Your first experience to a scrapbooking class or store can be a surprise. The variety of papers, adhesives, stickers and other embellishments—not to mention their expense—can be overwhelming. Here are some thoughts to keep in mind before you purchase your scrapbook supplies:

Go Slow- Try different products slowly until you gather your own sense of scrapbooking style.
Look for Photo Safe or Archival Quality. For preservation of your work, scrapbook safe materials such as acid-free papers, pens, and adhesives are recommended.

Have a budget. It’s tempting to buy tons of papers, embellishments, and other products to begin scrapbooking, but collecting too many products can be not only expensive but also over whelming. Make a list before you go shopping and purchase only what you think you’ll need for your first project.  Then determine that which you liked and didn’t like for your next trip to the store.

Get Excited. Select items that excite you. Think about the subjects, topic, or event you’ll be scrapbooking and purchase product that coordinates and will help to tell the story.

Bring photos. Taking photos with you to the store will help you choose color or print papers to coordinate with your pictures and provide inspiration when choosing embellishments for your scrapbooking project.

Be Trend Conscious. Don’t feel obligated to buy something just because it’s the latest trend. It also helps you to purchase only things you need, rather than everything you think is cute.