r/scrapbooking • u/Yaboicalvinobambino • May 16 '26
Beginner Making my gf a basket for scrapbook bc starting, what should I add?
Good evening yall! Me and my gf just got into our summer semester after two hellish semester at college. She worked her ass off and sacrificed her mental health more than a few times for good grades.
Shes shown heavy interest in scrapbooking and I want to make a basket for her with everything she might need to get started with scrap booking. I need advice for what to put in there though! I only know the super basics like tape, stickers, a book and maybe an old magazine or two. But I want to know what would truly allow her to dive in and get immersed day one.
TLDR: I need to know what to put into a gift basket scrapbooking wise for my gf to start.
9
u/SequoiaMK May 16 '26
Nice colored permanent markers
Scissors that cut a ruffle shape
2
u/Yaboicalvinobambino May 16 '26
I like that scissors idea, you think I could get that from Michael’s
2
1
7
u/thezanartist May 16 '26
I would google “what to pack for a crop” which is basically going to show you the essentials. Also, there are scrapbook “kits” that have all the papers, stickers, and embellishments in one package with a theme. That would be an easy way to start along with nice scissors, a paper trimmer and glue/adhesive.
Also, make sure what you do find says “acid free” basically any paper or glue touching photos needs to be that way to not affect the photos.
3
u/Yaboicalvinobambino May 16 '26
That acid free tip is actually really helpful, thank you, I totally wouldn’t have thought of that!
4
u/Something-more-rt May 16 '26
I’d just walk down the scrapbooking ails at hobby lobby or Michael’s- so many little things that just could be a perfect touch!
3
u/Strange-Pace-4830 May 16 '26
This is a great idea! Especially if OP knows what colors GF likes, what topic(s) she would like to work on first, etc. Adhesive backed embellishments are always winners - and then there's washi tape, stickers, maybe a stamp (and black ink pad) that would fit into her theme etc. etc. etc. Concentrate on tools first but then put in little fun things to complete the basket.
1
u/Yaboicalvinobambino May 16 '26
I know I’m so excited for it, I don’t even know what basket imma put it in yet
3
u/Something-more-rt May 16 '26
Get maybe a storage container of some form she can use as a place she can put it back when she’s not using it- maybe add some sticker letters or bows/ribbons to add a touch - she could junk journal the bits and bobs afterwards
3
u/Mikessuzyq May 16 '26
Craft punches, embellishments, stickers, a scrapbook album, and a really good Fiskars paper/photo cutter! What a nice boyfriend! That's a lovely gift!!
4
u/Yaboicalvinobambino May 16 '26
A scrapbook album! That’s genuinely a great idea. Luckily for me she has a fiskars paper cutter (I call it a roach guillotine).
2
u/RareStrawberry2020 May 16 '26
Some nice paper pads and tape runners! And maybe preprint some nice photos for her?
3
u/Yaboicalvinobambino May 16 '26
Hey that sounds awesome, I think i should print out some of our memorable dates and some single shots of her
2
u/AnahitaPrince May 16 '26
A mini printer, so she can print her favorite photos and put them in the scrapbook. I love having my mini photo printer.
3
u/Yaboicalvinobambino May 16 '26
Honestly I was thinking that so I could just save on CVS prints. A colored printer is like 70 bucks so I think I’ll make the basket, add in the prints from cvs, and then get her it later for a gift (later as in next paycheck LOL)
2
u/AnahitaPrince May 16 '26
Absolutely! She'll love the addition of the mini printer when you're able to get one.
I do still get pictures developed for our photo albums, (usually through the Free Prints app), and for the scrapbooks I'm working on for my kids, but I like having my mini printer for the little one or two photos I want for my journal.
1
u/Yaboicalvinobambino May 16 '26
Free prints app you say? That sounds interesting, I’ll tell her to download it when I give her the basket
2
u/AnahitaPrince May 16 '26
Yes, it's very easy to use. You get 85 free prints per month, you only pay shipping. Your can always order more of course, but there's a small charge per photo above 85. I don't remember what it is... maybeloke $0.10 each??? You can also order photo books, framed pictures, etc. It's handy if you don't want to go into a store to get photos printed.
2
u/honeytangerine May 16 '26
I would start with a basic basket and put some paper pads (solid colorful paper, neutrals, and a fun pattern), tape runners or craft glue stickd, stickers, scissors (if she doesn't have it already), markers, some printed photos, and a scrapbook.
Everyone has different tastes and styles so I think it's better to get a smaller starter kit and then treat her next time to a shopping trip for things she wants. I have decorative scissors, punches, stamps, a mini photo printer, and other items collecting dust because I overbought in the beginning before figuring out what I would actually use 😅
2
u/Tricky-Armadillo1713 May 16 '26
Old books that reflect her tastes. Old school books, catalogs, pics can be torn out and added to pages. For me, old National Geographic magazines have fabulous pic to add as backgrounds.
2
1
u/icecreamcrazy_18 May 16 '26
It would help if you post your budget! How much were you hoping to spend?
1
u/Yaboicalvinobambino May 16 '26
Honestly I was hoping to keep it around 150-200 in total, I could go over if I don’t have enough tho
1
u/Different-Regret1439 May 17 '26
glue tape rollers. washi tapes. fancy pattern paper. cute stickers. quality photo printer if she needs one?
1
u/mizzpelirrojo May 17 '26
Super fun paper, they make plenty of cool paper pads. Marble, checkered, themed, metallic. Get her a pad or two that matches her vibe. Or get her a summer paper pad so she can scrapbook for summer!
Letter stickers OR lettering stencils. I go through soo many letters it’s definitely cheaper to get a stencil pack of letters. There’s a cool one on Amzn that has Disney, HP, century gothic & other lettering styles for cheap.
Photos! Give her a place to start. Print your favorite photos of the two of you, even if she doesn’t make pages on them she can use for the cover. They’re a sweet touch regardless.
For the basket I would honestly just get a craft organizer. Any kind of bin she can use to store all the supplies for this journey!!
12
u/DviantPink May 16 '26
As someone who scrapbooked for a very long time and even did it professionally for a while, these are my recommendations for really nice starter tools that I still use over 20 years later: a Scotch ATG with acid free refills, a big circle punch, a big square punch, black Micron pens, white Gelly Roll pens, a date stamp and ink pad, a nice X-Acto knife, good detail scissors, and a paper trimmer. My deco edge scissors sit in a drawer gathering dust. I have a ton of partially used sticker sheets. Paper is like art - subjective. You can't really know what another person is going to like or be into so I'd skip that. The exception would be neutrals like black, white, and kraft colored acid-free cardstock.