New to scrapbooking

EeyoreEma

DIS Veteran
Joined
Sep 15, 2009
Messages
1,171
Hi all! I've never really scrapbooked anything before, but have always wanted to. DH got my some supplies for my Christmas gift, so i guess now is the time! I feel so nervous - like I'm going to totally screw it up! Do I just jump in, or what is the best way to begin? I've been looking through all of your great layouts since Christmas, but I feel overwhelmed!
 
Welcome! What a nice hubby you have :)

Do you have a local scrapbook store? The first thing I might do is take a basics class at my LSS if you have one nearby. Second choice might be to look at your local school districts continuing education flyer - mine always has a scrapbooking class offered.

Taking a class helps you get your feet wet with somebody to hold your hand. Otherwise, you'll just have to jump in with both feet! (that's what I did - and took a class later)
 
Welcome on board. I am pretty new myself and the ladies here on this board have helped me so much! I am now scrapping right along and enjoying it so very much! :love::woohoo:

Keep coming back you will learn so much here!
 
Welcome! :flower3:

Do you have any friends that scrap? That is how I got started. My BFF was a scrapper and she came over one night with all her supplies. We just sat and chatted and started working. It is nice when you first start out to have someone else there to give you feedback.

Additionally, I would go to the local library and check out their books on scrapping and paper crafting. They can really jump start your creativity and help you find ways to make the pages your own.
 

Welcome to the wonderful world of scrapping! It is fun and creative and addictive!!

To avoid that feeling of totally screwing up remember two things... never use original photos or anything that can't be duplicated. And scrapping is ART... and art is subjective.... so if you like it, that is all that counts!!

Maybe start with a small project to get your feet wet. Pick a weekend trip away or a one or two day event and scrap that. Then you will have started and completed something small and you may be feeling much more confident by the end.

If you were my friend and you came to me with these questions I would add the following suggestions....

Check out Simple Scrapbooks magazine. Lots of nice, easy, basic simple ideas. Creating Keepsakes is also a great magazine, but some of the ideas and layouts are much more complicated.

Buy just the basics to begin with (cardstock, adhesive, black journaling pen, good scissors, 12" trimmer, a FEW sheets of patterned paper themed to whatever you are working on). It is too easy getting caught up in buying lots of "stuff" and you may find that your style changes over time and you don't really want to use the stuff you bought at first.

Find a good spot in your house to store your stuff and decide where you are going to work. If you are lucky enough to be able to have a dedicated scrapping spot, then WOOHOO! But most scrappers use the kitchen or dining room table. So then you have to have a handy storage spot nearby (closet, cabinet, etc) and you have to be prepared to clean up every time your family needs to sit and eat.

Have FUN with it. When/if it becomes a chore or is stressful, STOP. If it not fun, there is NO sense in doing it.

Journaling is JUST as important as the pictures. Be sure to add the who/what/where/when/why to every event.... and even more if you can.

If you come to the conclusion that there is ONE part of scrapping that you struggle with, don't be afraid to ask for/look for help. For myself that part is the actual LAYOUT of the photos. So I "scraplift" layouts where ever I can. I LOVE the Becky Higgins Sketches in CK magazine (although she is no longer doing them. :( ) And I like the layouts at www.pagemaps.com. So I find lots of help there. I actually keep several binders of sketches/maps that I have found and I have sketched myself and I use them every time I scrap.

Well.........that is it for now. Have fun with your new hobby!...........P
 
Thanks for all the great advice! I think I will head to the library and see what resources they have there. We live in a small town, so no scrapbook stores or classes available, and I don't know anyone who scraps! I'm looking forward to it, though!
 












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