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Oh Boy over one thousand entries...my chances are slim but here goes....
My advice would be, a little goes a long way. When I mentioned scrapbooking EVERYONE started buying me "stuff". Then I learned what I liked and most of that stuff sets off to the side. It's a shame!
Thanks for the chance Ali
Valerie In PA

My best advice for a new scrapbooker is not to spend a lot of money on scrapbooking supplies until you know what your style is. Play with some basic supplies, have fun, read magazines or surf the net and buy stuff based only on what you like, not on what's popular at the moment.

what i would tell a new scrapbooker is not to feel the need to purchase the latest and greatest trendy products. stick to the basics or tools that you can use over and over again. and don't hoard supplies!! i've recently come to terms with just using my favorite stuff instead of saving it for the "perfect project". any memory worth documenting is good enough for your favorite supplies :)

My advice...don't get caught up in the latest trends or what a "published" scrapper is doing. Enjoy the creative process that is truly your own.

I wish someone had told me that this was not a cheap hobby. Heehee! I spend more money on scrapbooking stuff then on clothes now.

I wish someone would've told me to worry less about technique and trying to reach perfection. Just play! The inspiration will come and the layout will work. The mistakes will become unnoticeable and scrapbooking will always be fun!

Don't worry about getting every photo scrapped or scrapping chronologically. Use the photos that inspire you.

Write things down - when it comes time to scrap that memory you'll still have it fresh - even if you don't get to scrapping it for a long time.

Share your thoughts on the moment, on the picture. Those who come after you will want to hear your heart.

Start small with just a few basics--solid cardstock, paper trimmer, and adhesive. Choose a few embellishments that you are drawn to, but don't overdo it or you'll end up becoming a scrapbook supply collector instead of a scrapbooker. Too much stuff on hand is overwhelming and can squelch creativity.

I wish someone had told me from the start to give up the feeling that I will never be caught up or that I have to scrapbook in a certain order. It's so much more inspiring to let go of any pressure! -Sharyn

I wish someone had told me about ring binder albums rather than post bound.

Start with a kit subscription. Everything you need is there already in one kit! And copy the design team until you figure it out.

I wish I was NOT told to document every "special" occasion. I felt so far behind, I nearly quit. Then I realized how a book of birthday, Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July...got really boring and did not tell the story of our family. Right hten and there I startd doing it my way. Thats what I tell friends who are interested but have not taken the leap into scrapbooking. You can do what you want!

I wish that someone would of told me that not every layout is going to be perfect and that instead of agonizing over it for days i should just finish up and move up. What is more important is that the story was told.

Don't strive for perfection. Rather, put pen to paper and tell your story.

I wish that someone would have told me that there is not a right way or a wrong way to scrapbook. I would see the layouts in the magazines and get so overwhelmed! I also wish I had known about your blog early on, you have said that very thing many times!

My advice...dont feel compelled to scrap every single photo, just pick the ones that mean the most to you and put everything else in a regular album. Its okay. Really its okay.

you dont have to scrapbook every single picture!! haha i am STILL in that mindset...(and therefore...RUT!!)

Take it slow. Choose 10-15 pics and only buy the stuff you need to scrap those. Then when those are done start with another group of photos.
I just started buying like crazy and I have never stopped. Now I have too many supplies and it's overwhelming.