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

My advice is to remember that these are YOUR memories which means that whatever you want to say and however you choose to express your layout is the "right" way. Life is messy and so is scrapping. Just jump and and be yourself.

My advice is to remember to journal--so many friends of mine leave that part for later and they never get around to it. Pictures are wonderful, but if there is no story behind them then they don't mean much, especially as time goes by. Also that your handwriting is fine--you don't have to type your journaling.

To not be overwhelemed with all the supplies. You just need a story, photos, paper and glue. Hugs, Mandy

Enjoy the process. Keep it simple and don't worry about what others think. Don't buy everything in sight--although it's tempting! Just start doing it.
Love the camera strap and Soda Pop line.

This sounds crazy but I wish someone had told me about a rotary trimmer. For a long time, I used a ruler and a sharp edge. I'm not very good at straight lines and everything was crooked.

Best advice is to keep it simple and HAVE FUN!

I wish I hadn't bought EVERYTHING under the sun. It took some time to figure out what my style was, and I wish I knew to just buy the basics, instead of wasting money on products that were trendy and not useful to me.

My advice...make room for paper:)

Don't worry about trying to scrap to look like others. It's ok to get ideas but just find your own groove and you will be just fine.

my advice to a new scrapper would be to not just buy-buy-buy. there are so many fun and amazing products out there but looking back on stories what you and your family will remember most are the photos you took and the time you toook to tell all of those amazing stories.

Only buy for specific projects as you are ready to work on them. Your tastes change, there is always a new trend or a new set of lovely papers and embellishments. And when you buy something new, try it out, use it right away or put it together with the planned project rather than putting it in your stash.

I would say that scrapbooking is about the stories you want to tell, not just about getting ALL your photos in chronological order and in place in a fancy book. Take your time and enjoy the process, don't let yourself feel like you are not "caught up".

I'd tell a new scrapbooker that there's no right or wrong way of scrapping. One's indivdual way to document memories is as personal, unique & special as the pictures you're documenting. That, and journal: write down a few thoughts at the time you're taking the pictures, even if you don't scrap those pictures for months. One last thing, you can use whatever you've got around you (envelopes, old cards, shopping bags, etc) to scrapbook with...not necessarily only made-for-scrapbooking products.

Scrap in your style because in 10 years you'll still like what you did and since those books are for you... you'll want to still like them!

Just do it. Like you always say, there is no right way. Just find a way to enjoy the process. I have been doing project 365 this year and I find that it's a simple way to record daily events.
I can then choose from those events what I want to scrapbook in a more artistic way. This approach is working really well for me. I don't worry about getting caught up because the stories are already, briefly told in the 365 binder.

My advice? Don't feel pressured to start from the beginning and 'do it all'.. Start with your current photos and play with those..And always have originals stored safely somewhere (on an extra drive, cd, etc.)... and sign up for a class or two, or go to a crop with other scrappers! You learn lots by doing!!!!
Once you start getting comfortable, then pick a project you would like to accomplish... perhaps a special album about a loved one, or a birthday party... anything that has a start and an end... Finishing a project is so so so rewarding!!!!
And lastly, it's a fun, wonderful, therapeutic hobby that has lots of fringe benefits (new friends, great memories, and happy recipients who get your handmade gifts!)...

Start simple w/basic tools, some paper, and pictures. Don't get ovewhelmed with all the supplies out there, you don't need 99.9% of them. Remember, the pictures ARE THE STORY. Don't get intimidated by keeping caught up, each page you do is one more than you would have done w/o scrapbooking!

My best advice it that there is no wron in scrapbooking. If you like it then it is great! Don't worry about what everyone else thinks. Thanks!

I would tell a first time scrapper not to limit themselves to one page layout size (mix it up!!) and to use 12 x 12 three ring binders. I recently switched from post albums and am incorporating many different sizes into the same album and I LOVE IT! It has opened up so many more possibilities and has jump-started my creativity! Now I scrap in all sizes and combine them all in one album - 12 x 12, 6 x 12, 8.5 x 11. And just last week I discovered that some 9 x 9 page protectors fit in my albums as well!!

Best advice I think think that I would (and do!) give out, is that you don't need everything, to use what you have, and that you needn't scrap in order of events as they happen. It seems like so many people get hung up on that last bit!
Super fun giveaways this week, thanks for the chance!
Jen Davis, Wisconsin