This article is geared toward the beginner scrapbooker or anyone who wants to get "Back to Basics". So, you want to make a scrapbook? I can see you there, scratching your head as the feeling of being overwhelmed tries to consume you. You think to yourself: "With all of the supplies available…where do I start?" Well, let's start at the very beginning. Before you scrapbook, you will need to collect some tools,"Tools of the Trade" that is. There are many tools to choose from, but for the beginner we have identified ten essential items to begin your scrapbooking journey.

1. Paper: Paper is a staple in scrapbooking. Paper is a very important element used for backgrounds, matting photos, creating borders, fashioning embellishments, journaling boxes, titles and more. There is a wide variety of paper on the market today to choose from: patterned paper, textured paper, vellum, handmade fibrous paper, corrugated paper and, of course, the ever popular cardstock. Because our photos and memorabilia are so important to us, in order to preserve them be sure to use "archival" papers when selecting your product. Most are labeled "Acid Free" and "Lignin Free".
   • Acid free is a term describing the pH level of a material. A 7.0 ph level or higher is considered acid free. Acid destroys everything it comes in contact with. If your paper is acidic, the acid will migrate to your photos and memorabilia, causing them to change color and fade.
   • Lignin is a natural substance found in plants that gives trees their strength and helps to join the wood fibers together. When lignin remains in paper, heat and light create a chemical reaction within it, causing the paper to yellow and become brittle.
2. Paper Trimmer: A paper trimmer is a vital, time-saving tool to have in your collection. Paper trimmers are used for straight cuts that are precise. They can be used for cropping photos, matting photos, cutting paper strips, making borders and frames and especially useful in cutting 12" papers down to smaller sizes. There are many paper trimmers on the market with different features. When selecting your paper trimmer keep in mind its portability, size, paper accommodation and ease of use.
3. Adhesive: Adhesives are important for you to attach your photos and other memorabilia to your pages. There are many kinds of adhesives from liquids to tapes to sprays. Adhesives can be permanent or repositionable. One of the easiest adhesives for a beginner to use is a double-sided tape. You can get these in a box to be dispensed one by one. It is as easy as: peel it off the strip, place it on your item to be adhered, peel the paper backing to expose the other side of the sticky back and place your item onto your scrapbook page. One step easier: purchase a dispenser that can be refilled. You then eliminate the step of peeling off the paper backing and have less garbage to throw out.
4. Scissors: Straight scissors are a basic tool used for trimming what your paper trimmer can't. A small sharp pair of scissors is good for making those precision and intricate cuts sometimes needed when tracing a template shape.
5. Craft Knife: A craft knife is a useful tool when it comes to "silhouette" cutting pre-printed lines on pre-made embellishments. It is also useful when used with a metal-edged ruler for cutting straight lines and very easy to master when combined with a glass mat.
6. Ruler: The best kind of ruler to have in your tool box is a clear acrylic ruler with a metal edge. The metal edge is used with the craft knife for cutting straight edges, the metal protects the ruler from being cut into and damaged. The clarity of the ruler is important so you can see through to your work behind it, making it easier to measure and place things onto your layouts.
7. Tweezers: Tweezers are a helpful tool when it comes to handling small objects like stickers and punch pieces. By using the tweezers, your hands and fingers are out of your visual field, making for more precise placement of your item.
8. Pens: Fine-tipped pens/markers are important for journaling on your pages. Make sure the ink you are using is permanent, photo-safe, waterproof, fade-resistant and fast drying.
9. Pencil: A pencil is used for tracing shapes to cut, taking notes about layouts you want to create, measuring and, of course, the attached eraser is used for erasing. If you can, get a pencil with a white eraser; it erases cleaner than a pink one.
10. Album: An album is needed to store all of your layouts. Albums come in many sizes: 12" x 12", 8 ½" x 11", 6" x 6", 8" x 8", 4" x 4" and even little mini albums. There are also a variety of the types of binding as well.
    • Post Bound Albums are bound by the page protectors. The page protectors are usually top loading, meaning you work on your page and slip it into the page protector. When open, the pages lay flat and have a smooth transition for double page layouts. It is easy to add refills without taking the whole book apart to make your album grow.
    • Spiral Albums are bound by the paper with the spiral going through them. You cannot add more pages and you need to use page protectors that slide onto the page from the side. These will lay flat when open, but you have a spiral wire in the center of the two pages.
    • Three Ring Binders are a covered heavy duty chipboard book that you add top loading page protectors to for your layouts. The amount of pages it holds will depend on the width of the binding. Choose a D-Ring as opposed to an O-Ring, as the D-Ring will lie flat when opened. As with the spiral album, the metal rings are in the center between the two pages.
    • Strap Hinged Albums are bound by the paper and have page protectors that slip on the sides of the pages. When open, the pages lie flat. Refills can be added by taking the book apart and running the strap through the special paper made with staples. Pages usually come in either black or white. To add color to your pages, you need to glue colored/patterned paper to the special pages made for the book.