If you’re just starting down the scrapbooking road, and are bewildered by the amount and variety of products out there, I can help. You really only need some very basic tools to with which to start. I am going to recommend the general tool, and then tell you which brand(s) I think are the best.

Cardstock: 12x12

            Bazzill

            WorldWin Double Mates

12x12 Paper Trimmers

            Cutterpede by EK Success

            Any of the Carl Brand cutters

Scissors: short,  sharp-tipped

            Fiskers Soft Touch

            Tonic

            Cutter Bees by EK Success

Black Archival Pen/Marker

            Zig Millenium Markers in your choice of tip size

Adhesives: photo to paper and paper to paper

            Glue Dots (anything to anything)

            Tombow Mono-Multi Liquid Glue – paper to paper applications

            Thermo Web Memory Tape Runner – paper to paper applications

1 good basic idea book or magazine such as Simple Scrapbook's A Simple Guide to Designing Scrapbooks to get you started and give you ideas. It would also be excellent to work with someone on your first layout, in either a classroom or one-on-one setting.