In my last post I pointed you towards a great site to help you get the most from your Cricut design studio. Find it here.
The woman behind it, Brandi Gore Dickerson, is an expert at design studio and has over 10 years of scrapbooking experience. In my quest to bring you more information I searched for more hints and tips from Brandi and came across this informative article she wrote. Enjoy.
You finally purchased the Cricut Design Studio software. Most likely your next question is, "Now what do I do?" Here are seven things you need to know to jump start your learning of the program.
You can design with all of the cartridges, but you can only cut with the ones you have. Cricut Design Studio has every available cartridge loaded into the program. You can create all kinds of cutting files with any cartridge they offer. While that is fun for experimenting, just remember that when you go to cut the Cricut will ask you to load the specific cartridge used.
You can use more than one cartridge in a cutting. The options are endless. Bring letters and images from any cartridge into the cutting you are designing. When you are ready to cut, the Cricut will ask you to load each cartridge you used.
Connecting letters together to form one cutting is referred to as welding. In order to weld letters together it is important to remember to check the welding box for each individual letter or image. Another interesting tidbit about welding is that it removes any scorelines on the image.
You can use cut files from other Design Studio users. If you are low on creativity or time, your best solution is to use a file designed by someone else. There are Cricut Design Studio users that freely share their designs and ideas. The best starting point would be the message boards at the Cricut website. There you will find links you can follow to cut files all over the web. Simply download the file to your computer and the open it in the Design Studio.
You need to get updates to the Cricut Design Studio at the Cricut website. The updates not only fix any bugs in the program, they also add the latest cartridge releases for you to design with.
When previewing a cut, if it is welded together, the cutting lines will be in a bold line. If an image previews as a solid color then it is not welded. It is easy to miss checking the welding box on a letter as you are creating, and this is a sure-fire way to make sure that none of them are missing.
You can use several layers when creating a design. For example, If you are creating a shadow for an image you need to open a new layer just for the shadow. Otherwise, when you go to cut it will cut the image and the shadow at the same time using the same paper. When previewing, the user has the option as to whether or not other layers show through to the one they are working on.
Brandi Gore has been in the scrapbook industry for 10 years. She teaches classes and does custom scrapbooks for others. Her knowledge of the Cricut and the Cricut Design Studio software has positioned her as an expert in the field. Are you looking to learn the ins and outs of the Cricut Design Studio? Check out her book and videos Cricut Design Studio: The Missing Manual
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandi_Gore_Dickerson
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
More Cricut Design Studio help is out there
After my last post regarding how to get the most from your Cricut design studio in which I introduced you to this website, Learn how to use the Cricut design studio, I started to wonder if there were any alternative products/instruction on the subject of Cricut design studio.
I must say that I didn't find much that I felt was worth mentioning but I was determined to find at least one alternative. I hate not having choices. Even though vanilla ice-cream is delicious the whole ritual is made infinitely better by the fact that there is chocolate Brownie flavor too... just in case!
After spending Saturday night (sad) trawling the web I managed to come up with a few alternatives. I'm only going to mention the one for now as the others warrant a closer inspection first.
It is my aim to help you get the most from your Cricut, Cricut design studio and other scrapbooking products and I don't want to just throw any old rubbish your way.
The other site that I thought may be of help in getting the most from your Cricut design studio is, Taming the green bug / Stunning designs with the Cricut .
Please provide us with feedback on your thoughts of these two sites.
The more informed we are the more creative we will become.
I must say that I didn't find much that I felt was worth mentioning but I was determined to find at least one alternative. I hate not having choices. Even though vanilla ice-cream is delicious the whole ritual is made infinitely better by the fact that there is chocolate Brownie flavor too... just in case!
After spending Saturday night (sad) trawling the web I managed to come up with a few alternatives. I'm only going to mention the one for now as the others warrant a closer inspection first.
It is my aim to help you get the most from your Cricut, Cricut design studio and other scrapbooking products and I don't want to just throw any old rubbish your way.
The other site that I thought may be of help in getting the most from your Cricut design studio is, Taming the green bug / Stunning designs with the Cricut .
Please provide us with feedback on your thoughts of these two sites.
