How do I make a great scrapbook without a lot of money?

Question

I have always made photo albums but have recently been considering scrapbooking.

What types of tools and materials do I need? How do I do it, and can it be inexpensive?
If you have any examles, that would be great.

Thanks.
:)

Answer 1

My suggestion for starting scrapbooking:

1. Paper trimmer

2. Acid free adhesives

3. Cardstock (Heavy weight paper)

4. good pair of scissors (not decorative)


Before going to the store decide or have a goal in mind as to what you want to start scrapbooking i.e travel, new baby, wedding etc. That way you don't go to a store and feel overwhelm with all the products you will see, and start from there. You can get the album pertaining to that theme. Or you can get an album kit (I highly suggest this for beginners) most if not all the paper and embellishments you need are already included. You can get them at decent prices. They have them at Michaels, JoAnn, Hobby lobby's, AC Moore and even WalMarts and Biglots. If you sign up for JoAnn e-newsletter they'll send frequent coupons for 40% off which you can use at Michaels also.

My best advise would be don't get into the hype and what's in or new. See what you like and go with it. You will find that your style might change over time or not.. good luck:) hope that helps.

Answer 2

For equipment the minimum you'll need is some sort of paper trimmer to trim photos and paper/cardstock, some acid free glue or tape, perhaps some markers/pens and a pair of scissors. Of course there are a heap of other tools you may want to acquire as you get further into the hobby.

Don't worry too much about decorative scissors or stickers etc.

As for materials, the min would be some acid free/lignin free cardboard.

I suggest if you are interested, have a look around for beginners scrap classes at a local scrapbook store or craft shop that sell scrapbook supplies. They'll let you use their tools and equipment and you'll make your first page to see if you like it.

Answer 3

Scrapbooking is a racket, they make you think you have to buy pre-made embellishments so your pages can look like everyone else's. But for a truly personal scrapbook, the embellishments should be souvenirs that compliment the pictures. For example, Christmas photos could be accompanied by shapes cut from the fronts of Christmas cards that you received that year. If it's the prom, use a scrap of your dress fabric cut in the shape of a tiny dress.

You can skip the cutting machine and do your shapes with good old scizzors.

You can write on your pages with ordinary markers, or print the captions on your computer and then cut around it and glue under your picture.

You can buy big empty scrapbooks for just a few dollars in stores like Big Lots. Then use pretty wrapping paper from presents you've gotten, or calendar pages, or even pretty cutouts from magazines, plus ribbons and buttons and things that have something to do with the event. Whatever is pretty and special to you.
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Answer 4

Are your photos digital? You might like digital scrapping . It's less expensive than traditional scrapping.

And, you can have your pages printed up in a hard-bound book.

But, if you want to try traditional scrapping but have never done it before, you can pick up a scrapbook magazine (avoid Creating Keepsakes - it's too advanced for most people) or call a direct sales consultant who can help you get started. There are lots of people who would be glad to help you pick products and show you how to scrap. Scrap for yourself, though, don't try to look like the magazines. It's all about YOUR STYLE.

Look at Yahoo groups or Meetup.com to see if there is a scrapbooking group in your area. Scrappers are very social and you'll get TONS of advice at a crop (and make some new friends)

Answer 5

Scrapbooking can be done with as much or as little money as you would like to spend. The most important thing to learn is that any paper or product with acid or lignin will undo all of your hard efforts and ruin your book.

The least expensive way to go is to go to a store (preferably a large chain with 40-50% off coupons in Sundays paper) and buy a block of multi-colored cardstock. You will need acid free glue. A stick is fine. You can find them as cheaply as 10 cents each, especially in bulk (share with a friend).

You will need good paper scissors. I would recommend a brand such as Fiskar's (think coupon!), and micro-tip will be most versatile.

The least expensive quality paper cutter that you will find is a cricut (9.99, but think coupon!), and also some archival quality pens with which to write (couponcouponcoupon!).

You do not need to cut your photos, but you can cut some cardstock to match both the photo and the background paper. You will want to use this as a photo mat (border) for your photo, so cut it about 1/2 inch larger than the pic in either direction for a 1/4 inch border, etc. Make a matching block for another area of the page and write the story that you want everyone else to know about the picture.

With your glue stick, glue the pic to the photo mat, and the photo mat to the paper. You can hand write a title, but pre-cut self-adhesive alphabets are very inexpensive and widely available in 1000 colors and schemes.

That's all you need to start. You will figure out what else you want to buy as you go along. A healthy rule of thumb is to make sure that you will get one page for every dollar that you spend on a tool. If you really want a stamp and will realistically only use it on this one page, don't spend more than a dollar on it :0)

Hope this helped!

Tracy

Answer 6

I live in California, I usually go to Wal-Mart or Michaels to get my scrapbooking paper. I have also started to design my own embelishments, because I too know how expensive scrapbooking can be. If you would like you can email me or visit my site at www.cheap-scraps.com to see some of my pages and ideas.

Answer 7

I am very similar to you....I have a great time with my photos but would like to do something else with them..

I dont want to spend to much

So My idea was to use fabrics and ribbon

alot of my own written information maybe on a pretty background....

The one thing that I am splurging on is those cute edge cutter embosser thingies......They will make the page pop! even without having a bunch on it

One thing I wont get into is the stickers.....I would like make the page connect in my own way and not a big sticker sitting there......I hae so many ideas cant wait to get started!!

Answer 8

well for starters buy the scrapbooks or if you have any odd paper staple them together like a book get scissors choose some photos or pictures from a magazine stick them down with childrens non toxic glue, put in felt tipped pens which come in all types of colours a headline in front of your cover and design a pattern and colour it in so eg if you like cookers,ovens etc you choose differnt types of photos with that subject and put a inscription below each photo or picture and the heading cover could say kitchen equipments.

Answer 9

If you really want to learn to do it you can go to your local craft store and look in that specific section to get ideas on how to start. They have everything and more than you could possibly ever need to get started and to continue forever.

Although if you decide you want to spend less money, you can contact the local "home based business" Creative Memories and find a local consultant to have a 'party', then you can earn free stuff to get started. It costs about $10.00 for you and your friends which you invite to attend and supplies are furnished by the "consultant". Although if you want to earn money, and "stuff" you can contact the local rep and sign on to sell and scrapbook at the same time. Click on the attached address to investigate for yourself. Good Luck!
http://www.creativememories.com

Answer 10

Well first you buy a binder or whatever you want to hold your works of art, then you go out to the local craft store and buy some cardstock, funky scissors, stickers, ribbon, markers, maybe glitter pens, whatever you want to decorate it with. And get some photo stickers, the ones that go on the corners of photo's, those are definately a life saver. You could buy a book with designs, or you could look on the internet, or you could use your lovely brain and come up with your own designs.