Scrapbooking 101: Tools and Tips to Get Started

After years of family celebrations, vacations, and holidays, we're sure you've made plenty of memories. Make those moments last for years to come with special keepsake scrapbooks for you and your grandchildren. Plus, you don't need to be particularly crafty or buy expensive materials to preserve photographs, art work, and other precious documents.

Read on for the basic tools and tips to get you started.

First things first—you'll need a scrapbook to get started. Your local craft store will have plenty of options, but no matter what you choose, make sure that the book comes with paper that will protect your photos and other keepsakes from deteriorating over time.

A tried-and-true brand is Kolo, which makes memory books in a variety of colors and sizes, plus, their pages, which will serve as the backdrop for your photos, are acid-free—perfect for your archives.

When you have your scrapbook and your photos ready, you'll need a strong adhesive to make sure everything stays in place on the page. Skip the sticky white school glue and opt for Glue Dots. Designed specifically for craft projects, Glue Dots won't have an adverse affect on your photos or materials. Plus, they come in an easy dispenser to keep mess to a minimum.

Create the perfect backdrop for your memory pages with customized paper. Your local craft store is bound to have dozens of paper options to choose from in a variety of designs.

The standard size is usually 12x12, so make sure your scrapbook matches if you'd prefer not to cut them down. While these papers aren't required—most scrapbooks come with plain white or black background papers—they serve as an easy way to add color to your book.

Once you have your book, adhesive, and paper, the last basic tool is scissors. Sharp scissors should be able to provide an even cut through paper and photos, but bigger projects may require a paper cutter. Fiskars makes a paper cutter sized for scrapbooking projects, so it won’t take up too much space on your shelf.

One of the easiest ways to adorn your scrapbook is by using rubber stamps and lively, colorful inks. Stamps range in size from very large (for backgrounds and borders) to small (for accents). For example, to accent a page dedicated to the birth of a granddaughter, you might want to use a baby bottle or "It’s a Girl!" stamp.

Stores like Michael's and Joanne Fabrics will have tons of stamps in different designs, from basic stars and hearts to ornate landscape settings. You will also be able to find a wide variety of colorful ink pads. Plus, many holiday stamps can be recycled for other craft projects, like cards and gifts.

Create a merry display of memories by adding accents and borders. One way to do this: Skip the scissors and pull out the puncher. Hole punches have come a long way—now they can create shapes like hearts, stars, butterflies, bears, and more. Queen of crafts Martha Stewart has her own line of punchers that will create beautiful borders on paper, from ric rac to scalloped.

As you compile photos and other keepsakes (movie stubs, sports tickets, etc.), organize them into themes or events that you can build pages around. Then, when you hit the craft store, make sure to browse the sticker section for sets that match.

Jolee's makes sticker sets for just about every occasion, from birthdays and holidays to vacations and sporting events. Look out for their dimensional collection to give your scrapbook depth.

Now that you have all of your supplies gathered and you're ready to assemble your scrapbook, take some time to mock up the layout of each page before you start gluing things down. This will help limit mistakes and make sure your memories are preserved perfectly.