by Marijane Suttor

Created on: June 22, 2009   Last Updated: October 21, 2011

The pictures are in the drawer waiting for something to be more than just a pile of memories. Preservation is important and scrapbooking appears to be a fun hobby to take up. The problem with beginning scrapbooking is that it is difficult to know where or how to begin. These are several suggestions to consider when one wants to take up the scrapbooking hobby.

Attend a Scrapbooking Class

The first advice to all new scrappers is to test out the process by taking a scrapbooking class. Most scrapbooking stores offer special scrapbooking promotions and classes. During these promotions the scrapbooking store will often promote a particular scrapbooking design for a page. For a small fee such as $10, a scrapper can come in and put a page together under the tutelage of a professional. The professional has specific design elements that will appear on the page. All the new scrapper needs to do is bring photographs. This way there is no huge investment of money to test out the hobby. A person will know after this experience whether it is a hobby to pursue or not. This is also a way to learn how to scrap and to have instructions.

Don't Invest Too Much to Start

A common mistake for new scrappers is to invest huge amounts of money in random items only to discover many of the items go unused. Beware of spending hundreds of dollars at first on supplies. Only purchase the needed items for one book to begin with. There are also many kits on the market that come with the scrapbook, papers, and embellishments. Kits are a great way to begin without a huge investment of money.

Invest in a High Quality Scissors

The one item that a scrapper will reach for over and over again is a sharp scissors. This is one product that is worth investing some money in. This scissors should then only be used for scrapbooking. It is important that the scissors stays sharp for years of use.

Invest in a Variety of Adhesives

Every scrapper has preferred adhesives and some brands do not work as well as others. Don't purchase a 12 stick pack of glue sticks as a beginner. Purchase a couple types and work with them. If they work well, it is worth purchasing the product again. It is wise to have adhesives that add dimension such as glue dots, double stick tape, and then a roll on type of adhesive to begin. Make sure that the adhesive is archival quality to avoid discoloration years down the road.

Try an 8 x 8 Book

Another good way to begin is by trying to do a smaller book first. Books and papers come in

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