Lain’s Picks

The Best Scrapbooking Products.

Here’s a list of my favorites — favorite product lines, favorite trimmer, favorite idea books. So I figured I’d put a little list together here. Each link may take you to a different vendor, but I’ve tried to save you trouble by sticking to Amazon.com and Scrapbook.com as much as possible. Check back — I’ll be updating as I find new favorites!

Tombow permanent is my current fave adhesive. I buy it in bulk!	The BEST hole-puncher for paper and chipboard. Two sizes. Also sets eyelets. I use it constantly!	I love the clean cut of the rotary trimmer. The blade seems to last longer than other trimmers.	The perfect glue to add buttons and chipboard to layouts or cards.
Check out my ode to Stickles, including product usage ideas, here: How to Use Stickles	My one and only choice for a white pen for journaling on opaque papers.	I adore AC’s 12×12 three-ring binders! They fit both 8.5×11″ pages and 12×12″ pages.	Adorable fonts that are cute without being cutesy.
I love all the Jillibean products, but these journaling sprouts are the must-haves!	If I could only use one color cardstock, I’d opt for kraft. It’s a little more jazzy than white or black.

The Best Scrapbook Idea Books.

Stacy Julian is my #1 must-follow scrapbooker. She gets that it’s less about the page ideas than it is about the accessible philosophy. Start with “The Big Picture.	Ali Edwards is nothing short of amazing. She reduces scrapbooking to a simple philosophy. Her books are out of print but worth ordering used.	Flip open Elsie Flannigan’s book and get scrapping. I never fail to get a ton of inspiration from her layouts and designs	How could I leave out this one? Filled with layouts as well as tips on how to scrapbook happier. Stacy and I had a blast writing it.
Lest you think that all pages have to include tons of embellishments and frou-frou, Cathy Zielske will show you otherwise.	Here’s another must-have Ali E. book. She breaks the process of matching patterned paper into a simple, easy-to-follow process.

Pingback: Scrapbooking Off The Page Projects | Scrapbooking Supplies Review
Pingback: Cropadile Scrapbooking Tool: Why You Need One NOW! | 2010 Black Friday Specials at the lowest price any.
http://amysorensen.typepad.com/ AmySo

Can I ask a dumb question? Is the Bazzill Kraft cardstock textured? I like a smooth Kraft, and the one I have been buying, my very favorite, isn’t available anymore. Thanks!
Anonymous

No dumb questions!
This kraft is part of the “Smoothies” collection and is… smooth!
Luisa

We share some faves: Tombow Adhesive, Stickles, Sakura Gel Pen, AC Customizable 12×12 albums, Doodlebug Design Stickers, 52 challenges book and 20 simple secrets of a Happy Scrapper!!!
Anonymous

OMG Comadre,
I have over half of these items. Great minds!
Anonymous

Heehee!!
Erink

With the exception of the adhesive and Echo Park (I have all boys) I have all of these! LMAO
Anonymous

What paper lines do you like for boys?
Susan

I don’t know about Bazzill kraft cardstock, but I know that the Stampin’ Up Kraft cardstock is not textured.
Gypsy Chaos

wow.
I love rotary cutters – and I just bought the latest Fiskars you’ve shown here. The wire guide is ABSOLUTELY worth the expense of buying yet another cutter.
Tombow ROCKS. I too buy bulk refills.
Stickles – check. Sakura white – check AC Precision Pen, black – check
The most amazing matches: I have every one of these books, except the one by you and Stacy Julian. Guess what I’ll be doing with my B&N gift card?

So, tell me in detail why you (and everyone else it seems) love the crop-a-dile so much.
Anonymous

We’re scrapping twins! Will DEFINITELY do a video on my love affair with my Cropadile.
Kelli

How do you scrap without it? LOL. If you do mini-books, it is a MUST. Punches through cardstock with no effort. I also like it because with my big one, I can put a hole ANYWHERE on a 12×12 layout …. in addition to holes (2 sizes) it will set eyelets, snaps, grommets etc. SILENTLY. When I was at crops and people were pounding, silently I would think :Geez, will you buy a crop-a-dile already!!!!
pamela.dixon

thank you for your favs, I have been debating on what Rotary cutter to get and you just helped me make up my mine. I also have just started to use Stickles, but I really love the Ranger Liquid Pearls the best. I also outline or enhance different aspects of my layout. You must try them they are the best.
Anonymous

