By Cherry 2026
Call it scrapbooking, junk journaling, travel book, or just journaling, if you’re pouring yourself or your experience into a blank page, these things are a must, and this is coming from a person who does all those hobbies. Scrapbooking is such a fun hobby that isn’t like most, and it’s mainly because you are filling each page for your sake, and there is no reason for you to be better other than for yourself. There is no such thing as a scrapbook competition, and there is no reason for you to make it pretty, cause it’s your book and nobody can say anything about how good or bad it is, since there is no reason for you to improve, but of course if you do want a scrapbook to decorate and feel whimsical in, then you’ve stumbled upon the right blog
1. The Book
I didn’t think this would matter that much at first. It’s just a notebook, right?
Wrong.
The book you choose affects how you scrapbook, from the size to the pages that you will flip through. It’s mostly for aesthetic purposes, but also for convenience.
Size
- Small (A6 / pocket) — easy to carry, great for quick journaling
- Medium (A5) — more space, better for collages and bigger layouts
I personally prefer smaller ones for everyday use, but if you like decorating more than writing, A5 is usually the safer choice.
Page Type
This depends entirely on your style:
- Blank → best for scrapbooking and layering
- Dotted → a mix of structure and freedom
- Lined → if you like writing more than decorating
- Grid → useful if you like organizing things
When I first started, I used lined paper. I didn’t love it for scrapbooking, but some people do — so it really comes down to preference. After a while, I went on using blank, cause I find it more fun to doodle and paste than to write my heart out.
Paper Color & Style
- White paper → clean, simple
- Brown/kraft → more vintage, “junk journal” vibe
Also:
- Hardcover → more durable
- Spiral → easier to flip and less “precious.”
2. Pens & Pencils (You Will Use Them More Than You
Think)
Even if you think you’re just going to stick things and decorate, you’ll still need something to write with.
For:
- Filling empty spaces
- Adding little notes
- Doodling when a page feels too plain
I usually switch between:
- Pens (for cleaner writing)
- Pencils (when I want something softer or messier)
Just one tip:
Get something that dries fast.
Because nothing is worse than finishing a page and then accidentally smudging everything.
3. Glue Tape (The One Thing I Always Recommend)
If there’s one thing I would tell any beginner to get, it’s glue tape.
It just makes everything easier. You don’t have to deal with messy glue, nothing leaks in your bag, and you don’t have to wait for anything to dry. When you’re in the middle of working on a page, that convenience matters more than you think.
I use it for almost everything, like tickets, receipts, random scraps, and even photos. It’s one of those tools you don’t realize you need until you start scrapbooking regularly.
If you’re planning to get one, I’d suggest choosing a durable glue tape that lasts longer and sticks well, so you don’t have to keep replacing it. I’ll link a few good options here so you can see what I mean.
One of the best reasons to start scrapbooking is that scrapbooking does not need expensive supplies or even artisitic talent to start, cause the most important thing is to have a good ammout of the basic tools to start, just so the start of the scrapbook journey can be enjoyable for you. Don’t worry too much, just have fun and experiment till your heart’s content, cause even if you make an ugly one today, you’ll see that nothing has to be perfect, it just has to be there, so we can see ourselves struggle a little bit. ,
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