Scrapbooking has become the latest craze in the crafting world and for good reason. What other craft allows you to preserve memories and tell a story while giving it a unique and personal touch at the same time? Since scrapbooking is so popular, there are so many different supplies to choose from. I've made the following list in order to help you choose the most essential supplies that are definite must haves for any scrapbook lover.
Albums are the "books" of the "scrapbooking" world. Without an album, there would be no scrapbooks. Albums come in a number of sizes, from mini albums that are 8 inches by 8 inches to larger, full scale albums that are 12 inches by 12 inches. When choosing an album, first decide on the size you want to work with. Then, make sure the album is expandable, so that you can add more pages if you want to in the future. Now that you have narrowed your choices, simply choose the album that you like the best.
Often when you buy supplies, you will buy more than you need for your current project, especially if you find an amazing sale to take advantage of. Having the proper storage not only protects your supplies from being damaged, but it also allows you to quickly find what you need. Make your storage system work for you by storing similar items together or in the same location. As well, keep frequently used supplies where you can easily reach them and keep items that are not used as frequently on top or bottom shelves. Hint: Find a system that works with your personality so that you keep using it.
Paper is used everywhere in your scrapbook. It forms the foundation of each page, adds colour and helps to set the tone or theme of the page. When choosing paper or cardstock, make sure that the label says that it is "acid free", which will ensure that your scrapbook and everything in it has a long life.
Page protectors provide additional protection to each page of your scrapbook. They are made from clear plastic, but won't stick or cling to the page. Simply design each page and then slip it into the page protectors. It makes turning pages easy and people can touch the page without having to worry about transferring dirt or oil from their fingertips.
Adhesives include anything that is used to hold all the bits, photos and scraps securely to a page. Some examples of adhesives are glue, glue dots, photo corners and double sided tape. There are many different types and each one has a unique and specific purpose. Take your time to look at each type and read the label to see how to properly use the product to ensure the best results. Experiment with the different types to see which ones you find the easiest to use. As well, talk to other people to see what they like and why.
Cutters and punches are used to help decorate your scrapbook paper by cutting it into different shapes and sizes, as well as to add shapes to the paper. There are several ways that cutters and punches can be used to help decorate a page. The most common way is to give the edges of paper a fancy border, either along the edges or the corners. Another way they can be used is to cut or "punch" out shapes anywhere on a sheet of paper. The area around the shapes can then be decorated or another piece of paper in a different colour is placed underneath to highlight the shape.
You can use a template or a stencil in order to draw and cut out perfect alphabet letters or shapes each time. Templates and stencils are usually made from plastic, which will be either see through or a solid colour. Since they are made from plastic, they are flexible and light weight. Hint: The advantage of see through templates is that you can see the page beneath the template and ensure that you are happy with the placement before you start to draw.
Yes, you do need special pens and pencils for scrapbooks. That's because you will want to choose ones that are of archival quality, so that the ink won't fade over time. As well, scrapbook stores carry specialty pens that can come in a wide range of colours or ones that create different special effects, such as 3-D writing.
Embellishments are used to add interest, personality and uniqueness to your scrapbook. They are probably the most popular supply in scrapbooking, since they come in such a wide variety. Embellishments include buttons, stickers, ribbons, rub-ons, charms, brads and more. There are no rules when it comes to embellishments, no right or wrong – so choose the ones that appeal to you and use them as you please!
There is one simple rule when it comes to scrapbooking tools: the more creative you are, the more unique you want your scrapbook to be, the more tools that you will need. Tools can be used to emboss paper or thin pieces of metal, to create tags, or to even give your scrapbook an antique look and feel. Before buying any tools, do your research and find out what the tool can do. The more features that it has and the more that it can do, the more that you will use it.
This may seem like a long list of supplies, but start slowly and build your way up. Start with one or two items of each, become comfortable using them and then try out new ones.
Another great way to build up your supply stash without spending a lot of money is to buy supplies when they are on sale. So, check out our Scrapbooking Supplies page for coupons and the latest deals that will save you tons of money!
