Scrapbooking Must-Haves

Creating scrapbooks is one of the best ways to preserve memories of yesterday or yesteryear. You can make a scrapbook for any type of event-wedding, baby, career or simply create a "lifebook" that holds memories of an entire life. Many parents begin scrapbooks for their children from the time they are born until the time they start their own family. Scrapbooking can be a lot of fun, but there are certain materials that every scrapbooker needs. You can find these items at your local craft store, discount store, online scrapbooking store or even EBay.

First and foremost, you need a strong album. Albums come in a variety of brands, colors, textures, sizes and binding types. There are post bound albums, strap bound albums and ring albums. Albums come in a variety of sizes. Most scrapbookers have started using the 12x12 album. The 12x12 album gives plenty of room for capturing memories and paper comes in 12x12 sheets to perfectly fit your book. Albums can be found in black, white, green, red, blue, yellow,pink and several other colors. Some albums have designs on the front of them that are designated for a particular event or celebration in your life. Wedding, baby and travel albums are some of the most popular. Albums can be found in fabric, leather, suede and other textures.

Of course, every scrapbooker will need paper. Some albums come with paper and others do not. If you have a 12x12 album, purchase a vareity of 12x12 papers that can be used for background pages. You might prefer plain white, solid colors or papers that have designs on them. Papers come in a variety of different textures, weights, colors and designs. Papers are available for a particular season or event-such as Christmas or the birth of a baby. You might also decide to purchase accent papers that can be used to mount your photos on. Borders and accents can be made out of scrap paper as well.

A good pair of scissors are another necessity for all scrapbookers. Because you will be using these to cut photos, paper and other items, you want to make sure the scissors you choose are sharp and easy to maneuver. Many scrapbookers also enjoy using scissors that have designs. Design scissors will create effortless zigzags, curves, waves and other designs.

A tape runner is another must have for scrapbooking. In the past, people often used glue or glue sticks to adhere their photos to the pages. The problem with glue and glue sticks is that it creates lumps and bubbles under the pictures. Tape runners are double sided and are available at craft stores. Tape runners are extremely easy to use and do not leave any traces of bubbles or lumps. Tape runners can either be permanent or repositionable.

Journaling pens are perhaps one of the most important tools in a scrapbookers collection. In order to truly capture a memory, it is important that you write about the picture. Tell the what, why, where, when and how about the pictures. It is so easy to forget important details if you do not write them down. Journaling pens are available in different colors, ink types and widths.

Page protectors are important to keep your memories safe. You will want to show your scrapbook to as many people as you can and that means alot of fingers and perhaps, dirt. Page protectors slide directly over your page to create a barrier for dirt, food and "gunk" that can get on your page. Page protectors are must haves if children have access to the scrapbooks.

There are other items that you can purchase for your scrapbooks. The following items will add nice touches to your scrapbooks. They are not necessities to begin your scrapbook, just nice additions.

Stickers-Stickers can really make your scrapbook pages "pop". Because there is such a wide variety of stickers available, they are inexpensice and can add a nice touch. Alphabet, number and object stickers are available. Stickers are available for every event that you can think of from pregnancy, baby's birth, potty training and first hair cuts to travel, career, wedding and anything in between.

Punches-Punches are a fast, easy way to jazz up a layout in your scrapbook. To use a punch, you simply slide a sheet of paper into the punch and press down. It is that simple-and quick! Punches are available in different sizes, shapes and even themes.

Page Kits- If you need a fast way of getting your pictures arranged and assembled, page kits are the way to go. Page kits are equipped with everything that is needed to create a page in your scrapbook. Background paper, embellishments, frames, letters, stickers and journaling boxes are often included in page kits.