Thinking about doing a scrapbook for someone
special, organizing and displaying all of your boxed up photos, or just
considering a new (fun) hobby??? Well, you have come to the right place!
I have
been scrapbooking for several years and have been asked by many friends how to
get started and what do you need to get started...Well, I have compiled
answers to these questions here.
You will find the items that any new
scrapper needs, as well as helpful scrapbooking tips and advice, and of course,
our handy Bee-utiful
Scrapbooking Chat Forum! Be sure to use this whenever possible for any
questions that you may have. It is a pleasure to help out our fellow scrappers.
This pen set is the first of the "must-have's" in
scrapbooking... You can buy them one at a time at your local scrapbook store,
but in the long run, its a much better value to buy them as a set. What you want
to look for in pens: you want to make sure that they are acid free, and photo
safe (as with all of your scrapbook supplies), waterproof, non-bleeding,
smear-proof, and fade-proof. Also it is nice to have a choice of two different
tips for each color, here is a set that meets all of our qualifications...
TIP: Use Millennium - Point 05 Tip (Black)
a for small writing and captions...
You will need to determine what type of album that you want
(for instance, I have made several scrapbooks now, and have a collection of
12"x12" albums in a stack, displayed on my hutch. There are many
choices in scrapbooks that you will want to consider. Leather, faux leather,
hinge strap, top loading, post-bound, 5"x7", 6"x6", 8 &
1/2"x11", 12"x12", and many, many other choices... Chatterbox 12 x 12 Scrapbook Album - Black
, Bazzill Album Collection - 8 x 8 Leapfrog
,NCL 12 x 12 Albums - Denim
...
Paper Trimmers
Fiskars 12'' Paper Trimmer
A paper trimmer is definitely a "must-have" in any
scrapbooker's supplies. It has so many uses, it will have earned it's
value in the first couple of scrapbook pages that you do. It is very easy
to use, and keeps all of your papers, photos, etc. very neat (no crooked edges),
as it guides and measures the item that you are cutting and slices perfectly.
It also doesn't take up the room, that a regular office supply paper trimmer
would. Kudos to Fiskar's for this great and useful product. On a
personal note, I also use this for cutting school pictures out, etc... love it!
The type of paper that you should use, depends on the album that you have chose. For instance, if you purchased a
12"x12" album, you will want to use paper that comes in packages of
12"x12" sheets. You also want to consider the quality of the
paper. I prefer textured solid cardstock, as opposed to printed sheets of
paper. But to each his own. You will want to have a colorful variety
on hand for whatever project comes up.. It's a pain to have to go out later and
get each sheet needed individually.
TIP: use
Match Maker Mat Stacks 4.5'' X 6.5'' 87 Shts
for matting for your photos for a very simple, neat and easy way to spruce up a
page.
There are many good choices out there for adhesives for
your scrapbooking projects..and many bad ones (again, my own opinion)... You
want to make sure that you purchase a quality (that word again) adhesive
that is acid free, and photo safe. The easiest and neatest way to use
adhesive is with a dispenser. It just rolls right where you want it. They
come in temporary tape (Mono Adhesive (Temporary) Dispenser - New Style
) and permanent. You will want permanent. I
have found the temporary to be not needed (give
me your take on that).
When shopping for scissors, you want to look for a pair that can
make precise cuts and are comfortable, as well as, long lasting (good quality).
Here's something fairly new: "non-stick" scissors! They have a nonstick surface will prevent
most adhesives from sticking to blades, which is helpful with scrapbooking...There
are also many edger scissors with numorous designs...
For a complete look, and to keep pages in good condition, I highly
recommend that you get some page protectors. They usually come in packages
of 5. You will need to know the style and size of page protectors that you
will need, depending on the size of album that you have.
These items will complete your look for a page. You will
want to purchase items that will coincide with a type of layout that you are
working on, or something that just strikes your fancy to save for a
future layout. There are MANY, MANY, um, did I say MANY? types of
embellishments to choose from. Visit the following for great ideas:
In all of the supplies that you purchase, you want to make sure that you get the
best quality that you can, as you are,
1.) making an investment in this as a hobby
(these basics should last for a while) and
2.) you are putting in your blood, sweat,
and tears (too dramatic?) into your priceless family photos and want them
to last forever.
3.) you can use extras to keep on hand if you need a last minute greeting
card...
I am speaking from experience when I say
this...I have purchased (and wasted money) on far too many scrapbook items that
have already fallen apart or look faded and I have had to replace and redo a few
albums...this is a lot more expensive to do. So trust me when I say, take your
time...when purchasing items and when doing your albums... you want them to be
the best that they can be to share with everyone years down the road...
On that note, Happy Scrappin'! ~Cyndi
Need more information? Check out our
Message
Forum, if you can't find it there, post your question on the forum.
Maybe another fellow scrapper knows the answer!
