Scrapbooking your Baby on a Budget

Mar.03, 2009 by Jessica Turner
Scrapbooking

With tough economic times hitting Americans hard, many people are choosing to cut back on their hobbies. However, it is still possible to scrapbook your baby using supplies you already have and taking a less is more approach. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Use Your Stash

Now is an excellent time to commit to using up that stash you have accrued over the years. If you are anything like me, you likely have more paper than you will ever use! This year I have set a goal to make 100 pages without buying anything more than glue, and maybe some letter stickers for titles. Not only has this helped me to make a dent in all that product I have, but it has forced me to get creative and only use what I have. I believe this challenge has also encouraged me to become a better scrapbooker.

Expressions Layout

OK Mom Layout

Scrapbook with Friends

Another way to save money and use up your stash is to have a scrapbooking get together – also known as a “crop.” Getting together will give you motivation to get some scrapbooking done and be a frugal night out. Moreover, you can share your supplies with one another, which is almost as good as buying new products.

Less is More

Sometimes scrapbooking can feel overwhelming because of all the products – chipboard, buttons, ribbon, and of course, all the paper! Keep your approach simple when scrapbooking photos of your baby. A simple style will keep the focus on the photos and will save you money because you won’t use as many supplies. Sometimes, the simplest layouts are the most beautiful.

Nicknames

Develop Your Photos Online

Scrapbooking wouldn’t be very much fun without great photos. You can save money by developing your photos online using a provider like snapfish.com or shutterfly.com. Most online developers offer incentives such as free prints for signing up as well as plans to secure reduced print pricing when you pay for a large quantity up front. I recommend developing your prints on matte paper to prevent fingerprints as you scrapbook.

Precious Bond

Remember – scrapbooking is about chronicling your baby’s story and not about all the products you use on a page. You CAN create beautiful pages on a budget.