There's something soothing and creative in making scrapbooks. The whole cutting, glueing, sticking and writing things down can work as therapy. At the same time, you'll unleash your creativity as you're making your pages with memories.
No matter if you're making scrapbooks for yourself or as a gift, or perhaps it's a creative business of yours, there are several things you'll need. Scrapbooking albums, pens, pencils, a scrapbook paper trimmer, stickers, and embellishments, are just a few of the things that will help you create the little piece of art.
Scrapbooking Album
If you're planning to start a scrapbook, you'll first need a scrapbooking album. It's best to get one with 30cm x 30cm or 20cm x 28cm. These dimensions are suitable for most scrapbooking papers and page protectors. If you get the larger one, you'll have more space for your creative layouts, but every page will take more time to fill.
Scissors and Trimmers
Scrapbooking requires a lot of cutting, so a pair of good scissors or trimmers are essential. Scissors for this purpose should be sharp enough and pointy enough to help you do precise cuts.
To keep them in good condition, it’s a good idea to set them aside and use them only for scrapbooking. If you're serious about this hobby invest in a paper trimmer, which slices papers in perfectly straight lines; you can use it to cut more pieces of paper at once.
What to Look for in a Paper Cutter
Some people use small paper cutters for their scrapbooking hobby. Others may have turned their hobby into a business, so they need something that won't fail them. If you're getting a guillotine paper cutter, make sure there's a finger guard. This safety feature will prevent your fingers from injuries when you're cutting the paper. Some finger guards cover both sides of a trimmer's base for even better protection. Finger guards are often plastic, but you can also find metal ones as well. Make sure to always keep the finger guard on.
Another thing to consider is a tension spring. A scrapbook paper trimmer with a tension spring prevents a guillotine paper cutter from working like an actual guillotine. The tension spring is attached to the blade and won't move without your permission.
The blade latch holds the blade in place when you aren't using the paper guillotine and it's usually a small wire that hooks over the handle. It prevents the blade from popping up and prevents people from cutting themselves by moving their hands along the blade. No matter what your choice for cutting paper is, you should always be careful, as they can be very sharp. Even the most aesthetically pleasing paper scissors can easily harm you if you aren't using them carefully.
Cardstock
Cardstock is another important scrapbooking supply; it’s the foundation for every page you make, and the basis for other decorative elements. You can get it in a wide variety of colours and textures. Be sure to pick acid-free and lignin-free papers to avoid fading and discolouration over the years.
Patterned Paper
This type of paper coordinates for a dynamic and cohesive look. You can use it for various purposes like matting photos, cutting out shapes and letters, or simply decorating your pages. You can also buy individual sheets of paper or packs of several sheets in coordinating patterns.
Scrapbooking Stickers
Everybody loves stickers because they're fun and an easy and quick way to decorate your pages. They are available in almost any theme you can imagine, from flowers to sports, to life events such as weddings or baby showers.
Scrapbooking Stamps and Ink
You can use these to add decorative designs or important dates to your pages. The stamps can add a handmade look to your scrapbooking pages, while the stamping can be used in many different ways. For example, you can repeat the stamp several times to create a unique background and use watercolours or coloured pencils to add some colour to the stamped image. Avoid using water-based inks, because they can easily fade; instead, choose chalk or pigment ink.
Adhesives
No scrapbooking work can be done without an adhesive. It'll keep your photos and decorations stuck to the page. There are various adhesives to choose from such as glue dots, double-sided tape, glue sticks, and liquid glue. You get to choose what you'll use, based on your preferences. Only make sure the adhesive is long-lasting and acid-free, so your scrapbook remains in mint condition.
Pens and Pencils
This is creative work so pens and pencils are more than welcome. You can use them to write captions, names, dates or whatever you want. Pens and pencils are ideal for adding a personal touch to your scrapbook because by adding handwritten captions, names, and important dates to your pages, you can document important details and tell a more detailed story.
Embellishments
Your embellishments can contain magazine clippings, stickers, flowers, and whatnot. There are so many options you can add based on your liking, the theme of your scrapbook, etc. Choose to incorporate ribbons, charms, faux or dry flowers, die-cut shapes or buttons.
