and *I* don't own any of those cropping tools. I use plain old scissors and if I need a template, I find something around the house the shape and size I want. It's very easy to let the 'glamour' of all those toys lure you into spending more than necessary. Below is a short list for begininng (Lifted from Frugal-families.com)
Okay, all you newbies. The first and most important thing to remember when buying supplies is to be sure everything that the photos will touch is acid free. This is to prevent yellowing and deterioration of your photos. If your pictures are in theose magnetic albums - the kind with sticky pages and a plastic overcoat - TAKE THEM OUT!!!! They are very bad for your photos. okay, now for supplies....
An album - There are literally thousands of different kinds out there. People like different kinds and sizes depending on their tastes and styles. I use a 12x12 strap bound album. I got mine at Hobbly Lobby. They are available at many places though, WalMart, craft stores, home parties, LSS (Local Scrapbook Store) Most albums come with pages already but not all. If not, you will need to get refill pages to fit the album you choose.
Paper - I LOVE scrapbook paper. There is just so much! To start, however, I would recommend solid colors and maybe a few printed sheets to use as accents on your pages. Just make certain yourpaper is acid-free.
Scissors - Straight edge scissors are all that are really necessary. As you get more involved in the craft though, you will probably want to try decorative edge scissors. They have lots of shapes and designs to choose from: wavy, scalopped, floral, etc. The pair I use most is called deckle - they make your paper look torn.
Adhesive - Again, there are several to choose from. When I started scrapbooking several years ago, the only choice was glue sticks. Now there are whol aisles in the LSS devoted to different adhesives. I still use a glue stick most. I think for beginning, it is all you need.
photos!!! of course.
If you have a Michaels near you, watch for their coupons. THey have almost weekly either a 40 or 50% coupon. You can use this for the kits too, easy way to get started. Watch and buy only when the sales hit.
I also like to look at magazines but the one place that I get the most information and inspiration from is
www.twopeasinabucket.com That site if chockful of talented, generous people who are happy to share their knowledge and ideas. Two peas has message boards and a fabulous peanut gallery where you can see tons of wonderful layouts and glean great ideas from them.
Good luck.