new to scrapbooking, what should i start buying?

[Evelyn]

Hi, my name is Evelyn and I'm a scrapaholic. (already!!!!) Help! :)

Sorry couldn't resist that line. Hi. I'm new to scrapbooking. Attended 2 classes with Jasmine and Kelly. :hail: I've also signed up for the SDU basic this coming Fri. As you can see I am hooked already. Today I've been studying the new april schedule for more classes to attend.:becky:

Anyways, I need some help as to what types of tools and things(sorry not familiar with the lingo yet) to get if I want to start building my scrapbooking tools. I've got myself a cutterbee precision scissor and an album already.:madgrin:

[adoncia]

have you got yourself a cutterpede trimmer?

[Evelyn]

Not yet. Just trying to accumulate a list of things to get cos I know if i just go buy randomly, i'll probably go overboard. Okay Will add that to my list. Pardon my ignorance but what is the cutterpede trimmer for?

[adoncia]

It looks like this:

http://eksuccess.com/images/products/product_8615_sm.jpg

it allows you to cut paper to the size you want accurately.

http://eksuccess.com/images/products/product_8615b_lg.jpg

(extracted from EK Success)
- Cuts full 12" x 12" paper
- Extended measuring guide: 13" x 15"
- 1/4" inch grid lines
- Rotary blade is visible while cutting for improved accuracy
- Top-hinged cutting arm with ruler
- Extended ruler folds at right angle for precise 6" cutting
- Magnetic cutting arm tightly holds paper
- Inch and metric measurements
- Replaceable cutting channel mat has four cutting positions
- Does not cut paper until blade is pushed down onto paper
- Use with decorative rotary blades

Check this link out: Trimmer (http://eksuccess.com/products_detail.php?product_id=8615&sess_id=c163f74fd3da48ed5971aa18acbd5a57)

[adoncia]

MWL carries them at SGD$59.90 with another color, green. Not sure if they still have the pink one. They use to have a special package, the purple one. But ran out. You can go tdy! It's double stamp day for SAC!

[Evelyn]

oops! oh yah we used that in class. Silly me! (very embarrassed now)
That is definitely on my list.

[Evelyn]

Great! Thanks so much Adoncia.

[adoncia]

Welcome Evelyn. Have you got the refillable tape glue, instead of the non-refillable? And foam dots? Craft Knife and mat if you are someone who will works with pen-knife?

[luv2scrap]

Ooohh... you want to build your scrapbooking tools. :becky: It's addictive mind you.

You're off to a great start as you've attended classes with Jasmine and Kelly and you're about to start SDU. Classes give a great idea about what tools are necessary. I would say scissors and paper trimmers are basic essentials.

The MM tool set is good because it has many tools you'll need all packed nicely in a little tin - eyelet setter, hammer, needle, piercer, hole punch, tweezers etc. If you like eyelets, there are many on the market, including the much-desired cropadile.

There are many many scrapbooking tools in the market. They keep coming up with new gadgets and I keep succumbing. :doh: Really depends on where your interests lie. Browse the forum. Lots of discussions. Happy shopping!

[Evelyn]

:doh: yes i know!!! can you imagine that here i am at work and i am thinking about gettin scrapbookin tools!?!?! Terrible.

Okay...am adding all of those things on my list. I need help cos if you leave it to me...i'll be buying everything! All the diff papers even cos i am the type you will stock up just in case.:tsk:

[luv2scrap]

I know exactly what you mean Evelyn! I'm such a tool junkie. Notice I only recommended essentials? :becky: So many nice-to-have-but-not-absolutely-necessary tools. And somehow they still end up in my shopping basket. :doh:

[adoncia]

haha. wat time do you off work?

[Evelyn]

Today, i get off at 8pm! Rather late.

[ffellie]

hahaha i do 'just in case' too! :)

anyway, basically you just need a paper trimmer, glue, foam dots, craft knife and scissors - just as adoncia mentioned.
oh and pens for journalling. basically black and white and of course other colours too if you want more.

other than tools, investing in inks is also a good move in my opinion. you can use the inks for stamping (for which you'll need to buy stamps heh ;p) or distressing.

[Evelyn]

Yes i agree with you Ffellie. I love inks and pens.
Tried the distressing ink pad in Kelly's class and loved it. Almost did that to all my papers
You shld see how I was when i was doing cross-stitch/ beading. I bought all the threads / beads in the shops and had little storage compartments for them divided by colors! I was (or still am) mad

[adoncia]

thats extremely late!!! i will recommend dew drops and distress ink for you! cause i don't wan you to dip into your coffee/tea again! Haha!

[adoncia]

btw, have you got the new white opaque pen by tim holtz?

[Evelyn]

Nope will be getting the white pen. I bought one from Prints when I was making cards but I think that's a gel pen.

