A Complete Guide to Scrapbooking Tape

Scrapbooking is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling hobbies that you can pursue. Aside from the fact that you’re preserving the memories that are important to you, it allows you to be creative and artistic. While many people initially get into scrapbooking just because they want to find a way to display and preserve family photos, they quickly fall in love with the artistry of it.

Sadly, scrapbooking has fallen somewhat out of fashion due to the rise of technology. With it being easier than ever to upload and save our special photographs online, some people don’t see the point in scrapbooking anymore. While digital photo storage can be great, nothing beats the beauty and personalization of a scrapbook. Here’s everything you need to know about the art of scrapbooking.

The Essential Tools and Materials

There are a few essential tools and materials that you'll need to get your start as a scrapbooker.

Scrapbooking Tapes

Don’t let your memories decay or fall out of place. The wrong scrapbooking tape can cause your papers and photographs to discolor or even disintegrate. That’s why all  archive materials need to be acid-free and stable under multiple conditions.

You need adhesives that will keep pictures and ephemera secure over time. Scrapbooking tape should be discreet, photo-friendly, and strong.

Tape Jungle carries scrapbook tape made by  Alanson Products, industry experts with decades of experience. Alanson supplies everyone from crafters to aeronautical engineers with the high-quality tape they need.

Our tape is safe to use with all of your treasured photographs and any other elements you place on the page. We offer tape designed for use with an  adhesive transfer gun (ATG tape) and double-sided polyester tape in a variety of strengths and thicknesses.

Standard ATG Tape (56720)

It’s difficult to beat ATG tape and guns for both efficiency and performance, and 2.0 mil (0.052mm) acid-free ATG tape made by Alanson Products is the industry standard. Hundreds of customers have left five-star reviews praising both the tape and its price.

Quickly roll tape on the back of photos and other memorabilia and set them in their desired positions. This tape satisfies the most discerning professionals, but the ATG tape dispenser is easy to use, even for kids.

You can use ATG tape on  many different materials, including:

• Paper
• Metal
• Vinyl
• Cloth

Professional framers are also a fan of this tape, and use it to set mat boards and dust covers.

This tape is reverse wound and has the backing on its underside, allowing the ATG gun to automatically rewind the gold siliconized paper liner while dispensing only the tape. You can dispose of the liner, neatly tucked away inside, at your convenience.

The glass-stabilized acrylic adhesive transfers cleanly and has excellent adhesive properties. It can stand up to ultraviolet light and is resistant to temperatures from -22℉ to 230℉. For short periods, it can endure up to 284℉.

With peel adhesion — the degree of force necessary to remove the tape — of 22.8oz/inch, it’s suitable for most paper projects, picture framing, and light product assembly.

You can buy the  Standard ATG Tape in multiple widths and volumes:

• ¼” (6mm): Available as 12 rolls, subpacks of 24 rolls, and cases of 144 rolls
• ⅜” (9mm): Available as 12 rolls and cases of 96 rolls
• ½” (12mm): Available as 12 rolls and cases of 72 rolls
• ¾” (18mm): Available as 12 rolls and cases of 28 rolls

While most of the rolls have the standard six-hole core, we also offer rolls of the ¼” (6mm) tape that fit the ATG Pink Glider or 714 dispenser (available in any of the same amounts).

Rolls are 36 yards long.

Professional ATG Tape (56722)

The Professional ATG Tape blends all of the advantages of the Standard ATG Tape with even more tack and adhesion. It is also a 2 mil (0.052mm) glass-stabilized acrylic adhesive transfer tape.

After one minute, the Professional ATG Tape has peel adhesion of 44.8oz/inch. After being left on the surface for 24 hours, the peel adhesion increases to 54.8 oz/inch.

Pro ATG Tape can handle more difficult surfaces such as laminated films, invitations, and metal foils.

You can purchase the  Pro ATG Tape in the following widths and volumes

• ½” (12mm): Available as 12 rolls and cases of 72 rolls
• ¾” (19mm): Available as 12 rolls and cases of 48 rolls

All of the above are available in 36-yard rolls, but you can also order the ½” (12mm) in 60-yard rolls (likewise in packs of 12 or cases of 72).

Heavy Duty ATG Tape (56750)

When you need the strongest adhesive, you can level up to the Heavy Duty ATG Tape. This 4.7 mil (0.120mm) glass-stabilized acrylic adhesive transfer tape has an incredibly fast tack, setting quickly as you roll it off the brown siliconized paper liner.

But its real claim to fame is its peel adhesion. After one minute, the Heavy Duty ATG Tape has peel adhesion of 77.7 oz/inch. After twenty-four hours, that increases to a whopping 105.1oz/inch.

You can purchase the  Heavy Duty ATG Tape in the following widths and volumes:

• ¼” (6mm): Available as 12 rolls and cases of 144 rolls
• ½” (12mm): Available as 12 rolls and cases of 72 rolls
• ¾” (19mm): Available as 12 rolls and cases of 48 rolls

All sizes and amounts are available in roll lengths of either 18 yards or 36 yards.

Double Coated Polyester 3.4 Mil by Roll – Clear (51114R)

We also offer individual rolls of double-sided tape — 3.4 mil double-coated polyester wound on white siliconized paper.

The aggressive rubber adhesive sticks quickly to surfaces. Once bonded, it stands up to extreme humidity and moderate temperature fluctuation.

Unlike some rubber adhesives, this tape is environmentally friendly and complies with all policies restricting the use of hazardous substances.

