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

When you start buying supplies - don't buy one of every color or all the stickers you see that you think you MIGHT use some day. Get a feel for your own style first and stick with the products you like to use most, regardless of what everyone else is doing. That way, you don't spend tons of cash on a stash you'll never use!

Just have fun. Don't worry too much about what other people are doing and stay true to your own iodeas and style. Just get stuff done.

I wish someone had told me these things:
a) what you do will change over time and it is ALL good and just as valid. You don't have go back and change what you did and your new stuff doesn't have to look like your old stuff
b) you don't have to scrapbook EVERYTHING
c) even if you haven't done it in a while, once a scrapbooker, always a scrapbooker!
:)
Kim

Don't overwhelm yourself...some of the best pages are made with just photos, cardstock and a couple of extras. Don't forget to focus on the stories of everyday, not just the big events. And finally, don't compare yourself to seasoned scrappers...let whatever you make be you!

I am actually fairly new to scrapbooking, so I will be interested to see what advice everyone has to offer!

I find it interesting that my first thought upon reading the question has been echoed many times among those who have already answered. I spent a lot of time at the beginning thinking that my pages needed to look like the ones in magazines every time. I've now learned to be less concerned with all the latest trends and more concerned with telling the story (words and photos) - thanks Ali!

My advice is this: once you create a layout you love or find a product that you turn to again and again - keep revisiting them! Replicate again and again, or, make a tweak with a different accent, font/writing, color, etc. You like these for a reason - whatever reason - listen to what you like. And stick with it!

My advice is to scrap what you love; you'll enjoy the craft that much more if you scrap something of importance or meaning to you. Plus, if you scrap what you love, you will find time to scrap and that's the best part!
Love the camera bag & strap idea!

Hey Ali----Advice for a new scrapooker...I tell them that this is a hobby not a job and that under no circumstances should they let scrapbooking stress them out, you do it for fun so it should be fun. Avoid the pressure of thinking you have to scrapbook in order or in any certain way, it is a creative outlet so make it your own. Thanks for the giveaways Ali! Lisa

I wish somebody had told me to do it from the heart and how I want it to look, not how everyone else is doing it.

Just let go! I loved your book Ali, and it totally opened up my scrapbooking style. I used to overthink things to much like which pictures fit in which album, and making sure that I had a certain number of pages in order to get a good balance. Now I don't worry about anything other than the pictures and the stories and really ENJOYING it rather than stressing about it.

Read Stacy Julian's books.

My advice . . . don't get so caught up in the "stuff" that you stop creating. Figure out quickly what works for you and get those stories down for your family to enjoy!
-Karen F.

My advice is to journal. In the end, it's the words that make a scrapbook. It doesn't matter whether you're a simple scrapper or an off the wall artist, tell your story.

I wish someone would have told me:
*that it's okay not to scrap every single picture
*that it's okay not to scrap chronologically
*that it's okay not to buy every new, super cute thing because you might need it someday.
*that it's okay to do your own thing!!
*that it's okay to be different*
*that it's okay to use a lot of different, shall I say, weird things
*that it's okay to work at your own speed
*just that it's okay, because you are preserving memories and moments for your family.
Sandy

I would tell a new scrapbooker that you do not need every new tool that scrapbooking has to offer. Just start out with the basics and when you find your style you will know what you need and want. Also don't put presure on yourself it is suppose to be a fun way to preserve your stories.
Susan

Don't work so hard to try to be original!

really get a feeling of what you like before you go hog wild & buy a bunch of supplies that you won't use!

I think the most helpful thing is to start simple. If you are like me (and many scrapbook lovers) you want to buy everything and have every great product, but start small, experiment with what you like, and develop your own style. Sometimes 'simple' just gets the pages done sooner and the memories recorded and remembered..isn't that one of our main goals?

I'd say, Forgive yourself. Don't try to be perfect. I like what I do a lot more now than when I was trying to make my pages look like other people's.