Shopping for their first supplies may be overwhelming for beginning scrapbookers, especially with the wide range of products, techniques, and styles.
To help, we examined a vast array of scrapbooking products, checking for user experience, compatibility with other supplies and accessories, and storage capabilities. One of our top picks was the Potricher Self-Adhesive Magnetic Scrapbook Album, a 40-page linen-covered album with a customizable cover and space for up to 120 photos or other mementos.
Here is our list of the best ten beginners’ scrapbooking supplies.
potricher Self-Adhesive Magnetic Scrapbook
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/913soAkwySL._AC_SL1500_1-f74e9ce796894c8c8da226cc107ceddf.jpg)
Amazon
Easy to use
Customizable cover photo
Budget-friendly
Sometimes hard to remove photos from self-adhesive pages
The 40-page linen-covered album is the ideal scrapbooking album for beginners and experienced crafters alike. Available in two sizes and 16 colors, the Potricher Self-Adhesive Magnetic Scrapbook Album can hold up to 120 4 x 60-inch photos. It provides protective high quality film to cover treasured photos and other mementos, and its self-adhesive magnetic pages make it a breeze to organize and place everything into position.
The hardcover front has a replaceable photo slot, so you can insert any photo you wish, and the chic linen cover makes the album presentable for display. The album comes with a metallic pen with gold ink for marking your pages with phrases, dates, locations, names, or noting memorable occasions.
Dunwell Scrapbook Refill Pages
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/61syyiLTruL._AC_SL1500_1-35fc784f56fc49609cbe0fbb0e416cff.jpg)
Amazon
Acid-free
Thick, heavyweight plastic
Non-glare
Archival quality
Cardstock inserts not included
Durable and 100 percent transparent, these 12 x 12-inch page protectors offer an easy-to-use, high-quality way to keep your photos, artwork, and other gems safe and dust-free. The set of 25 allows for top loading of pages, and each one can hold up to six 4 x 6-inch photos. Available in two sizes, these page protectors can assure the optimal protection and viewing of your keepsakes.
The crystal clear polyurethane page protectors can help prevent yellowing. The three-hole side strip means the pages will work well with any standard three-ring albums as well. Additionally, the ink won’t transfer onto these sheets from anywhere else, meaning you can write on your images or the pages they’re on without concern.
Neenah Creative Collection Classics Specialty Cardstock Starter Kit
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/71hGZCXI1uL._AC_SL1500_-94977bb335ba40369ae64e17ff4fcb3d.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Works nicely with patterned papers
Cuts well in electronic cutting machines
Eco-friendly FSC-certified paper
White paper has noticeable colored flecks in it
Solid-colored cardstock is essential for numerous scrapbooking endeavors, and this package of 72 sheets brings 18 rich colors for crafters to choose from. With four pages of each, scrapbookers can enjoy planning out their pages using shades like Bubble Gum, Celestial Blue, Clove, Lilac, Goldenrod, and Old Towne Red. Acid-free and lignin-free, crafters can rest assured that this paper is long-lasting and of high quality.
Versatile and ideal for a variety of projects, this paper is useful in copiers, with inkjets, and in laser printers. With solid color through the center of the paper, these sheets can be used where white-core paper can't. The colors are bright, and the paper is smooth and thick for optimal crafting.
EK Success Cutter Bee Precision Scissors
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/71Mo8BBtqL._AC_SS450_1-0720059f00f74545b80d564d3c9e1c9c.jpg)
Amazon
Works for both right and left-handed users
Handy blade cover helps prevent accidents
Also great for gardening
Some users wish the blades were even sharper
Great for crafting of all types, these scissors guarantee top results. Sure to create precise and perfect cuts, these excel at snipping anything from paper to photos to thick cardstock and more. Constructed of high-quality stainless steel, they’re corrosion-resistant and made to stay sharp.
When not in use, they have a protective cover to keep the pointy end of the blades covered, and there’s an ergonomic grip on the handle as well. With 5-inch blades and very sharp, fine tips, you’ll be able to use these on any craft you’re mastering.
Fiskars Softgrip Fingertip Swivel Detail Knife
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/10155522u-ac6d7aae8fb64edc800fae1a642b11a9.jpg)
Michaels
Ergonomic handle
Comes with a blade cap for safety
Easily replaceable blades
Comes with a lifetime warranty (except for blades)
Can be tricky to use at first
Any scrapbooking project with complex patterns or tricky contours could use a Fiskars swivel knife. With an especially helpful fingertip handle, this knife can rotate 360 degrees, so cuts end up exactly how and where they’re needed. Perfect for a range of paper types, photos, cardstock, etc., this swivel knife glides smoothly along lines and lets crafters change direction easily without needing to lift it off the paper.
A unique crafting experience, this knife has Softgrip to enhance its ease of use and ergonomic comfort. There’s one swivel blade provided, and it's a cinch to buy replacements as needed. Overall, the blades are extremely sharp, easy to adapt to, and the knife’s brilliant design keeps it from rolling off the table when not in use.
