Hello! And welcome to the fourth edition of the THRIFTY SCRAPPER:For Those Who Rebel Against Outrageous Prices! I'm so excited about this edition because it celebrates the holidays (many photo opportunities for scrapbook pages), celebrates the 700th person to join in with our group, and brings us back to the basics just for a little while.
Last edition, we talked about "punches." Because I've been scrapbooking for so long, I just assume that everybody knows what I'm talking about. Every hobby/job has it's own lingo and scrapbooking is no different. I received a few emails asking me what punches are. BONK me on the head! Hello! There are a lot of people who are just starting out in this endeavor who don't know all the words/phrases and I just assumed everybody did! I'm so sorry about that! To help, I thought I would devote time and space for definitions.
SCRAPPIN', SCRAPBOOKING - the act of placing photos and memorabilia into an album with blank sheets and adding decoration such as stickers and possibly adding written words to describe the event.
SCRAPPER, SCRAPAHOLIC, SCRAPBOOKER - the person who is doing the SCRAPPIN'!
CROP - #1 Can be defined as an event where many scrappers get together and work on their scrapbooks. #2 (CROPPING, CROPPED) Can be defined as the act of cutting of a photo into different shapes to enhance what is left and/or cutting out part of a photo to be able to fit it in a certain space and/or to delete someone or something that one doesn't want to see in the photo (such as an ex-husband or current husbands ex-wife!).
DIE-CUT - Pieces of paper that have been cut into different shapes (i.e. bear, heart, star). Can be many different shapes, sizes, and designs. Called "die-cuts" because they are generally made with a machine that uses shaped metal (a "die") to "cut" the design from paper.
PUNCHES - Small, hand held device that is similar in concept to a die-cutter because it uses a small die to cut out a small shape (think of a paper puncher you can get at the stationery store but only now it's hand held and can make designs). Sizes usually run from 1/2 inch to two inches and there is a very large variety of shapes available. Paper shapes that are "punched" are called PUNCH PIECES.
DECORATIVE SCISSORS - Scissors that can cut in different designs. Also a very large varity of designs available.
CIRCLE CUTTER/OVAL CUTTER - Devices that can cut paper or photos into circles/ovals. Different brands are available.
PAPER CRIMPER - Hand held device with a roller that crimps the paper when fed through.
CORNER ROUNDER - Similar to a punch but is used to round corners of photos or paper.
ACID FREE/LIGNIN FREE - VERY important to scrappers. Acid is based on the pH balance of an item. Lignin is a fiber that is taken out of paper which, if left in, along with any acidic item, can damage photos and other items. Most paper in today's market is acid/lignin free because it is cheaper for the paper maker (once the equipment is set up) to make it that way.
ARCHIVAL QUALITY/ARCHIVAL SAFE - Archival quality is virtually impossible for the average scrapper but archival safe is. Archival quality is the standard that is used by people who preserve books and other documents. The use of gloves, special lights, dust-free/temperature controlled rooms, and no adhesives are used. Archival safe is what most scrappers try to achieve by using acid free/lignin free products. Using archival safe techniques in making your scrapbooks, they could last for possibly a couple hundred years. Always check the products you use to make sure they are archival quality or archival safe. If in doubt, ask. I found some cute die-cuts but it didn't say on the package if they were acid-free. I asked the owner of the store, she didn't know so she called the factory. They weren't acid free so I'm glad I asked.
JOURNALING - Describing who, what, where of a photo and event on your scrapbook page.
BEST THRIFTY ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS (AND EVERYONE ELSE!) - Don't feel the need to have EVERYTHING. Remember that the main reason you are making a scrapbook is to preserve memories for future generations. They are not going to care whether the picture had a decorative edge or a straight one. But they will care about who is in the picture and what they are doing. This is achieved by careful and thoughtful journaling. And all that is needed for journaling is an acid-free pen.
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From Wendy - "Full-page sticker sheets often have good-sized borders or blank areas where there is no design printed. Don't throw them away! Use your punches to create sticker shapes!"
From Ann - Take page protectors and sew (or tape) squares into them. Cut carefully the top sheet with an exacto knife to make little pockets to store die-cuts, punch pieces, stickers, etc.
Also from Ann - Swap what you don't need anymore. There is always someone who can use it. List what you have on the different bulletin boards. (Hopefully the Thrifty Scrapper will "grow up" one day and have a bulletin board of its own!)
From Marsha - "Take sheets of cardboard that come in packs of mounting paper and make templates for quick borders by cutting them a half inch less then the size of your album page or cut them with your decorative scissors."
A great way to add thoughts to your pages (and your thoughts are blank at the moment!) is by using someone else's thoughts. Kelly sent in a site that has a lot of poetry. It's at: http://members.aol.com/nickgo/lovepo.html#Never
Please email me and tell me about your thriftiest find. I'll print some in the next issue. Mine was a "cropper tote". I had just been in a scrapbook store and saw one of the fancy ones with a fancy price of over $50! I decided to "pass". Within a week, I found a used Mary Kay shoulder tote bag that holds almost as much as the fancy one. The best thing - it was only 75 cents! Quite a savings!
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I have a favor to ask of you. Please visit the Thrifty Scrapper website, scroll down a bit until you see "50 Top Warrior Sites." Click on it, then click on the next button that comes up to vote for the website. I'm trying to prove that a little craft site made by a beginner can compete! And you can vote more than once if you get a chance. If everyone votes just once, we'll really get noticed!
I still have FREE stickers and specials at the website too if you're interested. Plus, if you need a current list of what I have on sale. In January, I'll be adding more items such as scissors, adhesives, and markers at my famous low prices!
Thanks to everyone that participated in the punch swap! We'll have more swaps in the future. Also in the near future, a contest just for scrappers who are subscribed to the Thrifty Scrapper! Thank you to the new scrappers who have recently joined in. I hope you and everyone else, enjoys the Thrifty Scrapper as much as I enjoy writing it. Until next time, Happy Scrappin'! Leslie
