Sunday, January 30, 2011

SUPER SALE SUNDAY!!! (please excuse the layouts...still trying to figure it out)

Hello Friends!
 It's Sunday!! That means new sales come out! I have done all the research for you and every Sunday I hope to get you all the deals around so you can save some money!

First up!


Hobby Lobby!
I have sectioned off the scrapbooking section but there are LOTS of good sales this week. Head on over to Hobby Lobby to check out the full ad!






Next!
Michaels! I went through the ad and picked out all the scrapbooking deals! There is LOTS of great deals. I also added the % off coupons! 40% off a single item! I like to use those for the Martha Stewart items. Those are hardly ever on sale. 













Thursday, January 27, 2011

Inexpensive Products Part 1

Hello Friends,
I cannot believe it is already Thursday! The week has just gotten away from me! So far, we have covered Scrapbooking tools and storage ideas. Today we will be concentrating on the fun stuff! THE STUFF! The stuff is what the scrapbooks are actually made of. The Stuff is the most fun to buy! I will do my best to keep things to less than 5.00 but sometimes the good stuff is just a teensy bit more.
 Georgia-Pacific White Cardstock! I get my packages from Walmart and I pay about 5.00 for 150 sheets. I haven't found white cardstock anywhere else for this low a price. It is 110lb and ACID FREE! That means it will not yellow as it ages! It is also good for use in laser, multi-function, and ink-jet printers. The only thing is that it comes in 8.5"x11" which is okay with me since I just have a standard printer. If you need something printed in 12"x12" size, I would seek out a scrapbook store or get it printed online vs trying to invest in a HUGE printer for only a couple of items. *Uses: I use white cardstock in just about EVERYTHING I make. I like to use my printer to type cool quotes or journaling because I am not so in love with my handwriting. I definately recommend purchasing this!
Big Bag Of Buttons! These can be found in any sewing department of any store that has a sewing department! They usually come in HUGE amounts and cost a lot less than getting buttons from the scrapbooking section. For some reason, they think they can charge more because it says SCRAPBOOK BUTTONS on it. I also save all the buttons that come with jackets and shirts as well as any that get eaten by my washing machine. Before you know it, you'll have your very own big bag o' buttons and it will not have cost you a thing. Be sure to ask around. My grandmother had buttons from the 60s when she made my aunts and uncles clothes then.
Ribbon spools. If you buy them from a craft shop such as Hancock Fabrics, Joann's, or especially Hobby Lobby, they tend to be on sale often and usually for 50% off. If they are not when you go in, wait till next week because they will be then. So why pay 3.99 for a spool for ribbon when tomorrow you can get it for 1.99? I love the Ribbon Boutique spools at Hobby Lobby because they have them in nearly EVERY color you could want and they also have wide ribbon that matches the thin ribbon which is great for coordinating pages or invitations.
STICKERS!! YAAAY!!! Stickers are the one thing that is most associated with scrapping and most craft stores have rows and rows of them to prove it. Stickers will make an appearance again in a later post titled something along the lines of "Things I wish someone would have told me NOT to buy" because I have wasted many many dollars on them. When I say wasted I mean bought because they were cute, cheap, on sale, etc and had no plans with what to do with them. The majority of them sit in ziplock baggies either in a plastic tub or tucked away in a drawer. My advice when it comes to stickers is to plan your page. Do you have a page that has a theme (graduation, baby boy, etc) then make your page and leave room to add. Never stick your page down till your done so you can rearrange if you want to. Also the sticker isle goes on sale at Hobby Lobby once every other week also so it's like the ribbon. If you can wait, if not, spend the money just make sure you're buying stickers you'll actually use to avoid the, "great, now I have all these stickers and no where to stick them" epiphany. Also, word for the wise, dollar store stickers are cheap for a reason. They also tend to make your pages look cheap. There are TONS of inexpensive stickers out there that will add cuteness or humor to your page without dragging the whole page along with it.
Scrapbooking paper is along the same lines as stickers in my book. It's such a great feeling to find it onsale but then it sucks when you have to store it because you've discovered the scrapbook paper that looks like your great grandmothers christmas sweater really isn't that attractive. I say, when this happens, either put it in your SCRAP SWAP pile or let your kids go to town because either way at least it gets used instead of stored. I say, Take the picture you want to scrap with you to the store when you go to pick out your papers. That way you can see if a bright pink paper will wash out the picture of your darling daughter who happens to be wearing bright pink or if it will look just the way you want. Also, word for the wise, black and white pictures will look great on just about any background, even black and white.
And finally, scrapbook adhesives! The glue that holds the whole thing together....literally! There are sooooo many types of scrapbook adhesives out there that it is really easy to spend a fortune trying to find the one that works best for you. I hope it doesn't take you a fortune because there are really only three types I use on a very regular basis. I love LOVE GlueDots! They come in different sizes as well different types of adhesive strength (removable vs permanent). I also love that they come in different thicknesses so you can make your pictures or other embellishments 3D. VERY COOL! And usually each pack is about 3.99 and you can probably get them on sale. 

