How long were you a scrapper before....

[Kim1964]

...you started to participate in swaps?

I love seeing all the swap stuff you guys do. There are many talented people here. I am curious about how long it took you to feel confident in your scrapping skills to participate in swaps. This is not a veiled attempt at getting someone to say, "Oh, feel free to join us!" I am nowhere near confident enough, but I am curious about how long it took others to feel that they were ready.

 

[123SA]

I checked out the swaps board for about 1/2 yr from time to time. Mostly, I didn't quite understand what was going on and why someone would want to swwap items. Now I am hooked -- seriously, I need intervention! Anyway, swapping has increased my creativity, changed the way I use products, and given me lots of got great ideas. My first swap was definitely not my best, but I have gotten better at it and at paper crafts in general. I would not worry about your stuff being "good" enough. We all produce different things and what appeals to some, does not appeal to others.


and I didn't answer your question -- about 4 years of scrapping before swapping.

 

[MazdaUK]

I think I'd been going about 6-8 months. My first swap was not a good experience - my pieces were HORRIBLE and the hostess had a few problems so it was late back and as it was my first swap I was panicking a bit. I think next I did a recipe swap - again my recipes weren't espeicially brillliant but somehow I found them less daunting as there was less scope for error - as long as it was the right size, double matted and embellished that was all there was to it! My pieces still look lame to me compared with some of the wonderful things I get back, and I'm always amazed by the generosity of the ladies here going above and beyond the needs of the task

I LOVE swaps - I love getting post, and post with stuff in is even better Carry on watching and jump in if you want - but no pressure!

 

[TPCShauna]

I started scrapping in Feb. 2005 and participated in my first swap in June 2005. I was a total noob!

My first pieces were OK. The cuts were straight, the adhesive was good and I followed all of the guidelines but they weren't especially brilliant. I've seen people use them on their pages so they must have thought they were acceptable.

My scrapping has grown SO MUCH through swapping! I've seen other techniques that I might never have been exposed to and it has forced me to up my creativity. The best part is that this group is SO non-judgemental about things. People are complimentary whether you've just started or are doing your 20th swap.

If you are thinking about it and/or feeling apprehensive but want to try, join an element swap. That way you only have to do one or two things and it will wet your whistle for more.

 

[New England Eeyore]

I had been scrapping for a few years before I tried a swap, but I was still a total newbie as I had never made individual elements for a page before then. Like others have said, swapping has totally made me grow as a scrapper.

I was really nervous for my first swap and agonized over everything, but after getting my feet wet I was hooked quickly. Be warned! It's addictive.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Okay, I confess...

I swapped before I scrapped.

I've always been artistically inclined. Having guidelines helped a whole lot, along with looking at completed swaps. I knew I could do it. I think my first ones, the resort swap, were pretty decent for my first time. My second and third tries were not as elaborate because I didn't have my first ones back yet to see what everyone was doing and I was afraid mine were too froufrou.

I am totally addicted to the creation of elements. I making them. I haven't used them, but I sure do like to look at them. I pull them out all the time to look at what everyone has made and how they too have changed from the first ones to current ones. It's pretty cool to see people grow.

So there you have it. A newbie who was really a newbie. It'll be two years in August.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Kim,
I was just into scrapping when I started swapping... I came to the scrapbooking section of the DIS and read all I could and looked over photos..and tried a newbie swap.

I was OK with my elements but wasn't YEAH, RAH they are totally awesome.. I got 2 emails from older regulars who said as a newbie they were great... When I had questioned, I asked, and I didn't attack those who offered advice to me. (not that you will, some do)

I have been a newbie, regular swapper, newbie hostess and a "regular" hostess and as long as everyone is willing to communicate and be there for one another then things work out great!!!

Any time you want to jump into a swap, especially the newbie ones to get your feet wet, jump in. There are alot of us that are willing to lend emotional support and you can always send us photos of your work if you need a bit of critique done.. believe me, BAMB and I have sent each other photos at 1 or 2AM saying "how is this, this isn't working, what would you suggest"..it's amazing what the girls on this board come up with.. You get "duh moments!" wow, didn't think of doing that...

My only word of warning.. don't get in over your head.. set yourself a limit of groups you want to participate in...that way you don't get overwhelmed.. You will find that once you get the hang of it; you'll love it...

 

[rlovew]

I started swapping before I started scrapping. I loved the creative part of it and then started scrapping more so I could use what I created. I don't know that I will ever use my first elements on a page myself- except maybe to show how I have grown in scrapping over the years. My elements have gotten much better over time.

Rebecca

 

[Princess Jayne]

I swapped before i scrapped - took part in a newbie swap which made it a little less daunting but my pieces were pretty poo compared to the stuff i got back - its all practice really and i love it! x

 

[Faerie]

I've been scrapping since 1999 and only swapping for a year or so

 

[VickiV]

I started scrapbooking less than a year ago. I signed up for my first swap maybe a month or two after that. I had done other crafts before I started scrapbooking.

