How to Find Substitute Scrapbooking Supplies Around Your Home

When you see an expensive scrapbooking supply that you’d love to have, try to decide if there is a way you can substitute a lower priced item and still achieve a similar effect. Many products marketed to scrapbookers are just familiar items in fancy packaging.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Do you have patterned paper and ribbons or fibers in colors that just don’t seem to match your layout? More than just a tasty beverage, Kool-Aid makes a cheap dye for paper and fabric. Mix one packet of Kool-Aid with about twelve ounces of water and stir until the mix dissolves. Since you’re not drinking it, you don’t need to add sugar to the mix. Soak embellishments for two or three minutes before rinsing gently with cool water. You can also try mixing equal parts unsweetened Kool-Aid and clear embossing powder to create your own colored embossing powder that can be used to alter the color of eyelets, brads, and tiny metal charms.
2. Stamps are a great tool for frugal scrapbooking, but you don’t have to actually purchase premade stamps to enjoy this technique on your layouts. Make your own foam stamps with a sheet of craft foam, a die-cut machine, a scrap of heavy cardboard, and some adhesive. Cut the shape you want to use from the craft foam. Mount your shape backward onto the cardboard with a strong permanent adhesive. Coat the foam with paint and stamp your image.
3. Love the look of shiny epoxy stickers, but hate the expensive price tag? Try coating punched or die cut shapes with Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel. Apply clear embossing ink to the shape, then cover with a layer of UTEE. Melt the powder with a heat embossing gun. Repeat until you’ve reached the desired thickness. For best results, keep the gun moving to ensure that the UTEE melts evenly. If you’d prefer a cracked glass look, gently bend the finished accent until small cracks appear.
4. Use paper punches to make metallic charms that add interest to your pages without extra bulk. Punch the desired shape out of heavy weight cardstock and cover with metallic embossing powder. You’ll need to use several layers of powder to get a smooth finish. The finished charms are lightweight and adhere easily with to your layout with mini glue dots.
5. Add the perfect finishing touch to your project with a faux wax seal embellishment. Create faux wax seals with colored hot glue sticks and rubber stamps. Place a small amount of hot glue onto a Teflon work surface. Coat your stamp with clear embossing ink and let it sink into the hot glue. When the glue completely cools, remove the stamp and embellish your wax seal as desired. If you can’t find colored glue sticks or just want to make your own, try mixing a small amount of metallic embossing powder into the puddle of melted clear glue.