Dear Lisa,
I would go for the following no matter what size album you are currently working on:
12 x 12 fiskars personal trimmer
1 set of the primary colors of pens -red, blue, black, yellow
1 set of the pastels colors of gel pens
1 border punch
The coluzzle cutting starter system-just wish I had found this when I first started, saves TONS of time.
1 corner rounder punch
1 pair of decoritive scissors, don't get anymore till you find out whether or not you will use them as this is the most unwanted item after you get going.
1 or 2 simple templates if you can't afford the coluzzle system of ovals or other simple shapes.
1 pair of REALLY good small pointed scissors.
1 exacto Knife
1 self healing cutting mat
A small assortment of colored cardstock in both primary and pastels
Patterned paper, die cuts, and stickers only for the photo you are working on at the time, until you have more money. Penny

AN ALBUM!!!!! LOL

Yep, Kelly she will need an album but I didn't mention it on purpose. A LOT of times only after a scrapper has be scrapping for a while do they decide which albums they like best. I figured it is a large investment and it might be best if she waited till she looked around at some different styles of them before choosing one. But rereading the list I did forget to mention page protectors. Those you can always use later to power scrap with so they are not a loss if your album comes with them. Penny

Kelly, I did get myself a nice album 12X12 and paid a pretty penny for it too....I couldn't believe how much it was, but that's what you get for living in a small town.

Penny, Thanks for the list, it will help me out when I go shopping this weekend. I thought about buying one of those books with the page protectors but didn't, now I wish I had as I have been asking around the pros and cons for starting with this one.

Oh well, have to start somewhere.

Gee Penny she just wanted a small list I started out with just paper and stickers. Of course 7 years later i have EVERYTHING under the sun for scrapbooking. Unlike Penny though i LOVE my decorative scissors and use em all the time and I dont like the coluzzel thing at all in fact i gave mine away. i would suggest a circle or oval cutter though. good luck!!!

Oh My God Tracy I can't believe you gave away your coluzzle!!!! I just bought one, and love it! Where in the world was I when you gave this away? Any more cast offs better head this way. LOL Love Penny

I think Penny's list is right on. We could recommend starting with inferior tools like templates, just to make her suffer the way we did when we first started, but in the long run she will discover the tools Penny listed are the best, so why not save her all the pain and agony! LOL

Maybe for your very first layout, you could splurge and buy a package deal that includes pattern and solid papers with matching die cuts and stickers. It can be so intimidating when you first start to make choices and cut pictures(not for me, I am one of those forge ahead and work out the details later kind of people) and to see a slick layout your first time can boost your confidence and creativity. I agree with everyone above about "primary" tools, I just know different things work depending on your personality. I started collecting supplies for several years before I actually sat down and did my first page. The first few years of homeschooling absorbed all of me and after my Mom died it was a HUGE blessing to have scrapbooking to get addicted to. I wish she could have seen my stuff. I just started a Heritage album for her. The black and white photo's I do worry about cutting and make copys to work on. Just starting to add toners and those new litle smudgy markers. You may want to check your local scrapping stores, they almost always have classes or open forums where you can use their tools or borrow from each other and buy papers, stickers, die cuts, etc as you go along. Kind of like running a bar tab*G* Good way to learn, share, make new friends and not break the bank! Mostly just have fun. My girlfriend started scrapping but was a wreck all the time that she was "doing" it wrong. I told her this probably was not the hobby for her, at least not now. I think she was relieved!