10 Scrapbooking Tools Every Beginner Needs (And What I Actually Use)
What tools do you actually need to start scrapbooking—and which ones are worth the investment? I’m Inessa Persekian, founder of Paper & Bling, and I’ve been scrapbooking for over 25 years. I’ve bought a lot of tools, kept the ones that genuinely improve my pages, and retired the rest.
This list is everything I use regularly and would recommend to any beginner. I’ve organized it from “buy this first” to “add this when you’re ready.”
The Non-Negotiables: Buy These First
1. A Paper Trimmer
A clean, straight cut is the foundation of a polished scrapbook page. Tearing paper by hand or using scissors for straight cuts will leave your layouts looking rough. Which is a great techniques but not always one you want to use. A trimmer fixes that instantly.
What I use: A 12-inch sliding trimmer is my everyday workhorse. I’ve used several brands over the years; the key features I look for are a self-sharpening blade, a clear grid for measuring, and a firm base that doesn’t slide around.
Beginner tip: Get a 12-inch trimmer even if you’re not sure you’ll do 12x12 layouts. It handles all smaller sizes too.
2. Adhesive Tape
This is the single most-used item on my craft table. You can find it under tear tape, double sided tape, adhesive tape roll, or double sided adhesive roll. I have also used many different tape runners over my 25 years and I’ve found that while they are easy to use, the adhesive doesn’t last and your projects may come apart over time.
What I use: My favorite is the 3/4 inch roll and the 1/4 inch roll from Scrapbook.com. I’ve tried many different brands and width and these remain my favorite.
Beginner tip: make sure you also have a tool like the Cricut picker to pull up the protective layer on the tape. It’ll save your fingers!
3. A Good Pair of Scissors
Even with a trimmer, you need scissors for trimming small areas, fussy cutting and general use. Do not use your regular home scissors. Craft scissors with precision tips make a real difference.
What I use: I keep two pairs—a larger all-purpose pair and a small, sharp-tipped detail scissors for tiny cuts.
Beginner tip: Look for non- stick scissors, this will be helpful when cutting stickers, adhesive or anything that is sticky.
4. Liquid Adhesive
This is a must have in your tool kit. Look for liquid adhesive that is safe for paper, dries clear and one that has a precision tip.
What I use: My favorites are the Nuvo deluxe adhesive and Bearly Arts. A 2 oz bottle is a great starter size and will last you awhile. You will need to buy the precision tips for both.
Beginner tip: Make sure that whatever brand you purchase, the metal tip is made from stainless steel so it doesn’t rust.
5. Foam Adhesive
Foam adhesive is a workhorse and can go under embellishments, photos, and paper pieces to lift them slightly off the page, creating visual dimension. They transform a flat layout into something with depth and interest.
What I use: I have a variety of sizes and shapes of foam adhesive on hand at all times. Once you start using it, you’ll use it on every single layout.
Beginner tip: start with squares or circles and build out your tool kit over time. You can also trim the foam in half if a smaller size is needed.
6. White textured cardstock
White cardstock is a must and a great foundational layer. It can also be used for adding photo mats, die cutting or for cut files. I love texture so true white textured is a must.
What I use: my favorite are American Crafts (which can be hard to find) and the white lily textured cardstock from Doodlebug Designs.
The Next Level: Add These When You’re Ready
7. Bling
Anything sparkly will elevate your layouts and add additional interest. I have a variety of materials including sequins, rhinestones, enamel dots, sparkly glue, shimmer sprays and more. You can add a little or a lot and there’s endless ways to use these.
What I use: I have them all and use at least one of these mediums on every project I make. I love scrapbook.com Pops of Color in Snowflake and Champagne. These are great basics. I also love the Gina K Glimmer Mist in Glittering Gold. For enamel dots, I usually use a matching set for the collection I’m working with.
Beginner tip: Start with enamel dots that coordinate with the paper collection you’re using and expand from there.
8. A Die-Cutting Machine
A die-cutting machine (like a Cricut or Silhouette) cuts shapes from paper, cardstock, and other materials using digital designs. It’s a significant investment ($200–$400+) but dramatically expands what you can create.
What I use: I have a Cricut and use it regularly for custom titles, decorative shapes, and repeat cuts. That said, you absolutely do not need one to start. Many beautiful pages are made with no machine at all. Buy this after you’ve been scrapbooking for a few months and know you love it.
9. Photo Printer
An at home photo printer is great to have and makes the creative process more efficient. While I do love the quality of professional prints like Persnickety Prints (their photos are magically water proof), printing on the go lets me be so much more creative and in the moment.
What I use: my favorite small format printer is the Epson PM-400 which prints up to 5x7. I use this for the majority of what I make.
10. Mixed Media Supplies
Mixed media can refer to a wide variety of tools, I mainly think of this as paint, stamping inks, and watercolors. There is a much broader range of materials but these are my tried and true.
What I use: I have a set of inks in all of the colors from Ranger called Distress Ink and Distress Oxides. I also have a set of watercolor paints from Michaels and a white acrylic paint marker for making paint splatters.
Beginner Tip: Before investing in a range of inks, start with simple ones like watercolors and paint pens. They are a smaller investment and are fun to try on projects. You just need a paint brush and water to use these.
What About the Fancy Stuff?
There are hundreds of scrapbooking tools I haven’t listed—heat embossing guns, stencils, die cutting machines and metal dies, and more. They’re all worth exploring eventually. But I’ve been doing this for 25 years and the 10 tools above still account for 90% of what I reach for on any given layout.
Start here. Learn what you love. Then expand intentionally.
Shop My Favorites
I’ve curated a list of my personal favorite products and tools here. Everything on that list is something I actually use and trust.