Scrapbooking on a Budget: Part IV--Sources for Free Supplies!

I haven’t forgotten you, my scrapbooking friends! When I started looking for links to my previous articles, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t posted anything in this series since March! Oh, the horror! If you’re just joining our series, please feel free to review: Part I (What is scrapbooking?), Part II (Why should we preserve our memories?), Part III (Common Scrapbooking Terms), and Part IV (The Scrapbooking Scavenger Hunt). We’re back in action, so let’s pick up where we left off and talk about some supplies!

Believe it or not, there are several ways you can get scrapbooking supplies for free. I’d like to share a few of my secrets for free office and scrapbooking supplies!

Business Expos:
You can stock up on just about every kind of pen, pencil, and ruler imaginable! You may have to pay an entrance fee (usually less than $10), but the freebies you get in return are well worth it. I went to one a couple of years ago courtesy of the company I worked for. I got three free tote bags and all of them were loaded with stuff. I still have pens, rulers, and sticky pads that I haven’t used yet!

Business & Political Promotions:
Every time you see a business display set up with pencils or rulers, grab one! Sometimes, in an election year, you’ll find local campaigns giving them away! I’m planning a special scrapbook of election memorabilia. I have bumper stickers from the past two presidential elections and memorabilia from several Virginia elections. I even have a small ruler from a local official who’s now in prison (that’s nothing to brag about, but I find it a bit humorous now).

The Mail:
I know the first thing we want to do with junk mail is to rip it up and throw it in the garbage. Open it up and check it out—I’ve almost ripped sheets of free stickers in half. Address labels from various charities also often have stickers with them.

Friends who sew:
Do you have friends who sew but don’t scrapbook? Ask them to save their remnants (ribbons, ric-rack, lace, etc.). You can use these on your pages. The same goes for friends who embroider, crochet, or knit—you can find some way to be creative with embroidery floss and yarn!

Your kids:
Are you doing an 8 ½ x 11 scrapbook? Give your kids white paper and crayons or colored pencils! They can design your background for you. It will be original artwork and save you money from buying predesigned scrapbook paper. Plus, it will mean more to you and your family as you look at those scrapbooks years from now. Wouldn’t a scrapbook made with the kids’ drawings and pictures of them be a great gift for Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas?

Fonts:
There are several sites on the internet where you can download fonts for free. You’re not limited to the fonts you have in Word! Plus, you’ll save a lot of money on fancy titles by designing your own. My favorite font site is from Scrap Village, but if you google “Free Fonts”, you can find all kinds of sites out there!

Layouts:
If you’re new to scrapbooking, a blank page can be scary! There are several sites which offer free layouts. Some scrapbookers just upload their layout sketches, while others scan the whole page. Layouts are also great for veterans . . . I haven’t scrapbooked in a while, so I’ve found several layouts to help me get started again. At Scrapbook.com, you can check out their gallery of layouts, including layouts on paper and digital layouts.

Clip art:
Lots of sites offer free clip art. You can resize clip art and print out on cardstock. Cut it out with a X-acto knife or needle-tipped scissors. You can add grommets, ribbons, and other materials to embellish your diecut. If you have an inexpensive means of obtaining printer ink refills, then this is a great idea. Die cuts and decorated embellishments can be expensive. You can find neat clip art at the Microsoft Office site, as well as sites like #1 Clip Art and Hassle Free Clip Art (I’m going to start using some of their medieval clip art when I lecture on the Middle Ages!).

I hope these ideas for free scrapbooking supplies help you as you get started collecting your materials. I hope these links will help newbies and veterans alike cut their scrapbooking costs. How do you save money on scrapbooking supplies? What are your sources for scrapbooking freebies? Please leave links and comments. I’d love to hear from you!