Scrapbooking may not seem like an expensive hobby when compared to activities such as golf, where in you have to buy a thousands of dollars worth of equipment or perhaps even dancing, the lessons of which, can be really hard in the pockets; but that cost of scrapbooking can really creep up there if an individual isn’t careful. If you don’t watch it, scrapbooking can be even more expensive in the long run. This is because as you become more and more enmeshed with the hobby, you will be easily swayed to get excited about updated tools and equipment, and all of the trinkets available to you.The difficult part about watching your expenses spent on scrapbooking is the fact that you usually spend a little at a time, not really realizing that over time, you’re spending quite a bit for your hobby because of the quantity and frequency that you buy the materials.
Even still, if you are careful and make practical purchases, you don’t have to shell out so much. Scrapbooking need not be expensive. Below are some tips and ideas to help you scrapbook for free (or if not way below what you are spending now!).
Watch the tools
One of the things that makes scrapbooking so expensive for most people is their constant need to have the updated version of every tool imaginable. Whatever is new in the market, die-hard scrapbookers buy them even if they already have something that performs almost the same functions.
It is important to remember that you don’t really have to buy the newest or top-of-the-line tools to create great scrapbooks. With even the oldest and out of date materials, you can still create memorable pages with just your creativity in tow.
Recycle and reuse
There are a lot of things in your home that you can use to add flavor and texture to your pages. You don’t have to, for instance, buy stickers for your scrapbook in craft stores. You can achieve the same look, maybe even a better look, if you cut out graphics in magazines and in old greeting cards. Stationeries are another great source of graphics that you can use.
Your old clothes can also be very useful. In fact, every inch of your old clothes can be used as decoration from the fabric to the zipper and the buttons. If you have an attic with a boxful of old clothes that you no longer wear, raid it and put those fabrics to good use. Not only have you managed to rid the house of clutter, you have also put a lot of creative design into your scrapbook pages!
Make your own scrapbook
Most people who do their own scrapbooks buy prepared ones in craft stores and then decorate them with their selected materials. Prepared scrapbooks that are blank can really cost you a lot and this is unfortunate as most of these scrapbooks that are being sold can be easily done and completed in the home.
If you have the time, just make your own scrapbook. The cheapest way to go is of course to make your own paper through recycling. This however may take a great deal of time, and may be really tedious to do.
Another way is to buy recycled papers or any kinds of paper in bookstores and compile them yourself by sewing the sides or gluing them together. This will be cheaper than buying an already-made set. What is more, you get to choose the design that you want and put some spin on the kind of scrapbook that you are doing.