As a beginner, you might have one or two tools you use to create pages for your scrapbook. As someone who's been doing this for years, I, on the other hand, own so many tools that I could write a book about them, let alone an article. If you too aspire to own ridiculous amounts of scrapbooking tools, here's some of the few ways you can begin adding to your collection. Tools aren't cheap, but watch for the sales, and in no time your scrapbooking space will be overflowing with products to help you invent any page your imagination creates.
The most basic way to start collecting tools is to upgrade your scissors. For as low of a price as one dollar, you can find decorative scissors that will cut in designs rather than straight lines. The possibilities are endless, so start with the basics, such as a scallop, and work your way up to more elaborate decorative scissors. Moving beyond straight lines, you can also purchase tools to help you cut perfect circles. These can be a little tricky to use at first, but it's much easier than tracing around a glass and trying to cut perfectly on a line. Remember that you'll need some kind of a cutting board to use some of these cutting options, or you'll wind up with circles cut out of your tablecloth or marks on the wood.
Another way to cut paper is to use a paper punch. Punches can be used in two ways. First, you can punch out sections of paper and glue the pieces to your page. However, for a different look, use the negative of the punch. For example, cutting the edge of a paper with a decorative scissors and then using a small punch along the border creates a lace effect. Punches come in all sizes and shapes, with some even made especially for punching borders.
Rubber stamps are also popular tools to use with scrapbooks. The stamping industry started as a separate market, but now acid-free inks and stamps made specifically for scrapbooks, such as frames, are available for scrapbookers to use with their albums. Stamping takes some time and skill, and the stamping world has its own sets of tools to create beautiful work, so take some time to learn about stamps before you jump into a project.
These are just a few of the many tools available for scrapbooking. Others include special markers and paint, paper crimpers, die cut machines, and computer programs. The possibilities are endless. All you truly need to begin a simple scrapbook is some scissors and glue, but exploring the selection of tools at your local craft store will help you become more creative when designing pages.
