ACOT Message Board

 If you're on a budget, or just want to find ways to make that gorgeous piece of paper last for more than one layout, you need to go check out the blog at Memory Makers!

Crystal has an awesome post about making your papers go further!

 That was neat.  thanks for sharing.

 Looks good, but I have a hard time organizing my scraps as is!  Plus, I'm not a good cutter from the inside - didn't CM use to advocate that?
Jenna

I do this a lot. I remember posting about this  when I first joined ACOT & some people did it & others just said it took too much time. But I have 2 reasons for it. One to make the paper last longer & two to make the layouts lighter. Albums get so heavy & I like to think every bit of paper I cut out helped.

 I've been doing that for years.    This is from 2003

 If I am laying down a large photo that has been matted I'll cut out the paper behind the photo and mat and use that. 

Yes, it does take time but I don't mind.  I scrapbook for relaxation and I love saving my bits and pieces.
(They are organized so that I really use them a lot)

 Wow, it just goes to show, you don't need a lot of product to make some amazing layouts.  TFS

 Yep I am constantly doing this too.  I really does stretch the budget,,,although,,it creates quite a mess of papers and such...but hey it is worth it in the long run!

 I do this when I'm in love with the paper and want more for another layout. Works well to stretch the paper. great article!

 I like to use that technique too.  And the papers now-a-days are so beautiful that I want to get as much use out of it as possible.  I take my scraps and throw them into a paper carrier, sorted by color, so when ever I need a smaller piece of paper for a lo or a card, I go to my scraps first, before I cut into a fresh piece of 12x12.

 I used to do this when I first started scrapbooking, it does stretch your budget a bit.  I have to go back to it.  

 That was one of the techniques I really want to try too Jamie...I have some old chipboard sitting around here, I might even be able to make it out of that so I won't ruin it in my pile of crap papers on my desk!