Scrapbooking is a booming hobby! When you are shopping for craft supplies, you can't help but notice all of the scrapbooking supplies available. With all of those papers, scissors, stamps and more, a beginning scrapbooker may be overwhelmed. This scrapbooking essentials buying guide will help you discover how to buy the scrapbooking supplies you will need as a beginner and when to upgrade and add to your collection.
To start scrapbooking, you just need ten essential supplies. Use this shopping list when you shop for crafts supplies, and you'll be ready to start scrapbooking in no time.
After you've completed pages, slipping them into page protectors and into scrapbook albums will keep them safe. Albums, and page protectors not only keep your project safe, but they also give you a way to display and share your work.
Albums: Look for 8.5 inch x 11 inch and 12 inch x 12 inch albums to display photos and scrapbooked pages. Albums are availbale in many designs and patterns that will suit your style.
Page protectors: Most albums can hold at least 35 page protectors or more. Use only non-vinyl, archival quality page protectors; others may cause your photos and pages to deteriorate more quickly. You can purchase either clear, shiny page portectors or non-glare page protectors; clear page protectors leave your pages color true and vivid while non-glare is a bit easier on the eyes.
Paper is the building block of all scrapbooks. Be prepared for the sheer amount of paper you'll find! Scrapbooking paper comes in sizes of 4 inch x 4 inch, 8.5 inch x 11 inch and 12 inch x 12 inch. Choose from:
Solid colors available in all sizes
Patterns available in all sizes
Textured available in most sizes (it's not always as common in 12 inch x 12 inch)
Vellum available in all sizes
Handmade paper available in 4 inch x 4 inch, 8.5 inch x 11 inch and a few in 12 inch x 12 inch
Cardstock available in all sizes
Make sure you only use lignin-free or acid-free paper. When light hits acidic or lignin paper, the paper can break down. Lignin and acid-free paper have been treated for preservation, so your scrapbook will last for generations.
As a beginner purchasing open-stock paper, you may want to stick with solid colors and simple patterns as well as simple textures and cardstock. Solid and patterned paper costs anywhere from $0.10 up to $0.50 for 12 inch x 12 inch pieces, while patterned and textured paper prices can reach up to $1.00 per page. A good place for the beginner to start collecting paper is with a pack of scrapbook paper in solid colors and patterns.
Why would you need paper trimmers instead of just scissors? Scrapbookers cut a lot of paper, and, as steady as your hand and eye may seem, nothing beats a paper cutter with a ruler. You will use a paper cutter or trimmer for accent paper as well as photos. For precision and ease in cutting, look for any one of these paper cutter styles:
Traditional paper cutter: This paper cutter has a long blade that runs the length of the cutting arm. Although these are great paper cutters, cutting small scraps of paper may not require such a large cutting surface.
Straight-blade cutter: A straight-blade cutter has a single blade, usually very small, contained in a sliding mechanism that cuts in one direction.
Dual straight-blade cutter: This is similar to the one-sided, straight-blade cutter but has a dual-edged blade which can cut sliding forward or backward. Many of these paper cutters come with a dulled blade perfect for creasing without cutting. This is the most versatile paper cutter, able to handle large pages and small scraps.
Rotary cutter: This circular paper cutter can cut moving forwards and backwards and some are even self-sharpening. You will need a cutting mat with a rotary cutter.
The scissors you'll want to start your collection of scrapbooking supplies with are regular sharp scissors. Find scissors that are sharp and fine-tipped for yourself and a pair of round-tipped scissors for use by children. As you build your collection of scrapbooking supplies, you'll want to add decorative scissors with fun edges that let you personalize everything you cut out.
Rulers: Find a metal or plastic straight-edge ruler. Metal rulers work well for creasing pages, and cork-backed metal rulers are one of the easiest to use in all applications. You can find centering rulers, but, if you are on a budget, a regular school ruler will work perfectly.
Cutting mats: Cutting mats protect your work surface from damage. Dense plastic mats are flexible and tough and often see-through. These cutting mats come in several sizes.
Self-healing cutting mats: These mats perform the same functions as the other plastic mats, but self-healing mats are made with a rubbery material that won't show the cuts you've made in the past. These cutting mats are tough and can retain their smooth surface for quite a while.
Both mat types have rulers printed on the surface, in inches and centimeters.
There are many different types of adhesives and glue, but not all of them should be used for scrapbooking. The scrapbooking adhesives that you'll want to use include:
Double-sided tape: This tape can be torn off in strips and the backing removed or applied directly without a backing. There is also glue "tape" that acts much like double-sided tape. Use double-sided tape to hide the adhesive behind a page.
Glue dots: These are fantastic for every level of scrapbooker. Glue dots come in a roll and are little dots of adhesive. They can be used on paper, photos, chipboard, vellum (be careful gluing vellum) and even your embellishments.
