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

The best advice I can give is; Do not buy all the fancy toys you think you have to have... until you have been scrapping a while. Figure out your style, what works for you, and if you like a tool before you spend the $$ on a costly item. I wasted a lot of money on the "it" item only to discover its not for me once I found my style.

Hmm, just ONE thing I wish I'd known?
I think it would be this...
"You don't have to buy ALL the stuff to make gorgeous and more importantly, meaningful, pages. Print your photos, purchase high quality basic supplies, and let your stories lead the way. You can always add more later, but you'll find it just isn't necessary to add all those 'extras'."

My best advice is to start simple. A new scrapper doesn't need a ton of materials or equipment...just get some fav photos, pretty paper and get to work! :) You talent evolves over time so you shouldn't force it.

Letter stickers are friend.

Keep it simple, work out your own system of organisation and keep telling the story as top priority.

Keep it simple...you can always go back and embellish things as you learn techniques. I love looking back through my older scrapbooks and seeing how far I've come (although now I wish I wouldn't have started necessarily with my wedding...lol)

Hi!
My advice for a new scrapbooker would be to not get overwhelmed. Don't feel like you have to scrapbook in chronological order and dont overbuy embellishments, that are oh so cute, but dont always get used. Also, make sure to journal, that is the most important part.

Organize your supplies in an effective way from the beginning. Then STAY organized!

Stick to one company's ink lines. You'll be happier in the long run that your stamp pads and markers match!

Great kits. I think I will wander over to those kits and take a look around.

The best tip I could have gotten would be to buy the very best rotary cutter on the market from the outset, instead of spending heaps on them as you gradually upgrade. (Obviously like I did! My kids now have 4 between the three of them.) Try them out at all your local scrapbook shops to find the one that suits you best. You will use it constantly, so it's worth the investment.

I love that comment...use what you buy...that's my mission now...took the economy to realize it but you don't need to start collection embellishment...use them...that's what they are for anyway!

Join a scrapbooking monthly club. Then you have a variety of things to work with and the guidance of the club people to help you!

Read blogs and books!

oh boy! One thing I wish i would have known or at least thought of was that not EVERY picture has to make it in the book. There can be a simple photo album to accompany the albums. Wonderful giveaways! It would be amazing if my number was drawn :)

Start with just the basics. Simple is best. Let the photograph be the main focus and keep everything else low key. With so many products and lines out there, it can be overwhelming...use what you buy....and only buy what you'll for sure use! Just because something is on sale...doesn't mean you "have" to buy it.

There is no scrapbooking police!!
You can scrapbook in the order that moves you.
You can choose all the sizes of pages you like.
You can use ANYTHING in YOUR scrapbook.
You will meet great people.

start scrapbooking layouts before you commit to an album style- see what way you scrapbook - chronologically or just as the mood/ picture strikes you. I bought a bunch of albums that were post bound and then decided that I preferred the 3 ring albums so now I have 1/2 and 1/2 which bugs me.

oh boy! One thing I wish i would have known or at least thought of was that not EVERY picture has to make it in the book. There can be a simple photo album to accompany the albums. Wonderful giveaways! It would be amazing if my number was drawn :)

You don't have to go in order. You don't remember your memories in order by year...so what makes us feel the need to go in order. So no matter when you start you aren't behind! And Ring Binders Rock!!!

I wish I had realized that, for me, the most important thing is getting the story down. I am sure to forget all the little things later. Now I try to write it all down so that when I get around to scrapping the pics I have the story too.

I wish someone had told me not to stock pile on cute pattern paper. I have so many sheets that I bought years ago that I thought "oh, so cute" that now I cringe when I look at them. Seriously, what was I thinking? Buy supplies with ideas in mind - then go home and get it done. =)

It was very freeing when I realized that not all my pages needed to coordinate, even if they are in the same album. Now I have two different approaches to scrapbooking: 1. chronological albums that are very very simple; 2. an album full of individual layouts that don't coordinate and give me a chance to use different products and highlight more "random" themes.

My best advice to a new scrapper is start slow and develop your own style. Use sketches to help you along the way!

Keep everything simple. Simple is best. Make the photograph the main focus and then only add a few "extras". It can be overwhelming with all the products and lines out there. Only buy what you will use and just because it's on sale...doesn't mean you have to buy it.