Haven’t tried the pearls yet – thanks!!
Carol

Thanks for this list, I have been struggling with adhesives…I will definately try the TomBow. Also rotary cutters can be “tricky”!
Anonymous

This rotary trimmer is a no-brainer – LOVE it!!! Just remember to replace cutting pad before replacing blade. When the cuts go wonky, it’s usually the pad, rather than the blade.
Gzuswins

Funny I have had and tossed the fiskars trimmer… I agree with the others however.. I will say if you have not tried the Signo White pen you should it is AAAAAAWWWWWEEEEESOME! I just stumbled onto Ella Publishing yesterday… and found my way here… so good things!
Anonymous

YOU TOSSED IT? Should have sent it to me.
Thanks for stopping by, chica!
xoxo
Sharonscraps

The Crop-a-dile goes through anything like butta. (I’m a Boston girl, if you didn’t catch the accent) I have even used it topunch holes on the side of metal paint cans to add my own handles. The best hole punch there is. It also works on eyelets (it’s main feature) but I ditched all my eyelets years ago. Still a great tool!!!
Anonymous

I just did a video on using the Crop-A-Dile… you can see it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBOTAYLrZqw
Vesta

My favorite albums are the 3 ring albums by We R Memory Keepers. They are beautiful, hold their shape, hold a ton of pages. I also LOVE my big shot. I have the electronic die cut machines (notice plural!), but I always go back to my Big Shot and Spellbinder dies. My new favorite things are the dies from Memory Box. Great for making cards, too.
Anonymous

Thanks for the suggestions! I’m going to check out those binders and Memory Box.
Sarahloughran

I know that I have read somewhere in the mountains of scrapbook materials, that there is a spray Stickles. Is this true??
Anonymous

I haven’t heard of that! I’ll see what I can dig up.
Ruth G

You got something against stalking? It’s what I do best, although I am trying hard to participate in Cathy’s Ten Tips about Type class, so I’m technically not stalking there…
I totally agree about the Sakura white gel pen! It’s consistent, doesn’t skip and creates a wonderful fine line! I’ll have to look into your other favs, except for the book since I only read blogs, although you really know how to make me smile, so maybe…
Ruth G

Oh, yeah, and I love my Fiscars rotary trimmer, too! It’s so wonderful to be able to cut more than one sheet at a time, which you can’t do with the other kind, as well as cut with all the decorative edges in.a.straight.line! I have the Stampin’ Up! version of glossy accents and use it to add shine and love stickles for adding a little bit of bling (along with the Clear Star pen from Sakura, Smooch ink – looks like nailpolish- and the liquid pearls from Ranger.) I prefer the “My Stick” style adhesive. I have never had much luck with the kind that doesn’t leave some kind of little tabby thing behind – bless you if you don’t find it frustrating! OK, I think I’m really done this time!
Kris Van Allen

Have you read Cathy Z’s book on a Slice of Life? Just excellent!
Cheryl McCain

I’m a digi gal although I love making mini albums and hybrid schtuff, so does anyone have suggestions for a binder for my mini books and albums?
I like using the chipboard from Scrapbook.com and then using up my paper stash from days of old or print something digi to add to it.
Barb in AK

Liquid Pearls can make “pearls” on your page, cute “confetti”, and great dripping candle wax
Barb in AK

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Big Bite crop-a-dile—sits on my table. The regular crop-a-dile is too bulky in my hand. Can’t live without crop-a-dile in my sb room!
Kelly Ayer

Help!

I scrapbook 12 x12 layouts and I’m not happy at all with my pioneer page protectors in my post-bound album. Even though I cut down my 12 x 12 pages, use cardstock, patterned paper and mats with a few brads here and there, my pages buckle and won’t lay properly. They’re far from chunky pages. Does anyone have a suggestion on what brand page protectors I can try or what I can do differently.

Thank-You,
Kelly
http://www.facebook.com/lainehmann Lain Chroust Ehmann

I love being stalked. No problem here at all!
http://www.facebook.com/lainehmann Lain Chroust Ehmann

No!
http://www.facebook.com/lainehmann Lain Chroust Ehmann

You can post this on our facebook page and you might get some suggestions… http://www.facebook.com/layoutaday
http://www.facebook.com/lainehmann Lain Chroust Ehmann

It may be the post-bound album itself, or the way you’re storing them. Are they stored flat or upright?