| Enter any craft store and it seems like the | | | | talking about items such as glue dots, double-sided |
| scrapbooking supplies are taking over. With aisles and | | | | tape, photo corners, mounting squares and more. |
| aisles of colourful bits and bobs, it's easy to get | | | | Basically, adhesives hold everything together, so |
| distracted. When starting out, stick to the basics and | | | | experiment and find the ones that you like the best. |
| add from there. So what exactly makes up the | | | | 6) Paper Cutter and Punches: Punches and cutters |
| basics? Here is a short list of the top 10 basic supplies | | | | are used to decorate paper and scrapbooking pages. |
| you will need when scrapbooking. | | | | The most common use is to give a different shape |
| 1) Albums: Albums come in many different sizes and | | | | to page corners, such as scalloped or rounded edges. |
| types, so pick one that suits your needs and | | | | Punches are also used to cut out different shapes on |
| preferences. An album that is 12 x 12 inches allows | | | | the paper. These shapes look spectacular when they |
| plenty of room for pictures and journaling, while | | | | are punched out of a piece of paper, which is then |
| smaller sizes are good for mini-scrapbooks. There are | | | | placed over another piece of paper of a different |
| three types of albums to choose from. Post-bound | | | | colour. |
| albums allow the pages to lie relatively flat, with no | | | | 7) Templates and Stencils: Templates and stencils are |
| separation between the pages. Three ring scrapbook | | | | used to cut and draw perfect shapes and alphabet |
| albums allow you to easily rearrange and add new | | | | letters each time. When buying, keep in mind that |
| pages. Strap-bound albums use an expandable strap | | | | clear templates allow for perfect alignment and |
| hinge and opens similar to a notebook. | | | | precise cropping since you can see through them. |
| 2) Storage: Not only will it keep all your supplies in | | | | With solid coloured templates, the designs will stand |
| one place, but proper storage will also protect | | | | out easier since the template will usually be a |
| everything from damage. With everything in one | | | | different colour from the scrapbooking paper |
| place, you will be able to see what you have in a | | | | beneath it. |
| glance and that will leave you feeling less stressed. | | | | 8) Pens and Pencils: Pens and pencils are a must have |
| No more hunting or pulling out boxes from several | | | | when adding journal entries and they have come a |
| different rooms. Protecting your supplies from | | | | long way in recent years. You can now find pencils |
| damage is also very important. Waterproof storage | | | | that are archival quality, fade proof and waterproof. |
| will protect your supplies from water damage due to | | | | Pens now come in over 50 different colours, including |
| accidental floods, while opaque containers will or | | | | cool opaque colours. You can also find pens that give |
| fading from the sun. | | | | a different look to writing, such as an embossed or |
| 3) Paper and Cardstock: Choose paper that is acid | | | | 3D look. |
| free, meaning that it has a basic pH level around 7, | | | | 9) Embellishments: Embellishments include items such |
| since it will preserve documents the longest. Paper | | | | as alphabet tiles, buttons, brads, charms, eyelets, |
| and cardstock are used to add colour, set the tone | | | | paper flowers, ribbon, rub-ons, stamps, sequins, |
| or theme of your layout and to create focal points | | | | stickers, tags and more. Their purpose is to dress up |
| by drawing your eye to that area. | | | | and add interest to your scrapbooking page. |
| 4) Archival Page Protectors: To provide extra | | | | 10) Tools: There are a lot of different tools to |
| protection to each page within the album. For albums | | | | choose from, such as tag makers, embossing kits, |
| where extra pages cannot be added, you can find | | | | distressing kits and more. Just as a warning, the |
| page protectors that will slip over the page. | | | | longer you have been scrapbooking, the more tools |
| 5) Adhesives: There are many different types of | | | | you will "need". These tools are very useful when |
| adhesives and each one has a different purpose. | | | | giving a personal and one of a kind look to your |
| When someone talks about adhesives, they are | | | | scrapbooks. |