Adhesives

• There are many types of adhesives out there. Try a few out and see which one works for you. Make sure that any adhesive you buy is acid free and scrapbooking safe. Listed below are a few of the adhesives that are available.

• Tape runners are also called "dry-lines." They come in a dispenser that allows application of the adhesive directly onto the back of the photograph.

• Photo splits are similar to double-sided tape. Splits have adhesive on both sides to mount directly onto the back of the photo.

• Photo corners can be colored, metallic or clear. Photo corners create a "pocket" that secures the corners of each photo. Decorative corners can be handmade. Great if you don't want to attach adhesive directly to the photograph.

• Glue pens, sticks and pens are easy to find and use for securing photographs but may be a little more permanent.

• When creating a scrapbooking budget, $4 to $8 should be allotted for adhesives.

The Album

• Just like adhesives there are many types of albums. It can seem overwhelming picking out the right one for your project but wait there is hope! Below there is a list of the types of albums available. After picking out the type of album you want all that is left is the color and texture of the covers.

• Three-ring binders use top-loading sheets to house memorabilia and photographs. These sheets should be PVC-free to prevent the photo deterioration that chemicals cause over time.

• Strap-bound  or flex-hinge albums have pages that can be added or removed and that are acid- and lignin-free. Both types allow scrapbookers to create layouts by adding materials directly to the page. The flex-hinge album features a staple like device that acts as a buckle for the strap that secures the pages.

• Post-bound albums have a screw in the back that facilitates easy removal and addition of pages. For versatility, post-bound albums use either standard scrapbook pages or top-loading sheets.

• The spiral-bound album, with its fixed number of pages, is a good choice for short projects or gift albums, as pages cannot be added or removed (unless torn out).

Pencil
Ruler
Sharp, straight-edged scissors
Page protectors
Journaling pens
Templates
Photo-safe paper
Decorative scissors or punches

1. Make a list of the supplies that you will need;
2. Take inventory of the things you have already and cross them off your list. (scissors, rulers etc)
3. Set a budget and stick with it!!!
4. Shop with a friend to bounce ideas off of (they might also know where to get the bargains!)
5. Most importantly, have fun!

Serious hobbyists can convert a small closet into an organized work space with storage, shelving and work areas. A professional scrapbooker’s desk looks like an armoire but uniquely accommodates scrapbooking supplies.

Templates can be stored in top-loading pages in binders.

Baseball-card holders have small pockets that are the ideal size for storing and organizing stickers.

A photo storage box keeps photos convenient in a central location, while pull-out, stackable drawers can separate supplies into categories.

Binders, organized by themes, can house all supplies for that particular type of project. For example, a holiday binder can organize holiday stickers, die-cuts, templates and more.

Cropping bags provide organization for guys and gals on the go. Cropping bags, which include special pockets that are properly sized for different supplies, have wheels for ease of movement.

A square poly crop case easily stores paints and markers.

A smaller organizer is ideal for stickers and photos. Sections can be labeled for quick location of supplies.

The shallow pockets of a desktop accordion file can organize small supplies as well as flat materials such as birthday cards or invitations. This organizer can be decorated with stickers, gel pens or paint markers (which have greater impact on its black surface). This organizer is also a good choice for adult scrapbookers.

Crop in manageable chunks. To do this, you need a good photo management system, in addition to well-organized supplies. If you have good organization, you can crop as time allows, yet you won't feel overwhelmed.

Make a molehill out of a mountain. That is, eliminate any extra or bad photos as soon as they are developed. Only about 2% of our photos actually make it into an album, so deciding which are good candidates in the beginning can save time and energy when you begin to crop. Immediately toss any that are too dark or out of focus.

Organize photos chronologically. Start at the beginning and work forward. Acid-free photo organizers are available to make this an easier task -- especially if you have a great number of photos to organize. Again, use this opportunity to review your photos and set some that are "album-worthy" aside. Don't forget to label your photos and organizers.

Plan ahead. Think of the kinds of albums you'll be making in the future. Will your albums and pages all have a theme, or will your album be organized chronologically? Deciding this will affect what photos you'll use, as well as how many. For example, as you sort through photos for a chronological album, you might discover extra photos that would be great in a special vacation book, baby album or party book.

Organize your supplies. Check out the many specialty products that can transport and store your supplies. For paper, stickers and die-cuts there are many totes, binders and inserts that can organize and protect supplies and materials keeping them easily within reach.

You don't have to have a degree in design, color, or art to make a beautiful scrapbook. Just remember a few simple ideas:

1. Keep it simple; don't put too much on a page, if you have a lot of photos and memorabilia you want to include do two or more pages of the same event. (If you have a ton of stuff you want to include consider doing a theme album EX: Christmas 2003)
2. Titles immediately identify the subject matter of the page and give a point of focus. Titles can be done freehand, but stickers, lettering templates and pre-made titles can add pizzazz to the top of the page and eliminate the problem of poor handwriting. (Remember even if you have poor handwriting skills write somewhere in the album. That way your children or grandchildren can remember your writing and it will trigger memories of notes that you wrote to them)
3. Color can dramatically increase the impact of any scrapbook page. Photos that become lost on the page benefit from contrast. Light photos should be used on dark backgrounds, and photos with an abundance of a single color "pop" when placed on a background in a complementary color. A color wheel can be used to find the complement of a certain color. Color can also be used to accent subject matter (i.e., hot colors like orange and red for desert photos; cooler pastels to emphasize a "soft" photo).
4. Journaling tells a story. Effective journaling should include who is in the photo, what they are doing, where the action takes place and when it happened. Advanced journaling includes bullet journaling and storytelling. If you are unsure or don't remember exactly what was going on in the picture ask the people who are in it. Maybe they will tell you something that will trigger a memory for you.  (Include first and last names of people that are not in your family so when you look at the album 10 years from now you will remember it)

A page organizer comes in both 12" x 12" and 8.5" x 11" sizes. This is a good option to take on trips to the scrapbook supply store, as it protects paper during transport home.

This photo organizer allows you to organizer photos by topic. The outer spine has a label for easy identification.

This folding tote holds pens and scissors and is easily transportable to crops. When fully open, it can be hung on the wall by corner grommets.

An organizer with a multitude of pockets keeps all supplies divided by category.

Wheeled organizers have many pockets for supplies, as well as room for albums and personal items.