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

Just do it! Paper and photos are relatively cheap. If you mess up or don't like it when you are done, move on to the next one. The only way to get better is to begin and keep moving forward.

Just have fun with it and do not worry about making it perfect, it will be perfect to your family because you made it from your heart! To me this is good advice for a beginner.

Have fun, you deserve it.

I wish someone would have told me how much fun it can really be and how it helps you mentally let things go, laugh at them or love deeper :)

Oh wow - what a great thing to comment on. I would say my advice to new scrappers is to always focus on the story. Scrapbooking is about the stories, not the products. Build layouts around pictures and journalling. Investing in some decent tools, basic punches, alphabet stamps, and maybe a stash of cardstock. Think about the story you want to tell before putting everything together, make notes, sketch etc. Style comes with time, but get a handle on the basics first - ie. just tell the story....wish I could just follow my own advice sometimes :)

Gosh, that you don't need to be chronological. Don't worry about being a perfectionist. Make sure to tell the story. Less (product) is sometimes more. It shouldn't feel like a chore or stress you out. It should be enjoyable. All things I told a friend recently and advice that lives in the back of my head - definitely some of which I can attribute to you, so thanks!

Ali, as always, thank you for doing these. Great stuff! I would tell a beginning scrapbooker to simply get started. Don't worry about it being perfect or looking just this way or that way. Just sit down and get started. There's no right way to scrapbook, and while their are design elements to consider, what matters is finding what works for you. You won't know until you commit something to paper. And don't forget -- it's supposed to be fun. So, enjoy!

You do not have to scrap in order or be caught up on all your photos. Just enjoy the process!!

There is no wrong way to scrap.

I wish someone had told me to just enjoy the fun of scrapbooking at not worry so much about each layout being perfect. The best way to find your style is to just play and have fun! =)

I would tell a new scrapper to: learn basic design principles that will help in creating a balanced layout and have FUN creating. The longer you scrap the easier it will be to identify your "style", but one style is not superior to another. Simply put, do what you love and love what you do.

My best advice for a new scrapbooker would be to NOT cut up original photos! I cut so many at the beginning not thinking that I'd like to scrap them again in another way. Keep your originals and use copies for your scrapbooking.

Don't buy all the latest gadgets right away for yourself. Someone you know will have it for you to try it out first so you can decide if it's a "got to have" or a "sometimes borrow" item.

My advice is to start with the basics, no matter how tempting it is to buy eveything you adore and might use someday. Also,remember to tell your story and have fun!

I wish someone had told me i didn't have to buy every tool and gadget out there. - i wish someone had told me there were blogs out there with "experts" with really good advice on what i really needed to get started! - mstarr

My advise to a new scrapper, who now happens to be my best friend was "you don't have to go out and buy the latest and the greatest, use what you have. Also, stay away from photo corners!"

i wish someone told me that i didn't have to follow trends..just do what you like!

I think of scrap booking as an art form. Like a designer you have your own flair. It would be what makes someone want you as their decorator. When scrap booking you have your style(at first you may not know what it is), the picture , the colors that would turn the picture on, and the taste of the person the scrapbook page is for and about, when you bring all of that together you get something unique to you. You may find that you like a certain company's papers, or embellishments, etc.... Whatever it is when you bring together, It is special because of you. After a while you will see that you have a tendency towards your own look, don't follow the magazines because right now this is what's "IN" . Just look to them for some inspiration, be your own designer, don't rush it, it is a journey, you get to relive the moment and record it for the future, let it flow, and you will find ,you will look at your books years later and see yourself in them, and love them. Also if you give them as gifts the receiver will treasure them also. Don't forget to journal, even when it is difficult. You want someone to pick up your book and see who the people are, where they are, it definelty adds to the pages. MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN !!!!

What a great giveaway! The best advice that I can give to a new scrapbooker is to "give and take"- share your ideas and take ideas suggested from others- at classes, crops or with your own group of newbies- anything is possible and HAVE FUN!
I really wish that someone told me what a bone folder was when I first started scrapbooking because I showed up to a class with a box of "bone" folders from staples lol. Let's just say I was the highlight of the evening!
Thanks for reading and for the chance to win :)
xoxo
Sara

I wish that someone would have told me to keep it simple, and start current. To not start too many projects at one time. And to plan plenty of room on your pages so that you can journal like crazy.

I wish someone had told me not to buy EVERYTHING! Just get the basics and buy only the things you love and know you will use. I acquired so much stuff that I never used.

I would have loved for someone to just tell me that it's okay to play. I've had so many people buy 2-3 sheets of the same piece of paper b/c they're scared they might mess up. I say..."who cares?!"...have fun & PLAY!!:D

Don't shop unless you have a project you are shopping for, otherwise you risk becoming a "collector"!

Don't buy too much stuff in advance.You won't use most of it. It's better to buy little at a time until you find your style and what type of embellies you like.

i wish someone had told me NOT TO START SCRAPBOOKING YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS FIRST. if you do, you might just cut them into aweful shapes(but totally love them at the time)....only to regret cutting the originals at a later date.