What do I need?

[mrsbornkuntry]

I've never posted on this board before, I'm just getting started scrapbooking. I did one very simple Disney one a couple years ago, but I'd like this one to be a little more involved. My husband is in the Army and is deployed for a year and when he returns he's getting out (after 15 years) so while he's gone I've decided to make him a scrapbook. I already have an album, some paper (will probably need more), and some stickers, die cuts, and embellishments. That was the fun part for me, I love that stuff and I'm sure I'll buy more along the way.

My question is, what are the basic materials I should buy to make this look nicer, like something to help me cut straight, what else? I don't want to invest ALOT of money in this, but I don't want to be such a cheapskate that this comes out looking poorly. Please keep in mind that I'm craft challenged, lol. I don't have an AC Moore near me, but I do have a Micheals and I always get their flyers with the percent off coupon in them so I could use that.

One more question, I hope this doesn't sound too dumb, but what do you use to attach some of the bigger embellishments, like buttons or fabric, so they stay put?

I read the faqs at the top, but I didn't see answers to these, I'm sorry if it was covered and I missed it

 

[piratesmate]

To attach bigger embellishments I use some sort of glue dot. I've gotten Zots brand at Wal-Mart and just recently got Glue Dots at ACM.

Personally I use 3 different trimmers for straight cuts: a CM (Creative Memories) personal trimmer for photos & smaller things, a Fiskars rotary trimmer for 12" paper at home and because that's WAY too big to take to a crop, a CM 12" trimmer when I'm out of the house. One thing - I don't care for the large 12" trimmers for cropping photos. I always use the personal trimmer for that.

You could get by with just that, but you might want to think about a corner rounder. I have to admit that I became bored with the standard one pretty quickly. I prefer my scalloped one.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

My must haves:
A really good pair of scissors, Cutterbee's are good.
A 12" trimmer, CM or Fiskars
A corner rounder
CM tape runner
Glue dots for bigger stuff
Acid free journaling pens

You should be able to find everything except the CM products at Michael's. To get CM stuff you can go to their website at creativememories.com and you can see if there a CMC (Creative Memories Consultant) near you. Everything else is just icing on the cake. But this is a good starting point. Oh and a good magazine to flip through is Simple Scrapbooks. They have some really nice but simple pages.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Thank-you! Now I have an idea what to look for.
One question though, what is a "tape runner"?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thank-you! Now I have an idea what to look for.
One question though, what is a "tape runner"?

it's a small tool that holds long rolls of tape. You just press down on the paper you want tape on and roll it, it lays the tape down for you. you can buy refills to replace the tape.
This is the CM one which I love:

this is the vario tape runner which you can find at Michael's:
I have it but it's not my favorite, I will use it in a pinch though.

 

[MazdaUK]

CM now have a glue pen thing which you can use instead of tape runner for fiddly little bits. CM photo splits are also fairly good at holding heavier embellishments - I fold them in half, or fold the corners in if I think they might stick out.

 

[pjlla]

In addition to the things that the others have mentioned (and I agree with them), I would also add a few other basics....

a good sturdy metal ruler,

a few pencils and a sharpener

a good worklight

a good art gum eraser or similar

a bottle of Un-du (removes stray adhesive, helps to remove mis-placed stickers, etc. LOVE IT.)

Good luck with your project...........P

 

[stenogoddess]

I think it's this months Creating Keepsakes Mag (I think, pretty sure, think so ) that had several military type layouts mixed in there. That might help get you going. Personally, I usually have to get my creativity going by looking at something else to get me started. Just thought I would throw that one out there in case it helps. They usually sell Creating Keepsakes at Mikes and my local place too. Good luck!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I think it's this months Creating Keepsakes Mag (I think, pretty sure, think so ) that had several military type layouts mixed in there. That might help get you going. Personally, I usually have to get my creativity going by looking at something else to get me started. Just thought I would throw that one out there in case it helps. They usually sell Creating Keepsakes at Mikes and my local place too. Good luck!

Thank-you, I'll check that out, it takes me awhile to get inspired. I'm excited, though, I got the album I ordered today, it's really nice. I also got the stickers, die cuts and paper. I can't wait to get started, but I still have to go through Dh's pictures, awards, and other stuff and put them all in one place. It'll be quite a job, with so many moves I've "organized" them a little too much . I think I'm going to go in chronological order.

Tuesday I'll be heading to Micheals with my 40% off coupon, they're having a sale on ribbon so I'm hoping to pick up some of that plus some of the things you all have mentioned.

I guess I'm a little too excited to do this, I was actually showing my 9yo DS the stickers, etc. that I got in the mail today and he said "okay, Mom, you can stop showing me this stuff now." . Oh, well, I was happy .

 

[Honeybehr1]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...91257?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

Someone posted this on another thread and it has alot of the basics in it and it is cheap. I personally love the cutterbee scissors best ones that I have.

