker and…let’s face it…cheapo…that I am, I want to share ways that you can get the items you want, but save your money so that you can get MORE of them.  As Mae West (who, incidentally, is one of my guilty-secret-heroes) once said, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!“

Stay tuned in the coming days for money-saving tips and tricks!

- Tanya

Collecting Embellishments for Scrapbooking Layouts

We often photograph events and occurences in our lives, only to find that we cannot locate that ‘perfect’ embellishment to fit the layout, once it comes time to scrapbook those photos!

When attending the event, try saving some of the souvenir items, such as programs, decorations, writing down quotes from people in attendance, etc.  For instance, several years ago at a wedding, I grabbed some of the metallic purple heart confetti on the table, which later I adhered to the layout about the reception.  Try and be discreet, though, as otherwise people around you might think you’re a cleptomaniac!  When in doubt, ask.  People wouldn’t mind letting you take home a flower to press, or an extra copy of the program. 

Bear in mind that sometimes these event momentos are not acid free, or can be bulky.  You may need to laminate them, neutralize them with spray, or press them.

You can also try creating innovative tags or images by using a variety of stamps and accessories that mimic the general theme or feeling of the event.

When in doubt, use generic items that work for almost any layout: flowers, metal label holders, chipboard shapes (arrows are really hot right now).

Have fun with it!

- Tanya

Interesting Embellishments for Father’s Day Projects

Go into any store or look in any popular scrapbooking or cardmaking magazine, and you’ll see a plethora of flowers, glitter, pinks, and purples.  Great for springtime and summer, but not so helpful when it comes to creating gifts and cards for the men in your life.  Sometimes you can find a few lines that will carry some unisex or heritage items that can be adapted.  Basic Grey is one such line, and StampinUP! has a lot of great darker tones in buttons, ribbon, and more.

Let’s think outside the box a bit, for something new and interesting.

Card and page embellishments that work well for any masculine project can be found anywhere, if you know what you can or cannot use.  One place to start: your local hardware store.  That’s right!

Since metal is not acidic, it will work for all of your projects.  Nuts, bolts, screws, wiring, etc. all add that extra masculine touch, and are very economical.  I have found some places that sell such items under scrapbooking branding and packaging for over ten times the cost!  Ridiculous!  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am all about saving money…I should do some further posts on how to save money and STILL be able to do the scrapbooking you want!  Next time!

Often us scrapbookers have an item that would be perfect for the project, but it is the wrong colour.  Try distressing it with paint or ink!  It will give it that masculine edge it needs, while also changing the colour of the item.  Distressing gives that rustic look, which is great for pictures or cards relating to camping, fishing, or hunting.  As well, the brown or black tones complement a lot of the clothing colour palettes in men’s fashion.  If the men in your life wear brighter colours, then it is even easier to match them, as summer colours complement them nicely.  Chipboard items can be easily distressed, covered with paper, or further embellished to make them more masculine.

Wooden items are also functional and can easily be coloured to match.  Many craft and dollar stores carry a variety of shapes, and the wooden aspect of the embellishment makes it work well with masculine themes.  Even a flamingo doesn’t seem to be as “girly” when it is cut out of wood!

Fabric swatches can also be a great resource.  Heavier-weighted materials like corduroy, leather, tweed, or denim work well for masculine projects, and can also be distressed with paint or ink.  To attach, try using a heavy-duty glue like the Tombo adhesive.  Ordinary snails and double-sided tape likely won’t hold it for long.  If covering an album, a hot glue-gun would work well, but ensure that it doesn’t touch photos, as the glue sticks likely aren’t acid-free.

Another material I used in the past for a fishing page about my Dad was an actual chunk from a fish net.  It gave it that extra touch it needed (see photo).  Wire meshing will also work, and can, again, be distressed!  There is a product called “magic mesh” in stores now that is interesting, and comes in a variety of colours.  Again, for a cheaper alternative, try drywaller’s mesh tape that can be found at any hardware store.  It looks the same, comes in a few neutral colours, and…you guessed it!…can be distressed with ink or paint.  The adhesive on it won’t be acid-free, so you’ll likely want to avoid using it with photos, but is great for cards. 

Try some different products for your Father’s Day scrapbooking projects, and you’ll soon find yourself using them for your regular projects.  I use metal washers a lot, and the StazOn ink works great to stamp images onto them.  The larger washers make some funky embellishments, and ribbon compliments it nicely.

Have fun – and have a happy Father’s Day!

- T