Spending your scrapping budget wisely

Ka-Jinker (Photo from Ka Jinker web site.)

A lot of scrapbooking tools, supplies, and trends come and go very quickly. Maybe it’s because market research isn’t done before the items are released. Perhaps, because the industry changes so rapidly, a company is rushed to get something to market and it is either inferior in design or quality. Whatever the reason, I’ve learned the hard way to shop smarter with my discretionary money.  Below are just a few of the items I purchased but only used once or twice.

Ka-Jinker: It’s easy to get swept-up in the adorable embellishments and cool colors. When used on a scrapbook page, the plastic T-Bar is very loose and, therefore, so is the embellishment. I resorted to putting them on my daughter’s purses and they fell off with wear and tear. Not a good item for clothing as they really aren’t sturdy enough for the washing machine and/or dryer. As the web site suggests, they look cool on flip-flops, but the kids will complain that they scratch the top of their feet. Not terribly expensive, thank goodness, but not really practical either.

Their web site says they can be found at Archivers, but I haven’t seen them there in quite a while.

Prima Decorative Tape: The tape turns yellow over time and/or it falls off. I used it once.

EK Success Fastenator: The staples that are used in the Fastenator are pretty cool, actually. They come in all different colors and with cool designs on them. I’ve had the best luck with them by pushing them into the paper with a push pad or mouse pad underneath. With that method, they’ll be straighter and exactly where you want them to be. With the tool, itself, it’s hit or miss (more miss than hit for me).  I've started a page over more than once because of this "tool."

Post-bound Albums: I have never purchased a post-bound album that worked for me. In most cases, no matter how flat the scrapbook page is, it will buckle in the sleeve of a post-bound album. Adding post extensions should be a lot easier than it is, too. When people have to bring their books into a store to get the post extensions added (and I've seen this many times), it’s too difficult. When full (actually, less than full) the album almost never closes flat. After I bought my first three-ring album, I would never consider buying a post-bound album again.

To avoid wasting your money, I have a few recommendations.

1. Take a class in which the product is being featured. You can learn to use it and decide whether or not it is something that will get a lot of use.
2. Attend a crop. At crops you can borrow tools you’re not sure you want to buy from other scrappers. Stores do demos to promote products or has one in the store you can try.
3. Go to a make-n-take. This is the perfect opportunity to try a new tool or product.

Good luck with your discretionary purchases and Happy Scrapping!