BS#1 :: CLOSED :: 1 pt :: Give us ideas!

[SarahSC]

To earn one point, post a reply to this thread with an idea that you would like to share to stretch your supplies. (Maybe some of these will be turned into a future challenge!) Due by Sept 20, 11:59 PM EST.

[nataliadbh]

Just one? I have so many little tricks I use to get the most out of my stuff!
You can use the negative outline leftover after you use sticker letters (the kind that come on a white sheet with the background intact). Either cut a block around it, or even cut closely around the colored part and use it as an outline-style letter. This also works with chipboard letters that come on a sheet. Another thing I like to do to stretch letters is to make letters I need out of ones I don't (like cut the tail off a Q to make an O, etc.)

[sassymula]

If I'm layering paper, I usually cut out the section covered by another piece of paper to use for cards or other LO's. Or when mating a picture I draw around the edges of the picture and cut about 1/4 inch inside that box with my craft knife for extra paper too.

[Susie]

I save my scraps and use them for card making.

[JenniferF]

Turn letters and numbers in different directions....3 for and e, use a z and an N...the number 8 and "oo" Perfect for words like Boo and Too

[boydsscrapper]

I keep the outline of the chipboard to make other shapes in paper and more chipboard.

[KimberlyM]

I keep an eye out for packaging that can be reused. The fancy Prima flowers are a good example. I used some Prima packaging in one of my September CC layouts.

[SarahSC]

Just one? I have so many little tricks I use to get the most out of my stuff!

You can post as many as you want. But you can only earn 1 point.

[pinge]

I save boxes that have a cute shape to them and take them apart to make a template. This way I can make boxes out of my stash that coordinate with the gift inside.

[RTNmom]

If you want to run a length of ribbon across your lo, but your piece of ribbon you want to use isn't large enough, cut it in two and adhere the pieces to opposite sides of the layout so that IF the ends met, it would be a continuous piece of ribbon. Fill/cover the gap between the pieces of ribbon with a pic or flowers or journaling card or such. The eye will be tricked into thinking there is a large piece of ribbon on the page and you will get a lot of impact for a small piece of ribbon. (It's along the same lines as cutting out the hidden parts of layered pp's .....if you can't see it, it doesn't usually need to be there. LOL).

[sherri scraps]

Recently I had to reposition the holes on an album I purchased because it was a great deal but only came with 10 sheets, which wasn't enough. The sheet protectors I had to use, the holes were in a different place. So I took the album and punched a new hole for the posts to match the sheet protectors I had so that I could use them instead of buying new ones. It was easier than punching new holes in all 30+ sheets and better than buying new sheet protectors. It was an 8 1/2 by 11 album.

[carabecca]

Other than the alphas that come with kits, I try to only buy white, black or brown letters. They go with everything, and I can always color the white ones if I want. I save money by not having tons of packs of alphas that rarely get used.

[staciekint]

When a group of us scraps, we always start a pile of things we don't want...but, someone else there always does.
Whatever is left over, we give to the kids...they will use anything! And, we don't have to buy supplies just for them!

[2amscrapper]

Use paint, ink or mists to make the letters you already own into the colors you need.

[scrapnmom]

I like to save ribbon too by only using what I need. If I want to look of the ribbon going across but I have photes or journaling spots etc., I will cut the ribbon the length of the open spots plus a little to tuck under these things just like explained above, but you don't need to be short on ribbon to do it. I also save any scrap over 2x2 in Cropper Hopper paper holders all divided. Here is a pix: