Beggining To Scrapbook - Tips are much needed!

[milkabum]

Hello there! After making my dad a little scrapbook for Father's Day, I have begun to get into it more. I took out a book at the library today on it, and I've decided to invest in some supplies. I was wondering, is there anything big that I should know before I begin? All I really know is to have acid-free paper and stickers to keep my photos well preserved and my pages kept in good condition. I also know that I should photocopy my photos and then crop them in anyway I like. Are there any supplies that are important to have?

I know I need a book itself, paper, punches, stickers, craft scissors, glue and of course the photos. Is it worth it to invest in a cutting machine for matting and letters? How about stamps, do those turn out well?

TIA,
Emily

 

[happycampers]

I use my Fiskars rotary paper cutter a lot. It's nice to have one to get straight edges. It's nice having measurements right there. I cut my photo mats with it all the time. I crop photos with it too. Mine has a big flat (I think 11 1/2 inches is the last measurement labeled.) surface instead of a skinny one. I really like that when I cut.

It is nice to have the Cricut for cutting letters. (That was a total splurge for me with Christmas money and a refund check.) Any die cutting machine would be a big investment, and it can wait. Letter stickers are good. I've been able to get many packs fairly cheap. When you can't make words with matching alphabets, you can mix them up for an interesting eclectic look.

Do they have an Archiver's near where you are? They let you use their crop room for free (except during their crop nights Fri. and Sat. evening). They have lots of die cut shapes and letters. It's a great place to scrap if you can avoid the temptation to buy.

 

[huge mickey fan]

Die cut machines are nice I don't consider them a must have. I do think a good 12 inch cutter is a must have. I also have a fiskars that I love. I also think a really good pair of straight edge scissors are a must have. Was a good quality adhesive on your list? Other than that I consider other tools and punches extras and can always be added later. I find that they make great Christmas or Birthday gift ideas.

 

[Faerie]

My MUST tools: 12 inch trimmer, good adhesive, ribbon, crop-a-dile and a black journaling pen.

 

[vanyel]

I don't have a die-cut machine either but I want one! My must have's are a paper cutter/trimmer, a corner rounder, good scissors (I like fiskars too), good adhesives. I also discovered that I use lots of cardstock and I bought way too much pretty paper in the beginning. It's still a weakness

 

[ariel & eric]

I've been scrapping for over 10 years. The things I have purchased that I use ALL the time and I consider a must are:

Some kind of paper trimmer. I have a 12" one
patterned paper and card stock - I buy individual sheets of the colors I need, but a packaged set is a nice place to start
adhesive - I prefer a tape roller but any acid free kind will do.
A journaling pen - I use black, brown and navy the most. I used to have about 20 colors but found I only used about 5 of them. I think red and green are the other 2 that get the most use.

Those are the essentials IMO. Other things that are nice to have are stickers and die cuts to jazz up your pages. Same with punches and corner rounder. Other things that make the pages look pretty are eyelets, brads, fibers. These are totally something that you don't NEED, but many of us use them. Now the extras that are nice but cost lots of money to have are a Sizzix or Cricut - I have both. I'm not sure I would buy either if I hadn't been scrapping for several years. They have both been an investment and well worth the money, but only because I know this is going to be a life long hobby.

Hope this helps.

 

[TPCShauna]

Welcome to the addiction! It's lots of fun!!!

The tools that I think you just can't live without are a:

- 12" straight edge trimmer
- Sharp, pointy straight scissors (I recommend these specifically. They are great for fine cutting!)

They are Fiskars brand and cost about $13.00 at Michaels.

- Good tape runner (my favorite is the Creative Memories tape runner - I find it easy to use and the adhesive works really well)

- A small glue pen for the tiny things (The ZIG one works especially well)

- A corner rounder

- Two black journaling pens; one with a fine tip and one with a round tip. Again, ZIG makes a great one that is fine on one end and round on the other so you only have to buy one and they are a great brand.

Most of my tools are from Creative Memories and I just love them. They are very high quality, easy to use and work well. You will need to order from a CM consultant but I think it is worth it for the quality/price. Honestly, though, you can get great stuff at most scrapbook stores, Michael's or even Wal-mart if they have a good size scrapbook section.

Good luck! I hope you enjoy your scrapping. My best advice is to take it slow, don't stress and do what YOU want without worrying about other people's style. Yours will come with time.

 

[disneyfan2]

when i first started i had to buy everything.. Well not everything but i bought way more then i needed. Anyways, to start, the best things, IMO,
a paper trimmer to crop photos
maybe a corner rounder to give some shape
a 12 inch trimmer to cut paper
adhesive
pen-black is best to start

I also have a CM wavy trimmer that i make borders with.

Other stuff can be added later. But these basics will help you do sooo much

 

[mommy2mrb]

I agree with all of the above!

Things I also like to have is my "TweezerBee" tweezers for small items to hold onto and place, also love my Xyron 150 for adding adhesive to embleshments. Also if you have lots of photos to be done a CropperHopper is great to keep them safe.

I started scrapping 8 years ago when I got pregnant with DD and probably have a small amount of things compared to some of the others, but I usually do simple layouts. I did just get the Cricut, but its a big investment.

Have fun and keep checking in, everyone here has great ideas and motivation.

