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

My advice is to allow yourself to find and honor your own pace and your own style. Being "behind" is always OK (even expected) and style is personal.
Always remember why you are doing it and someone else's idea of a great scrapbook doesn't have to be yours!
thanks,
Lyn

My advice: There are no rules. The only rules you need are the ones that work for you.

My advice for a new scrapper - release yourself from any boundaries and expectations !! Your layouts don't have to look like the ones in the magazines, as long as they make you happy and tell your story. Your layouts don't all have to be the same size. You don't have to work in chronological order. Keep it simple!

I wish someone had told me what essential basics were good to have. That less is more. If story telling is what is important to them, than focus on that and don't worry about "all the stuff" you can accumulate.

After scrapping for nearly 12 years and teaching classes for 9, my best advice is to not feel obligated to scrap every picture. You'll feel overwhelmed and never make a dent and you bookshelves will overflow :)
Scrap what speaks to you, the stories you want to tell, the memories you want to share. Don't worry about anyone else's opinion, just make yourself happy and have fun!

Your look doesn't have to conform to everyone elses. Let your own personality shine through!

After scrapping for nearly 12 years and teaching classes for 9, my best advice is to not feel obligated to scrap every picture. You'll feel overwhelmed and never make a dent and you bookshelves will overflow :)
Scrap what speaks to you, the stories you want to tell, the memories you want to share. Don't worry about anyone else's opinion, just make yourself happy and have fun!

Best advice: Just do it!

My advice would be to not compare yourself to others. Feel free to find inspiration from them, but never compare yourself...if you do, you'll never feel good enough.

My advice would be to not "stock up" on supplies, just buy what you're going to use right now. Your style will change as you learn and grow as a scrapbook artist, and if you stock up when you first start then you'll be stuck with a bunch of stuff you don't like any more! (Not that I did that, or anything.) :)
Love the giveaways, Ali!

My advice : don't buy a lot of stuff. You don't need a ton of paper, embellishment, etc. Use what you've got on hand, try different things, and when you'll find your style you'll know it !

Just Do It

I wish someone had told me to get more of my pictures printed or make backups before being spendy with supplies.

Don't buy everything you see just because it's a "good deal."

I wish someone would have told me to use the American Crafts D ring 12x12 albums when I first started. It would have saved me a lot of time moving everything over to them later :) I think they are an awesome way to store your layouts and allow you to move them around if needed. Thanks!!

My advice for a new scrapper is to let your story come before the product. Products are fun but they should add to your page, not take away from it. Also, use what you buy, and don't be afraid that the page you make isn't "worthy" of that great paper or embellishment that your'e saving.

I wish someone would have told me to keep it simple and stick to the basics until I figured out what my style was. I ran out and bought EVERYTHING I could get my hands on....then gave 75% of it away :)

Organize your photos for the project you are wanting to work on first.

Do what speaks to YOU, tell the stories that are genuinely expressive of you and your family-- never feel like someone else's albums dictate what you "should" do. Strive not for perfection, but for reality.
My goodness-- I love those camera straps!

I would figure out the direction in which I want to go first..then buy the supplies. I have bought a lot of supplies that were cute..but I never used. Research a little first then you won't be overwhelmed.

I wish I had realized earlier that it is my memories & the layout does not have to be magazine perfect. I wish I had realized my handwriting is not as bad a I thought & it needs to be on my pages.

Don't be too afraid to try new things because you think you'll do it the "wrong way".

There is some great advice in these comments. I particulary love:
"Don't buy everything you see."
"Use ring binder albums."
"Don't scrap in chronological order."
My advice is more broad: There are no mistakes in scrapbooking. If your page makes you happy, it's perfect.
Thanks for another great post!
AJ

I am new to scrapbooking so I guess for me I tell myself organize well otherwise you buy duplicate supplies over and over again!

I would say to find a magazine with ideas that you like and don't look at all the "other" stuff. Start basic and learn what your style is.