Creative Scrapbooking Supplies

The usual approach to scrapbooking supplies is to visit a scrapbooking supplies store in your town, or to search the Internet for scrapbooking supplies. Creative individuals, however, sometimes look for more artistic sources – or at least more unusual sources – for scrapbooking supplies.

Some of the unusual scrapbooking supplies of which we’ve read or heard are listed below. One warning must be made, however. If you are unsure whether your creative scrapbooking supplies are acid-free, be sure you use only copies of original photos rather than risk damage to your originals.

Scrapbooking Supplies for Creative People

You can mix any or all of the following scrapbooking supplies with those you would normally purchase from a specialty scrapbooking source.

1. Stickers: Stickers have been popular for many years, and are commonly available with other scrapbooking supplies. But you may not find what you want. Look at the stickers in school supply stores. Teachers have access to many wonderful stickers that work well as scrapbooking supplies.

2. Newspapers: Yes, you can use newspapers as scrapbooking supplies, although you may not want to use them as backgrounds (not acid-free). Instead, purchase a newspaper on the birthday, anniversary, etc. of the person(s) being commemorated in the scrapbook. Clip and paste humorous articles; sale prices; and other items of interest. They will blend beautifully with other scrapbooking supplies to create interest.

3. Plastic Wrap: Just as it protects leftovers in the refrigerator, plastic wrap can protect other scrapbooking supplies. Gently wrap colorful autumn leaves in it, and then glue the wrap to your page. Achieve an artistic effect by crumpling plastic wrap to create “wrinkles” and then spreading it over a finished page. Fix in place.

4. Construction Paper: Found among original scrapbooking supplies, construction paper is still a useful element. Acid free construction paper is available – be sure you use it. Cut out small decorative objects for your scrapbooking pages: white snowflakes, yellow and pink flowers, a green or purple fantasy creature. Paste them atop your other scrapbooking supplies for depth and artistry.

5. Cloth, Ribbon, and Lace: Most stores that offer scrapbooking supplies have a selection of ribbon and lace, but they will not have what you have. You may have a bit of lace from baby’s christening gown. That would be lovely on a scrapbooking page. You may have the ribbon from a corsage, or a piece of baby’s “blankie” that would make a picture even more memorable. Look around, and see what scrapbooking supplies are hidden among old clothing and linens.

6. Embellishments: Corsages and flower arrangements often contain potential scrapbooking supplies. So do gift baskets and boxes of candy. A butterfly on a wire may have been inserted in a flower arrangement. Carefully cut the wire, leaving only a small bit. Flatten the butterfly, and use it on a scrapbooking page. A box of candy may have a small golden heart tied to its ribbon – or a teddy bear. Things like these make wonderful scrapbooking supplies.

Creative scrapbooking supplies are all around you. Take a tour of your home, and see what you might use. In your kitchen, use plastic wrap to create a tiny packet of sugar and a second of cinnamon. Tie them with ribbon and use them on a baby girl page layout for sugar and spice. Before you dispose of that old sweater your husband loved so long, unravel enough of the yarn to make a tassel for a scrapbook page. Soon you will have a wealth of scrapbooking supplies without purchasing a thing.