Scrapbooking is fun, and it is definitely a perfect hobby for Mom, but it’s important to note that scrapbooking takes commitment and can even be overwhelming when you first begin. There are endless supplies to choose from, but before you go on a scrapbooking shopping spree, there are a few basic tools and supplies you will need to become familiar with as well skills that you will need to apply to every project.

Before you get started, you will need photos. Most of us have boxes or envelopes full of photos lying around the house or stored away somewhere. Maybe you’ll only be using prints from recent years that are from your digital camera. Either way, you probably have no shortage of photos, especially if you’re a Mom or (Mom-to-be).

One thing to think about when scrapbooking with sentimental photos is that you will want to make sure to use acid-free supplies that will not damage your photos and will increase the life of your projects.

Aside from the photos, you will need a few basic tools and supplies to get started:

Paper/Album
The most obvious purchase you will make is the paper and the album (assuming you’re not creating and binding your own yet!) There are quite a few sizes of scrapbooking albums available, but just make sure you get one big enough to fit the amount of photos and accessories that you’d like to see on each page.  Typically, at least an 8″ x 11″ album is a good size to start off with. Choosing additional paper is not completely necessary with some albums, but it definitely adds a lot to the page when you have a “background piece”. Take a look at the options and see if there’s some paper that stands out and suits your project well.

Cutting Tools
You’re going to want to have a sharp pair of scissors that can cut straight lines and circles with ease. You also may want to pick up one or two specialty pairs of scissors that have scalloped edges or other designs to apply fancier cuts.

Adhesive
Even if you se an album that has a pocket style covering on the page, you will still want to glue down the photos and other accessories to secure them well. You can buy glue, but also specialty photo mounts and other adhesive accessories that will make it easier for you to create your layout without a making a mess.

Embellishments
This is where you can really spend an entire day inside a scrapbooking store. The extra tools and embellishments available to enhance your scrapbooking project are endless. Keep in mind that you do not need to add a ton of different items to a page to make it look nice. In fact, only a few is preferred as it can easily be overdone, especially when you’re just getting started.

The best way to hone your scrapbooking skills is to explore your creativity, but also to find inspiration in layouts that you can find in magazines and online. You can also attend a local scrapbooking workshop to help get you started and maybe even meet some other Moms with the same interests. The important part is to have fun.