Scrapbooking Made Simple

O.K. so I've spoken before about how when I'm deciding on a layout I'll pull out lots of papers and then go with my favourite. Above are all the papers and vellums I considered for this layout: "Water Babies". In the end I discarded all of the patterned papers and just used two vellums for my title as the beads I knew I wanted to use would get lost in a patterned paper. I chose the vellums for the wishy washy effect and they match the photos so well. I used one page from my album as my background (plain white). I then stamped a blue green autumn leaves stamps onto this between each of the photos. I then added beads all around the edge by stitching them onto the layout. These were from my jewellery making collection and the string cost me $.80c. My title was created using my fiskars stencils and were cut from vellum. The bikini's were actually made using a sizzix at my LSS at the evening I went to recently using off cuts of paper. The only costly item for this ...

I went to my LSS (Passion for Paper) of the most wonderful cupcakes I've ever had (very decidant!). We then had two raffles, neither of which I won (doh!) and then I got to try out "Opals Embossing Enamel" by Pipe Dream Ink.... Gotta tell you I'm hooked! This stuff takes embossing to a completely new level. I'll put up a photo of an example I did to show you the effect you get with this stuff. I then spent the rest of the evening die cutting with the shops' Big Shot, Sizzix and Sizzlet. I know most of the other women who attended got a page or two done but I really hate getting a layout half done and then having to abandone it because I don't have all the tools I need. And lets face it there's no way I could take every tool, embellishment and supply I have to an away scrap. I have the makings for around 20 pages now by just focusing on using her tools and getting the most out of them. All round though I think it was a very well spent evening. My $15 ...

I received this comment on an old post (my reply is below). Anonymous said... Buy a Klick and Kut, A.K.A. KNK. It's a custom cutter, like cricut, but doesn't take cartridges, and it cuts any computer font you have and can cut chipboard. Pricey though. $549 in the U.S. But never need dies, new alphas, and can size everything. 11:24 PM The Scrap Miser said... This sounds like EXACTLY what I want! Thank You! Now I just have to wait for them to come to Australia. After I got your post I started checking out my usual online shopping haunts... to no avail.I was actually tossing up whether or not to get a cricuit or a whishblade a while ago but didn't do anything in the end as I really do more with chipboard so figured I should spend that money on sizzix dies..... I know you said it's fairly expensive but I figure it's worth it as you don't have to keep buying dies everytime you want to do something.... You could probably create most things you want in Adobe and then ...

Hey everyone, You'll never guess what happened to me last night? My DH ordered me to go buy a sizzix machine! WOW! Of course this is because I make him hand cut out the chipboard letters for my layouts as my hands get all cramped up using a craft knife and pressing that hard. Anyway last night whilst doing this for me he broke a craft knife. After some swearing he came and told me I have to go buy one of those things he used at the last scrapbooking day I went to. I was afraid to get excited until he agreed to give up his entertainment budget for as long as it took for me to get one. So now between my scrapbudget and his entertainment budget it shouldn't be long at all! How exciting! No more hand cramps for me! I think these sorts of tools that allow you to make lots of your own titles and embellishments are the best way to spend your scrap buget. I have concentrated on spending on tools more than rub ons and expensive embellishments or single sheets of paper. I still believe ...

"themrs" left a comment that it's also a good idea to share tools as well as scrapbooking supplies. I think this is a great idea. If you have a friend you scrapbook with regularly this might be an excellent way to double your tools immediately. You may also be able to pool your resources to buy larger items. Maybe you could purchase a Sizzix machine and share ownership of it? One week at my house and one week at yours?