Glue Dots Mini Dots
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/61UawcdCyML._AC_SL1500_1-1874e0a5df11478eb6dc152a47020245.jpg)
Amazon
Works great on photos
Good for less steady hands
Adheres well to most surfaces
Acid-free, lignin-free, fume-free
Can be difficult to get off fingers
Glue Dots save crafters the time and mess of applying glue and waiting for it to dry. The mini adhesives are especially great for attaching tiny gems, googly eyes, sequins, or any other little pieces your project involves. Their hold is very strong, too, so there’s no worry of items falling off once in place.
Acid-free and lignin-free, these work well for numerous surfaces and many types of crafts. They’re also ideal for kids’ crafting because they’re great for little fingers, are non-toxic, and have no fumes. And since they’re available in a roll of 300, they should last through several projects.
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/10151497_1-d92bdee1a74347feba316e87327edbc2.jpg)
Michaels
Fast-drying
Option to use fine or broad tip
Repositionable at first, then bond becomes permanent
Container is clog-free and leak-free
Dries to a sticky consistency if too much is used
For projects that require liquid glue, this craft glue from Tombow is a must-have. It’s fume-free, clog-free, acid-free, and can be applied with permanent or repositionable bonding. The tip is adjustable for a fine or broad flow of glue, and the container itself is ergonomically designed.
A little bit goes a long way, so one container will last a long while. Plus, it won’t leak, so there’s no sticky clean-up. Compatible with nearly any type of surface, this glue is essential to any crafter’s supply set.
AROIC Acrylic Paint Markers
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/71zo1SyJCJL._AC_SL1498_1-1723f9cc09bc4416b0b0043acdc9c7d9.jpg)
Amazon
Great for kids and adults alike
Water soluble
12 months full replacement or refund offered
Quick-drying
Not the best results on textured surfaces
This is an excellent set of paint markers for beginners. Available in 36 vibrant colors, AROIC Acrylic Paint Markers are popular with every type of crafter, from rock painters to glass smiths to card makers. Give them a quick shake and hold the tips down for a few seconds to get a smooth, high-quality consistency.
A superb value for the price, these markers will cover your surface nicely. They make a great gift, as well as a fine addition to any crafting supply set. And with shades like iris orchid, chestnut brown, amaranth red, dreamy purple, and sapphire blue, your project is sure to catch the eye of many.
Tech Tools Standard T-Square, 24-Inch
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/350Wx350H-1485150-0620-4b8e559266e5435abccb7e2d17fcb919.jpg)
Hobby Lobby
Constructed of sturdy aluminum with black plastic
Ensures lines are straight from pencil to X-Acto knife
Guarantees precise measurements
A bit heavy to maneuver when crafting
This handy Standard T-Square Ruler helps create superiorly straight edges. Perfect for drawing, arranging photos, painting, or gluing on embellishments in an orderly fashion, this T-Square will guide your hand to success in any project. Reasonably priced, this ruler can guarantee that your measurements are accurate as you decorate your scrapbook.
SICOHOME Scrapbooking Supply Kit
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/81-rNsrMuL._AC_SL1500_1-51c810b499e5434f9eaf487a37aba18f.jpg)
Amazon
Every kit is unique with a variety of embellishments
Fun for a group of kids or crafters to dig into
Great for card-making as well
Hazardous for children ages 3 and younger
Ideal for beginners, this kit lets you practice with a variety of new supplies. It includes a little of everything: pens, stencils, stickers, different tapes, sticky papers, and more. Made to go perfectly with the SiCoHome Scrapbook, this kit also works with any other standard album.
Also great for gift-making, this kit has enough for several projects. It’s a large collection, so you’ll need a box or container to store it all in (it doesn’t come with one). A treasure trove for the new or young scrapbook enthusiast, each kit is different with its own goodies.
What to Look for in Scrapbooking Supplies
Technique-Based Materials
Consider the type of scrapbooking you’re likely to do and look into the supplies necessary to create that particular style. For example, some may prefer to focus on stamping, while others choose framing and paper piecing, and still more might want to practice putting a few different techniques together—and each method warrants different supplies and materials.
Accessory Compatibility
Most of the time, there should be a list somewhere on the packaging letting you know the brand's supplies are compatible. If you find you’re unable to confirm compatibility, keep your receipts and ask about the seller’s return policy to be on the safe side—especially if it’s a pricey purchase.
Non-Toxic Substances
Whenever possible, go for non-toxic scrapbook supplies. They keep your contents in great shape and spare you exposure to toxic materials. For example, acid-free scrapbooking paper keeps your photos from fading and your pages and other mementos from becoming brittle or turning yellow. This is because the acid in the paper—which comes from a chemical called lignin in the wood it’s made from—has been removed. Fume-free glues and markers also help limit your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals and are easier on the environment. Go for the water-based glues, basic craft glues, and fume-free markers, which are typically free of xylene, a neurotoxin.
Why Trust The Spruce?
KJ Callihan is a writer for The Spruce and created this roundup with beginning scrapbook crafters in mind. KJ has written numerous shopping, dining, and activity guides for other sites as well, such as CNET, Knoji, Best of the Web, Oh My Veggies, and AAA Northeast magazine.