pretty much all you need is a sharp pair of cutters, i recommend small ones, and cut the leaves back to the bud but not all the way, for all the left over cuttings that have resin on them, keep that, let it dry and use that for junts, blunts or cooking, keep the buds for bongs and pipes....
it is recommened by many to let trim all the unnessesities from the branch yet leaving the bud on the brand until it dries, i believe this helps with the bud sucking up the last of the goodness, not sure
as for drying, try dry ice, only takes two days to completely dry to smokability, no lie