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

my advice would be, you don't have to all the tools that are out there. Just the basic will do, cutter, scissors, tweezers and pencil.

As an instructor at my LSS, my favourite advice for beginners is to focus more on the memories and momentos and less about the small stuff... And a box of repositionable adhesive is always handy. It's like a comfort blankie for the first few days of school.

I wish someone had told me not to buy everything in site. I still have many things that I bought when i first started that i haven't used yet. Just get what you need first (the basics)and go fom there.

My advice for a new scrapbooker would be to start with your most recent pictures then work forward, and if you have the time and energy then start to work backwards. So many people don't want to start scrapbooking because they feel like there are far too many pictures from the past to do. It is so much easier to start with recent pictures because the memories are fresh in your head.

Hey Newbie.... ! ! ! ! W A R N I N G ! ! ! !
Beware ! It becomes an addiction !
Accept that NOW !
It cannot be helped !
and be aware that...
***Yes, it is acceptable in the world of scrapbooking to feed your kids a fast bowl of cereal...parked in front of the cartoons... so that you can keep creating.!
****Yes, of course we all let our kids run thru the sprinkler as the nighttime "bath" so that time is saved for more creating.
****Everybody dresses their kids up to match the newest papers just so the photos are easier to work with.
****Believe it or not... you do NOT have to HAVE it when you go shopping.... but you will buy it anyway.
****Placing the giant number candle on the birthday cake so that it reads correctly to the photographer NOT the birthday girl is absolutely normal.
There is so much more to share from what I have learned over the past few years since accepting my addcition to paper and glue.... but keep in mind...
When on a creative roll, and it is REALLY REALLY late (or early into the next day)...there is a mantra that may help to repeat to yourself...
"sleep is for whimps! sleep is for whimps !... must keep creating... can...not...falll....aaassleeep !"

My biggest regret is that I don't have many pictures with me in them when my son was younger. Now that my son is an adult I make sure I'm in the pictures. It's never to late to start!

Fun stuff this week! I would tell a new scrapbooker to get only the essentials and not go overboard buying all the latest and trendy items. Buy only what you need and what you like.

You WILL become addicted! :-)

Take more pictures. Yes, I know the quantity can be overwhelming, but then follow the rule that only what you truly love or what helps tell the story gets scrapped. I have dramatically changed what I photograph over the years...honing in on details, using signage, and getting in close more often. Embrace imperfection, and even use some blurry shots as they are sometimes the best part of the story.

My best advice? There is no rule book when it comes to scrapbooking. Throw out all the "should's" and just have fun.

I wish someone had told me that there is no right or wrong way to scrapbook as long as it's archival safe. I spent hours agonizing over where to put this or how to layer that or what goes best here, that I could have had several albums done instead of half of one!

Don't get caught up in thinking you have to have a ton of elements on a page or that you have to try some cool new technique everytime you do a layout. Just gather your pictures, pick out what cardstock you want to do, and go from there. Some of my best layouts were the most basic ones. Oh, and always make sure you have music going (or in my case a great tv show that I can listen to in the background) and HAVE FUN!

Scrapbooking is an evolution. You will probably look back at those first layouts and be tempted to change them. Don't. It is part of the process and will be a reminder of how your style and your ability changes as you create. I certainly look at my first scrapbook and do not like what I see. But the book is for my daughter and she loves everything I have created for her.

First, You don't have to scrap every event in your life. Find a way to organize your photos ( I use photo boxes & CD's) Lose the guilt of not scrapping everything and just keep the photos in a box.
Second, Don't be afraid to journal & use your own handwriting. It is not about what the writing looks like, or the grammar you used, it is about telling your story.

You don't have to start with the very first photos you ever took. Just start somewhere!

I would recommend some beginner classes to get an idea about techniques and styles. It is too easy to just go buy stuff without knowing how to use it or if you will use it.

don't be afraid to copy pther people's layouts. it is a good starting point and it helps note what is important, the words and the pictures!

I think the best advice is to remember the story you want to tell... find the picture (or not) and just enjoy the process!! Do it for yourself and others will want to see what you've created!

My best advice for a new scrapbooker is to start with just the basics, some cardstock, patterned paper and some letters, and then try it out, experiment a bit, and look in some online galleries for inspiration, and find your style and then buy more supplies little by little when you know more what you want and you know what you will use :o)
Have a lovely day!!!

awesome giveaway! my fingers are crossed!!! my advice is to stop thinking so much and just do it!