Wednesday Sponsor Giveaways: Elise Blaha, ReVa, Studio Calico, & SheyB

I would advise not to go crazy on the supplies. Find a few good ones and create as you go. I bought a gazillion supplies at first and then didn't have the time to use them. I ended up selling many at yard sales, all the while wanting more of the new stuff...so take it easy on the supplies!

I wish I had someone remind me that it was okay to keep it simple...this applies to buying supplies and creating a layout. Stick with circle punches and one or two border punches. Choose 3 or 4 colors for a layout and "just do it." The extra stickers, emellishments, and do-dads can get overwhelming, even for the non-beginner!

Scrap at your local scrapbook store--you can get inspiration, ideas & assistance! I wish I had known about a paper trimmer when I first started. It is a scapper's best friend!!
I sure hope I win!

"You really don't have to have ALL of the cool stuff... there will be stuff that you like even BETTER when you're ready to work on something new!"

My advice would be to not worry about perfecting every page and just do it!

My advice would be to journal...and practice hand lettering on a scratch piece before you put them on your page.

nice giveaway!
i'd tell them how incredibly easy mini-books are, a GREAT place (and size) to start!

HMMMM, I guess dont hoard your supplies...I used to do this and then within a few months, I'd bought new stuff and the older stuff got left unused

My advice is to look through the magazines/websites/blogs to find out what styles you like and what you don't. Something will grab your attention whether a layout or some advice. Then replicate it. Will build up confidence and then before you know it it's all yours !!! Remember the focus is on the photos and the stories NOT what products you've used !!

I wish someone had told me that I could scrapbook 8 1/2 X 11 pages. It was the best change I have made in my scrapbooking. So much easier and convenient. I like how it forces you to edit yourself and really plan you pages beforehand.
ChanelD

Set up a personal scrapping space as soon as you can. Even a mini-space. If you don't have a place to do your creative work it ends up buried and not a priority.

My tip for any new scrapbooker would be don't be afraid to try something new and don't be scared to ask for help!
There is lot's of inspiration in small LSS, online, in magazines and just take it from there! Don't try and live up to others expectations... do what you love and that's all that matters! Everyone has there own style and so will you!

My advice is to not buy too much stuff when you first start.

My advice is to forget perfect and enjoy your own handwriting... every loopy messy bit of it.

Great giveaways! Elise's class is wonderful! My advice would be: just start a project and get scrapping. In the beginning, I often spent too much time waiting for the perfect idea, embelishment, etc. I had to put time limits on a page, just so I wouldn't have too many projects going at the same time.

My advice would be as long as you have pictures and stories, you'll always be able to scrap. Don't worry about buying all of latest and greatest and feeling like you have to be caught up. A journal and pictures and a few basic supplies are all you really need.
Thanks for the giveaway!

I wish someone had told me to just scrap when and what you feel! Don't worry about playing "catch up!"

I wish someone would have told me from the beginning that I really did not have to buy every scrapbooking supply under the sun...that eventually I would find my style and find what things I like to use versus the things I would never use...thank goodness for garage sales and ebay!!! 8 )

I wish someone had not told me the "rules" - the right or wrong way... and instead told me to just do what feels right.

Organize your photos first! Then start. Now I have a mixed up mess of photos that have been scrapped and ones that haven't. Also build each page seperate. In the very first days of scrapping I would build a page then flip it over and build on the backside. Duh, that was kinda dumb! But I didn't know better, this was about 15 years ago, there weren't many people scrappin' publicly like today!