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

When I first started scrapping I wish someone would have told me to put away the shaped scissors!

The "right way" to scrapbook is whatever way allows YOU to joyfully complete projects that make you and your loved ones happy. Forget about perfection, forget about the number of pages you get done. This is a hobby that is suppose to be fun. Don't impose rules on yourself.

Figure out what you really like and buy tools you can see yourself using over and over (rubber stamps are especially good for this). Then keep layouts simple. Make the focus on the photos and the journaling, not the embellishments. Don't worry about having a quippy title or even a title at all! Getting those photos in an album with a date and identifying the people is something to be proud of.

I wish someone had told me just to be myself and do what I like on my pages. The latest product or fad isn't the important part-the stories/photos/memories are. :-)

Don't buy stickers and pre-made embellishments. Instead, buy the things to make your own embellishments. The pre-made ones are never the right size or color anyway. Your creations will be one of a kind and always the right size and color.

prepair to be broke!!!

My advice is two-fold. 1) You don't need a whole bunch of supplies to scrap...only buy things you love and that fit your style. Don't get suckered into buying stuff that just looks cool or trendy or "different." 2) Make sure what you DO buy is top quality. Cheap supplies make cheap-looking pages.

i wish i would have been told that there's no right or wrong way to scrap. I started it as a 4-H project and there were SOOOOO many rules! ALthough it really helped me learn what was archival safe and what isn't, it was really just a lot of rules to follow. Be yourself and scrap yourself!!! :]

Great giveaways! I've been dying to win one of those camera straps!!! Maybe this will be my lucky day. :)
For new scrapbookers, I think I would tell them to just go for it - don't worry about mistakes, perfection, or having the latest tools and supplies. It's your memories, and there is no right or wrong way to document them. Also, pick up a scrapbooking magazine for some awesome inspiration. I know when I bought my first magazine, I was soooo inspired.

My advice would be to just start. Pick a day, stack of photos, or a particular event and go from there. You can easily get overwhelmed walking down scrapbook store isles and leafing through magazines. There is just so much out there. But having scrapbooked myself now for lets see... 15'ish years I've decided that there isn't a "right" way to scrapbook. It's all about finding your own way, your own style. Yes you can learn all sorts of techniques and tricks but none of that is remotely helpful until you just dive in. Buy your basics like a trimmer, adhesive, journaling pen, scissors and then take little steps. It all comes together in the process :) Just don't get overwhelmed.

Work on the layouts that inspire you now, not those you "have to" get done to get caught up. The best thing I ever did was make a couple past albums using premade pages from an online photo book - I was able to whip out 2 years of books in 2 weeks! It allowed me to focus on fun pages of my toddler now, and not stress over those past years that weren't done yet.

Ooooh- love that *Shey*B!
My advice is YOU DON'T HAVE TO....
-buy everything
-work chronologically
-make an entire 2 page spread for every photo or event
-etc, etc
All you have to do is tell your story, anyway you like.

Keep it Simple and Tell the stories.

Don't follow every trend! Find your style, what you like and go with it. Don't feel the need to buy everything.

What do I wish someone had told me??.....That there are no rules! To just go out and tell your story. And to keep all the little things - you don't have to buy everything that goes on the page.

take a couple of pictures you love to the scrapbook store, choose papers and embellishments for those pictures. do a couple pages and see how scrapbooking feels on you. overcommitting to supplies, books, etc. can make it overwhelming to get started, if you don't start small, you may never get started.

Definitely, I would say to put the words down. I tend to think I will come back and do it and now I have a lot of stuff to try to remember and hopefully write down! Lynn Y

My advice is to start small. Pick one theme or story to work on, and don't worry about having to scrapbook ALL of your pictures. Also, simplicity is best when starting out...Don't rush out and buy the whole scrapbook store.

I started scrapbooking 9 years ago, just after my first baby was born. I wish someone had told me not to feel so guilty about scraplifting! I am not creative! If there weren't very talented scappers out there (like ali!) I would not have a hobby. When my family looks at my albums they will never know that I copied someone elses scrapbook page!

Don't be overwhelmed!!! Start simply one page at a time one photo at a time. The rest will come :)