You don't need as much as you think
Walk into a craft store and the scrapbooking aisle can feel overwhelming -- walls of paper, racks of stickers, tools you've never seen before. But here's the truth: you can make a beautiful scrapbook page with surprisingly few supplies. Paper, adhesive, photos, and something to cut with. That's really it.
Everything else -- the stamps, the inks, the dies, the embellishments -- those are what make it fun. They're what turn a simple page into something you'll want to frame. So let's walk through every category of scrapbooking supply, what each one does, and which ones are worth investing in first.
Paper: the foundation of every layout
Paper is where every scrapbook page starts, and there are two main types you need to know about.
Patterned paper is the decorative stuff -- florals, geometrics, plaids, watercolor washes. Most patterned paper is double-sided (different pattern on each side), which doubles your design options. Standard size is 12x12 inches, though 6x8 is increasingly popular for smaller albums and pocket scrapbooking.
Cardstock is the heavyweight solid-color paper that forms the base of your layout. It's thicker than patterned paper (usually 65-80 lb weight) and gives your page structure. You'll layer patterned paper and photos on top of it.
A single coordinated paper collection does more for your layouts than a drawer full of random sheets. When patterns are designed to work together, everything you make looks polished without trying.
The trick with paper is coordination. Random sheets from different collections rarely look good together. That's why curated paper kits exist -- every sheet is designed to complement the others. Our patterned paper and cardstock collections are built this way, with each month's papers designed as a cohesive set.
Adhesives: the supply that actually matters most
This is the least glamorous supply on the list, but it's the one that will make or break your pages. The wrong adhesive means photos falling off, paper warping, or bumpy surfaces where you wanted smooth.
Here's what you need:
- Tape runner -- your everyday workhorse for adhering paper to paper and photos to cardstock. Get a permanent one (not repositionable) for anything you want to stay put.
- Foam adhesive (foam squares or foam tape) -- adds dimension by raising elements off the page. Use it on titles, die-cuts, or layered embellishments to create depth.
- Liquid glue -- a precision-tip bottle for gluing down small embellishments, sequins, or anything a tape runner can't reach.
The number one mistake new scrapbookers make is using the wrong adhesive on photos. Rubber cement and craft glue can damage photos over time. Stick with acid-free tape runners or photo-safe adhesive for anything touching your prints.
Skip the glue sticks (they dry out and lose hold) and save the hot glue gun for other crafts.
Cutting tools: from basic trims to intricate shapes
At minimum, you need a paper trimmer for straight cuts. A 12-inch guillotine or rotary trimmer handles cardstock and patterned paper cleanly. Add a pair of detail scissors for curves and small cuts, and you're covered for basic layouts.
But if you want to level up, that's where die-cutting comes in.
A die-cutting machine (like a Sizzix Big Shot or Cricut) lets you cut intricate shapes from paper and cardstock using metal dies. Frames, borders, flowers, letters -- the design possibilities expand dramatically. If you have a Cricut or Silhouette, SVG cut files give you unlimited digital designs you can cut at home.
Our Cut File Shop has individual designs, or you can grab the Unlimited Cut Files bundle for access to every design in the library -- over 1,000 files for one flat price. We also release exclusive metal dies each month that coordinate with that month's paper collection.
Embellishments: the details that bring pages to life
Embellishments are the fun part -- the small finishing touches that give your layout personality and texture. There's a huge range to choose from:
- Stickers -- puffy stickers, chipboard stickers, alpha stickers for titles, enamel dots
- Washi tape -- decorative tape that's repositionable and comes in every pattern imaginable
- Die-cut ephemera -- pre-cut shapes, tags, frames, and labels ready to layer onto your page
- Sequins and gems -- small sparkly accents for a touch of shine
- Brads, clips, and pins -- metal accents that add an industrial or vintage feel
The key with embellishments is that they need to coordinate with your paper. Mismatched embellishments look scattered. Our Embellishment Kits solve this by including only pieces that match that month's color palette and theme.
Stamps and ink
Stamps let you add sentiments, patterns, and images directly onto your layouts. Clear stamps (also called photopolymer stamps) are the most popular for scrapbooking because you can see exactly where you're stamping through the clear material.
