Posts Tagged ‘Crafts’

There are so many scrapbooking supplies out there that it can be difficult to know where to start. As you do more and more scrapbooking you will start to put together many items into a kit. You can start your kit with the 10 items below. They are tried-and-true tools that belong in the arsenal of every serious scrapbooker.
*A Scrapbooking Album*
This one’s a no brainer, you can’t scrapbook without an album. There are a wide variety of them out there in different shapes and sizes. Be sure to pick one that matches your theme and colors. If you take the time to find the perfect one it will make all the difference in your project.
*A Pair of Scissors*
A nice, sharp pair of scissors is a must for the serious scrapbooker. In fact, we recommend having a pair that is only used for your scrapbooking. That way you won’t have to deal with lost or dull scissors.
*Adhesives*
You certainly don’t want your scrapbook pieces falling apart on you. Unfortunately, that might be exactly what happens if you chose the wrong adhesive. As a rule, any kind of children’s glue or cheap gluesticks will cause problems. Some of the best adhesives are photo tab dispensers, and double sided tape runners. Whatever adhesive you chose, make sure that is acid-free.
*Tweezers*
Unless you want to get your hands messy and smudge up your scrapbook pages you’ll need some tweezers. They make placing small pieces on your scrapbook a snap.
*Scrapbook Paper*
Make sure the size of your scrapbook paper matches the size of the album you are using. Great scrapbooking paper will be also be acid-free and may be described as buffered or lignin-free. Card stock is also a great paper to have around as it can be used for many things related to scrapbooking.
*Pen*
A good pen is also a must for scrapbooking. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a basic black pen that is acid-free. You may want to add more pens with different colors as your scrapbooking kit grows.
*Paper Trimmer*
A paper trimmer is a necessary tool for cutting straight and making squares. There are several different sizes of trimmer and all of them are useful. It’s probably best to start with a 12″ paper trimmer but you may also want to get a smaller one for portability reasons.
*Eyelet Setter Kit*
Some of our favorite scrapbooks use eyelets for embellishments. Without an eyelet setter kit you won’t be able to use these handy little guys. Fortunately they are easy to find online or at most craft stores. They are also affordable.
*Embellishments*
These are the little things that give a scrapbook character: Stickers, eyelets, buttons, charms, etc. Go for embellishments that match the theme of your scrapbook. Have fun collecting these!
*A Great Scrapbooking Book*
Need some scrapbooking ideas? You’ll usually be able to get some inspiration if you have a good idea book around. Becky Higgins and Tracy White are both authors who have written some fantastic books on the subject of scrapbooking.

Scrapbooks Protect Your Photos
Not only does a well-made scrapbook protect and preserve your photos, it also makes the photos themselves more fun to look at. Most people would much rather thumb through a scrapbook with its extra, fun touches than a plain photo album.
Scrapbooks Make Great Gifts
Because they are so personal, scrapbooks make a great gift for a loved one on a special day. Some especially good occasions to give a scrapbook as a gift are: weddings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, graduations, and retirement parties.
Scrapbooks show that you put a lot of time and thought into your gift and can be a wonderful keepsake for the receiver.
Scrapbooking Is a Great Creative Outlet
Did you know that you have an artistic, creative side? Everyone does, it’s just that not everyone uses it. Scrapbooking, with its colors, themes, cutting and pasting, writing, and arranging, is a great way to express your creativity. The best part is that all of that is enjoyable and so much fun!
Maybe you are one of those people that don’t believe you can do any of that very well. Guess what? You’re wrong! Even the most un-artistic person can copy a page layout that they found somewhere and really liked. Besides, it’s hard not to be inspired when you have some great photos and some fun scrapbooking materials in front of you.
After a while you’ll be adding your own personal touches to your pages, and soon you’ll be creating your own completely unique layouts that you can be proud of.
Other Scrapbookers!
Nothing will help you make new friends faster than sharing a hobby with someone! Scrapbooking is an especially great hobby for sharing with friends. Many communities have scrapbooking clubs where scrapbookers can get to together to scrapbook, share ideas, show each other photographs, and talk for hours. Some craft stores also have a scrapbooking night for this same purpose (usually with the hope that people will buy a few things).
These scrapbooking nights or “crops”, as they are called by scrapbookers, are a great way to get out of the house and spend some time socializing with other people. If you really need some time for yourself, get your club to put on a weekend scrapbooking retreat. It will be two days of nothing but scrapbooking fun!
Your town doesn’t have a scrapbooking club? That’s easy. Find some friends who scrapbook and start one! If you don’t have some other scrapbookers in your life, you’re missing out.
Scrapbooking Captures Precious Moments and Memories
In my opinion, this is the most wonderful thing about scrapbooking. The best way to explain it is with a quick story.
When I first started scrapbooking, my grandma was the person in my family most interested in my layouts. Every time she came over we would look through them together and she would point out the things she liked the most.
She was so interested that I finally decided to make a scrapbook with her. We put in photos of us together along with mementos of all the special times we could think of. It took a few weeks to finish, but we had a great time.
Two short months later she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and quickly slipped away. I’m so thankful that we were able to make that scrapbook together. Because now, whenever I miss her, I can just look through that scrapbook and smile at all the precious memories.