The more informed we are the more creative we will become.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Design Studio: The Missing Manual
A few months ago I spoke about Cricut design studio by Provo Craft and just how brilliant it was.
I'm yet to hear anybody disagree but a few comments I've heard include "I've mastered the basics of Cricut design studio, but how do I progress from here" and "I've figured out how to do so much with Cricut design studio but I know it can do so much more". "Where can I find help?".
The truth is it can do so much more. With the proper guidance you will have mastered Cricut design studio in no time at all leaving you to design and create instead of puzzle and pull your hair out.
"So where can I find this mystical guidance" you ask. "I've read the manual and apart from the basics I'm on my own" you cry.
Not so.. A lady called Brandi Gore Dickerson has finally let the Genie out of the Cricut design studio bag. She is a veteran scrapbooker, Cricut design studio teacher and she has put together a comprehensive manual, video and screenshots package that will "step by step" enable you to get the most from your Cricut design studio.
Anyway, enough babble from me. Click here and see for yourself.
Enjoy your new found skills.
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I'm yet to hear anybody disagree but a few comments I've heard include "I've mastered the basics of Cricut design studio, but how do I progress from here" and "I've figured out how to do so much with Cricut design studio but I know it can do so much more". "Where can I find help?".
The truth is it can do so much more. With the proper guidance you will have mastered Cricut design studio in no time at all leaving you to design and create instead of puzzle and pull your hair out.
"So where can I find this mystical guidance" you ask. "I've read the manual and apart from the basics I'm on my own" you cry.
Not so.. A lady called Brandi Gore Dickerson has finally let the Genie out of the Cricut design studio bag. She is a veteran scrapbooker, Cricut design studio teacher and she has put together a comprehensive manual, video and screenshots package that will "step by step" enable you to get the most from your Cricut design studio.
Anyway, enough babble from me. Click here and see for yourself.
Enjoy your new found skills.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Cricut Expression - Worth the Money?
The Cricut Expression is selling like hot cakes online! What's all the fuss about? Here I will give you a quick list of the most notable features, and help you decide if the Cricut cutter really cuts it!
* The Cricut Expression is a very sophisticated crafting machine, in comparison to Cricut Create and the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter. The first thing that strikes you is how big this new model is, in terms of its size.
* It has been manufactured by a team of experienced experts with the sole purpose of cutting letters, phrases, and shapes in proper sizes through the usage of the 12 inches x 24 inches cutting mat.
* This wonderful electronic model can do different types of paper cuttings like vellum and even vinyl. Crafters can easily cut paper into small .25 inch pieces, and up to 12 inches x 24 inches.
* Different designs with a wide range of shapes can be made through this sophisticated device.
* It is loaded with different features like Plantin school book font and Accent Essential type cartridges, inclusive of the 12 x 12 mat for cutting purposes.
* Cricut clearly designed Expression with schools and teachers in mind. This machine would be popular installed in the class room, there's no doubt about that!
* The latest model produces an impressively large number of different paper cuts. However, crafters interested in shaping dices measuring less than 51/2 inches can still opt for the Cricut.
* The main drawback may be that some crafters find it tricky to make adequate space for the installation of the cutting machine, due to its bulky casing.
* As well as the core features, you also get welcome bonuses like, Auto Fill, Mix 'n Match, Fit to Page, Flip and Fit to Length etc. This upgraded model is also loaded with the Accent Cartridge which will certainly develop the quality of scrapbook layouts.
* With the neat Flip option, you can monitor the picture or graph changing its directions. This is more fun than it sounds!
* The Center Point system is a real time saver. It assists users to set the blade on the actual center marking of the photo or image, and then trims the specific area on the photo for you - very handy.
* The multi-cut mechanism enables the device to cut thick sized chipboard much deeper than before.
* The Line Return setting helps to fix the blade to the next line when performing deep cuts.
* In addition, the Mat Size system will allow the user to set 12 inches x 24 inches or 12 inches x 12 inches .
* If you do not have a computer at home, Cricut Expression can be used effectively as a stand-alone machine. But if you want to feel its full potential, I suggest investing in the Design Studio software. The machine and the software combined give you a huge pallet of crafting options.
