Scrapbook Supplies For Less

Keep an Eye on the Scrapbook Supplies Budget Even with scrapbooking, hobbies can be a bit expensive and we all have to keep an eye on the budget. As we plan for our next scrapbook, our next memory book of family experiences, we need some tips on how to plan the pages, embellishments to make an attractive book without blowing the budget. This might be especially true for you these days but keeping our hobby expense is often a concern. Even without an open budget, you need to buy some essential supplies. You need to find ways to still create a beautiful scrapbook you can be proud of. Finding Scrapbook Supplies Scrapbook supplies are available from three types of places. First, there’s the store that will sell branded scrapbook supplies. These are usually at regular prices with a few sale items to help entice you into the store. Discounted stores have become the rage lately. Who isn’t looking for a bargain? But you have to be careful at some of these stores. Sometimes the quality isn’t all it should be and you can’t always tell that through the packaging.rnAnd each town will have stores that will sell both the regular price quality products and some lessor quality goods. Usually on a budget you need to limit your shopping to the last two choices. Wait! Don’t Go Anywhere Yet There is another choice whether your hobby is scrapbooking, painting, knitting or more athletic or sports minded. There is always the internet. Many stores or websites on the internet have some real bargains and quality merchandise. I know you’re thinking but then I have to pay for the shipping. Well, not always. Many websites have quantity buys that allow very low shipping or no shipping costs. And more and more you will find the amount you have to purchase is pretty small dollar amount. Low Shipping Costs My website along with many websites has low shipping costs clubs. These annual memberships are low in cost when compared to paying shipping for everything you order during the year. These membership costs equate to the freight on 2-4 shipments per year. You can buy other things not just your scrapbook supplies. How many gifts do you buy and ship each year? Often these memberships provide free two day delivery. Nothing is better than free, right? If you don’t want to join the membership, there are other ways to save on shipping. Most have a Super Saver Shipping plan if your purchase meets a standard amount; like $25.00 will get your reduced shipping costs. Compare these shipping costs to the cost of gasoline to get to the store. These shipping costs might be more in line with your budget. Scrapbook Supply Priorities If your life is like mine, there are times when you didn’t expect it but you have 2-4 hours all to yourself. That's a gift of time to you to be working on a few scrapbook pages. More fun than going to the store to see what you can get for the money you can spend right now. You should have some standard supplies in your home inventory to create a couple of pages, to work on the embellishments of the page or create the layout design. Having just a few things in inventory allow you easily go to work with little fuss. How much of an inventory will be up to you and your priorities and supply needs. It’s good to have an album available as your current work in progress but you can easily get by with just working on the pages. The pages are a place to really let your creativity loose. It’s good to keep a package of coordinated paper or card stock. From past shopping, you’ll have a supply of acrylic paints, stickers, stencils, rubber stamps and a punch or two. You will also have some other items that every household has such as a pair of scissors, pens, and adhesives. Many of the items you will acquire over time are re-usable and will be there for a very long time. Where are those…. Keeping all of your scrapbook supplies together can make your life easier. Start off with just a small clear box divided into compartments. It’s better if this box has an attached lid that snaps into place. A clear box with compartments is great so you can see what’s inside quickly and your items don’t get dog-eared. Keep all paper products together and inks, paints and stamp pads in another box. You don’t want your paper or card stock to accidentally get into the stamp pad or pick up paint you didn’t know was on the outside of the bottle. Organizing these supplies will make it easy for you to see what you have. You won’t accidentally buy a duplicate of what you already have. You won’t spend money on stuff you already have but you can get some new stuff. Make a List or Two of Scrapbook Supplies Periodically go through your supplies and see what you have and what you’ve run out of. Keep an “I gotta’ have list” with your supplies. Mark down what you’ve just used up and what you want for that idea that just popped in your head as you are working. On my list I also write the idea beside the item. Ideas can get lost too. If you’re on a budget, you will have you purchase priorities well in hand. If you sometimes have to run in and grab a list on your way out the door, a good plan is to have two lists. Two lists are even better on the budget. The first list is for standard things, the must have things that you always need to do scrapbooking like paper, self-pasting tape or stickers for that special scrapbooking project that just around the corner. And the second list is your splurge list for extra supplies. Some of the creative ideas that you want to try, that you saw the video about the other day. But these are things that must wait until there is some extra money in the budget. Internet Sale Prices Even the internet has sale prices just like any other store. Many websites, just like mine, have special pricing once a month or periodically. Many of these sale items are the things you have on your standard or splurge lists. Check them and compare to your lists every few weeks or so. Items on these scrapbook supplies sale or discount lists can be bought for 5% to 95% off. Every so often, get on the internet and check these sale prices. This is the quickest way to save on an item that you might be putting off buying. It is always better to check the website that you know has your quality items you are looking for. A discounted scrapbooking supply from a quality website is really a bargain. Hit the Buy Button With your lists of standard and spurge items, the discounted or no shipping on the memberships, and the sale or discounted prices, you will have plenty of supplies for scrapbooking when you need them. Your organization, budget and a little scouting on the internet will mean that you can be sure you are getting the best price when you hit the buy button.