These are the absolute basics to get started.

Dad's
Tribute
Album

Before you get started, there are a few things you absolutely must have. Anything after this is just fluff. FUN fluff, but fluff nonetheless. To make a keepsake scrapbook album, you'll need photos, of course, but you'll also need an album to put them in, pens to do your journaling, paper for your pages and for accents, scissors to cut photos and paper, and adhesive to glue it all to the pages.

If you get hooked, and if you read this far I'm sure you will, you'll "need" a lot more, which I cover in the next section on Embellishments. But for now, this is all you really NEED to get started.

Album - There are several types of albums from which to choose, so select one that fits your project and the way you want to scrap. If you don't care what order to your pages are in, a strap hinge album might work. If you are meticulous about the chronological order of your pages and would want to insert a page with newly found photos, you might want to stick to a post bound album. Spiral bound albums work well for children or cookbook albums. The album that holds the most pages would probably be a binder album.
Pen(s) - Pens are a must for journaling and for doing decorative penwork on pages and diecuts. Look for pens that are archival quality and acid-free and that contain pigment ink because pigment ink resists fading much longer than dyes. I have CM pens, in fine, bold and round tip, and I use them all but the bold tips. I also have some Marvy double-tip pens, find on one end, bold on the other, but the fine is not as fine as the CM pens. I also have some brush/scroll tip pens.
Paper - Paper is the most popular type of embellishment for all scrappers, simple and lumpy alike. And there are so many types to choose from: cardstock, printed paper, vellum, mulberry, slick, textured, etc. But if you're just starting, stick with some simple prints and solid cardstock. Look for variety paper packs and build from there.
Scissors - While you'll find a variety of decorative scissors out there, I'm talking here about plain ole scissors. Get a nice set of sharp scissors with grips that are comfortable to your hand. If you have hand issues (aching, arthritis, etc.), you might want to look for those that have springs inside that will pop back out when you cut. Scissors with short blades are nice for intricate letter cutting.
Adhesive - Another variety! Look at the list below at several of the most common adhesives and buy the one you think might work for you. I use several types of adhesives; it all depends on what I'm adhering. The one caution I must throw out is this: Glue Sticks are very rarely "permanent." I was told that there are none on the market that are guaranteed to be completely permanent but I cannot confirm that. The glue stick adhesive will completely dry and separate from both the item adhered and the background. This I know from experience. Stay away from older rubber cements, regardless what anyone tells you.
- My favorite adhesive: EK Dotto Removable (formerly Hermafix Transfer) is a dispenser with a grid of little bluish dots that go on continuously and are temporary. The best thing about Hermafix Transfer is that you can remove the item you use it on and just rub off the dots. I use this on small embellishments, like letters or small diecuts or punchies, and to adhere my paper piecings to a background paper to scan for posting. The dispenser is refillable, which is also nice. I also use the Dotto Permanent (which is orange) which can be repositioned MAYBE once if you pull it up quickly enough.
  
  I was told in scrapbook classes and by scrapbook professionals that the Hermafix Transfer (temporary) would become permanent in approximately 36 hours so I wouldn't have to worry about things falling off. I contacted EK Success/Hermafix in February 2004 to confirm this and here is the response:
  
  Thank you for your inquiry. The removable (temporary) Dotto will not become permanent in 36 hours. The Dotto permanent is always permanent and the Dotto Removable is always removable.
  
  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
  
  Thank you and Best Regards,
  
  Tracey N. Herrmann
  Lead Category Manager
  EK Success Ltd.
- Creative Memories Tape Runner is a non-refillable dispenser with tiny strips of adhesive tape. You can run a length of these strips or be very careful and use one or two when you need to. I use these on larger paper pieces and photos. There are other brands of similar adhesive at crafts and scrapbook stores.
- Creative Memories Photo Splits are small 1/2" squares of double-sided adhesives with little blue paper tab covering one side. You put the little squares where you want the adhesive then pull off the tabs to adhere. These are on a long long strip of paper in a box, not a dispenser. I use these on photos and paper. The main problem with these is the removing-the-blue-tab step which takes awhile if you're doing a larger photo or piece of paper. Hermafix Vario is similar to this but on a roll inside a dispenser so you don't have any blue tabs to mess with; just roll on the little adhesive squares and go.
- Glue Dots are literally dots of sticky brownish glue on a strip of paper. There is no dispenser, but it's not a problem. This adhesive is EXCELLENT for adhering various lumpy embellishments, like buttons, fibers, and gems. To use, open the roll to the next available glue dot, press your embellishment to the dot, remove from the strip, and adhere it to your page. To use for fibers, try using a pair of tweezers to remove the dots and form into a string, adhere the string to the page, then put the fibers on top.
- Pop Dots are an adhesive that adds dimension to your pages by lifting the item off the surface of the page. Think weather stripping or foam tape, but cut into little dots. Put a pop dot on your embellishment or photo and adhere to the page.
- Tombo Monoadhesive is a liquid adhesive that can be applied and used immediately for a permanent hold or left to dry then adhered for a temporary hold. I've used this adhesive in Convention classes but have yet to purchase it.
- Adhesive sprays are available though I've not used any of them.

I can personally vouch for fontgod.com! Turnaround is very fast, usually
3 days, customer service is the best I've had in years, and the font is perfect!
If you're a scrapbooker, there's no better way to journal than in your own
hand and now you can do it on the computer! See a sample of my font
on my TIPS page.

Please sign my "scrapbook" so I know you've been here to visit! Thanks!