HELLO!! And welcome to the next addition of the THRIFTY SCRAPPER:For Those Who Rebel Against Outrageous Prices!
This issue, we're dealing with punches - the kind that make cute little shapes. I hate punches. BUT, a lot of scrappers use them and use them well so I thought I would make the best of it!
The thriftiest thing you can do with punches is NOT BUY THEM! Like I've said before in other issues, share with friends. Get together occasionally and everyone will have something different that can be shared. If you're in an area with a store, they generally have a ton of punches that you can use if you're taking a class. Most of the stores in my area let you come in and work in their work space and use their stuff for as little as $1 an hour. You can get a lot of punching done in one hour! Another excellent way to save money with punches is to join a swap. I recently joined a swap where I send in 30 punches of one kind and then I'll get 30 back of a variety. (Okay, I'll admit it, I have a few! But I bought them on sale and this was in my NON-thrifty era) Check the bulletin board of your favorite scrapbook site and you'll find one there eventually.
I would like it if someone would "host" a punch swap thru the Thrifty Scrapper. If there is anyone who would like to do this, please email me.
The Craft Room Punch Swap (see link below) has an ongoing swap that looks very interesting.
There is also a place called ABC's of Punching. (See link below) It has a lot of cute ideas for when you do start using your TRADED punches!
* * * TIPS * * * TIPS * * * TIPS * * *
Barter for supplies. I am trading supplies with someone for a few Christmas presents. She gets supplies and I get a couple of happy kids. PERFECT!
Host a Party/Class. Creative Memories hosts classes and others along the same line do too. Ask around and I'm sure you'll find a consultant somewhere.
Be a Minimalist - Choose what you put on your pages. You don't need to put EVERY picture that you took into your scrapbook. I know your baby is the cutest little thing on earth, but you still don't need 10 pictures of him/her with applesauce all over his/her face. (The applesauce is a true story - 10 pictures on one page - I REALLY outdid myself that time!)
When using punches, take the time to align the punch on the paper in a pattern. After you're done punching, you'll have a swatch of paper with the silhouette of the punches. Use this strip to decorate this page or any other page. A little planning can provide twice the results. This idea comes from Joanna in PA from a newsletter I was sent.
From the same newsletter, here's an idea if you're actually going to BUY punches: I put a punch piece from each of my punches on a 4x6 card and keep it in my purse. This way, when I go to a store and see a punch I like, I pull this out of my purse and see if I already have it or not. On the back (lined side) I write the names of all of my scissors so I don't buy duplicates of them. This has saved me from accidentally buying the same or similar item many times. This is from Susan in GA
Here is a great suggestion for a cute scrapbook page and the best part is most, if not all of the materials, are free. Next time you are at a baby/bridal shower, birthday party, retirement party, etc. Collect squares of the wrapping paper that the gifts are wrapped in. Write down who gave what in each gift. Then cut the paper and lay it out to look like a quilt and you can remember what gift came from who! This idea came from a TS reader. As a side note, I would probably make a color copy of this because I doubt all of the wrapping paper would be acid-free. When you're done with this, use a black marker and make "stitches" along the edges of the different papers for that added "quilted" look.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Well, that's it for this one. THANK YOU to all of you who signed up again thru ListBot. I know it was a pain but I'll be able to get more issues out so it will be worth it. Until next time! Happy Scrappin! Leslie
Links for This Issue
The Craft Room Punch Swap
ABC's of Punching
