What are Your Favorite Things in Scrapbooking?

There are a lot of supplies and tools available to help us out: personal paper cutters, special tools for drawing decorative borders, patterned papers, etc. You must have something that you feel is indispensable in making a good scrapbook. Here's your chance to tell us what you wouldn't want to be without on that proverbial desert island! OR what do you think is something that a newcomer to the hobby should really consider getting?

Now that I've asked that question, how would I answer it myself? ...

• STORAGE -- We purchased a small "work center" from Sears to store the inventory from a jewelry home business I've been involved in. I'm getting out of that and have been looking at this work center as a possible storage unit for my scrapbooking supplies. It's heavy-duty gray plastic, all on wheels, has a deep toolbox on top (with a tray insert), two divided drawers under that and a deep pull-out bin at the bottom. Best of all, flip two handles on either side of each section and you can detach them and carry them with you. It costs about $55-$59 at Sears in the tool department. It might work for you if you need storage, especially movable storage. (Kathy E - 8/99)
• SCISSORS -- I recently purchased a new pair of straight scissors that have a spring in them. It's a lot easier on my hands when I'm doing a lot of cutting since I don't have to work as hard: they spring back open when I stop pushing the handles together. Mine are by Fiskars; there may be other companies making them too. (Kathy E - '98)
• BOOKS -- There are a couple of new books on lettering that I really enjoy. I got both of the "Lettering and Liking It" books and they've helped me a lot, especially with doing page headlines. I know there are large letter stickers you can get but I find it easier--and a lot more fun--to line things up by hand lettering. (Kathy E - '98)
• ANOTHER BOOK -- I just got a copy of a new book, Core Composition, that covers some great principles for layout design. That's one of the toughest parts--learning how to do a pleasing layout without driving yourself crazy. I checked out some layout design books from the library; they were good books as far as they went...but they were meant for professional design students. This one is short and to the point for the scrapbooker. (Kathy E - '98)
• NOW, HOW 'BOUT THE REST OF YOU??

Tips, Tips, and More Tips

March 9, 1998--Patti R--"I found a business card file works well for those stickers that come on 2 inch wide strips, and a coupon caddy for die cuts. It keeps them neat and it's easy to find the perfect sticker for that great page."

[Thanks, Patti. It sounds like that's worth a try. I know I need something better to keep my diecuts in order.]

April 9, 1998--Robert C.--"It is fun to pick two or three colors for one event. This way, everything in that event matches up colorwise...also it provides great variety, and helps when you aren't sure what paper to use, or die-cut, or what have you. Also, I prefer black pages to white. I think you can do a lot of cool things with silver and gold pens (that don't show up as well on white) and you can use pastels and crayons that will show up brightly on black paper."

[Thanks for your tip, Robert. I agree that the silver, gold or even other light colored pens don't show up well on white. (Check out the "Color Use in Layouts/Heraldry" sections on the main page to find out why) Good luck with your fourth album!
The only thing I'd might add for other folks who'd like to try this is--make sure to protect the photos from the pastels and crayons; pastels are gorgeous but they tend to smear a bit and I understand (from another site) that Crayola does not recommend any of their products for an acid-free environment. But that's what page protectors are for, right?]

April 20, 1998--Robin--"I like to put my stickers in baseball card plastic holders which can go in a three ring binder. I put my diecuts in plastic 4x6 picture protectors (also in the binder)"

[Good idea, Robin. I put my stickers in the baseball card holders but didn't have a binder at first. Boy, are those things slippery! A binder is essential.]

E-mail me and I'll add your favorites to this list. Let us all know what you really like or why you chose the format you did for your scrapbooks. I'll be waiting to hear from you.