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

Do not over buy. I know because I have a whole room of stuff I look at now and say what was I thinking!!!!!!
Denise

Purchase your basic tools and only the paper and embellishments YOU really love. I purchased LOTS of stuff that wasn't me just because I wanted to have THINGS. Much smarter to purchase things that match your style, whatever that may become.

Another great question Ali. Just relax and play, don't worry about making every page perfect and using the right this or that. Have fun.

My advice would be... do what makes you happy! There are no rules... wanna mix patterns with stripes in different colors??? Go for it! If you're proud of what you have in the end and had a great time doing it, then, that's all that matters.

My best advice for a new scrapbooker is not to buy too much stuff! Stick to the basics to begin with, concentrate more on spending your money on a good tool base, and then get the pretty stuff later on.

My advice: just do it, don't wait for perfect... anything. Just try, just start.

Journal. Journal. Journal. The pictures are part of the story, but not the most important part!!!

I wish someone had told me to focus on tools and timeless items, rather than the latest trends. Also, not to stress about being "behind", but to tell the stories and moments that are important!

Don't think you need to buy everything. At first I bought a ton of stuff I liked and now I wish I hadn't because I have so much that I won't ever use. I'm always finding new great things so there won't be a shortage of products you like if you pace yourself. The things I don't regret buying are cardstock, punches, stamps, stamp pads, and brads.

My advise to a new scrapper is to keep it simple, try to tell the story in your own way, and don't get too caught up trying difficult embellishment techniques and adding too much to your pages. Just keep it simple and let your pictures and journaling take center stage! I would also say try not to get too caught up in perfection - that will delay your progress every time - it's not about perfection it's about your story! Thanks for the opportunity Ali!

It doesn't have to be perfect - and you don't have to use every single photo. Choose the photos that speak to you, and just have fun and tell the story.

Just Start. It may not be exactly what you'd imagined, but the fun is in the doing and learning

To focus on the story + pictures, not the latest "toy" or trendy embellishment. Take the time shopping and scrap instead!

*sometimes less is more
*organization is the key to your scrapbooking success
*buy it as you need it, not when you see it!
I have such a mess right now I don't know where to start! Baby steps!

Don't buy everything you see!!! Start small and find out what you use before going crazy in the die cut aisle, or with stamps, for example!

Not to crop my photos so much, especially into odd shapes. Scrapbooking has grown and changed so much in the past 10+ years!!!

I would have loved someone to tell me not to worry about chronological order! I also agree with people saying to not get caught up in buying every new supply that comes out, just get scrapping.

Dear new scrapbooker, Try not to buy things just because you like them but because you know what you'll be using them for. Otherwise you'll end up with too much stuff that you never use! Also, don't stress and feel "behind", just scrap the stories you want to tell!

Don't worry about scrapping in order! The other piece of advice would be to journal, some of my first pages don't really have a lot of journaling. Looking back at those photos, I think about the memory and I wish that I would have written more than "Fun at the home!".
Great giveaways:)
Happy Wednesday!!!!

Don't worry - just do it! Don't think you have to start from the time your 15 year old was a baby or when you got engaged...just find some photos you like and have fun. You don't have to "catch up" or work backwards...just pick photos your like and tell some stories or let the photos speak for themselves...there's no right or wrong...no start and finish...just collect your memories and have a good time doing it :)