* If you already own a previous model, you'll be glad to know that your "old" cartridges will work with this latest cutter from Cricut.
I highly recommend you give the Cricut Expression a try. It has lifted the quality of my craft projects to a new level, and produces very satisfying results time after time.
To learn more about Cricut Expression, and some great tips for finding discount Cricut supplies, visit Alison's Scrapbook Site today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Jeffers
* The Cricut Expression is a very sophisticated crafting machine, in comparison to Cricut Create and the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter. The first thing that strikes you is how big this new model is, in terms of its size.
* It has been manufactured by a team of experienced experts with the sole purpose of cutting letters, phrases, and shapes in proper sizes through the usage of the 12 inches x 24 inches cutting mat.
* This wonderful electronic model can do different types of paper cuttings like vellum and even vinyl. Crafters can easily cut paper into small .25 inch pieces, and up to 12 inches x 24 inches.
* Different designs with a wide range of shapes can be made through this sophisticated device.
* It is loaded with different features like Plantin school book font and Accent Essential type cartridges, inclusive of the 12 x 12 mat for cutting purposes.
* Cricut clearly designed Expression with schools and teachers in mind. This machine would be popular installed in the class room, there's no doubt about that!
* The latest model produces an impressively large number of different paper cuts. However, crafters interested in shaping dices measuring less than 51/2 inches can still opt for the Cricut.
* The main drawback may be that some crafters find it tricky to make adequate space for the installation of the cutting machine, due to its bulky casing.
* As well as the core features, you also get welcome bonuses like, Auto Fill, Mix 'n Match, Fit to Page, Flip and Fit to Length etc. This upgraded model is also loaded with the Accent Cartridge which will certainly develop the quality of scrapbook layouts.
* With the neat Flip option, you can monitor the picture or graph changing its directions. This is more fun than it sounds!
* The Center Point system is a real time saver. It assists users to set the blade on the actual center marking of the photo or image, and then trims the specific area on the photo for you - very handy.
* The multi-cut mechanism enables the device to cut thick sized chipboard much deeper than before.
* The Line Return setting helps to fix the blade to the next line when performing deep cuts.
* In addition, the Mat Size system will allow the user to set 12 inches x 24 inches or 12 inches x 12 inches .
* If you do not have a computer at home, Cricut Expression can be used effectively as a stand-alone machine. But if you want to feel its full potential, I suggest investing in the Design Studio software. The machine and the software combined give you a huge pallet of crafting options.
* If you already own a previous model, you'll be glad to know that your "old" cartridges will work with this latest cutter from Cricut.
I highly recommend you give the Cricut Expression a try. It has lifted the quality of my craft projects to a new level, and produces very satisfying results time after time.
To learn more about Cricut Expression, and some great tips for finding discount Cricut supplies, visit Alison's Scrapbook Site today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Jeffers
Get Unlimited Die Cuts Without Buying Cricut Cartridges
Cricut Cartridges allow you to cut multiple images on many different themes. Unfortunately to get the most from your Cricut die cutter machine you need multiple cartridges. For every new theme you need a new cartridge. To weld images or modify the images on those cartridges you need an additional piece of software called Design Studio.
For the cost of about 1 full price cartridge you can purchase a piece of software that will allow you to cut unlimited images without purchasing additional cartridges. To utilize the software you will need to attach your computer to the cricut machine. To do this you will need a usb cable. These cables are readily available online or retail computer supply outlets or discount stores.. The usb cables are no different than a cable that you might purchase to attach your printer to your computer.
The software can utilize true type fonts and true type dingbats to cut on your cricut software. True type fonts are readily available for free at multiple locations such as FontSpace and Ding Bat Depot. Dingbats are groups of themed images that correspond to letter on your keyboard. You can use the letters on your keyboard to access multiple images very quickly. True type ding bat fonts can be downloaded and installed on your computer very easily.
You can also use many clip art images as inspiration to cut using this software with your cricut machine. You will need anothe piece of free software called Inkscape to slightly modify clipart or dingbat images.
The software also allows you to layout your designs on the screen in wysiwyg format so you use less paper and fewer mistakes on your initial cut. The software will allow you to weld, flip, stretch and modify your images.
