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You could blow your brains out with all of the stuff available. Looking on line and in my local stores I was floored at how much stuff there is that is either for scrapbooking or can be used in scrapbooking. Then I started watching DIY Scrapbooking three times a day on the DIY network and blew my brain again.

I would suggest getting a nice selection of solid color and patterned papers and card stocks in a size that reflects the size scrapbooks you want to make. I like small ones so I don't buy the 12x12-inch paper. I would also recommend a Sizzix machine with a couple good basic shapes like circles, squares, leaves, flowers, etc.

Glue, I use tape runners, glue sticks and a hot melt glue gun when I want something to stick. I have been getting some of my things on eBay, but you have to watch the price of the item and the shipping. Sometimes (actually quite often) you can end up spending more on eBay for something than you would if you bought it locally. Watch the shipping charge, many sellers really over charge.

I got some embroidery floss, chalks (for scrapbooking), acrylic paints (small tubes, these are quite fun for many things). I also bought a lot of quite buttons and even a mystery bag of embellishments which worked out good for $15. Basically a mystery bag is a bag that you have no idea what will be in it. Make sure if you go for one that it states in the auction they guarantee it to be worth the selling price or even double.

Locally, I have bought some silk flowers to pull apart and eyelet on to my pages. I have been checking out the second hand stores for bits of ribbon and things like that. I have even gotten some nice rubber stamps that way.

I would suggest that you choose what you want to do and get the basics for that. Then choose another subject like embossing and then get the stuff for that and so on. If you try to cover everything at once you will go insane and spend and possibly waste a lot of money.

My new thing is stencils. My local Beverley's had stencils for 30% off and so I got about a dozen of them and some stencil paints and have been having a great deal of fun with them.

I hope this helps. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Remember the only stupid question is the one not asked!

Robert

Welcome to the group. You might also try checking the newsgroup's web site. They have a section called scrapbooking 101 that offers some good ideas. I just finished my taxes. I save every reciept all year. When I looked at the stack from the LSS, Joann's, Michaels and Hobby Lobby my first thought was to just add them up to see what I spent. Then I followed my second thought and ran them through the paper shredder... Sandy

Good job, get rid of the evidence.

Robert

Hi, Diana!

Glad you found your way to our newsgroup!!

The main supplies I would suggest:

1) a good paper cutter 2) several different kinds of glue (I use hermafix tabs and glue dots the most) 3) a good pair of scissors 4) Cardstock 5) A good pen (basic colors: black, white, gold & silver)

The above five I use almost on every layout.

Fun stuff that I use on most layouts:

1)fibers or ribbon 2)eyelets or brads 3)basic shapes punches (circle, square, tag, heart, etc)

A couple of words of warning:

1) Most people regret buying a ton of stickers right off the bat. 2) Same for buying a ton of different pattern scissors.

My suggestion is to buy in moderation until you know what you like to use.

--Tammy

Sometimes I look at all this stuff that I have bought and wonder what was I thinking......... If I ever sat down and added it all up I think I would cry considering that I only do about 6 layouts a month and yet I have enough to do a thousand......

Hi Diana

Welcome to a great group of scrappers:>)

I read through all the responses & can't think of anything else to add, but I just wanted to say welcome:>)

Trish

LOL@ Sandy..I had thought of keeping track of my expenditures also, but I really dont want to know!!

Linda

Hi Diana! Welcome to RCS. I see that there are already some good ideas listed,,just wanted to welcome you! Tell us about yourself! Where are you from? I live in Illinois Linda

I would say buying a set of co-ordinated patterned papers is quite a good idea because it makes creating stunning layouts quick and easy. I also find my little scrapbooking toolbox indispensable: it contains an eyelet hole puncher and eyelet setter (in 3 sizes), little hammer, pricking tools and tweezers.

Klara

I don't even want to know what I've spent in the last 2 years since I've started. I definetly don't want my DH to know either.

Welcome to the group Diane. Sounds like everyone is giving you great advice so far.

I agree with Tammy. I was so tempted to buy a bulk like of like 5000 stickers on eBay for $10. Then I looked at what they were including and frankly the stuff is just ugly. I understood then why they had the same offer on eBay a couple hundred times. They can't get rid of those things any other way.

Buy the stickers you need for a project before you start and get them to match you project. The same with themed embellishments and rub-ons. As you do more and more projects you will collection will grow as the chances are you won't use every sticker in every collection you buy.

A nice wide selection of thin and thick (cardstock) papers is more important. Patterned and plain.

Robert

Linda, sometimes ignorance really is bliss. I have to tell you it can be really nice. Especially when dealing money spent on a hobby. :)

Robert

Klara good call on the tool set. Yes, I just bought one of the deluxe ones and it has everything I will probably need in a basic set of tools.

I like this one:

Most stores that sell scrapbooking stuff has these. They have the regular one and the deluxe. I think the deluxe is worth the extra $. Robert

I like to buy the 12x12 Stack Packs from Hobby Lobby when they are on sale. I try to get both the pattern paper and the cardstock pack. Recently they had the matching mat stack on sale at the same time so I got one of those. It sure makes it easier for me to coordinate paper and cardstock that way.

Welcome to RCS Diana! I see you've gotten lots of suggestions, and there's not much else I can add to them. So welcome to RCS and the world of scrapbooking!

I have a friend who over the past year, if not more, has stuffed her scrapping receipts in a small box, about the height of a pizza box...not quite a medium pizza size. You get the idea. Anyways, it's pretty stuffed. I call it "the bonfire box" because if it's ever set on fire, it'll be the start of a good bonfire! LOL I keep track of my spending using software, and all I have to do is do a search for "crafts" category. I haven't done it for 2005. I don't plan on it, either! LOL Yes, I'm in denial.

Hi Robert, Thanks for your reply and your suggestions. Thanks too to all others as well - will digest comments. So, I'm good right now for a selection of solid colour papers; but I did buy a 12x12 book (actually two couldn't resist them). The coloured papers are really lovely too. Also, now have a cutter - neat little toy very useful. Will check out a Sizzix machine also later on.

I have lots of boxes of photos - can't remember how many - probably five or six, also some 'memory' boxes, so I think I will have lots of organizing ...

Thanks for all the other suggestions will have to pull out my rubber stamps, wherever they are, didn't even think of those little puppies for scrapbooking. Ohmygosh, I'll probably never throw anything out again, not when I can see a use for it in a scrapbook. Embossing? Can't wait to discover that idea. Everything I look at now seems to be of some use for a project.

Thanks again. More news and probably questions from me when I get going. All the best, Diana

Hi Sandy, Thank you for your warm welcome. I didn't realise there was a website but have found it now and will read very soon. I had to laugh at your comments - I too was going to keep tabs on what I had spent on scrapbooking and then decided, nah, so into the shredder too!

Don't know what LSS is, but of course have visited Michaels this last week. I live in Canada and there is a store called Winners, which is also a good place to get scrapbooks, but not much else. Michaels is about the only place available where I am, but there is a huge store devoted entirely to scrapbooking but this is a few miles away. I will be checking the Michaels flyers more closely from now on. Thanks for your reply. Diana