8 Scrapbooking Materials - Tips To Choose Them Wisely

Years ago, it was hard to find stores that sold scrapbooking materials. But avid scrapbookers created a demand, and today you can find local stores devoted to scrapbooking and other retailers like craft stores that sell a huge variety of books, papers, and decorations. In fact, the hard part today is choosing what to use in your scrapbook. This article covers some basis that will help you make wise purchases and create a beautiful scrapbook.

Beginners are overwhelmed by their choices when they get into the store. There is so much variety that it's hard to pick out items from over-stocked shelves. And if you're making your first scrapbook, the excitement of discovering so much variety of color, design, layout, and concept available to you is overwhelming.

The trick for beginners is realizing that there are a few basic things to buy in the beginning. It's best not to get everything at once. The best start is selecting a few key pieces and building some test pages first to be sure you enjoy the hobby and to see if those materials are what you really want to support your theme.

Planning your project is a great way to limit initial purchases and focus on a few items. That way, you're not overwhelmed by the range of options, and you don't get home with many items you'll never use. Making that first trip for scrapbooking materials can be an expensive lesson in planning!

Even seasoned scrapbookers fall into this trap. Stumbling upon a great sale is a sure way to overstock your own scrapbooking supplies. We see things that look great on the shelf and, even though we don't have a use for it now, we just have to have it for later on. Planning your shopping trip by focusing on a few pieces will help you practice some self-restraint and save your hard-earned pennies.

Your first step for creating a wonderful scrapbook without going broke is planning. Sit down and think about what you want the final product to look like. Your vision doesn't have to be detailed, but you should have a good feeling for your subject, colors, and how much material your scrapbook will contain.


1. Finding the Right Album
The most important material for your scrapbook is the book itself. You'll find hundreds of sizes, designs, and presentation formats at the store. These are a few basic choices that make sense.

Traditional albums are the size of typing or copy paper (8-1/2x11") or one-foot squares (12x12"). Smaller albums are growing in popularity as new scrapbooking approaches increase. You'll find smaller squares that are easy to pack, carry, and decorate (for example, 6x6" to 8x8").

2. Page Protectors that Don't Also Detract
You'll need page protectors to preserve your pages and the photos, memorabilia, and decorations they contain. Scrapbook pages can be vulnerable to tearing and other damages. Page protectors also help keep stock-on items from falling out of the book as it ages.

There are two basic choices for page protectors: clear transparent protectors and non-glare protectors.

3. Using the Right Papers
Papers are basic to your color theme and overall design. The paper you choose for your background is an important part of the overall appeal of your scrapbook. Patterned papers are the most popular today. But it's important to remember that your backgrounds should frame your pages, not overwhelm them. They should be in subtle colors to help focus the eye on the photos and central items rather than the background paper.

4. Selecting Cardstock
Cardstock is a staple in the world of scrapbooking. Cardstock is heavier than normal paper, though not as heavy as cardboard. Many office supply stores sell cardstock for report covers and mailers. It's heavy enough not to crease or fold easily but light enough to bend. Used in a scrapbook, cardstock is an effective foundation for embellishments, memorabilia, and photographs.

5. Picking an Adhesive
Adhesive holds everything together - literally. There are many types of adhesive available, but experienced scrapbookers know how important it is to use the appropriate type. You should always look for acid-free adhesives that are safe for photos. Adhesives with acids can cause the pictures to oxidize, paper colors to bleed or fade, and cause spots in embellishments like fabric, ribbons, or lace.

6. Take Care with the Paper Cutter
Sizing your inserts is a very important part of scrapbooking. Paper cutters are good for cropping photos, creating interesting shapes, and customizing standard decorations. But be careful! Paper cutters can also make you a bit over-enthusiastic, and you may destroy your item before it gets to the pages of your scrapbook. Avoid using the paper cutter with anything other than paper. While they keep the edges of photos and other paper items straight and clean, you should not try to use them with heavier decorations or fabric.

7. Scissors - a Necessity
The number one tool for scrapbooking is a pair of good scissors. They help you make custom shapes and make clean cuts in fabrics, ribbons, and other decorations. They'll help you make interesting pieces to fit your pages. By using similar shapes, your scissor-cut inserts can even make their own design theme.

8. Rulers
A beautiful scrapbook is precise and clean. Each item on the page must be neatly cut, balanced, and straight. Your ruler will save much time in marking guidelines and making sure the pieces fit properly.


There are hundreds of materials and tools available for scrapbookers today. Among those we haven't discussed are vellum, white plastic erasers, self-healing cutting mats, glue erasers, pens and pencils, photo corners, lettering stencils and fonts, and the trusty X-acto knife. You'll probably want to organize your scrapbooking materials in a toolkit of some kind. That way, you can keep everything together and avoid buying duplicates.