Charity is the owner of Adams Acres Scrapin where she teaches people how to use Sure Cuts A Lot software to create unlimited die cuts on the Cricut Electronic Die Cut Machine
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charity_Adams
For the cost of about 1 full price cartridge you can purchase a piece of software that will allow you to cut unlimited images without purchasing additional cartridges. To utilize the software you will need to attach your computer to the cricut machine. To do this you will need a usb cable. These cables are readily available online or retail computer supply outlets or discount stores.. The usb cables are no different than a cable that you might purchase to attach your printer to your computer.
The software can utilize true type fonts and true type dingbats to cut on your cricut software. True type fonts are readily available for free at multiple locations such as FontSpace and Ding Bat Depot. Dingbats are groups of themed images that correspond to letter on your keyboard. You can use the letters on your keyboard to access multiple images very quickly. True type ding bat fonts can be downloaded and installed on your computer very easily.
You can also use many clip art images as inspiration to cut using this software with your cricut machine. You will need anothe piece of free software called Inkscape to slightly modify clipart or dingbat images.
The software also allows you to layout your designs on the screen in wysiwyg format so you use less paper and fewer mistakes on your initial cut. The software will allow you to weld, flip, stretch and modify your images.
Charity is the owner of Adams Acres Scrapin where she teaches people how to use Sure Cuts A Lot software to create unlimited die cuts on the Cricut Electronic Die Cut Machine
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charity_Adams
Cricut Design Studio by Provo Craft
If you have you already discovered a passion for the Provo Craft Cricut cutting machines, you are going to fall in love all over again when you try the newest addition to the Cricut family - Cricut Design Studio software.
The Cricut Design Studio adds a completely new dimension to your Cricut adventures, whether you own the original little Cricut or the larger Cricut Expression. Just by plugging your Cricut into a USB port on your computer and installing the Design Studio software, you'll enter an exciting new world of design possibilities. One of the best parts is this program is easy to use and understand. It's not necessary to be a computer wiz to figure it out and you can do a multitude of creative effects with the addition of this one piece of software.
How Will Design Studio Help You?
The Cricut Design Studio allows you to mix images from any of the cartridges you own and blend them into one design. You can plan your design before you even put in a cartridge. It's possible to weld letters together, shrink or expand images, put an image on a diagonal, and stretch, rotate, or flip images. You can even stop and save your design before it's complete, then come back later to finish it. When you have the design just the way you want it, just slip in the first cartridge needed and push a single button. When the Cricut reaches the point where it needs a different cartridge, it will alert you so you can exchange the cartridges. When you finish, you can save your design to your computer or flash drive and you'll be able to share it with your friends.
Another benefit of Design Studio is that you can examine every available design in the entire Cricut library, whether you own the cartridge or not. Simply type in keywords to search for a particular image or phrase and you can see exactly how it would look in your projects. This will help you decide if you want to purchase a particular cartridge or not. You can even preplan your design and save it until you get the necessary cartridge or borrow it from a friend.
Are There Disadvantages to the Cricut Design Studio?
One disappointment to some users is that the Cricut Design Studio is not Mac compatible. Currently, you can only use this software with Windows XP or Vista. The only other concern is that you are restricted to using Design Studio at a location where you have access to a computer. If you have a laptop, however, that is a non-issue.
Overall, the Cricut Design Studio is a wonderful addition to your Cricut collection. You are only limited by your imagination.
For more wonderful additions to your Cricut collection come and visit The Cricut Cartridges Guide for the whole line-up of ProvoCraft products including the new Cricut Create For other tips and tricks using your Cricut stop by! -Beverly Kingly
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_Kingly
The Cricut Design Studio adds a completely new dimension to your Cricut adventures, whether you own the original little Cricut or the larger Cricut Expression. Just by plugging your Cricut into a USB port on your computer and installing the Design Studio software, you'll enter an exciting new world of design possibilities. One of the best parts is this program is easy to use and understand. It's not necessary to be a computer wiz to figure it out and you can do a multitude of creative effects with the addition of this one piece of software.
How Will Design Studio Help You?