It has incredible peel adhesion at 120 oz/inch, making it a strong choice for projects that require a little extra bonding power.

We sell  Double Coated Polyester 3.4 Mil Tape in the following widths:

• ¼” (6mm)
• ⅜” (9mm)
• ½” (12mm)
• 1” (12mm)

All rolls are 60 yards long.

Double Coated Polyester 7.6 Mil by the Roll – Clear (54123R)

This 7.6 mil tape has an extremely aggressive, high-tack, high-shear acrylic adhesive and a dimensionally stable red polypropylene liner. It’s the best choice for precision die-cutting and other applications in which stability and security are critical.

It has excellent resistance to:

• Aging
• Ultraviolet light
• Water vapor
• Temperature (up to 320℉ long term, 356℉ short term)

In addition, it has good plasticizer resistance.

The tape can stand up to heavy weights as well as harsh environments. After one minute, it has peel adhesion of 88oz/inch. The tape itself is as strong as the adhesive, with 9.3 lbs/inch tensile strength and 50% elongation.

You can purchase  Double Coated Polyester 7.6 Mil Tape in individual rolls of the following thicknesses:

• ¼” (6mm)
• ⅜” (9mm)
• ½” (12mm)

All rolls are 36 yards long.

Scrapbooking Paper

Scrapbooking paper can refer to a few different types of paper. You’ll almost certainly want to use card stock, which is the thick and durable paper product used to construct the actual page of the scrapbook. Then, you can invest in lightweight papers that feature attractive patterns, textures, and designs. The lighter papers are used to create frames, accents, shapes, and other motifs when adhered to the card stock with glue or tape.

Scrapbooking Embellishments

The sky's the limit when it comes to scrapbooking embellishments! This term can refer to anything from ribbons to buttons to metallic decals. When it comes to scrapbooking, there aren’t any rules on what can or can’t be an embellishment. For example, some people will use a scrap of an infant’s clothing or a corner of a blanket as an embellishment when creating a baby book, creating a special touch that’s both visually appealing and sentimental.

Cutting Tools

While beginner scrapbookers will likely be fine with just a basic pair of scissors when they’re first starting out, more advanced crafters will opt for paper-cutting tools or die-cutting machines, which allow you to create intricate designs and shapes. However, since scrapbooking is a lifelong hobby, don't feel you need to buy everything all at once! For beginners, sturdy scissors and a simple tape dispenser are really the only pieces of "machinery" that you need.

Choosing a Theme and Layout

Choosing a theme is where you get to let your inner artist shine. Your theme may be as simple as a basic color scheme, or more complex, such as a winter or floral theme. While you should let your creativity run wild, it’s a good idea to stick to at least a basic theme from page to page. This ensures that your scrapbook tells a consistent story.

As for your page layout, this is where you can be a bit more clever. While some scrapbookers prefer to stick to a single- or double-page layout throughout, most agree that you can play with your layout from page to page provided that you stick to your overall design theme.

Arranging Your Memories

The difference between a scrapbook and a simple photo album is that a scrapbook is meant to tell a story. This is often accomplished by choosing a theme; for example, instead of just creating a scrapbook that features an array of photos of your oldest child, the scrapbook would tell the story of an important time in their life, such as from the first day of kindergarten to their graduation.

Try to arrange memories in chronological order. Think of yourself like a novelist or a movie director. You wouldn’t write a novel or make a movie by just scattering all the different scenes haphazardly! By presenting your memories chronologically, you can weave a better narrative and turn your precious real-life memories into a beautiful story.

Creative Use of Scrapbooking Tapes

While the tapes mentioned above are clear and meant for discreetly adhering photos and embellishments to your pages, you can also use colored tape to give your scrapbook some pizazz. Remember, it’s essential that you stick to acid-free tape to best preserve your pictures and memories. Thankfully, we offer brightly colored Gaffer Tape that can be used to create borders, outlines, and any other fun tape designs that can add a charming finishing touch to your pages.

Tips and Tricks for Successful Scrapbooking

Don't let hobby purists clip your wings creatively - while there are some technical rules to follow when it comes to scrapbooking, such as using acid-free materials, there's no "right" or "wrong" way to bring your vision to life. Here are a few extra tips to help you when you first enter the world of scrapbooking.

• Look for Inspiration - You're not sending these scrapbooks off for professional publication. Hence, it's okay to "plagiarize" a little bit. Feel free to look for inspiration for things like colors, themes, layouts, and designs on websites like Pinterest and Instagram.
• Join Groups - This doesn't have to be a solo hobby! Check your local neighborhood groups or social media for scrapbooking circles, which are a fun way to not only learn about the ins and outs of scrapbooking, but make new friends in your community as well.
• When in Doubt, Google - It is rather important you avoid using adhesives or paints with acid bases, as they really can cause damage to your photographs over time. Anytime you're in doubt about whether or not an adhesive or material is safe to use, it's best to Google or reach out to the manufacturer. (If you purchased your tape here at Tape Jungle, we're always happy to assist with any follow-up questions you might have!)

Ready, Set, Scrap

Don't let anyone tell you that scrapbooking is a bygone hobby. This is a beautiful way to create treasured mementos for your family, in addition to allowing you to express yourself artistically and begin a truly fulfilling hobby.

At Tape Jungle, we're always excited to help you find the high-quality tapes you need for all of your scrapbooking and crafting needs. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you make your artistic vision a reality.