S.G.
M.,
I just got into scrapbooking "part-time" about a year ago. I too was amazed at the expense and time. However ... I have found that ALL $1 stores (Everything for a Dollar - Dollar Tree, etc --- my 9 yo daughter thinks these stores are the very best for her money) have scrapbooking paper, books, stickers (2/$1.00), etc. So ... I know I have hundreds of dollars of stuff for less than $50. I have tried PhotoShop7, Adobe, Art Explosion and Kodak FunShare and more but got frustrated that after spending time learning how to use their cool tools ... the final product was never what it seemed and I was spending a fortune on INK!!! So ... now I just upload the photos to Walgreens for $.19 ... and do it myself with the cheap paper and supplies from Dollar Tree. :-) It's quicker, less frustrating and cheaper for me.
Hope this helps.