artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,408 
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Post by artbabe on Jul 6, 2023 15:08:23 GMT
While we are on the subject of money... What brands/products are the best value? Paper is definitely my top one. If I don't have embellishments I can always cut some out of the paper or use my punches. Enamel dots are definitely not a good value and I'll admit to owning way too many of them. I put them on pretty much every layout but I have a hard time justifying the cost. A lot of times I'll buy a sticker sheet instead of the die cuts because the stickers are cheaper, but I much prefer using the die cuts. 49 & Market is really expensive but I do get a lot of use out of their products. I make a lot of layouts with it. I've bought cheaper paper/ephemera and not used it, so where is the value in that? Or at least that is how I justify it to myself.  |
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 6, 2023 20:08:09 GMT
For me, it's:
Cost effective:
Stickers: Multiple bigger in size stickers.
Paper pads. Even if I only like half the paper in the pad, it's still a good deal on the price per one sheet.
These type of products are multiple usage.
Cost prohibitive: Only one bigger sticker or embellishment per package. Like Jolee's. The are higher priced and there is less to use.
One single sheet of higher priced paper.
These types of product are usually single usage.
Somewhere in the middle:
Alphabets (stickers or chipboard) and premade words.
These types of products, financial feasibility is based on the user.
For instance: I usually need more "N, A, B, R" letters stickers, so if possible I always check the amounts of the letters in the package. If I have to buy a second or third package to get all the letters needed for the words I intend to form, then that isn't cost effective.
If it's a package of pre-formed words, I have to like at least 50% of the words to make it a cost effective purchase.
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 7,287
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Jul 6, 2023 21:43:18 GMT
I know you said enamel dots where not a value and I get it, but the company that I find the best value for me (other than off-brands) is Pinkfresh. You get 7 rows of different colors for the lower cost of $4.50 retail. That tends to be on the cheaper side compared to othe brands. Plus 7 different colors!  ETA: Photoplay is closest at $4.50 for 5 colors. They do have more variety of colors, though. |
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Post by Night Owl on Jul 6, 2023 22:00:44 GMT
White cardstock for me is the best value, when I find a good sale I always stock up because it is so versatile. Awhile back I was fortunate to find the Bazzill Card Shoppe brand White, Butter Mints (cream color), and Black cardstock packs for a good price and free Prime shipping on Amazon and stocked up (to me those are the basics everybody needs). Unfortunately Amazon doesn't have it any more.
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Post by refugeepea on Jul 7, 2023 1:34:16 GMT
I like pattern paper with small images or strips I can cut out. Stamp sets with simple images; I prefer words.
Alphabet stamps, dies, and from an electronic machine are a definite value. I can't justify buying alphabet stickers unless they are at a steep discount because I love the convenience.
I have a lot of stickers. Since I started pocket page scrapbooking, I find them easier to use. I'm not picky about brands, so I'll buy overstock or clearance items. I've been scrapping long enough that I know what I like. I COULD make all my own embellishments, but I also value time.
I know most people don't prefer mini brads, but they have the same effect as enamel dots for me and cheaper. They are slightly more annoying to attach. I put a sticker on the back of the brad to avoid rusting problems. That's something you can buy on aliexpress for cheaper. I'm not worried about them being archival products.
I use different colors of cardstock ALL the time. I DO keep small scraps. I have really small metal dies and stamps. I have a container that is well organized. I also have scraps of pattern paper in there too. I go to my basket before looking at full sheets.
The brands that have been most cost effective for me has been Echo Park, Carta Bella, SEI (RIP), and AC because I was able to buy from their warehouse sales.
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Post by hoopsfn on Jul 7, 2023 13:52:57 GMT
That's a great question artbabe. Things that you can use multiple times are usually a better bargain: like a good set of alpha stamps or dies. (I don't have an electronic cutter.) Since Thickers have gotten so spendy, I'm trying to use up my older alpha stickers and utilize my stamps/dies more. I also try to pick a pp here & there that can be fussy cut for embellments rather than pay for a sticker sheet or cardstock stickers that have several images that I know I probably won't use. But sometimes you just gotta have it.  In past years, Hobby Lobby carried collection packs of a few different companies. I usually found the Echo Park packs to be a good value, esp. on sale. But HL no longer offers other companies, just their own brand. |
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