The Cricut Design Studio allows you to mix images from any of the cartridges you own and blend them into one design. You can plan your design before you even put in a cartridge. It's possible to weld letters together, shrink or expand images, put an image on a diagonal, and stretch, rotate, or flip images. You can even stop and save your design before it's complete, then come back later to finish it. When you have the design just the way you want it, just slip in the first cartridge needed and push a single button. When the Cricut reaches the point where it needs a different cartridge, it will alert you so you can exchange the cartridges. When you finish, you can save your design to your computer or flash drive and you'll be able to share it with your friends.
Another benefit of Design Studio is that you can examine every available design in the entire Cricut library, whether you own the cartridge or not. Simply type in keywords to search for a particular image or phrase and you can see exactly how it would look in your projects. This will help you decide if you want to purchase a particular cartridge or not. You can even preplan your design and save it until you get the necessary cartridge or borrow it from a friend.
Are There Disadvantages to the Cricut Design Studio?
One disappointment to some users is that the Cricut Design Studio is not Mac compatible. Currently, you can only use this software with Windows XP or Vista. The only other concern is that you are restricted to using Design Studio at a location where you have access to a computer. If you have a laptop, however, that is a non-issue.
Overall, the Cricut Design Studio is a wonderful addition to your Cricut collection. You are only limited by your imagination.
For more wonderful additions to your Cricut collection come and visit The Cricut Cartridges Guide for the whole line-up of ProvoCraft products including the new Cricut Create For other tips and tricks using your Cricut stop by! -Beverly Kingly
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_Kingly
Cricut Scrapbook Number One Idea
Have you guessed it?
The number one best idea to use your cricut on is to make something about your little ones!
Kids love to hear all kinds of stories. But one story they probably would want to hear over and over again is the story of their birth. This is why, many would prefer creating baby scrapbook to tell in a more tangible way how they come out in this world. But it does not mean that baby scrapbook is limited to the "how" of giving birth. Even the minor details are important to create a more wonderful baby scrapbook your kid would enjoy and would be proud of as they grow up. And since baby scrapbook is somewhat a kid's bibliography, your kids will appreciate how much they mean to you.
If you are planning to use your cricut machine to make a scrapbook for your baby to come, then here are the things you should consider so that you wont limit yourself from creating a statistical baby scrapbook (baby scrapbook that only tells the time, weight and size of the baby).
To create a baby scrapbook, you should define your starting point. It could be the baby shower or the day of his or her birth. You should also set when to end the scrapbook. Usually, baby scrapbook would cover the child's first year but you can always go longer if you want to. In the process, you should collect things that can be included on the scrapbook like the gifts you receive on the baby shower. Some would even include the baby's first haircut and other events that the child has experienced for the first time.
Choose a color that would define the theme of the scrapbook. The usual color of a baby boy's scrapbook is powder blue while the baby girl's scrapbook is pink. You may or may not adapt these colors and use another.
Now you ask: "What should I include In the scrapbook?"
Most baby scrapbook would include the details about the baby upon birth. These are, the length at birth, weight at birth, time of birth, the length of labor, the color of the eyes and hair, and doctor's name and the names of the staff who assisted the doctor in giving birth. Plus of course, the pictures of you and your child at the hospital after you gave birth.
Some would include pictures of you while you are still pregnant. Moments such as this will keep your child reminded how you, as a mother took care of him/her while s/he was still in your womb.
Other moments you should include are the photos of the baby's growth month by month with a size reference (usually a stuffed toy), photos of the house you live in and the nursery, photos of the family members including the baby, photos of the baby sleeping, photos taken while the baby is bathing, photos with his or her favorite toys, and other happy moments that include him or her.
As was mentioned above, many baby scrapbooks would include the baby's firsts. These are the baby's first smile, first bath first crawl, first roll over, first sat up, first steps, and so forth. Baby scrapbook can include his or her favorites like the favorite song, toys, bedtime stories, and the family tree.
The nice thing about this is that you can always add anything that is related to your baby as he or she is growing up.
For other significant events that may or may not be captured by memorabilia can be written.
