I use my paper trimmer A LOT! I just bought a circle cutter and I really like that also since as hard as I tried I couldn't cut a good circle. I have some Creative Memories supplies that I like and I have bought some from Michael's and Joanne's I think that you just have to try different ones to find your favorites.

Dear Mary,
First I would go to your local Dollar Tree and see if they have any of the more regular supplies you need. (See earlier posting about Dollar Tree.) Second, I would see if you could find a friend or a couple of friends to buy, and share supplies with until you have the cash for your own. That way if each of you bought half then you would have twice the amount of the things you need quicker. If this is not possible, then try and find a crop class in your area where they bring some of the supplies to the crop and let you use them free. This allows you to use different items, to see if you even like them before spending the cash on them. Don't let this company or that one, try and tell you their product is better than the others. Acid free is just that acid free, no matter what the price tag. The extra money involved in the pricer suppliers pays their salary and commissions, not necessarily for a better or safer product. I have in my supplies brands from ALL different kinds of suppliers and I like different tools from each. Get what you like, and find easy to use, not what someone else does. But most of all have fun, and get double prints. LOL Penny

I think you should do this craft for awhile before investing in any more expensive gadgets. I now have a circle cutter, oval cutter, and paper trimmer, but I have been doing this for two years, slowly adding to my cache of supplies as I go. I disapprove of people who spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars and then only make a page every six months! That isn't the point of this craft.

The best advise I can give to you as a new scrapper is read the 'To Crop or Not to Crop...That is the Question' string on here VERY CAREFULLY.:o) Also...Welcome!

Hi Mary.......I think a paper trimmer is a must. True you can trim with a pair of sissors, but you don't get the good straight and square lines like you need. What I like better than a circle cutter (I have one that I rarely use) is a template that has circles, ovals, etc...of different sizes. An easy way to cut circles with sissors is to get a pair of curved surgical sissors and cut with the curve. It works beautifly. All you have to do is hold the template over the picture and see what size you need to cut the picture. I've had my sissors for quite some time, but I've seen them at out door flea markets or at at a surgical supply house. As far as glues or tape cartridges I like both. Newspaper clippings..laminate it and then tape it in or lay it on the page and laminate it to the page. Either way works fine. I have all kinds of punches, but the ones I like best are the corner punches with a pretty design so when you lay the picture down it gives a nice pattern background. Like someone else said, it is also a good idea to go to a crop class and try some of the products to see what suits you best. Happy scrapping. Norma