Supply Savvy: Scrapbooking

If you are like me, you don't want to start a page until you have the "perfect" supplies. That is usually what keeps me from starting my projects, & then I get further behind. Since I had little time to squeeze in another class, when I saw this book advertised in the scrapbook magazine, I bought it. The layouts used supplies I already had, most of the time, and it caused me to think outside the box as far as my creativity is concerned. A few things, like painting, I probably won't try, but at least I have examples if I decide in the future to try it.

This was a wonderful, entertaining, and informative book. The author started this book when she realized she had too many supplies and since she almost broke the bank buying more (that she didn't need) she decided to challenge herself. Every scrapbook layout she made, she had to do only with the supplies she had on hand. Im sure this proved difficult, I know when Im scraping a page I'll run right out to the store cause I just NEED a sheet of vellum or something rediculous like that. In this book Erin teaches you to improvise and use other things around your house that you wouldn't normally use. She even goes into instruction of more common scrapbooking techniques as well, so you see there is always something to learn as a beginner or as someone looking to expand their horizons. I just wanted to say this to be helpful to others, and it is in no way slamming this book or the author. Seeing the ad for this book in Creating Keepsakes Magazine I was under the impression from the example layout that this book would be about incorporating larger objects into your layout. The ad shows a layout with real chop sticks as an embellishment, by reading the blurb about the book and seeing this picture, I was led to believe that this book would show me how to use those kind of supplies in my layout. Semi-large, semi-bulky items, were my thought, and how to integrete them into the layout. I am not disappointed with what I found in 'Supply Savvy', in fact I was pleasantly suprised. Instead of large objects in layouts, she teaches you how to use something you would find in your kitchen drawer, or tool box to form a design. Instead of buying patterned 12X12's, you can create your own pattern with sponges, and stamps. Instead of buying add on embelishments she shows you how to make your own with cardstock. I hope you all enjoy this beautiful book as much as I did. Not only do you learn a lot, but Erin's example layouts from her own personal work will inspire you!