You can write about the meaning and significance of the name, your length of stay at the hospital, other people who were present at the hospital, their reaction after you gave birth, their feelings after they carried your baby, and the way they entertain the baby. You can also write about stories that would further illustrate those events that are captured in photos. Stories like the baby's first outings, babysitting, and mannerisms (did he or she often suck his or her thumb... and things like these).
You have the photos, the things to write about and the scrapbook to put it together; what else?
Well, creating baby scrapbook is really a personal thing so it is up to you what other things you want to add for as long as your child will know how did she grow up.
Chris Stilez
You've probably head over heels about using cricut design studio software... but do you really know all its potential? Do your ideas always come to life in an effortless manner? If not, join us where the fun is, visit http://www.learnthecricut.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Stilez
The number one best idea to use your cricut on is to make something about your little ones!
Kids love to hear all kinds of stories. But one story they probably would want to hear over and over again is the story of their birth. This is why, many would prefer creating baby scrapbook to tell in a more tangible way how they come out in this world. But it does not mean that baby scrapbook is limited to the "how" of giving birth. Even the minor details are important to create a more wonderful baby scrapbook your kid would enjoy and would be proud of as they grow up. And since baby scrapbook is somewhat a kid's bibliography, your kids will appreciate how much they mean to you.
If you are planning to use your cricut machine to make a scrapbook for your baby to come, then here are the things you should consider so that you wont limit yourself from creating a statistical baby scrapbook (baby scrapbook that only tells the time, weight and size of the baby).
To create a baby scrapbook, you should define your starting point. It could be the baby shower or the day of his or her birth. You should also set when to end the scrapbook. Usually, baby scrapbook would cover the child's first year but you can always go longer if you want to. In the process, you should collect things that can be included on the scrapbook like the gifts you receive on the baby shower. Some would even include the baby's first haircut and other events that the child has experienced for the first time.
Choose a color that would define the theme of the scrapbook. The usual color of a baby boy's scrapbook is powder blue while the baby girl's scrapbook is pink. You may or may not adapt these colors and use another.
Now you ask: "What should I include In the scrapbook?"
Most baby scrapbook would include the details about the baby upon birth. These are, the length at birth, weight at birth, time of birth, the length of labor, the color of the eyes and hair, and doctor's name and the names of the staff who assisted the doctor in giving birth. Plus of course, the pictures of you and your child at the hospital after you gave birth.
Some would include pictures of you while you are still pregnant. Moments such as this will keep your child reminded how you, as a mother took care of him/her while s/he was still in your womb.
Other moments you should include are the photos of the baby's growth month by month with a size reference (usually a stuffed toy), photos of the house you live in and the nursery, photos of the family members including the baby, photos of the baby sleeping, photos taken while the baby is bathing, photos with his or her favorite toys, and other happy moments that include him or her.
As was mentioned above, many baby scrapbooks would include the baby's firsts. These are the baby's first smile, first bath first crawl, first roll over, first sat up, first steps, and so forth. Baby scrapbook can include his or her favorites like the favorite song, toys, bedtime stories, and the family tree.
The nice thing about this is that you can always add anything that is related to your baby as he or she is growing up.
For other significant events that may or may not be captured by memorabilia can be written.
You can write about the meaning and significance of the name, your length of stay at the hospital, other people who were present at the hospital, their reaction after you gave birth, their feelings after they carried your baby, and the way they entertain the baby. You can also write about stories that would further illustrate those events that are captured in photos. Stories like the baby's first outings, babysitting, and mannerisms (did he or she often suck his or her thumb... and things like these).
You have the photos, the things to write about and the scrapbook to put it together; what else?
Well, creating baby scrapbook is really a personal thing so it is up to you what other things you want to add for as long as your child will know how did she grow up.
Chris Stilez
You've probably head over heels about using cricut design studio software... but do you really know all its potential? Do your ideas always come to life in an effortless manner? If not, join us where the fun is, visit http://www.learnthecricut.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Stilez
Scrapbooking on a Budget - Free Tips and Design Ideas
One major drawback with scrapbooking can be the cost. Like most hobbies, it isn't always cheap. Walking into a scrapbooking shop can be fatal to the Visa card. To discover ways of continuing with your creativity while remaining within budget read the hints below.
