You’ve discovered scrapbooking and have decided to give it a try. However, after taking a look at the craft stores and browsing the web you’re overwhelmed by the variety of tools and supplies.

You’re not sure what to buy and don’t want to spend a small fortune buying supplies, only to discover you’re missing one of the essentials.

If you’re feeling like this, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Let me take a few minutes to simplify things for you so know what you need to get scrapbooking!

There list of essentials is really quite short and simple, maybe much more so than you’ve anticipated.

Here’s the list:

album, refill pages, cardstock, acid-free adhesive, acid-free pens, quality scissors and embellishments.

Despite what you may be thinking, this truly is all you need to get started.

These items can be quickly and easily found at:

To better help you understand why these are the essential supplies I’ll explain their uses for you.

The album is pretty self-explanatory; it will hold all your pages. There are many different types and styles, so the choice is really up to you.

The refill pages are rather self-explanatory, too. Many albums come with a limited number of pages, so if you want or need more, you buy refill pages. You can also buy the refill pages and work on them prior to purchasing an album.

Cardstock is the paper you will use in your scrapbook. It comes in a variety of types and colors.

The acid-free adhesive is very important. The most important aspect of it is that you’re take care to buy adhesive that is definitely acid-free.

This is important in ensuring that no damage occurs to your photos.There are many different types of adhesives, some with very specific purposes and others are a matter of preference.

Quality scissors are important for getting the neatest, most accurate cuts possible. There are many types of scissors as well.

When you’re first starting out a pair of straight edge scissors are really all you need.

Acid-free pens are needed for journaling and captions. They’re nice to have handy even if you don’t immediately plan on journaling or adding captions. If you should change your mind in the midst of scrapbooking you’ll have them available.

Once again, choose acid-free so that no damage will be done to your scrapbook.

Embellishments are all the decorative items you can add to your scrapbook. They can be in the form of stickers, stencils, die cuts, frames and so much more.