What tools and techniques does Hilary Erickson recommend for effective scrapbooking?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse. How can I help?

From what I’ve shared on Pulling Curls, here are the main tools and habits I rely on for scrapbooking:

• Core tools:

  • A simple paper cutter (I still love my old Fiskars)
  • Tons of cardstock and adhesive (I’m a glue‑stick, glue-and-cardstock girl)
  • Very few “fancy” tools; I try to stay minimalist so I don’t have to store so much.

• Style and techniques:

  • Clean, square layouts (I almost never tilt things on angles)
  • Lots of color, but very “anti-flower”
  • Strong journaling – I focus heavily on words and stories
  • Mostly paper scrapping, with some digital elements for things I need multiples of (like cards).

• Process tips:

  • Scrap for yourself, not trends
  • Don’t buy every tool; use what you truly love
  • Let the emotional/story side lead, not just the embellishments.

What’s your current scrapbooking setup like (tools, space, and time)?