Useless Scrapbooking Tools: Don't Waste Your Money on These Craft Tools!

I've been scrapbooking for a long time and over the years, I've come to regret some of the scrapbooking tools I've purchased. Some of them are collecting dust in my scrapbooking room or rotting away in a shoebox in the basement. Considering the price of many of these tools, it's a lot of money wasted. And if you don't know what NOT to buy, scrapbooking can become a huge money pit.

If you're just getting into the wonderful hobby of scrapbooking, I don't want you to make foolish mistakes, tossing money around willy-nilly at every gadget you see at Michael's, thinking you NEED it. Here are some worthless, useless scrapbooking tools and gadgets.

Useless Scrapbooking Tools: Decorative Scissors

On a quick glance, you might think decorative scissors are great for scrapbooking, but let's look closer:

1: They're impossible to cut anything with. They simply don't work. The blade dulls very quickly (like after 2 or 3 cuts) and it's difficult to get it to cut in a straight line.

2: They're...ugly. The look of decorative scissors is very passé in the scrapbooking world. No one uses them anymore. They're a very '90s scrapbooking trend.

Useless Scrapbooking Tools: Fiskars Shape Cutter and Templates

I don't know what it is, but it seems like every new scrapbooker thinks they NEED the Fiskars Shape Cutter and the templates. The actual cutter is extremely difficult to use and the whole Fiskars cutting system is very outdated. Buy a Cricut. Seriously. You can get the "Baby Bug" (the "Personal Electronic Cutter") for around $70-90 on sale at a big box craft store during a sale. It's worth it...after you spend money on all these templates, you could've just bought a Cricut.

Useless Scrapbooking Tools: $1 Clear Stamps / Stickers / Flowers / whatever at Michaels or Joann's

"Oh, it's just a dollar. Why not?"

Yeah, but it's still $1. Buy ten of those clear stamps (or any other dollar bin junk) and now you're at 10 bucks. That $10 spent at Michael's or Joann's could've bought you a new paper stack, ink pads, pens, adhesive...$10 can go a long way at a big box craft store.

But now you've got a collection of junky stamps and stickers. Which...will probably never see the light of day on your scrapbook pages. Believe me, I've been there. I have a draw full of Michael's dollar bin evidence in my craft room. Dollars add up. Be careful!

Useless Scrapbooking Tools: Circle Cutters

This is a matter of personal preference (because I can see how it could be useful), but circle cutters are unnecessary. I don't care if it's an EK Success Circle Cutter or the Martha Stewart circle cutter, if you own a Cricut Expression (or even the Baby Bug), you will never use a circle cutter again. This also goes for the Cozzule nesting templates. Again, the Cricut renders these things useless.

Useless Scrapbooking Tools: Fiskars Tear Rulers

Tearing paper on a scrapbooking layout is still a popular trend in scrapbooking, and you might've noticed these tear rulers at your local craft store. Don't buy them! I have three of them and no matter what the "design" the tear always ends up looking the same. Just tear the darn paper and be done with it!

Sources:

Personal Experience