For ink, dye ink pads are the standard choice -- they dry quickly, work on most papers, and come in every color. Hybrid inks work on both paper and non-porous surfaces if you want to stamp on vellum or acetate.
We release a new stamp set each month designed to complement that month's kits -- usually a mix of everyday sentiments, date stamps, and small decorative images that work across different layout styles.
Color supplies: inks, sprays, and mists
Color supplies are where scrapbooking meets mixed media. These are optional but addictive once you start using them:
- Ink sprays and mists -- spritz over stencils or directly onto backgrounds for watercolor effects
- Watercolor pans or powders -- for hand-painted accents and backgrounds
- Distress inks -- for aging and blending effects on paper edges
- Shimmer sprays -- adds a subtle sparkle to finished pages
Our monthly Color Kits include coordinated sprays and color products matched to that month's paper palette, so the colors always work together.
Albums and page protectors
You need somewhere to put all these beautiful pages. Scrapbook albums come in a few styles:
- Post-bound albums -- pages are held by screw posts, easy to rearrange. The classic scrapbook album.
- D-ring albums -- work like a three-ring binder. Easy to add, remove, and reorder pages.
- 6x8 albums -- smaller format that's popular for pocket scrapbooking and quicker projects.
Whichever you choose, get page protectors -- clear plastic sleeves that protect your finished layouts from dust, fingerprints, and handling. They're cheap insurance for pages you spent hours creating.
Standard size is 12x12 for traditional layouts. If you're doing pocket scrapbooking, you'll want page protectors with divided pockets (3x4 and 4x6 slots are the most common configurations).
The shortcut: scrapbook kits
Here's the thing about buying scrapbooking supplies individually -- you spend half your time shopping and matching and second-guessing whether that paper goes with that sticker sheet. It's exhausting, and it's the reason a lot of people buy supplies but never actually make pages.
Monthly scrapbook kits solve this completely. Everything in the box is designed to work together -- the papers coordinate with the embellishments, the stamps match the theme, the colors all complement each other. You open the kit and start creating instead of planning.
A scrapbook kit gives you everything you need for a complete layout in one coordinated package. No hunting for matching supplies, no color-wheel deliberating -- just open and create.
At Hip Kit Club, we offer several kit options depending on what you need:
- Main Kit ($44.95) -- the full experience with patterned paper, cardstock, and exclusive embellishments
- Embellishment Kit ($32.95) -- focused on stickers, ephemera, and finishing touches
- Paper Kit ($21.95) -- just the patterned papers if you have embellishments covered
- Cardstock Kit ($22.95) -- solid cardstock in that month's color palette
- Color Kit ($25.95) -- ink sprays, mists, and color products
- Pocket Life Kit ($27.95) -- designed specifically for pocket-style scrapbooking
You can subscribe to get kits delivered automatically each month, or buy individual months when a collection catches your eye. See all subscription options here.
Pocket scrapbooking: fast, easy, and still beautiful
If traditional 12x12 scrapbooking feels like too much of a time commitment, pocket scrapbooking might be your thing. Instead of designing a full page layout, you slip photos, journaling cards, and embellishments into pre-divided page protectors. The pockets do the design work for you.
The supplies are simpler too: a 6x8 album, divided page protectors, 3x4 and 4x6 cards, and your photos. Our Pocket Life Kits include coordinated cards, ephemera shapes, and a stamp set designed for this smaller format.
It's the fastest way to get your photos off your phone and into an album you'll actually flip through.
Getting started: what to buy first
If you're just starting out, don't buy everything at once. Here's the practical starting order:
- Paper + cardstock -- you can't make a page without it
- Tape runner -- to stick things down
- Paper trimmer -- to cut things to size
- Photos -- print some favorites at 4x6 (you can always resize later)
- A few embellishments -- stickers or washi tape to start
That's enough to make your first layout. Add stamps, ink, dies, and color supplies as you figure out what you enjoy most. Or skip the guesswork entirely and grab a kit -- it's the fastest way to go from "I want to try scrapbooking" to actually making something.
Browse our February 2026 collection to see what's new this month, or check out the Cut File Shop if you have a cutting machine and want to start there.