I just posted sign-ups for the 2nd swap I am co-hostessing with pretty in tink with plans for others this year. It's the Spring & Summer and Holiday Recipe Swap. I think it's perfect for a new swapper because you don't have to think up something entirely new. You choose your own favorite recipe. Then you scrap it either matching the category theme your recipe is in or by what the recipe is.

If you're interested, do a search for some of the recipe swaps from last year to see some pictures and get an idea of what others have done. The one we did in the fall has no pictures yet , but I'm still hoping to post them.

 

[KatDisney]

Stop the presses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You mean we are supposed to actually make a SCRAPBOOK?

In all seriousness I started swapping way before I started actually scrapping. I am still learning. And bless all these ladies for continuing to put up with me swapping is addictive and I have some amazing pieces to use in my books. Especially now that I am actually using them. Everyone here is so helpful I've found if you have a question ask and you will get alot of answers

 

[ddavis860]

My first couple of swaps were pretty rough. I was such a newbie, I'm sure my things went in the trash...And I still stress, even though I have a bunch under my belt now.

Everyone (and I really do mean everyone) that is on here is soooo nice!! You can always post a pic, or send it PM and ask if it needs tweeking. Jump in, try one. They are addicting though (am I right? ), but so nice to see the cool things people can create!!

 

[patchchild]

I think it was about a year before I joined a swap. My first pieces were simple but I tried for quality. It's been great to see what I got back.

Before I swapped though, I joined a CJ here after only scrapping about 2 pages previously. Talk about a leap of faith. I was in a panic and nearly backed out. I scouted every 2Peas journal I could find for inspiration. Now, I'm on my third CJ and I LOVE it.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Kim,
I was just into scrapping when I started swapping... I came to the scrapbooking section of the DIS and read all I could and looked over photos..and tried a newbie swap.

I was OK with my elements but wasn't YEAH, RAH they are totally awesome.. I got 2 emails from older regulars who said as a newbie they were great... When I had questioned, I asked, and I didn't attack those who offered advice to me. (not that you will, some do)

I have been a newbie, regular swapper, newbie hostess and a "regular" hostess and as long as everyone is willing to communicate and be there for one another then things work out great!!!

Any time you want to jump into a swap, especially the newbie ones to get your feet wet, jump in. There are alot of us that are willing to lend emotional support and you can always send us photos of your work if you need a bit of critique done.. believe me, BAMB and I have sent each other photos at 1 or 2AM saying "how is this, this isn't working, what would you suggest"..it's amazing what the girls on this board come up with.. You get "duh moments!" wow, didn't think of doing that...

My only word of warning.. don't get in over your head.. set yourself a limit of groups you want to participate in...that way you don't get overwhelmed.. You will find that once you get the hang of it; you'll love it...

yeah, what she said!

I starting swapping last year, I think. I have been scrapping going on 4 years now.
I was soooo scared I wouldn't join a swap until the newbie swaps started. It really was a great way to get my feet wet and after it was over I asked and accepted advice from everyone.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

double post

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

posting to unstick the thread

 

[mommy2mrb]

I started scrapping july 1999 (when I found out I was preggers) but didn't swap until last fall. Had only been on the scrapping threads since Feb, kept lurking and finally just jumped in on a newbie swap for DLR. I think I've done 6 or 7 now and am still nervous about sending my stuff. Give one a try, believe me you'll like it!

 

[calanniebu]

I've been scrapping for about 3 years now and swapping for about 2 ... I still have moments where I look at the stuff other people make and compare it to mine and I think mine are crap! I love swapping to see all of the different techniques hands-on. You can only get so much from a computer screen or a magazine.

 

[piratesmate]

I'm another one who really started swapping before I started scrapping. I used to frequent the board when everything was all jumbled together - but I came for the recipes. I just skipped over all the scrapping stuff.

Then I got invited to a couple CM parties & went because I felt obligated. I thought it might be neat to "scrap" all my genealogy stuff so I bought a few things...but had no clue what to do! So I started reading all the scrap threads. Once I saw people's WDW LOs I couldn't wait to start our trip...but still didn't really know what to do. I got 2 VERY basic early CM-style pages done at CM parties, but they were awful! I hated the white pages & wanted more than just matted photos.

Finally I saw a swap just starting & thought I might be able to "force" myself to get started if I just jumped in - with a deadline. I did princess squares with heat embossed stamps & quilling. I quickly realized how insane I'd been to sign up to do "something easy like squares" because the group was either 15 or 20 people - times 4 squares...times double matting...with no sqaure punch. OMG!! I was cutting cardstock for what seemed like months!

And just for the record, I've done a number of swaps since then & love seeing all the neat things everone else does. I still haven't done much actual scrapping. I did 2 heritage recipe books for my sisters, 5 genealogy books for DH's family and somewhere between 30 & 40 Disney trip pages that still aren't even in a book. Oh - and those early pages were pulled apart & done over.