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

My advice to a new scrapbooker is to page plan, then buy according to those plans (instead of buying everything you like and having an abundance of stash that won't be used). It keeps the cost down and your area de-cluttered. I try to do that now, but didn't in the beginning . . .

I wish someone had told me not to buy everything I liked b/c I won't like it always. Also, to just scrap. I know that sounds so basic and kind of dumb, but it's easy to get caught up in the pages being "perfect" and that is so ridiculous. My kids love their pages b/c of the story, not the cute embellishments. I think people are intimidated by it, and it shouldn't be that way.
Thanks for sharing, Ali!

I wish someone had told me to find my own style and that change is good. If you don't like it, change it and mix things up too.
I would also make as many notes as possible, especially if something happens that you want to remember and then when it come to scrapping the pictures you forget what it was.
The most important thing to remember is to have fun and enjoy the process.
I love your weekend pictures by the way, looks like you had a wonderful time.

My best advice would be to NOT go crazy buying up supplies. Start with the basics, cause your stlye will change! I have given away so much of the supplies I started with.

There's no "right" or "wrong" way. Learn a few basic techniques, and just go with it. Your style will emerge and maybe even change over time. It doesn't always happen magically or right away.
My mom recently started scrapbooking, and she was afraid to crop a picture or adhere a matted picture (that she didn't want to crop) to the paper without me holding her hand. I told her to be like Nike and just do it! It of course looks just fine!

I wish someone had told me that I didn't have to scrap every photo I had and that I didn't NEED all of the gadgets and gizmos. A few well invested purchases can go a long way.

I think the best advice is not to worry about keeping a perfect chronological record of life. Just start scrapping around photos that mean something to you.

My advice would be to start with the present. The stories behind the photos are fresh. Start with a current favorite photo(s). The passion will come from the photos. It's easier to just start here then a million year ago. It becomes too overwhelming.

I really wish someone had told me to how REALLY important journaling is. Not just the who, what, where and when... but the WHY! Knowing why something was important and what really happened is just as important as the event itself many times.

I wish someone would have ecouraged me to jump in wherever I felt the most inspiration, perhaps with a bunch of photos that I just really enjoyed. Trying to do things in the right order, with the right supplies was too intimidating. And I wish someone had told me there really is no "right" way or a "right look." The only important thing is acid-free and they make spray to fix that so I guess there isn't really a right at all...

i would definately tell a new sber... go at your own pace, there's no right or wrong....
i wish someone told me that i didn't have to scrap chronological....

I wish someone had told me that it was okay to not scrap every photo... that I knew how important it was to tell the story instead of just a few facts. I wish I had known that I shouldn't buy tons and tons of supplies until I had found my style and knew what I liked and would use. And I wish I had known not to cut my pictures into silhouettes using decorative scissors!

I wish someone would have told me to take a leap of faith, jump in, and "preserve" my family's memories. I've wasted a lot of time reading books and magazines trying to come up with the "perfect" system, layouts, and journaling. I think I would have found my system a lot sooner through trial and error. My family just wants to be able to look back at our memories. They don't really care how well I coordinated the paper with the color of my daughter's eyes.

Oh...wonderful prizes today! I would say I wish someone had told me to keep it simple. I think in the beginning making progress is most important...that way you don't get burned out due to lack of accomplishment. Build as you go! Thanks for the chance!

I wish I was told I don't need a lot of stuff to get started. Just basic papers, photos, and something to cut and adhere with. There was so much hype when I got started, it made the experience very overwhelming.

I wish someone would have told me to not buy so much stuff! lol. You don't need everything out there. Do what feels natural.

I wish that someone had told me that I didn't need to scrap every photo nor did I need to do it perfectly - instead keep it simple, relax and enjoy!

My advice is to not get too crazy with all the products. Having too much stuff can be overwhelming and prevent you from actually scrapbooking. I learned this lesson the hard way and now I realize that the simple pages are my favorite and I don't need so much stuff.

My advice would be just to have fun with it, go with it don't become worried about "catching up" because how do you really catch up with life anyway.

When I first started scrapbooking, I wish someone would have told me that you will never be caught up, so don't stress about trying to start from the past...Start from right now, and when you have a picture that inspires you from the past, go for it. Also, stock up on the basics, because paper, pictures, adhesive, a paper trimmer, etc. I have found that the simplest things are layouts are the ones I love over time! Ooo...last one, use your handwriting...I hate my handwriting, but have learned that I want the memory to include my side of the story for some journaling, and while typed journaling looks good, it seems more personal and memorable when I write it.