Hi everyone....Hope all is well in the
bloggy world! I have a busy weekend ahead with dinner "date" tonight, a kids birthday party AND a wedding to go to on Saturday and a trip to St. Lawrence Market on Sunday for a DOGGY day at
Woofstock!
http://www.woofstock.ca/ So I thought I'd have a little chin-wag with you all today.....
On a scrappy note, I'm sure you all can relate when I say that WAY to much of my income goes to scrappy products! I like to have quality stuff and I don't want to
sacrifice quantity (
LOL) because we all know I like LOTS of stuff! But I've cut a FEW corners to SAVE where I can....and I'm gonna tell you how!
POST YOUR COMMENTS on how you save $$!
I wanted to emboss with Cuttlebug folders....but the problem was I had no Cuttlebug (or embossing folders for that matter!) BUT, I did have an old Sizzix kicking around (actually still in the box!). I had purchased a converter for the Sizzix (still in the package too!) and thought that just MAYBE the cuttlebug folder would work with it! So, with my 40% off Michaels coupon I bought an embossing folder and was pleasantly surprised that it WORKED! AND It works with other dies too..... So I ordered several more folders from the same eBay seller and can now emboss away! (little bit more work to find all/most of what you want from the same seller...but it's worth the savings in shipping) (Approx Savings $50-$80 for the Cuttlebug machine and about $4-$5 per embossing folder because I got them on eBay!)
I started scrapbooking when I attended a Creative Memories "party" (Thanks Lisa and Melissa!) and I fell hard! I had originally bought their middle kit but called the consultant the next day to upgrade to the mother of all kits for about $400. Didn't matter though....I was in heaven AND the big kit contained EVERYTHING I was (ever) going to need! LMAO In hindsight though....2-3 years later I still use a good number of those tools every day! I'm conscience of what I use to scrapbook....I like to make sure that it will last FOREVER by being acid and lignon free but making cards is somehow different! The archival quality doesn't have to be stellar....good is OK! Don't get me wrong, I don't use JUNK....I hate cheap paper and stuff, but there are ways to cut corners! I have always used the Creative Memories tape runners for EVERYTHING....but at a dollar store I picked up a roll of double sided tape that I use just for making cards! It holds like Aqua Net in the 80's and is a lot cheaper than a CM tape runner refill!! (Approx Savings $6 per tape runner!)
Check your local dollar (or more) stores!! I often find good little tools there AND even supplies! On Tuesday I got 2 packages of (35) eyelets for $1 each! They were originally priced at $2.50 but were marked down....I don't care why, they were less than 1/2 price for items that will get used! I found a little boarder punch for threading narrow ribbon through ($2.50) and a cute roll of "rick rak" type ribbon ($1). Some good deals on "tools", tiny scissors ($1), a sandpaper board ($1), little clear stamps ($1 and $2.50) and even a little acrylic block ($1). (See pic)
So....it pays to cut some corners, but not ALL! It's not worth it if you will need to replace the tool(s) soon because it broke or if the item just doesn't work in the first place....so shop with durability AND cost in mind. And most of all....make sure that you are using quality stuff for things that you want forever....nothing worse than crappy paper or a cheap adhesive ruining your Great Grandmothers picture!!
HOW DO YOU SAVE ON SUPPLIES AND TOOLS?? Comment here to share your tips!!
