When we're scrapbooking, sometimes it's hard to be frugal in the name of design.  Here's a tip to help you save paper when you need large pieces of cardstock, layered one upon the other.

Here's a layout I did featuring my hubby and I on our wedding day.  Hard to believe that was almost 15 years ago!  Anyways, as you can see, this layout uses 3 large pieces of cardstock -- 1 New England Ivy (dark green -- hope you can see it in the photo), 1 Sweet Leaf (light green) and 1 Colonial White.


It seemed a waste to use so much cardstock when so little of the base layers would be seen.  So here's a tip to save paper:  cut out the center of the base cardstock and create a sort of "reverse" frame. 

Like so:

The size of the "hole" depends on how comfortable you are with your cutting, and how big the piece is that's going on top.

Then you can use those pieces for other parts of this layout, or save it to make cards or other layouts.  I used them to mat my photos.