That wraps up Inexpensive Products Part 1. I hope you got some good ideas. If you have any others send them to me!



MasonJar

Monday, January 24, 2011

Also I feel this is kind of what I needed today.


NEARLY FREE STORAGE!!! WHEEE!!

Hello Friends,
Now, if you're like me and have been scrapping for a while, you probably have loads of stuff tucked away here and there. And, also like me, if you can't see what you have, you don't use it.
I have a few nearly free scrapbook storage solutions to help you get organized.

For Free:: Using empty kleenex boxes or banana boxes from your local grocery store can be used for ribbon storage. Cover the box with your beautiful papers and cut holes in it large enough to not crunch your ribbon but not too large to not hold it in. It will give a unique item in your scrapbook room as well as a very useful way to have your ribbons in order!


Using a muffin tin you already have (or one out of your moms pantry) helps to keep the little knick knacks in order. I love this one from twoangelsinparis from Etsy. BUT, you can have one that looks just like this for nearly free. And the best part is you get to be creative about what you put in it!
IF you don't have a muffin tin, you can use an egg carton also. The little cups are great for keeping items at bay.



This is pretty great too! I know this picture has shoes in it, but I have my scrapbook stuff in it! I keep it on my closet door which, when open, comes right up against my desk. Everything is so close and I spent just under 5.00 at Walmart. I love that it's clear too so I can easily see all my fun tools which helps me use things I may have otherwise forgotten about!






Never underestimate the power of baskets! These cheap ones from the dollar store around 1.00 are SO fantastic. I keep paper scraps in them to stop them from cluttering up my desk. I also keep my tools that I use only occasionally like my Embossing heat gun and my glue gun. I love them to sort and store my different felt colors and tons of other things! For around 1.00 you can't beat the versatility!


And for the splurge item,! Dun duh duh DUUUUNH! The Tool Turn About from Pampered Chef. It's 18.50 online. There are many other options that do about the same thing but I have had mine for three years and I love it! It turns so easy and allows for LOTS of storage! I keep all my pens, pencils, rulers, adhesives, things that I use often. If you can find one like this for less than 18.50 please let me know! I'd love to have another one! :D



I hope you get some use out of your new storage! Have any ideas that will help keep your tools under control? Send them over! MasonJarDesign@gmail.com

Yours, from Podunk,
MasonJar

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Necessities List-tools

Hello Friends,
So, this post is to sum up the tools that I have found absolutely necessary to complete, well, really anything involving scrapbooking. It is things that I have on my desk or within arms reach at all times and that I use more than once with each page/project. Please keep in mind that I have been scrapping for ten years so some of this stuff was purchased a long time ago. Also keep in mind that you do not have to purchase all these things at once if you are just starting out. It just really makes life a lot easier. In a future post, we will talk about things to use in place of those fancy tools other women can afford. 
Okay, first things first. My go to, cannot live with out, tool:

 This is the 

Fiskars 01-005249 Premium Portable Paper Trimmer 12

Features a wider 6.25 base deck for easy layout and measuring triple track blad and rail system antiwear veneer which is now printed from the bottom side so the grid will never wear off. Swing-out arm extends measuring up to a full 15.25. Includes bonus replacement blade. Cuts 5 sheets of 20# paper.

