Are you on a budget? Can’t buy every new and trendy scrapbook supply?
Like you, I don’t stock up on the amounts of products you typically see in the scraprooms of others like me who work in the scrapbook industry.
In a recent Q&A session someone asked how it’s possible for me to scrap with a modest stock of patterned paper. I am a patterned paper lover, after all.
Below are 4 ways you can scrap a ton of wonderfully patterned and interesting layouts without having to purchase and store lots and lots of patterned paper…
1) Make Your Own Backgrounds
If I don’t have the patterned paper that will be just right for my layout I DIY my own background on cardstock. Or I just do it because I feel like doing it. I do it a lot, actually!
I have video tutorials for making these 3 backgrounds, plus many more, in the Paperclipping Membership (episodes #201, 197, and 193).
If you’re not a member, click here for more info.
2) Use Patterned Paper Scraps
And I mean really use them. If I need patterned paper that is smaller than the full 12×12 size I look through my scraps first. This means I look through my scraps for almost every page I make.
Do you get this much use out of your scraps?
If not, consider this: I’ve been advocating for years that people mix their scraps together in one container. People freak out and feel that they need to color coordinate their scraps. But if you feel you’re buying too much patterned paper, or if you don’t use your scraps all the time, maybe that “organized” color-coordinated scrap system isn’t working for you.
Try something new >> mix them up! You’ll find amazing pattern combinations that you would never come up with yourself if your scraps are separated.
There are so many ways to fully use your scraps for pages and I have LOTS of video tutorials on this subject. Too many to list in this post. If you’re a member, look for the videos with the word, “scraps,” in the titles.
Click here for membership info.
3) Enlarge Photos
When I have a photo I love I like to show it off so I enlarge it. I like my favorite photos to take more of the stage than scrapbooking products. Obviously when you enlarge a photo you don’t have room for tons of products.
Paperclipping Members can watch me make this text pattern in Paperclipping 193 – Perfect Pearls for Scrapbook Layouts.
4) Make Your Ephemera the Background
Most of my ephemera that is 8.5×11 goes straight into the page protector as is. Then I add some fun detailing to the outside of the page protectors so the ephemera doesn’t get altered. This requires zero patterned paper. You just jump straight to the embellishments!
I love these types of pages in my albums. They make our life so very real, and not just a scrapbook fairy tale.
If you’re a member you can watch an episode with tips and ideas for pages like this one above in Paperclipping 187 – Scrapboking Outside the Page Protector.
To get more information about a Paperclipping Membership, click here!
Try one of these four ways today!!
Shine On,