Glue stick: This is the most basic of glues and a great addition to your scrapbooking supplies. Glue sticks can be used for any crafting project, but they aren't as well suited for sticking on larger metallic embellishments.
Glue pens: This applicator makes gluing projects less messy because a glue pen can put the glue only where it is needed.
Make sure you have a few types of glues and adhesives, all acid-free and photo-safe.
Embellishments include anything you can stick onto your paper to give it a little extra flair. The land of embellishments is a large one, but a few embellishments you may want to have are:
Ribbon
Metal eyelets
Color eyelets
Paper and fabric flowers and other shapes
Stamps
Glitter
Paper clip shapes
Metal binder clips
Buttons
Embossing powder
Beads
Rub-ons
And more
Embellishments are a fun part of scrapbooking and crafting. Anything you can add to your finished product will work. Get creative and use things that weren't made just for crafts, like luggage tags or buttons.
Paper finishes include sandpaper and ink for your stamps and page edges. Ink and sandpaper are considered necessities if you choose to use stamps or if you want to create an aged look.
Ink: The two ink colors you want to start with are black and brown. Other colors can be added later, but black ink and brown ink are the basics. To age your pages, smudge black or brown ink along the edges. This also helps define and finish your pages.
Sandpaper: You'll want fine grain sandpaper for finishing pages and for adding texture. Gently sand edges of paper before adding ink or sand cardstock and other thick paper to create a soft texture. The sandpaper can also be used to finish any wooden embellishments you may add.
After you have completely finished your scrapbook page with lettering and before adding metallic embellishments, spray on a finish spray designed to protect pages from moisture. These paper finishing sprays come in matte finish, glossy finish and satin finish.
Adding lettering to your scrapbook pages makes them unique and personal. Your kids will love to open their albums and see the funny things they did and said. To add these personalized touches to your scrapbook pages, you'll need markers and pens or computer fonts.
Markers and pens: Start with a black marker or pen. Black is the basic color that will work for the most scrapbook pages. After black, you can add colors; often markers and pens will come in color sets. Look for fine-tip markers and pens; you can find pens with a fine-tip on one side and a slanted calligraphy tip or a fat-tip on the other side.
Computer fonts: If you choose to use a computer, you can find scrapbook fonts from many brands. This takes the error out of free-hand writing and can give you more options for your lettering.
Rub-ons are another lettering option you can choose. Rub-on letters are very simple and adhere to most everything, just rub them on with a (clean) popsicle stick, which is usually included.
A hole punch does more than a typical embellishment tool does. Use your craft punch or to punch holes or set grommets, eyelets and other embellishments in paper, leather, fabric, plastic, thin tin, chipboard and more. You can also find punches in decorative shapes and patterns. These are helpful scrapbooking tools to have.
The beginning scrapbooker has so many options available; the hardest part is to sort through them without spending more than you'd planned. A good way to get a bunch of craft supplies without breaking the bank is to pick up scrapbooking sets. Scrapbooking kits include a lot of what you need, short of your pens.
Scrapbook kits come in themes to make matching papers, colors and patterns easier. You can find many themes, including new babies, Christmas, military, vintage, school, vacations and many, many more.
Do I really need all of these scrapbooking supplies to get started?
No, and that is the beauty about scrapbooking. Because you are creating something uniquely you, what you use will largely depend on which materials works best for you. If you hate the way glue works with your pages, you may decide to stick with glue dots or double-sided tape. You certainly don't need to buy a paper cutter and a rotary cutter plus the most expensive pair of scissors you can find, unless you are sure you plan to use them. Mix and match these suggested essentials to suit your style.
When should I upgrade?
When you become comfortable with basic scrapbooking techniques, start looking to expand and upgrade your basic essentials. You could decide that a fancier grommet or eyelet tool is for you, or you may want to get your computer in on the scrapbooking action with programmable cropping or die cutting machines. Electronic cutters are a great upgrade when you decide you're ready.
Read up on crafting
If you're a bit shy about starting your new hobby, have no fear. You can find books on the fundamentals of scrapbooking. These books can help you get started confidently with projects, as well as giving you project ideas.
Craft supplies for kids
You aren't the only one in your household who will want art supplies. Pick up kids' craft supplies for your kids so they can make their own creations and learn why you love doing crafts. It's a gift that can help them start a life of creativity.
Your own workstation and accessories
Before you let your crafting supplies take over your kitchen table, you may want to look for a work table. With your own utility table, the dinner table won't be overrun with paper and glue. And to add to your workstation, you can't beat scrapbooking organizers to keep all of your supplies sorted and ready for your next craft.
When you slip your last scrapbooked page into your album, you'll be glad you discovered scrapbooking essentials from Overstock.com.
