Save Money When Scrapbooking By Reusing Everyday Items
I might have learnt in elementary school that the three "R's" were recycle,
reuse and reduce, but I think that for scrapbooking it should be reuse, reuse
and reuse. Next time before you throw something out, think about how you could
reuse it for your scrapbook. Not only will you save some money, but you will
also be environmentally friendly at the same time. Here are some examples of how
you can reuse everyday items in your scrapbook.
- Buttons. Often new shirts will come with an extra
button when you buy them. Of course, when you no longer want to wear the
shirt and you donate it to charity, you won't need the extra buttons
anymore. Don't throw them out. Instead, use the buttons in your scrapbook.
Or, if a shirt is too worn out to donate to charity, simply cut off the
buttons before throwing the shirt out.
- Fabric scraps for frames. Save scraps of fabric or cut
up old clothing. Cut the fabric into strips in order to create "frames" for
pictures in your scrapbook. There are no rules here – so let your
imagination rule. If you want to dress it up a little, add beads or small
gemstones to the fabric frame.
- Fabric scraps for pockets. Another idea is to use
squares of fabric to create pockets, where you can place fragile items or
souvenirs. Simply cut the fabric to the desired size, remembering to allow
enough fabric for the front, the back and the flap at the front. Then simply
stitch the edges together. Attach a button to the front of the material and
create a buttonhole in the flap so that nothing will fall out of the pocket.
Use brads to attach the pocket to your scrapbook and you are done.
- Damaged paper. Sometimes, no matter how careful you
are, paper still ends up getting damaged. No need to throw it out. Use it
instead to create your own embellishments. Do this by cutting up the paper
into small pieces and mixing it with water. Do this until you have reached
the desired consistency. Remember, the more water you use, the thinner the
end result will be. Then, squeeze out any excess water and place the mixture
into a candy or soap mold. Allow it to dry overnight. The "brand new"
embellishments are ready to be used or they can be painted first if you
like.
I would love to hear from you on how you save money by reusing items in your
scrapbook. E-mail me, Joanne, at
jtkjones@beautifulcreations.ca with your ideas and stories. I can’t
wait to hear them all!
Another great way to save money is buy supplies when they are on sale.
So, check out our
Scrapbooking Supplies page for
coupons and the latest deals that will save you tons of money!
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