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

I wish someone would have told me that I don't have to be caught up. Some projects have a definite start and finish, but to say that you are caught up with your kids is putting too much pressure on yourself! Go with the flow and tell the stories you want to, when you want to and have fun with it!

Don't obsess about perfection. You will be more satisfied with your work if throw perfection out.

I wish that someone had told me early on (I did discover it later, thank goodness) not to worry about scrapbooking in chronological order. Just pick pictures that "speak" to you and your creativity will flow. Doing a page because you "should" bogs you down, both in your mind and on your page.

I love Shey B.!!!! The best scrapbooking advice anyone has ever given me, and I am a bigtime procrastinator, just start scrapping with recent photos and do not stress over all the photos saved up over the past 12 years!
Thanks!!
Michele B.

My advice would be to go with the flow try various techiniques - always have a go. If you don't like the LO or it all goes wrong at the end of the day it is only paper- no one was injured in the process. You'll know not to do it again! ENJOY yourself and enjoy telling your stories in your unique way

Buying a ton of stuff is not going to help you. Start simple and make/buy the embellishments as you need them. Having too many supplies to choose from keeps you from actually creating. You spend more time organizing or going through what you do have when you should be spending that time actually making something. Oh...and there is inspiration everywhere so keep your eyes open!

Don't overwhelm your photos with embellishments, the most important part of a scrapbook are the stories it tells.

Don't buy more than what you need to make a specific project. Shop with a list. Decide how much product you're willing to store. When you reach the limit, USE the stuff or GET RID OF IT. Period.
I work in a store and I can't tell you how many customers are paralyzed by the amount of stuff they have and the guilt they have from buying it. They are too overwhelmed to actually put photos on a page. This is NOT scrapbooking.

I am a new scrapbooker! I have learned so much from Elise already reading her blog and being inspired by her mini books. The idea of starting small has helped me.

i wish someone had told me that scrapbooking is different for everyone. there is no right way to do it. so don't get hung up on copying the LOs you see in magazines - just tell your story!

don't feel the need to start at the beginning. Start scrapping whatever pictures inspire you at that moment. Scrapbooking should be about having FUN, not getting "caught up."

I wish that someone had told me to relax, enjoy, and don't think that you have to scrapbook EVERY photo you've ever taken. The pressure almost made me stop at one point because it was too daunting a task. It isn't a task at all, it is an expression of yourself and a preservation of memories and stories. It is art. And it is FUN!

Don't think you have to have the fanciest and newest to get started, and when you do, just do what comes to you naturally. Don't try to compete with your ultra-talented friend, just be yourself and scrap you life's story. Also, keep notes along the way so you don't forget all the little important details that are so easy to forget!

The best advice is that there is no right way. You just need to capture the memories. Do not worry about doing it in chronological order, just start where you are inspired.

Two things---ring binders so you can have the flexibility to shuffle your pages around and come up with a budget and stick to it.

go to your local scrapbook store and have them help you choose out a small project so that you don't get overwhelmed...it's like starting knitting and you make a scarf.

I wish someone would've told me that it's okay to use patterned paper as a background! My first pages were all cardstock because I "thought" that was the right way. There is no right way...enjoy yourself!

my advice is to always be yourself, I would love to join the world of power scrapper and documenting the life of my baby for 4 months, I will be outside the design, I have a bit of supply, sufficient for the project that I have . (:

My advice would be "Just do it"; don't worry about doing it right, or perfect, or having the latest and greatest papers, tools, etc. Do what you feel, and use what you have!

I consider myself a starting scrapbooker and am still quite overwhelmed by all the materials out there. There seem to be sooooo much and of course there's just so much I can buy or use. I think I would have loved to have a sort of first aid scrapbook kit list and a simple mini album lay out to start with.