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The important part is to get the pictures with the story and have fun in the process. It isn't a chore, you don't need to document everything, photo albums are still perfectly ok to use - just enjoy the fun of playing around with your photos and words, the papers and colors and textures, and know that you are making a gift of your memories to yourself first. So long as you enjoy the process, and finish page by page, the outcome will please and surprise you and everyone else who gets to enjoy the fruits of your efforts.

Find your own style. Tell the story behind the pictures. You do not have to scrap all your pictures. Enjoy the process

You don't have to scrap every picture - just the really good ones that tell the story.

I really can't just pin down one thing. I supposed I could write a whole blog on stuff I wish people had told me before I started. Scrapping doesn't have to be perfect 100% of the time! You don't need to go out and buy every scrapping product/tool! Trust me, I've spent way too many paychecks on stuff I could've lived without. And surf the web (especially Ali's blog!) for inspiration if you get stuck!

take time to figure out your own styly. . . what you truly like. . . the rest will fall into place :)

My advice? It's never too late to start! and to get over being so critical...you are creating for your family!!!

Just do it! Just start getting those pictures and stories down in some simple format. As long as you recording your memories there's no right or wrong way!

Just enjoy the journey and do it because you LOVE the creative outlet. Keep it simple!

The advice I wish I had been given was that there are no scrapbooking rules and that it's perfectly fine to not scrap chronologically. It was such a liberating feeling when I stopped trying to "get caught up" and instead focused on capturing the bits and pieces of my everyday life.

us your creative time scrapping the memories YOU want to scrap. all the other pictures and memorabilia can go in photo albums and binders just like they always have. record important stories and feelings, not just moments.

Spend wisely:
Don't rush out and buy all the "best" tools. Buy product as you need it. In the beginning I was so enamoured with all the pretty papers and embellishments and now I have a huge supply of "old" stuff I don't want to use because it is out dated.

As I begin the overwhelming project of trying to weed through the TONS of cute stuff I have bought over the years (just KNOWING i would "really use this!"), I can only echo what so many others have said...purchase wisely, with a specific purpose, and complete the project as soon as possible!

Don't feel the need to keep up with others. Don't buy everything, I bought so much stuff initially that I never used, I am much more selective now and have to love what I buy. Also, while detailed pages can be cute they can be overwhelming in an album, keep it simple.

My advice would be that you don't have to scrapbook every picture! I made some really crazy layouts with tons of pictures because I didn't know what else to do with them, but thought that I had to use them because that was what scrapbooking was all about. My husband gets annoyed when I only include one picture on a layout, but if that one picture tells the story I want to tell, then that is enough!

KISS - Keep it SIMPLE SCRAPBOOKING!!!

My best advice is to not take this too seriously! Have fun! Don't forget to enjoy making pages and writing stories. If it gets too hard you won't do it so have less expectations.

Don t put pressure on yourself; just be yourself and do not try to copy what you see in magazine; there is no right way..your kids will love what you do no matter what because it comes from your heart.

Pace yourself when it comes to purchases. You don't need everything all at once. Look at magazines and galleries to decide what you really like and are drawn too.

The best advice I got was to remember that you are just dealing with paper. If you totally destroy it, or hate what you've done, you can always start over with new prints.
I totally agree with everyone who mentioned keeping things simple. Also, put a date on everything, even if you hide it.

Use ring binder albums. They are so much more flexible than the style I started with. Since I am so Type A and want all my albums to match, I am stuck now.
Also, I agree about the chronological suggestion .... don't worry about the time frame! Scrap what speaks to you now -- whether it is photos from your childhood, or the 80s or last week.