1. Keep your eyes open. Keep on the lookout everywhere for scrapbooking supplies. Remember they don't have to be specifically designed for scrapbooking to use them. This doesn't mean you have to rummage through the 'cheap shops' on the lookout. Look at things like threads for stitching. I saw packs of threads in a scrapbooking shop with an exorbitant price tag. Buying these threads from a sewing shop or better still rummaging through your Great Aunt's stash can save you money and may even end up with something nicer - like silk instead of cotton!
2. Get creative with Magazines. The cost of buying magazines can add up in a very short time. Why not try some creative solutions. Borrow them from the library. Go to the 'crop' at your local store and browse for inspiration with their magazines which are on the shelf for that purpose (not the new ones of course!). Probably my favourite is swapping. Get a group of friends and take turns to buy the magazines and rotate them around. This keeps fresh inspiration for you all while minimizing the cost.
3. Use the scraps. I know this sounds simple but do you really do it? Instead of approaching a layout with new papers and embellishments to use. Set yourself a challenge to use some of your scraps on the layout. This can cause you to be extra creative and can amaze yourself with your results.
4. Make cards. Another way of using up your scraps is making them into cards. Greeting cards work out so expensive so why not get creative. Use those little scraps of your beautiful papers, ribbons, flowers etc. and make them into stunning cards handmade with love.
5. Buy Well. This may seem contradictory but often the best way to budget is to buy expensive. If you are buying something a little costly then you put more thought into the purchase and make sure you really want that item and will use it, thus saving a pile of never to be used creative purchases. If you are a regular at 'cheap shops' you may find yourself walking out with more than you planned or need. This will work out costing you more in the long run. So be selective and buy exactly what you want.
Most of all have fun and enjoy being creative.
Easy Scrapbooking Ideas is a place where you can come and gain some creative inspiration. You can see what is happening in the scrapbooking world and find links to many other wonderfully creative sites as well. If you want your scrapbooking layouts and photography to contain that 'WOW' factor then you must visit http://www.easyscrapbookingideas.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corinna_Rhodes
1. Keep your eyes open. Keep on the lookout everywhere for scrapbooking supplies. Remember they don't have to be specifically designed for scrapbooking to use them. This doesn't mean you have to rummage through the 'cheap shops' on the lookout. Look at things like threads for stitching. I saw packs of threads in a scrapbooking shop with an exorbitant price tag. Buying these threads from a sewing shop or better still rummaging through your Great Aunt's stash can save you money and may even end up with something nicer - like silk instead of cotton!
2. Get creative with Magazines. The cost of buying magazines can add up in a very short time. Why not try some creative solutions. Borrow them from the library. Go to the 'crop' at your local store and browse for inspiration with their magazines which are on the shelf for that purpose (not the new ones of course!). Probably my favourite is swapping. Get a group of friends and take turns to buy the magazines and rotate them around. This keeps fresh inspiration for you all while minimizing the cost.
3. Use the scraps. I know this sounds simple but do you really do it? Instead of approaching a layout with new papers and embellishments to use. Set yourself a challenge to use some of your scraps on the layout. This can cause you to be extra creative and can amaze yourself with your results.
4. Make cards. Another way of using up your scraps is making them into cards. Greeting cards work out so expensive so why not get creative. Use those little scraps of your beautiful papers, ribbons, flowers etc. and make them into stunning cards handmade with love.
5. Buy Well. This may seem contradictory but often the best way to budget is to buy expensive. If you are buying something a little costly then you put more thought into the purchase and make sure you really want that item and will use it, thus saving a pile of never to be used creative purchases. If you are a regular at 'cheap shops' you may find yourself walking out with more than you planned or need. This will work out costing you more in the long run. So be selective and buy exactly what you want.
Most of all have fun and enjoy being creative.
Easy Scrapbooking Ideas is a place where you can come and gain some creative inspiration. You can see what is happening in the scrapbooking world and find links to many other wonderfully creative sites as well. If you want your scrapbooking layouts and photography to contain that 'WOW' factor then you must visit http://www.easyscrapbookingideas.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corinna_Rhodes
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