I'd like to start scrapbooking.I'm a little creative but I need some guidelines to start.My DH is very interested in getting me stuff for Christmas.I don't know where to start..... I do have 3 nice baby boy books that I could start with but I'm not sure what kind of layouts to do and what kinda stuff I could do with it.Any ideas suggestions would be great.What kind of tools or gadgets should I suggest my DH to get.There's a midnight madness tonight at a scrapbooking store near us, everything is 40% off,so I could send him there but I'm at a loss on what he should be buying.TIA

By Reds9298 on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 04:43 pm:

I'm a scrapbook nut! ARe your books 12x12 size? If so, ask him to get solid paper packages, patterned paper, and adhesives. I don't use patterned scissors very much, but lots of people do and they're great to have around. I've collected so much stuff over the years I really have to think about good basics....Hhmmmm....

Oh! A paper cutter for sure!!! I use to have a fancy one but couldn't find replacement blades. Now I have the Fiskars which was about $15 and has a slide out ruler for 12x12 paper. I love it and it wasn't expensive. Any types of shape punches, although I like to stay with basic shapes because I use them more. Foam alphabet stamps are the cheapest and work just as well as wooden ones. (Believe me, I have a MILLION wooden stamps.)

Feel free to email me anytime about scrapping...I love it! reds 9298 @ insight bb dot com (w/o spaces).

I also recommend a subscription to one of the scrapbooking magazines. I did one year of that when I first started scrapbooking (I had been stamping for some years before that) and it gave me tons of ideas. Now I just keep them as a little resource library. I like Creating Keepsakes, it's about $25/year.

By Beth on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 04:48 pm:

A 12x12 paper trimmer is the most used tool. At least for me. Maybe a alphabet stamp set. To do titles and such with. Of course then you need ink, cleaner ect... Acrylic stamps are really cool. But that may be a little advanced. Can he buy you like a gift certificate from there to take like some basic classes? I think that is the best way to start out. If you have some pics you are thinking of. You could send them with him and the staff could help him pick out something nice to go with the the theme or colors. I think that is the best way to shop for scrapbooking. Otherwise you just get a bunch of stuff you thought was cute. Trust me I have a lot of that. You will love scrapbooking it is so much fun.

By Reds9298 on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 06:51 pm:

I just clean my stamps by dabbing them in a wet paper towel after each color change. I've been doing it that way for years and they're fine.

Ditto on the cutter...definitely the best tool to have!

When I started scrapbooking, I had just been given lots of paper and a book to start with. I think it was good that I started basic, with just the paper given to me. You can get more advanced by matching your pictures later. I have a portable file now that I can take with me to the store when I need paper to mix and match.

By Kaye on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 08:39 pm:

Another vote for the paper cutter.

I have been scrapping for over 10 years now. Very few things have I bought that I have used for that long. But my paper cutters are a staple. I use a lot of CM products, you can't get those at a store, but their shape cutters are the best.

I also agree on the magazine.

Some basic pens, alphabet stickers, any theme papers. Also just some basic packs of papers, get solids and prints. I don't use a lot of prints, it just doesn't fit my style. But try a lot of things out and find what fits for you.

By Marcia on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 08:40 pm:

Costco has some great scrapbooking stuff, and it's much cheaper than any of the scrapbooking stores or Michael's. I buy paper slabs there, glue, gel pens, scissors, storage units, and you can get stamps and cutters there, too. They have the Fiskars 12" and 8" cutter, and I think a circle cutter for something like $40. That's an amazing price.
I get most of my stickers at Dollarama, Buck or Two, Loonie Lizard, etc. They have the same stickers, and they're way cheaper.
I also buy stickers at Sandylion. I'm not sure if you've ever been there, but you can get rolls of stickers at amazingly low prices.
Have fun!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 08:41 pm:

We used to use diaper wipes, for cleaning off stamps. Probably now, we'd use paper towel, since we would have to make a point of buying diaper wipes! LOL!

By Tripletmom on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 09:20 pm:

Wow!!!! Thanks alot DH is going to this scrapbooking store in 2hrs for the 40% off,it's between 11pm and midnight.Right now it's only 30% it goes up 5% every hr.Well I made a list from all of your suggestions(thank-you)This place also gives out a training class,for FREE I'm also going to subsribe to a magazine for a year(good idea)I'm getting excited, thinking about learning something new My DH is going to be happy that I'm finally going to do something with all our pictures.I'm going to go to a few dollars and just pick/up some themes that I might be interested in.Thanks again for all the suggestions.

By Kaye on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 11:02 pm:

I have two stamp cleaners...i love them. I used baby wipes for years, but when I didn't need to buy wipes I bought one of the cleaner things, it really does a much better job

have fun shopping tonight. I try to stay out of the scrapbook stores, too much tempation!

By Beth on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 09:24 am:

Just make sure that you use alcohol free wipes. Alcohol can dry out your stamps. The little cat eye inks are wonderful and not to much. Hobby Lobby is a great place to buy stuff if you have one near buy!

By Tripletmom on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 10:31 am:

Well,he made out pretty good. He said he got everything off my list.There was about 50 WOMEN in the line up when he got there,LOL They felt sorry for him,he explained that I was just going to start getting into scrapbooking and was abit confused on what brands to get.They took him around with the list and were quite excited about it and telling him how much I would LOVE it.I'm excited to start too.He was very thankful for the help and even got some extra stuff I didn't ask for.Now,we just have to figure out what kind of storage bins I'll need.

Reds-(the scrapbooking queen)I've saved your email address for future referance-

By Marcia on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 01:46 pm:

I got a great storage unit at Costco. It has 6 of the 12x12 snap lid containers, which are great. You can put an entire project in each one, or separate them by what the materials are, etc. I've used many different things, but this one is excellent! It was only about $40, and each individual drawer is about $20 at Michael's.

By Tripletmom on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 03:07 pm:

Thanks!!!!Marcia-That's what I'm going to do.At least there are several ways I can organize.I won't know what I'll do until I get into it.Now I just have to make signs-(KEEP OUT-MOMMY'S STUFF)I overheard my DH tell Katie this morning"I bought Mommy some art/crafty stuff for her new projects,they are not for your projects,this is special stuff for Mommy, o.k."-ooooooh alright. LOL.

By Tripletmom on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 03:15 pm:

Beth,I never would have thought about the alcohol in wipes.Thanks