Although everyone is impressed with the beautiful scrapbook pages shown in many of the magazines these days, may of us are stalled trying to get started scrapping. Here are some tips to KISS (keep it scrapbook simple).

Basic supply list:

• Album- I like the toploading post bound best- but ask someone who has several types or ask someone in a scrapbook store to explain the differences.  Don't think that expensive is always better and don't be afraid to spend a bit more for well made.
• Scissors- sharp pointed blades. If you are going to silhouette a lot of photos, get a really nice pair, like cutter bees from EK Success. I love mine!
• Adhesives. Some people use one kind for everything. I like photo tabs or squares for photos, skinny tabs or glue dots for ornate die cuts or tiny cut out letters, tape runners or glue dot runners for borders, photos and die cuts, mini glue dots are great for light weight embellishments and buttons. I don't like liquid glues very well but some people like them. Lots of people love the glue sticks for everything.  The glue pens are good for small paper embellishments, although I am too messy with liquids and pastes.
• Cardstock and decorative paper that is acid free or photo safe is just unbeatable for scrapbooking. There is a color and design for every photo ever taken or going to be taken in the future!!!
• Paper trimmer.  This is a must have. Don't waste time on a small one. Get a 12 or 15 inch trimmer right away. It is very frustrating trying to trim a 12 inch piece of paper with scissors! I like fiskars best but EK Success has a nice one and many of the office supply store have very nice ones to choose from. Again, ask around, see if you can try one out at the local scrapbook store or try out your friends paper trimmer.
• Pens for journaling.  Writing in your scrapbooks is the real point. Tell that story.  Watch for permanent, acid-free. Start with black. Add colors as you feel the need.
• Misc tools. Take it slow buying tools. Don't buy something just because it looks cool.  Many items might only be needed for rare projects. Wouldn't you rather spend that money making the memories that you want to preserve?

Everyone has themes in their lives. Birthday. Wedding. Birth. Holiday. Vacation. Try to think of things for photograph from everyday life and put it in your scrapbook.

• traditions in your household or family
• your neighborhood, town, school, work, places you go
• firsts (date, haircut, car, day of school, home)
• How-to (cook, fix a broken sink, wash clothes, mow the lawn)
• the way a child plays (tea party, vehicle lineups, barbie party, dress up, super hero imitation)

To start, find a few photos of one theme. Gather memorabilia, photos and supplies.  Always sort out the best of a theme. Pick out only the strongest photos and throw away any that you are not every going to use. Use a note pad to practice what you are going to write. Decide on a title. Write your journaling any way you like. Print it off your computer onto cardstock (Walmart has acid free in a pack for less that $5). Write directly on your page. Write on a piece of cardstock and tear the paper around the journaling or cut it out to put on the page. Arrange and rearrange your page until you are satisfied. Now glue every thing down.  Place your page into a page protector or slip on the page protector. You can even store pages until you get an album if you don't have one yet (keep in mind many sizes are out there, pick your album size BEFORE you make pages).

If you want to make your pages more interesting EMBELLISH. But always keep your photos and journaling as the focal point. If you look at your page and see all the pretty things but don't hardly note what the photos are showing your may have gone to far. KEEP IT SCRAPBOOK SIMPLE

Some embellishments are: Stickers, ribbon, buttons, die cuts, rub-on transfers, stamped images or words, the list is long and you will come up with your own. KEEP IT SCRAPBOOK SIMPLE and Happy Scrapping!!!