 

[jenr812]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...91257?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

Someone posted this on another thread and it has alot of the basics in it and it is cheap. I personally love the cutterbee scissors best ones that I have.

I was just going to post this. It is a great starter kit. Cutterbee scissors are around $8-9 at Michael's, the mini fastenator is $12 - right there is the whole cost of the kit, and you also get a 12" straight cutter that is valued at $20+ and lots more in an adorable little tote!! I am thinking of buying this for my DD13's friend who wants to get started scrapping - her bday is coming up (DD13 already has lots of stuff and of course uses all my tools).

Just a note on the tape runner - a little goes a long way, especially if you put your pages in page protectors. I've seen people put it all the way around the back of a photo or paper mat - major waste! Just put some in each corner and in the middle of the sides and you should be fine

I would also recommend one of Becky Higgins' sketchbooks for inspiration. She has two - I love them both, but the first one is better IMHO. Amazon sells them (do a search) and if you get it with the tool set above, it will put you over the free shipping mark. I was in slump for a while and then I got the sketchbook - it really helped get my creative juices flowing to have a starting point. Basically, the book is divided into sections depending on how many photos you have. Then there are sample layouts with that many photos and simple sketches to show the basic layout of the...well of the layout LOL Hope that didn't confuse you!

Have fun!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I was just going to post this. It is a great starter kit. Cutterbee scissors are around $8-9 at Michael's, the mini fastenator is $12 - right there is the whole cost of the kit, and you also get a 12" straight cutter that is valued at $20+ and lots more in an adorable little tote!! I am thinking of buying this for my DD13's friend who wants to get started scrapping - her bday is coming up (DD13 already has lots of stuff and of course uses all my tools).

Just a note on the tape runner - a little goes a long way, especially if you put your pages in page protectors. I've seen people put it all the way around the back of a photo or paper mat - major waste! Just put some in each corner and in the middle of the sides and you should be fine

I would also recommend one of Becky Higgins' sketchbooks for inspiration. She has two - I love them both, but the first one is better IMHO. Amazon sells them (do a search) and if you get it with the tool set above, it will put you over the free shipping mark. I was in slump for a while and then I got the sketchbook - it really helped get my creative juices flowing to have a starting point. Basically, the book is divided into sections depending on how many photos you have. Then there are sample layouts with that many photos and simple sketches to show the basic layout of the...well of the layout LOL Hope that didn't confuse you!

Have fun!

Darn, I wish I would've seen your post sooner, I was scouring amazon for a filler to put me over $25, but I did order the tool set. I'll look into the sketchbook you mentioned, too. I did spend a couple hours on the Two Peas website looking at layouts and taking notes (and wondering what I've gotten myself into, lol).

Thanks for all of the tips , I'm going to be lurking on this board alot now that I've started this project.

 

[jenr812]

Darn, I wish I would've seen your post sooner, I was scouring amazon for a filler to put me over $25, but I did order the tool set. I'll look into the sketchbook you mentioned, too. I did spend a couple hours on the Two Peas website looking at layouts and taking notes (and wondering what I've gotten myself into, lol).

Thanks for all of the tips , I'm going to be lurking on this board alot now that I've started this project.

If you're still online and it wasn't TOO long ago that you placed the order, you may still be able to alter it. Two Peas is addicting. You'll find yourself wondering where the time went (of course, that happens on the DIS and while scrapbooking, too )

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I guess I'm a little too excited to do this, I was actually showing my 9yo DS the stickers, etc. that I got in the mail today and he said "okay, Mom, you can stop showing me this stuff now." . Oh, well, I was happy .

Yep your hooked!!!

I live for my Becky Higgins books! Those are a must have, also to get even more use out of them you can rotate the sketch so technically you get 4 different pages from 1 sketch. I did that because a lot of our pics were landscape (6" across and 4" down) and Becky does a lot with portrait(4" across and 6" down) pics.

 

[party of 3]

Yep your hooked!!!

I live for me Becky Higgins books! Those are a must have, also to get even more use out of them you can rotate the sketch so technically you get 4 different pages put of 1 sketch. I did that because a lot of our pics were landscape (6" across and 4" down) and Becky does a lot with portrait(4" across and 6" down) pics.

see, you learn something new everyday! i never heard of becky higgins. so now i'm off to google and see what i can find on her. are her books at borders also?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

see, you learn something new everyday! i never heard of becky higgins. so now i'm off to google and see what i can find on her. are her books at borders also?

She have the 1 sketches 3 looks in the Creating Keepsakes mag. On their website you can also see some of her other sketches. The books are called Sketches Volume 1 and 2.


I have not seen them at Borders in a while. I got #2 there but it was right after it came out. My LSS has them too. If you can't find them let me know and I'll get some for you. They are about $14 a piece. Expensive yes, but worth every penny.