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

My advice to a new scrapper, or even to myself when i am in the store with all of the great supplies i love so much, is to not buy-buy-buy. once your pages get started they really need little amounts of "stuff" and more of you and your family and your memories.

I am a new scrapper...and the best advice that was given to me was to follow my heart...not what everyone else is doing.

These giveaways are amazing! To a new scrapbooker I would say don't feel like you have to scrap chronologically. Pick your favorite stories and go with it. Also, use three ring albums so you can put old stories in later without a big pain.

DO NOT be intimidated by others awesome craftiness... everyone's style is different, as I'm learning from my awesome sis-in-law, and just do what YOU want to do on each of your pages... I wish someone had told me about acid free glue that has a long life!!!... older books are getting messy and pics and embellishments are falling off!
I say ANYONE can scrapbook, these collections are a very important way to pass on your memories to your prodigy! GOOD LUCK!
And THANKS to Ali for just being awesome!

sometimes simple is best - just focus on telling your story with your perspective. Don't worry about getting the newest of everything. Start small, find your style, and trust yourself to tell your story.

I wish someone had told me that starting is 50% of the work. just get down on the floor or desk and create stuff. and I wish someone had told me that the process is more important than the outcome (even though I like looking at the pages too of course) - for me it truly is. being creative!

My advice would be to work at your own speed and your own level, don't think that there are set ways of scrapping, do your own thing.

I'm a digital scrapper, so I would suggest to give digital a try - at first it might be intimidating, but it is so much fun! I would also suggest to keep organized from the start, as it is difficult to go back and organize after the fact. Digital scrapping is wonderful, since you can purchase one thing and then use it over and over and over again.

My advice would be to not feel like you have to scrapbook every picture or every event! You will always feel "behind" if you try and scrapbook everything. Also, use supplies you have and not feel like you have to buy all the latest and greatest products!

My advice would be to only scrap the things that really speak to you, no matter what they may be. I didn't scrap my child's first tooth or first step, but I recorded the first story he ever told me, and his first bathtub mohawk. Don't let anyone else tell you what memories of yours are important. And don't make scrapbooking another "chore." This is supposed to be fun, not another thing to be "behind" on!

My advice is keep it simple. Just scrap what makes you happy and put the rest in photo albums.
Love the camera strap and the Soda Pop line.

Oooh! This is a fun one! My advice is not to buy multi-colored cardstock packs. Instead buy plenty of single sheets of paper in neutrals and in your very favorite colors because that's all you'll use anyway. I've still got turquoise and lavender and glowing orange paper in my stash from 8 years ago.

The best advice for me was not to get caught up in all the "stuff" and "trends" scrapbook what you want. There is always going to be new product coming out, stick with what you love, no matter if it's a couple years old.

I wish someone had told me that it was o.k. not to scrap EVERY picture you have!

For the new scrapbooker--I would say enjoy the process! Don't be overwhelmed with all the product out there. Gather your photos, write down your story, then add to it whatever makes it meaningful to you.

My best advice is to just enjoy it and don't feel guilty about taking time to scrap! Lisa L.

What I wish someone would have spent more time teaching me is how to organize the tons of photo and digital pics I have. I sometime feel so overwhelmed that I don't know where to start. I am also a perfectionist and feel that I should scrap chronologiacally--NOT TRUE.

I started scrapping about 15 years ago, and I really wish someone had told me not to cut out people's faces/bodies with decorative scissors.

Great giveaways!
I always tell new scrappers the following: There is no right or wrong - if you like it and it tells the story, that's what counts; and, other than the basics that you have to have - try new products at crops or conventions before buying. I've wasted so much money buying the "latest and greatest" only to find out it really wasn't.

My advice is to keep it simple. Your pages don't have to look like masterpieces. Do what makes you happy.