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

I wish someone had told me to just go for it! If you make a mistake, it's ok. Originally I was so worried about cutting my photos, now I know that cropping a photo can actually make the photo look better. I wish someone had showed that to me as well.

Just glue it down. If you don't like it, change it, work over or around. Don't spend too much time trying to get it "just right." Have fun!

I wish that I had been told that there are no rules. That you can make a mistake and you might end up loving it. Not to over worry a project or a layout and just get it done and tell the story.

I think a key tip is to keep your photos organized as you take them. You need a system for categorizing them on your computer for future use. Time goes by so quickly it is hard to remember dates of events otherwise. I then pick the best ones and have them printed as I work.

I would say trust yourself. Listen to yourself and just create. Tell your stories as you would say them- just write it down.
I collected supllies but didn't scrap for five (stressed out) years because I had heard one too many time from a well meaning consultant- that's a little too much,you might want to tone in down a little- focus on the picture. I like lots of embellishments and lots of pictures. I am more confident now. I don't need validation for my memories.

Hi there,
I would advise to stop looking at all of the stuff you could buy and just go with what you have. Create from the heart instead of from the coolest new supplies!
Kelly

"Caught up" doesn't exist -- kind of like laundry. So just record the stories and photos you want to hold onto, and don't worry about the rest. Everything you find time to do will be a treasure. Pressure isn't necessary and only hinders the process.

I love the idea that the most important part of this hobby is the story--not fancy pages. I also think it's good advice to look for pages you like and practice copying them as a way to discover your own style.

Just three bits of advice I wished I had been given:
1. You don't need ALL of the products out there.
2. There is No such thing as 'caught up.'
and
3. It's all about the stories. You are the keeper of the stories.

I *am* a brand new scrapper, so I don't know how much advice I have to share, but I am really interested in reading the advice everyone else is sharing.
The one piece of advice I am having trouble following myself, but I think is really important is that It doesn't matter if it is perfect. It's important to start.

I think that I would tell them to try not to get caught up in all the product, but just keep it simple, focus on the words (journaling) and the photos and the rest will come. The most important thing is getting your story told so that others can enjoy it.
What great giveaways!!!!
Amber Osburn
California

this is not about perfection...all about the stories we will remember and pass down :)

My advice is to scrapbook what you love and the essence of you. Not what you see everyone else do. You shouldn't be afraid to add your own handwriting, its what everyone will want to see when your no longer here. Scrap for yourself but remember what you want to say to the future readers.

Don't buy a lot of stuff - buy a magazine or use the web to look at galleries of scrapbooking pages before setting out to buy loads of stuff that may not get used. Keep it simple. Photos, cardstock and the story.

Quite time appropriate for me, as I just sat down with a friend a few weeks ago for her first scrapping session. Ha! Me? A teacher??? But the two things I wanted to tell her were: tell your story, journal like you were describing the picture to me; and (she 1st tried scrapping for like, 5 minutes...about 9 years ago) don't cut your pictures into stars and hexagons:)

my best advice: don't feel like you have to scrap EVERY photo you ever took, be selective :)

Not to sweat the small stuff! Just to do it and don't let fear of making mistakes hamper you...

I only dabble in scrapping so I don't have too much advise to add :*( Have fun and express yourselves!

My advice for a new scrapper would be to start from the very beginning spending time on the journaling, or just a little blurb part of the pages. I was so overwhelmed and excited by the sheer thrill of mounting, stickering, cropping, etc that the journaling was minimal in my first few albums - other than the who, what, where details. I wish I'd spendt more time on the real stuff like reactions, comments made, people in the photos lives, etc. Going back after the fact is very hard.

I wish someone had told me not to think about it too much and just create. Mistakes lead to great new ideas!