I am positive that I use this at least 20 times each page I do. I love it because it is light weight, the grid on it doesn't rub off, and those little orange leggies on the ends are rubber so you can prop it against the leg of your desk, chair, or wall and it won't slide down! I also love that there is a little wire that goes down the cut line under the blade that shows you exactly where the blade will cut. So you can line up whatever you're working on and it will be a cinch to trim. Now, this little baby is totally worth the money. I spent roughly 15.00 on it with a 50% off coupon at Michaels but I just saw it online for 16.00. There are many places that will have this for cheap (30.00 full price seems like a lot to me) but it will be well worth it! 

These little babies are just the plain ol' jane ol' 

Crayola Scissors. 


They cost 1.97 at Walmart and they cut EVERYTHING!! You would think not, because they are kids scissors, but they cut through ribbon and felt way better than my 6.99 Cutterbee scissors. Now, they are blunt tip so you gotta be crafty when cutting detailed items, so if you have an extra $7, the Cutterbee's are the way to go. If not, 1.97 cannot be beat. I have three pairs and I use them all the time. 

Next is a standard! Its the 

Scotch 665 Double-Sided Office Tape 1/2 x 900" 1 Core Clear

Use this double-sided tape as a quick and efficient, no-mess alternative to glue for light duty attaching and mounting tasks. The tape features permanent adhesive on both sides and its linerless, long-aging design won't dry out or yellow. Plus, it's photo safe. Tape Type: Double-Sided; Adhesive Material: N/A; Tape Special Feature: 1" Core; Width: N/A.

I have found this tape to be WAAAY cheaper than anything that says "Scrapbook" on it. It is photo safe! So use away without fear of it ruining your hard work when your kids are old enough to appreciate it. I usually find it at Walmart for a couple bucks. I think the most I have paid for it was 5.00 but it was the double pack like in the picture. I use it for EVERYTHING. I have the fancy tape runners, which are pretty convenient, but the refills are just more than I want to spend. So I will keep my cheapy scotch tape holder and buy the double sided refills thank you very much. 


And last but not least, for the finally necessary product:
the 
Millennium  Zig .01 Black (PEN.MS01)

Acid free, lighfast, waterproof, fade proof, archival quality pigment ink pen that is very useful for fine line detailing.

These pens are not the cheapest but they are the best and sooooo multifunctional which is the way to go if you're going to be spending 3.95 on a pen. It is acid free, which is most important, and they last FOREVER! I use mine all the time and I really cannot remember the last time I had to buy a new one. Probably once every 6 months if you store it right and keep it nice. I love that the tip is teeny tiny so you can use it in your stencils to get the utmost detail. The Millennium Zig's come in all kinds of different size tips and colors so I definitely recommend these for your scrapbook pens.

Now, these items are just suggestions and what I use on a daily basis. They are fairly cheap and for less than 50.00 you can have all these items and maybe even a few dollars left over (especially if you order that trimmer online or have a coupon). 

Thats it for now. If you have any more ideas or suggestions, keep them coming!

Yours, from Podunk,
MasonJar

Why I am starting this blog...

Hello friends.
I just wanted to jot a quick note to let you know (and to remind myself) why exactly I am starting this blog. I am starting this design/inspiration/advice/friendship blog for all the people who cannot go and spend 1000.00 on a scrapbook room. For all the ladies out there who are actually on a budget and it is less than 50.00 a month to spend on scrapbooking. I cleaned up one of my storage things tonight (which I was excited about because it opened up TONS more storage opportunities for me) to which my husband responds, "Great, now we have more space to buy more crap..."
So yes, scrapping is not my families favorite way to spend money so I have devised ways to have beautiful pages for less than people who have stuff donated to them.

Dont get me wrong, I would love for one of those fancy schmancy scrapbook companies come and donate a bunch of stuff that I will happily give to as many people as I can, but I dont want this blog to be about that. I want it to be taking their beautiful pages, and making them affordable! WITH THE STUFF YOU ALREADY HAVE!!! I will try my hardest to make sure you do not have to buy anything that isn't absolutely necessary.

That being said. I will start off the next post with a list of what I have found to be NECESSARY when starting ANY scrap project. They are the things like scissors, papercutter, etc.

I really hope you all enjoy this and we can scrap for less together. Keep all ideas coming! I am looking forward to hearing them!

Yours, from Podunk,
MasonJar