Lisa

 

[MazdaUK]

I wouldn't photocopy your photos unless they are heritage ones - like of your gran's wedding - and if they're that old its better not to mess with them too much, but arrange your trimmings to hide anything you don't like (keeping adhesive and pen OFF the picture ). I'd recommend finding your local CMC for a class or crop - apart from anyhting else they may have some bundle offers you might like to get started. And if you have virtually NO supplies you could always sign up as a CMC and get your stuff that way - I think over there you can sign up as a hobby CMC for a lower monthly sales, but I have NO trouble keeping to the minimum just by myself, with the occasional pack of paper for a couple of my friends (both of whom have just finished their first albums, which makes me feel as we started the very same time and I've got loads )

I'd also look at pictures on here, and get a magazine like Simple Scrapbooks for ideas and techniques.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Find a local Creative Memories consultant...he/she can offer you "getting started" packages of the "must haves" as well as many other "FUN" things you might want - including all the paper, stickers, albums, EVERYTHING you need all in one place AND cropping time at one of her events

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

While I like CM's tools and organization I am not fond of their scrapping format. Donning my flame suit now.
And yes I have a CMC and she loves me even though I don't scrap her companies way.
Anyhow, I like top loading albums so I can move my pages around.

Now onto my top ten:

1) a good 12" straight trimmer
2) a good pair of pointy scissors, I like cutter bees
3) tape runner (Creative Memories)
4) Tweezers, I like tweezer bees
5) cardstock
6) patterned paper (don't buy too much, I have way more paper than I'll ever need!)
7) acid free pens
8) Xyron 150 sticker maker
9) corner rounder
10) hole punch for making the holes in tags

I really really suggest buying good quality tools to start. You will spend a little more up front but they will last. My mom has been scrapping for about a year now hand has been through 3 trimmers.

 

[Faerie]

Buffy I'm with your thoughts on CM. I started with them and then got the boot from my CMC when I was using non-CM products in my albums during a crop. Needless to say, my tools and supplies have expanded A LOT since those days, but I STILL use my CM circles/ovals, corner rounder and tape runner (although I need to find a CMC down here since my 12 inch trimmer needs a new blade and I need tape runner refills badly)

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Buffy I'm with your thoughts on CM. I started with them and then got the boot from my CMC when I was using non-CM products in my albums during a crop. Needless to say, my tools and supplies have expanded A LOT since those days, but I STILL use my CM circles/ovals, corner rounder and tape runner (although I need to find a CMC down here since my 12 inch trimmer needs a new blade and I need tape runner refills badly)

That is unreal & totally unprofessional that your CM Cons would boot you out for non-Cm products....altho i personally use only CM products - i have plenty of clients who use some non-cm stuff - mostly paper & stickers that we don't carry....i am so sorry to hear that you were treated that way....let me know if i can help....

 

[Faerie]

It began when I was scrapping high school - I was a theater nerd in high school and I was doing many of the shows and Thespian Districts and State competitions. Of course at that time (2001 ish) CM didn't have any theater stickers. I got a "talking to" for using non-CM comedy and tragedy stickers in my album. That CMC would probably faint now that I use (gasp!) a cricut, fibers and eyelets!

I'm not saying all CMCs are bad. CM products are wonderful and I still use a lot of mine, I just ended up with an anal CMC

 

[TPCShauna]

That is unreal & totally unprofessional that your CM Cons would boot you out for non-Cm products....altho i personally use only CM products - i have plenty of clients who use some non-cm stuff - mostly paper & stickers that we don't carry....i am so sorry to hear that you were treated that way....let me know if i can help....

Mine booted me also for using non-CM products. She said that my scrapping style had developed sufficiently enough that she thought I should search out other locations to scrap. She also told me that my scrapping style and "indecision about my pages" was causing her other clients to feel overwhelmed. This, of course, was AFTER I had brought her several clients.

It's all good though. Since I've moved to another CMC, I've gotten three times as much done, my pages are looking incredible and I've taken my $2,000 a year habit to someone who appreciates me. I truly think that she was stifling my creativity with her negative energy because I got three times as much done AFTER I left her than I did in the 2 years I was with her.

I LOVE my Creative Memories tools though and I won't use any other kinds of albums. Most CM consultants are wonderful and definitely worth looking into!

 

[happycampers]

A family friend who was a CM consultant had a similar experience. She discontinued with that company after her higher-ups gave her the lecture on using non-CM products. Looking back, that was probably 2001-ish also. They do have lots of nice products, and I have some of them, but for me, it's all about preserving the memories with your own personal style, and that may mean using products from different sources to get the look you want.

 

[MazdaUK]

I'm a really naughty CMC - I keep trying to get my (OK, only 3) customers to use other stuff but they just get CM stuff from me. I wouldn't mind but they need to buy more of it

I use all sorts of things and show them US magazines for ideas - I haven't seen my upline since she recruited me so she doesn't know I'm naughty

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

MY CMC, Lisa here on the DIS, is fabulous. I was considered a rebel too, I bring contraband to her crops which some CMC's were totally against but the way I put it is if CM made everything then I would use only CM products. However as long as I am making sure my pictures are safe and I use the right products then what does it matter what brand I use.

I do love the CM tools and organization though. I have been through 4 types of tape runners and still go back to my CM one every time.

And faerie I get 3 tape refills at a time. I ran out once at like 2 am, I thought I was going to die!! And Lisa lives very close to me so I get with her at Dunkin Donuts to get more stuff....

 

[Faerie]

My ex-boss used to be a CMC. Before she gave it up, I order 21 refills. I just ran out. I'm using one of the 6 I got free at CKC, so maybe I'll find another one I like