Hi just wondering if its possible to make nice workes and not spend a forturne there is so much lovely stuff about but pages can easily add up to over $20 or way more they look great with all the bling embelisments chip board etc but is it possible to make something you can be proud of for only a coulpe of dollars any input appricated

thanks Gypsy

It is, especially if you have a cutting machine -downside is you need to outlay on the machine itself, but I found as I have a boy to scrap embellishments are hard to find and the ones that are out there are still a bit girly I own a Cricut and make a lot of my own embellishments and I also make my own alphas with it its definitely worth their money - any cutting machine is but one way I found was making embellishments with left over PP and using paint as well, Also things like lace etc you can buy it for around $1 a meter from your local fabric shop - also op shops sell jars of buttons really cheap - I always stalk mine for old vintage buttons

For me scrapping these days really doesn't fit in my budget like it used to and I have to say I have managed to limit what I buy and I think my pages still look good enough without all the costly "pretty" embellishments - I find Lea-anne makes this easy with lots of pretty patterned paper and not many costly embellishments in her shop- Prima is a killer but A nice splurge

(Sorry Lea-anne I hope I haven't been naughty with what I said )

Gypsy, choose papers with designs on them that you can cut out with scissors and then lift up with foam squares to adorn your pages.
Also, I always keep an eye out at my cheaper shops for bits and pieces...it is hard to scrap when you are on a budget, but you can do it...use your paper more I reckon.

Like this range from Kaiser, I loved it cause you can do so much cutwork with it

I am the same.
With a UNI budget these days and car repayments (why did I decide to buy a brand new car...just because it was pink? ) I am very much a budget scrapper as well.

I haven't actually brought any scrapping stuff in about a year...just went shopping the other week and only spent $30. Pretty good for a year.

I find that making embellishments out of paper works well for the budget. I like those little rosette flowers people are making...and the circle ones made from accordian folding a strip of paper (I hope that makes sense)
I also have a cuttlebug and sizzix (and a slice...which I don't use )

Maybe we should do some handmade embellishment swaps?

I actually partipated in quite a few of these a while back and now I just have clear pencil cases with colours and colour code all my handmade embellishments into them.

That is a great page Mel. I love paper that I can cut out and use.
I remember doing a Carol Janson class here on Scrap Therapy quite a while back that featured a lot of cut work. Funny that...I was looking through my scrap albums today and came across that page.

Thanks Kayla...I love how it turned out too...one of my faves

Getting the most of of your papers is the best way to start. Like Mel said look for papers that could be cut out 3d. Use scraps to do up your titles either stamped or hand drawn ones. Also when looking at papers if there is a range that you like a lot of the papers but you can't afford to get them all and they have a 6 by 6 paper pad grab one of them instead.

I like the idea of the 6x6 and 8x8 paper pads in the ranges because often I trim my 12x12 pieces down to smaller pieces anyway.

It's a good idea.

I agree with the 6x6 & 8x8 as you 99% of the time trim down the 12x12 - even scrap a smaller size 8.5" x 11 is extremely popular these days I think I may start to use that size in 2012

Also keep your eye out for bits and pieces you wouldn't normally scrap with. I've used the backing card from prima flowers, tags off clothes, cheap little bits of jewellery that have come with magazines, the ribbony bits on clothes that help them hang (hope that one makes sense). Keep all these little bits and pieces, packaging is great!

I'm in the habit of keeping this sort of stuff - card painted that didn't match the rest of the piece, book pages removed when altering, old dictionaries, atlases, calendars, laminate and paint chips, fabric, ribbon, tags, wire etc etc etc. They make great additions to cards and spreads, and can really get the creative juices flowing. I think my saved and "found" boxes belong at the messy-creative end of things, but I'm sure if your talent and preference is for another style it would work too. I even attached a teeny promotional bottle of tabasco sauce to BIL's birthday card one year

I always tend to be pretty budget conscious when I scrap - I don't tend to use a lot of pre-made embellishments or stickers either. My one weakness at the moment is for pearl flourishes... but I only ever buy what I need.
As for making cards- I only ever use offcuts from scrapbook pages for making cards. I keep a tub handy that all my offcuts go into, and then when I need to make a card I sift through to find something that'll work. I scrap by the motto "rock what you've got!"

What about Deb's scrap ahead LO's. They could easily be done with scraps of what ever you have and still look great.

Thanks Helen.

Hello. I'm new here but I saw this topic and had to respond.

I am an educator here in the states and we are defiantly on a budged here. When I scrap a page, I save ALL of the scraps. I have a crate divided by file folders for the different colors. I save these papers to make my cards with. Cards do not take the entire 12x12 or 8x8 piece of paper. Many times, cards will take the minimum amount of paper and be great. I've learned to save EVERYTHING!!! I save toilet paper rolls and cereal boxes to make mini albums!

When I run out of something, I do not buy it until is get a coupon as well. Many times, the major chain craft stores have 40% off coupons so I stock up on those, and use them. I hope that helps...