How to Get Started As a Scrapbooker

Posted on | October 20, 2009 | No Comments

One of the best things about scrapbooking is that it can be very inexpensive to get started. You will only need a few supplies to get started, and they don’t have to be too expensive. Unless you do all your scrapbooking digitally (on the computer), you are going to need something to store all your memories in. So, the first requirement is a quality scrapbook album.

You will be able to find all sorts of album sizes. The choice is up to you. The two most common, standard sizes are 8 1/2″ x 11″ and 12″ x 12″ (inches). The most common larger format is 11″ x 14″, though it really depends on the size of your photos. You can find albums that are even larger or that come in various shapes. These can make unique and treasured gifts for someone in your life. A basic 8 1/2 x 11 album will go for around and a 12″ x 12″ album is usually less than .

Larger and non-standard sizes can also be found, so don’t worry about finding paper and supplies. Paper can be found in sizes ranging from 1 inch Post-It notes to giant pieces of 3 feet or more. Try looking in art stores as a second alternative if you can’t find just what you want in the scrapbooking section. You might have trouble finding the same unique printed patterns and designs, but you’ll find many sizes, textures and styles. Your willingness to improvise is your only limit, not the materials available.

You are now going to need some tools to cut and trim your paper. A good, sharp set of scissors is invaluable, and an Xacto knife will also be very helpful. If you don’t have steady hands, or if you expect to be making a lot of long, straight cuts, a paper trimmer or cutting board will really help. However, if you don’t want to spend the extra money, keep in mind that steady hands may come with practice.

90 degree square cuts and perfectly straight lines aren’t all you’ll be cutting though. Maybe you’ll also want to experiment with unique page shapes. You might want to create round pages, or hexagons or diamonds or any other special shape suitable to your unique theme. Your unique memories need a unique background. Stencils and templates, which you can buy or make yourself with thick cardstock or plastic will really make life easier.

Some of the best scrapbook designs are much more than just photos and stickers. It can include hand written words, illustrations and doodles. So you’ll probably want to get some good pens and pencils. You will eventually want a variety of colors. You might be tempted to buy a whole bunch of colors all at once. Just stick with a few basic colors and expand your collection as you go. For Christmas, you’ll want to have green and red, and maybe some other colors for the other major holidays. If you have a favorite color, choose that. You may also want to choose colors that go well with your album cover.

In order to get your momentos, photos and other embellishments (like buttons, ribbons, locks of hair, or anything else you might dream of) attached to your album, you are going to need some high quality adhesive…. In short, anything you might want to put into your scrapbook! You can try using an old-fashioned paper glue bottle with a small brush in the top. This method still works well, though make sure you get the acid-free kind. But take advantage of newer technology and get yourself a glue stick, glue dots or double-sided tape.

Are you planning on designing or downloading designs from your computer? You can also try experimenting with different printer paper. You may want to invest in some recordable CDs and CD burning software. With this digital technique, you could record baby’s first words or a favorite piece of music, or even videos of your family. You can store a wide variety of multimedia, sounds and pictures on a CD tucked inside a pocket in your scrapbook.

You don’t need a lot of money to get started, and this is especially true if you get a little creative. In the long-run however, remember that if you are planning on making scrapbooking a lifetime hobby, you will eventually find the convenience of having standard, compatible sizes for everything to be a lot more convenient.

Tags

Comments