Scrapbooking Essentials
First, let’s get a few things out of way: scrapbooking is not complicated and you don’t have to be a “craft” person to find great joy and satisfaction in the process of scrap booking.
In fact, there’s really no reason to consider scrapbooking to be some sort of special craft hobby at all. Scrapbooking is a way to retrieve photographs and mementos out of photo albums and boxes, and display them in a way that will have the true meaning for you.
If you happened onto my blog because of an Internet search, then you already know there’s a lot of information out there about scrapbooking. It’s an activity that’s fun, rewarding and popular. So lots of people are writing about it and sharing their experiences. For everyone already involved in it, this much information about scrapbooking is exciting. However, if you’re just getting started, all this advice can be pretty overwhelming.
So what are the essentials of scrap booking? What do you really need to start your journey?
The most basic and essential item you will need is the album. There are several styles available and a couple of choices to be made, so I wrote about choosing your scrapbooking album here. Other items include:
Adhesive glue. Basically you want to find adhesive that is acid free. Another good option especially when you’re starting out is to find glue that will allow you to remove and re-stick your photos and memorabilia without damaging the scrapbook paper. By the way, stay away from Elmer’s glue or rubber cement — these both have acid and will damage your photographs.
Paper. There is a huge variety of paper available for scrapbooking. The more you get into scrapbooking, the more ideas you’ll have for using different types of paper. The important rule of thumb when it comes to paper is similar to that of glue. Your paper should be as acid free as possible. If the paper you find has a pH rating, make sure it’s seven or higher. Higher numbers mean less acid. Another good thing to look for is lignin-free paper. This signifies higher-quality paper that’s less likely to turn brown with age.
Writing pens. Scrapbooking involves writing some scrapbooking quotes in your album. This is one of the things that set scrapbooking apart from a basic photo album. Must-haves when it comes to pens — acid free, waterproof and permanent.
A ruler. Although not absolutely essential, a ruler may help you keep things straight and allow you to measure so you’ll know how much can fit on a page.
It is totally possible to get started scrap booking with these few items mentioned above. Like any popular activity, there are even more things you can buy that will make the scrap booking process more creative. But there will be time enough for those extras later on. Don’t let a long shopping list keep you from preserving your memories.
