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I'm just now getting started into scrapbooking. And the advice I wish I had been given: have more pictures taken of yourself and do what looks good to you.
I'm always behind the camera and thus only a handful of pictures of me exist from the last few years. This year, going forward, I'm going to endeavor to pass the camera around and let others get some photos of me.
As for the second part, I held off on scrapbooking for so long because I was afraid I would do it wrong. There is no wrong so long as I like it.

date all your pictures and take notes of whats happening - you think you won't forget but you do!
Just scrap and ENJOY the process. (3 ring binder albums are good too)

Uh, what I would tell someone?
To not be afraid to do something wrong. And that you can use anything you want to your pages/albums. I would tell the person to check out your blog, because you explain things very nicely and have great ideas.

My advice would be to stop trying for perfection. Go with what makes your heart sing and you'll be amazed by the outcome!

Try different styles of layouts and designs on for size and see what feels good and them make it your own. And remember - it is about the memories. I always scrap with my grandkids in mind and what I would have loved to know about my parents and their parents and their parents...

best advice...don't get overwhelmed...one layout at a time! and enjoy the process.
have a good day ali!

sharing your best advice for a new scrapbooker. What did you wish someone had told you when you first started?
Hi Ali,
I'm Nadine from Germany. I follow your blog regularly. And in my opinion this is the most important question about. That's why I think it is great that you ask for it. - Unfortunately, Germany is still a scrapbooking desert and it's very difficult to find scrap friends near to me. So, I wished someone had told me this sentence: Just try before buy and only use what inspires your muse! ... And I would have been happy :)
Kind regards,
Nadine

I sure wish someone had told me to organize as I go. I also wish they'd told me about group crops, etc. so I could get inspiration from other scrappers.

I would tell a new scrapper that everyone scraps for their own reason; for a creative outlet, to celebrate memories, to document events, find yours and focus on that- everything else will follow!

I suggest buying only what you need. You don't NEED everything. Don't go hog wild because just when you do, you're style will change. Allie has so many great tips and look at how she continually uses the same things over and over again. I do too.

Best advice--don't buy all the latest and greatest gadgets..get the basics and scrap away. Remember these are your memories and don't fret on having the perfect pages!

The thing I wished I had been told is that matting photos is not a waste of paper, it really can make or break a layout by setting the picture off. I learned this for myself pretty early on but those first few layouts still look so sad without them.

Remember the little moments. The every day things that may get missed because you
get caught up with recording the birthdays, Christmas and so on. Though they are important; they at times take away from those words your youngster spouts out. The little moments of life can be recorded quickly and they tend to be the ones you cherish the most.
Tracy

My best tip would be to not worry about being "perfect" or looking like the popular projects that are out there, but instead to do what comes naturally to you!

I think the best advice is telling a new scrapbooker to learn from you - through your blog, books, articles in CK, workshops - about scrapbooking. You teach such great things, which are really important for the beginning (for the beginning?! Forever!), like: using the basic stuff, focusing on the stories, creating without fear... We all should know these imporatant things!
Thank you for teaching me so much!
Efrat K.

my advice is to journal even if that means you are just recording the date and who is in the picture. When you're gone your pages will still tell the story, and there are no such things as mistakes...

I wish someone had told me to stay true to my personal style and not buy every fad embellishment just because it was featured in a magazine.

It doesn't have to be perfect! You will get more pleasure from making a memory book if you remember it as a fun experience rather than something you stressed over!

my best advice. don't buy it all. letter stickers are a good investment. white cardstock is too. don't buy every single piece of every single collection. you will absolutely not need it.
and most importantly.. have fun!

When I was first starting out an experienced scrapper told me to remember there is no "right" or "wrong" way to scrapbook. It's your story to tell your way, years from now no one will really care about what the hot embellishment of the moment was, what they will care about are the photos and the words