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It does NOT have to be perfect. I wanted all of my pages to look exactly like the pages I was seeing in magazines, and I was frustrated when they didn't. I wasted so much time and energy and, as a result, I never put a lot of stories down on paper.
Also--you don't need a "special event." I used to sit around and say, "I don't have anything to scrapbook about." It's about LIFE. Not perfection.

My best advice is to NOT buy everything, use what you have and go digital if at all possible...there are TONS of free templates or low cost digi stuff out there and it's FUN and doesn't take up a lot of space!
~ Kathy (Oregon)

My advice is to scrap what you love...and to scrap that love in whatever order you feel like. It is all about creativity not being caught up!

According to me this most important one: it is not necessary to force what does not succeed. It is not possible to form it from a must. Put it aside and continue the work later or following day. This works always at me. This is my advice :) I hope so was useful :)

Keep it fun! Take a break when you need to, even if it's a month.

The best advice is there are no rules you have to follow in Scrapbooking! You don't have to buy certain glue and scissors, you don't have to scrap only one size or in some magic chronological order.

I wish someone had told me that my favorite pages years later wouldn't be the ones with the best design or photography, but the ones that record little tid bits of life that we forget so quickly, like the way my son used to mispronounce words or what his favorite song was when he was three.

Don't worry about scrapping in order or having your albums organized. Scrap what is inspiring you at the moment, don't try to "keep up"

My advice would be to not worry what others say. Scrap what you want and how you want. as long as you are happy with your creation, go with it!

I would tell them to keep it simple and have fun!

Keep it simple. You don't have to buy every tool and embellishment.

Scrap life - not just moments. The future wants to see what you watched/ate/read/did not just how you celebrated birthdays.

Don't be intimidated by all the beautiful layouts. Just get in there and start playing around. You will grow as an artist as you go through the process. Buy the essential tools you need and just begin. Capture the stories first then focus on all the "bling".

My best advice is to be sure to tell the stories and write in your own handwriting. Your thoughts and hand-written sentiments will mean so much to those who look at your scrapbooks later....especially your children!

I would advise a new scrapper to go slow with buying supplies - at least at first (!). There are so many wonderful products available but as you learn and develop your own style and methods, you will find out what you love. If you buy buy buy at first, you may (will) end up with some items that you will look at later and wonder 'what was I thinking!'.

I'd suggest starting small. A little paper, a little embellishment. When I first started I got CAUGHT UP in all the new product I saw in magazines and thought I had to have it all. I'd stress about what color to use on a page or which embellishment to choose. I'd sit there for hours just to make one choice.

My best advice for a new scrapbooker.... you don't have to scrap everything, and you don't have to scrap in any kind of order. I tried to start at the beginning of my sons life and go in order through each and every milestone, holiday, and event. It made it too much like work. Just sit down, pick a photo that you really like, or a piece of paper you are dying to use, and just go from there. Remember, it's supposed to be fun!

would recommend to plan first on what pictures or theme to scrap and to buy only what is needed.... otherwise you will end up with 100s and 100s of paper like me... cheers,

Start with the basics. You don't need everything in all the stores. Just glue and go. No one is judging your pages and no one really cares that the photo isn't exactly lined up with the edge of the paper. Just have fun with the process.

My best advise would be to try to not to worry so much. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just scrap and enjoy finding your own style. Use sketches, templates and make an inspiration book.

Don't get caught up in trends - buy paper and embellishments that you love and reflect your own personal style and color sense. If you buy what really makes you happy in 5, 10 or 20 years you'll still love what you've created.

My advice would be that you don't need everything that comes out. Find a few things that you like and make them your staples. I love a circle stamp that I have, a few journaling stamps and my cricut. I have so many things that I bought at the beginning and never used. Think hard about the stuff you want to include on your pages. It has saved me a lot of money since ZI learned this. My pages are more about the stories than the things I can put on it.

My advice would be to see if you can be creative by using small chunks of time in your day, because it's hard to find a big chunk of time. Sometimes I don't get anything done in my scraproom because I feel like I need 2 hours to be productive. If I divide up the layout process into small tasks, then I can get something completed in between laundry and the 2 year old and dinner :)

My advice is to not scrap in order. Just do whatever feels good to you at the time. Thanks for all the great advice & ideas.

My advice is so similar to the others. Start simple. Focus on what you're trying to say, not what cool product you found at the store. (Well, most of the time. Sometimes that cool product can inspire you to keep telling your stories.)
And a good paper trimmer is a must.