Getting Started with Scrapbooking -- the Essential Supplies

Scrapbooking is a craft that isn't solely for the artist. With a little ambition, a collection of photos, and some supplies you can be on your way to an enjoyable hobby. But before you go out and stare at the scrapbooking section of your local craft store, there are a few things to keep in mind for the beginner.

Don't go all-out

Even if you think you'll love to scrapbook, don't buy everything that an advanced scrapbook maker would have. Maybe you have a friend that can loan you out some of their supplies free of charge, or spend some time helping them on a scrapbook project they have started. You don't need to have your own album ready or a whole slew of supplies to get started with scrapbooking-just a way to get your hands dirty.

Supplies essentials

On the other hand, if you want to make the plunge anyways, there are only a few supplies essentials. Don't get caught up in the hundreds of miniature cut outs or decorative edging scissors without a clue as to what you could need. Before you go to the craft store you should determine what the theme of your first project is. Is it going to be a child's memory book? Wedding? Birthdays? Whatever your theme, you will need to figure out how many pictures you 'might' want in the book. Write down this number so you can remember it when you go to the craft store. The next step is determining what the main colors in your photos are. Are they wedding photos all in black and white? Was it a green and orange decorated birthday party? Write this down on the paper you write down the number of pictures on and be sure to bring it to the store.

When you look through the craft store aisles, look for the size scrap book you want. Knowing the number of pictures that need to go into this size book, you can then figure out how many pages you will need. Choose a good color range that fits the theme of your scrapbook without being too miscellaneous. The colors should complement or somewhat match the prevalent colors in the photos. Decorative printed paper can work well for simple photos, or be used as just edgings to frame the pictures.

Next you will need a pair of scissors (or a small set of three) that have decorative edges. You can usually find them for $2 each or less, and about $5 for a set. These edgings will make your photos or the borders you place in the back of the photos look professional. If you aren't sure-handed with scissors, these edging scissors allow for some margin of error without affecting the finished appearance. Also purchase a select few embellishments (e.g. letters, pictures, stickers, small cut-outs) that match your theme. Don't buy ones that look cute, but don't fit your current theme; this will avoid the 'pack rat' syndrome that scrapbook crafters can get. You will also need a few acid-free scrapbooking pens. Be sure that these are specifically designed for scrapbooking and not just permanent markers. Scrapbooking pens come in very fine tips that will improve the look of your writing. If you don't have nice handwriting, or you don't intend to write anything in the book, be sure you have enough 'letter stickers' to spell words if you want to. You can also use stencils. Either way you will need at least one good set of scrapbooking pens. Think about the colors you have chosen for your pages and only buy pens that will show up on these colors. The last thing you'll need is an adhesive of your choice.

Now that you have everything you need, you are ready to scrapbook! By just purchasing these basic things, you won't get stuck with unusable supplies if you decide that scrapbooking simply isn't for you. The scissors, glue, pens, embellishments, and paper can all be re-used for other craft projects.