Everyone loves to document the special memories in our lives in a pretty way. Considering all the crafting supplies that are available, the many different ways you can arrange things together, and the great variety of moments you may choose to document, scrapbooking is full of so many possibilities. While this is an amazing world of creativity and joy, it can also sometimes be overwhelming for these same reasons. You may struggle to figure out what you should have on hand to scrapbook and what you should be doing with these tools and supplies.

That’s where scrapbook kits come in handy. The best scrapbook kits provide you with all the basic supplies you need to set up your scrapbook, as well as lots of fun decorative elements to bring out your creativity. With everything you need to provide you all in one place, you don’t have to make any more tough decisions. You are free to have a carefree, enjoyable crafting experience! However, before purchasing a scrapbook kit, there are a few things to keep in mind that will be helpful when you actually get down to scrapbooking. Here are five must-have items you should be looking for when purchasing a scrapbook kit.

1. Scrapbook Paper

The first thing you should check for is the item you absolutely cannot scrapbook without: scrapbook paper! Scrapbooking is primarily all about arranging different pretty papers together: papers in different sizes, styles, and forms. For your scrapbooking needs, look for pretty patterned paper, primarily sized 12” by 12”, but 8” by 11” papers can work, as well. Think about the colors, tones, and patterns that coordinate well with the photos and memories you want to record. Once you have got that done, choosing the scrapbook kit with the right paper for you will be a breeze.

2. Alphabet Letters

The next item to look for is something that may not come to your mind right away when thinking about a scrapbook kit: alphabet letters. Scrapbooking is not just about pretty sights; you need words, too, to express your feelings and jot down notes about the memories you don’t want to forget. Alphabet letters can help you accomplish this, especially if you don’t feel comfortable writing out your own titles. The letters can be plain stickers, 3D stickers, or even die-cuts. As long as you have these letters, you can personalize your scrapbook pages with bold titles, fun captions, and unique labels. The words will draw your attention to a particular section of your scrapbook page and connect it to your preferred theme. With alphabet letters, your scrapbook will look much more put-together than without.

3. Colorful Cardstock Paper

Scrapbooking is all about layering different papers together in fun, creative layouts. The more paper options you have in your set, the better. Some of the best scrapbook kits provide pre-cut papers in different sizes. These are ready-made for you to use as you wish. Look for the scrapbook kits with lots of variety, but also the ones that have coordinating paper styles to go together so your scrapbook doesn’t look all over the place. Use the papers for die-cuts, elegant borders, boxes to write your captions, frames, and more. There are truly so many ways you can use cardstock paper in your scrapbook, and you don’t want to miss out on this!

4. Labels

While scrapbooking, it can sometimes be hard to come up with witty captions for your pictures on the spot. Die-cut labels are some of the most fun scrapbooking supplies you can find in a scrapbooking kit. Not only can these labels add a fun twist to your scrapbooking projects, but they can also help focus your entire page onto a certain theme. They serve well as captions for pictures or specific memories that you had, whether it is related to travel, parenthood, adventure, a specific season, a memorable vacation, or any other theme. If you think your scrapbook is missing something, sticking a cute label onto the pictures or over the text on your page can make all the difference, so keep an eye out for these in your scrapbook kit.

5. Stickers, Stickers, and More Stickers!

Finally, the best thing to look for in a scrapbook kit is stickers! Everyone loves stickers, and you can’t go wrong with more stickers in your collection! Floral stickers, text bubbles, stick figures, heart stickers, banners, arrows, leaves, even cupcakes…the possibilities are endless. There is no end to the joy you can get from stickers, and any scrapbook kit is incomplete without some cute, pretty stickers to beautify the page. Make sure your scrapbook kit has enough dazzling and joyful stickers to help you create the scrapbook of your dreams.

Hopefully, this guide has been handy in helping you find the scrapbook kit that is right for you. Have fun scrapbooking!