Scrapbooking for Less: Found Item Freebies, and Trash to Treasure
Office Supply Store: I love to shop at office supply stores, probably because most of their products are geared towards paper in one way or another! They have staplers, stickers, labels, tags, tapes, page protectors, pens, markers, adhesives, paper punches, rulers, scissors, stamps, stamp pads, tickets, cork, tacks, brads, screw posts, Velcro, foam tape, transparencies, and so much more!
Hardware Store: I have an on line friend, Roni Johnson, who can do amazing things with embelishements she buys at the hardware store. Here's a list of things that she looks for when shopping at the hardware store: ball chain, cordage, cork, decorative nails (the type for upholstery, drywall tape, finish washers, hinges, house numbers, insulating tape, keys, laminate chip samples (by the counter tops,) latches, paint chips, paint, plain washers, post extenders, screen material in plastic or metal, sheet metal, wallpaper samples, wire mesh, wire.
Looking for more information about shopping at the hardware store? Read Jessica Barrett Koenigsberg's article Support Your Local Hardware Store about the art of collage; on Suite 101!
Flea Markets: I love to dig around flea markets and antique malls near my home town. There are so many interesting finds! Look for old watches (to use both the face, and band, and parts,) postcards, stamps, photographs, magazines, jewelry, buttons, fabrics, sewing notions, patterns, books, tokens or coins, puzzle and game pieces, hat pins, and fabric.
Dollar Stores: Don't forget to check the dollar stores in your area. I know that the Dollar Tree (where every thing is $1) carries a brand of scrapbooking supplies called Mrs. Elizabeth's and they are very cute! The Dollar General down the street from me has also started a very small collection of scrapbooking supplies, which I'm sure will come in handy incase my supplies run dry (which I can't see happening!)
Now that you've saved all that money, don't you feel good? There are numerous places to shop for scrapbooking supplies, try your local thrift store, swap meet, book store, or even the grocery store!
Helpful Links
Looking for more information about using found items in your scrapbooking, or need some ideas? Follow the links below for more help!
One Scrappy Site has suggestions for using items found at the hardware store, along with sketches! Very interesting information.
Read forum posts on Organized Scrapbooking for suggestions for finding items around the house to use in scrapbookin!
On DIY Crafts, Cheryl Stevenson demonstrates how
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