Yes it is late...that's the problem. Apart from a scrapaholic i am a workaholic
Haha...but seriously using tea to age paper is great if you are making fake 'authentic' parchments or maps

[adoncia]

can get that pen if you like doodling and journaling. its good.

no no no. dun do that please. there is this ink from ranger, call tea dye. you can get it if you like the tea effect. but it like of light.

[Laradee]

Hi evelyn

Welcome! If you have just began SB, dont rush out to buy EVERYTHING. You can just try the products in the workshop and see what you like.
Though everyone likes the Cutterpede, I am not a fan. I find it too fragile... :becky: ...but that's just me.

For starters, you just need:
1) A scissors
2) Cutter (for your papers... cardstock.. etc.. can cut 12x12)
3) Glue (honestly, this category alone has more than 10, glue tape is a must, soon, you find glue dots, pop-out glue dots, fine tip glue pen, wet liquid glue.. all for different materials and type)

With Cardstock, and some papers, you will start just fine.
Trust me, as you move along, you will have MANY MANY things to buy... hahaha.... all the scrap-addicts will know this part.

The fun part of SB is also the buying and hoarding.... :becky: :becky: :becky:

[Evelyn]

Don't worry adoncia..i won't rush and tea stain my papers...yet!hehehe

Thanks for the welcome and advice wendy. What do you like as an alternative to cutterpede?

[Laradee]

Hi Evelyn

you can check out
1) Carl's
2) Fiskars
3) Making Memories has one... though it is bulky, it is reliable and cuts like butter.....

[ffellie]

yup i love the making memories one. i find that it cuts more accurately than cutterpede and the blade is self-sharpening! but i think it's out of stock at mwl.

[luv2scrap]

I haven't tried the MM cutter. I have both the Carl Cutter and Cutterpede. Much prefer the Carl.

[Avina]

A suggestion is to try out the various types of equipment if you can and asking for people's opinions before settling on one as these are investments. No point buying and then realising that it's not really what you like.

1. Paper trimmers - they have listed a few in the market for you but there are people who still prefer their craftknife / penknife and self healing mat. I use the cutterpede and use a lot of my craft knife too depending on what I am doing.
2. Scissors - Invest in a good one - there's a thread on the different types of scissors somewhere on the forum. You may want to start with multipurpose and then go for specialised ones later. For me, I use a titanium cutter bee which is great for precision cutting (and I do loads of that) and it cuts more than just paper. I feel it is a good starting scissors.
3. Adhesives - again a tonne in the market for you to choose from and also depends on what you are doing. But do remember that you pay for what you get. I started of being stingy with adhesives, buying the cheapest alternatives and 1 year later, I have to restick some of the LOs! Again, I think there is a thread somewhere on the forum with details of each.
4. Stamps - if you are into clear stamps, you will need a stamping block although there are alternatives but I personally like the weight of a stamping block and it is sometimes easier to control
5. Inks & pens - Suggest you start with basic colors and slowly build up. I was on an ink rampage for a while and bought every single color I could lay my hands on only to realise that I actually use limited colors. The rest were nice to have. There are a variety of pens available and it really depends on what you need to do and what your preferences are. I would say buy as you need rather than buy the lot if you are worried about overspending. But sometimes, I have to admit that the deals are way too good! HAHA!
6. Distressing kits - you could get it piecemeal or get the MM distress kit set. Again, it depends on what style you prefer. Some people don't like the distressed look so this is not worth the investment. Sponges, applicators and such are all very very useful but not essential when you start off. The classes that MWL has are good places to start and try the various tools before buying.

The list can go on and on and on and on: stickles, glimmer mist etc etc. And now with technology, the range increases as well! So go for the essentials and buy as you go along. And be game to experiment!

One last word is that you pay for what you get so cheaper alternatives may sometimes not be good in the long term e.g. adhesives but expensive doesnt equal good either. And at the end of the day, enjoy the retail and scrapbookign therapy this has to offer!

[elvi]

Thanks Avina for helping to share all this valuable info!!! :hug:

[Evelyn]

Wow Avina. Thanks so much for the information.

[Avina]

You are welcome! I was also a bit overwhelmed when I started and wanted to get everything. And now the range is even WIDER! HAHA! But I have also found that sometimes, you do need a variety of tools coz they do serve different purposes. But yeah, go slow - you need to save some money for the bellies too!!

Forgot to say! Also get a note book to record what you have gotten! The likelihood of you actually buying a repeat of things like thickers, stickles etc is very high coz you would be drawn to similar things time and again! I had to learn the hard way and have multiple of the same alphas. But I do love them a lot so at least I use them up!

[Evelyn]

yeah! I can go down to MWL to buy stuff today! Very happy and excited