Last week I was at Michael’s buying a few scrapbooking supplies and the lady in front of me asked “What advice you would give a brand new scrapbooker?”

GREAT Question. I instantly gave her the advice “don’t over analyze your page.  You will be your worst critic. Just leave it. Its better on the page than in a box.”    I don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to redo a page or am just “not happy with it” but have left it.  It may not be great or a work of art, but those photos are now out of the box.

Then I added “Let your photos be the focus, don’t overdo it with stickers and embellishments”.  Its easy as a beginner to be sticker happy in an attempt to make it fancy. Its just clutter. I’ve been guilty of it and I’m usually even more disappointed in the result

As she was paying for her purchase, my mind kept racing with ideas to share.  I called out one more “don’t be overwhelmed with the magazine pictures.  You don’t have to make each page a work of art.”  At that moment the lady behind me said “that is such fabulous advice.”  And I was struck with a thought – maybe I am better at this then I give myself credit for. I’ve been scrapping for 11 years, but I don’t think of myself as that good.

So the entire way to my destination I was thinking – If I was to teach a scrapbooking class – what would it look like? What would I say? What would the focus be? But I also realized that I’ve already helped at least 4 others, become scrapbookers. Each with their own style.

I don’t take classes – I’ve done a couple of short workshops – but I’ve always found that even as an experienced scrapbooker I get frustrated. I hate measuring and trying to keep up.  I also hate having a result that I then have to find the pictures for.  I don’t scraplift from magazines.  I MIGHT use something as an inspiration but virtually everything I’ve done is MINE.  MY idea.  As a result, my pages aren’t the stunning works of art that are in the magazines.  But that’s OK.  They are MINE.  ALL MINE. And if “I” like it, then that should be all that matters.  Ohhh, but it’s sooo hard not to compare.  When the lady beside you has just spent 6 hours painstakingly making flowers to adorn her page and the result is exquisite, its hard to look at your own and be satisfied with mediocre.  But I digress – back to what *I* would recommend.  I’m virtually self taught.  So I’ve learned from my mistakes and from talking and watching others – and that leads me to my first tip…

• Don’t be afraid to experiment.  The result may not be exactly what you hoped for, but LEARN from it.
• Don’t pull it all apart   – its fine to fiddle and tweak something, but leave it!  Make the NEXT page better – but don’t spend hours redoing this one.  MOVE ON – you may never LOVE this page – but someone else might.  And honestly those pictures are off the computer and onto a page. Even if you think its ugly its BETTER than it was.
• Let your pictures be the focus – in years to come is the viewer going to spend more time looking at your fancy flowers or your picture? Yes the embellishments etc can make the page look AMAZING, but is the time worth it?  That’s a personal choice. For me, I don’t have the time. I have way too many pictures waiting for me and kids etc using up all my time.  I still like the KISS rule – Keep it simple stupid.
• Throw away the ruler – this one will get some people just cringing.  I use it occasionally but honestly you free yourself when you allow “eyeballing” to be your guide.  Eyeballing will not be perfect!  That’s right!!  EXACTLY.  It doesn’t need to perfect!  Its faster, its less fiddly. It’s EASIER. When I mat a photo – I stick my picture onto a chunk of paper – lining up 2 edges with an eyeballed border – then I use my trimmer and cut the other 2 sides to be “about the same”.  You get pretty good at knowing how much to trim etc.  None of this “cut a piece 5 5/8th’s by 4 3/4 etc.”  NOPE – stick cut cut. done!  Easy peasy.

BUT – that doesn’t help a newbie get started.  HOW do you begin? What is the FIRST step? Here’s what I’ve suggested:

1. Pick 3 to 5 photos of one event/theme that you like, but aren’t of a major event – you don’t want to mess up or experiment with your baby photos, or your great grandma’s portrait.
2. When choosing photos remember you don’t need ALL of them.  If 3 or 4 are similar, pick ONE of those.  If you have a close up – USE it!
3. Look at photos – is there a colour you want to highlight or enhance – this will guide you to what background or mat colours for the paper.
4. If the photo is busy – use plain – if the photo is simpler – you can use patterns more easily.
5. Putting photos straight onto a pattern is often harder to look at – too distractin. Mat them first with a solid colour.
6. You want the viewer to look INTO not OFF the page – so faces, gestures etc should face inwards not out to margins.
7. You want the photos to FLOW – so the eye is led around the page – allow something to overlap to another item -whether its a bit of ribbon, or a strip of paper or a flower.  If your pictures are all “floating” you will feel something is missing.
8. JOURNAL! At least add the date and a name.  You don’t have to put a long description.  AND don’t be afraid of your writing.  Just do it. Don’t wait to use the computer, unless you really will. (I’ve left too many pages with blank spots waiting for the jouranling and never got to it)  In years from now, others seeing your book will be glad to see your own penmanship – whether its good or bad. If you really really hate your writing – you can use sticker or stamping or hide writing under a flap.  BUT please please – LABEL IT!! And do it NOW.
9. Empty space is OK.  You don’t need to fill it.  If you add something – ask yourself – is this ENHANCING my photos.
10. When you are ready – add a technique – for each layout, try a new one – such as paper tearing, inking, brads, ribbon, different colours, multiple patterns etc.  THEN start adding them together. Play until you find what you YOU like. Look at magazines for IDEAS.  But don’t feel you have to measure up to what’s been published. If you constantly compare yours to theirs – you’ll never be happy.

And that’s MY style.  Keep in mind I wear Granny panties, so those who prefer briefs or thongs, may have an entirely different approach.  And that’s OK.  Nobody should be the same! That’s why Scrapbooking is an art form.  It’s unique – just like me.

And that’s me! GP.