I have seriously tried to refrain myself from posting this.

Last week I "secretly" tried to do the crop, just to see if maybe I could do scrapbooking.

For christmas, I asked every one that asked me what i wanted for christmas, to get me scrapbooking stuff.

Now it just seems I have a TON of scrapbooking stuff lying around and I feel horrible that I've had it for a month now, and every time I go to use it I spread everything out, get my pictures and then, JUST STARE AT EVERYTHING. NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO!!!

I am soooo amazed by the people who participated in the crop last week!!! I'm SOOO jealous!!!

I know everyone just says, just get your stuff and go for it!! but i just can't do it. I feel like i am wasting all that beautiful stuff!! i think i'll put everything on a page and make it look like crap!!

i'm so scared of wasting stuff...

Help Me!

What do I do?

__________________
My choices yesterday create my today. My choices today create my tomorrow.

Forget the Joneses Holiday Boot Camp Blog

90% of the time I lay all my stuff out and stare at it! Really. Try scraplifting--it worked for me--then you will get the hang of it all. But then you will be hooked!

__________________

I would DEFINITELY start with a sketch! (Go to the challenges section forum and click on one of the sketch challenges) and just copy it! Put your pictures where the squares on the page are.. and embellish where you see fit. You've got to start somewhere! One tip.. that I think really helps pages is to mat your photos. Meaning put your photo on paper and trim around the photo maybe 1/4 of an inch.. so that it makes your photos POP. (Paper behind your photos) I do this on 95% of my pages! Stacey is about to post sketch challenge #25! Do it with us! If you have ANY questions just ask! Post your page and maybe we can give you tips too!!! Pick your pictures you want to use.. and pull colors out of your pics for your paper. If you are wearing a purple shirt.. use purple paper! I cant wait to see what you come up with!!!

__________________
[center]
~~Ember~~
Mommy to Bailey 10/02, Brooke 9/04, & DJ 6/06

Just try it! Worst case scenario you have to trash it and re-print a few pictures!

Keep it simple - pick 1-3 pictures to start with and trim them up so there's not a lot of excess around it.

Definitely go check out the other pictures out here. I haven't done a challenge yet - I don't know when you people find the time - - but there are some cute pages out there!

Match the colors (like mentioned above) to pick out a back ground paper and another paper for matting the pictures. Stick them on the page and add a few embellishments!

You can do it!!!

__________________

WE'RE DEBT FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Yes Mat your pics--I learned that from Ember too. My pages just look naked with out it to me. It just makes things look better

__________________

And remember....NONE of us started out with "perfect" pages. Even the goddess Ember has shown some her first pages she ever did and they were VERY different than what she pushed out now! I have made a HUGE improvement from a year ago (when I found this great group of gals). You will learn quickly as you start laying out pages.

Also...don't glue anything down at first. Cut everything and lay it out on your paper. That way you can change things before you glue them down.

We are all glad to help each other out so if you have questions or if you do a layout and don't feel it is what you wanted it to be...post it and we will give you ideas of what you could change and of course of what we like about it.

Don't glue down ~ try things out ~ That is the BEST advice!

Sketches are also a big help. I still use sketches for most of my work. Occasionally I will be able to look at things and place them without something to follow ~ but I like to have an idea to go off of.

You'll do great! Just jump in and go. Once you have a few under your belt you'll find what you like and it will become easier. Then remember to post them! I can't wait to see your work!!

__________________

I can't think of much to add.

I keep all my sketches (unless I really don't like them). I have a whole binder full of them. It's my go-to book when I'm stumped.

Also, invest in some good scissors and a good paper cutter. It will make your stuff look better.

Check out our FSOT's listed under our swap forums before you run out and buy supplies.

__________________
http://www.thinkingwithink.blogspot.com/

you ladies are such great help!

and great inspiration!!

thank you sooo much! i'm going to do it! tonight, i'm going to just put everything on a page and go for it! (not attaching though!!)


Thank you so much guys!

I'll post when i'm done!

I really appreciate all the great advice!

__________________
My choices yesterday create my today. My choices today create my tomorrow.

Forget the Joneses Holiday Boot Camp Blog

It can be VERY overwhelming I think thats part of the reason I have so much scrapbooking stuff and not alot of pages. Before the crop I only had TWO. I am not very artistic and I was always afraid too. So I completely understand, I would follow the advice of everyone that replied but more importantly Go with your gut and just don't worry about it being perfect cause there is no such thing! You arent graded on your work you just do it for fun and its a great hobby and a way to preserve your memories. Good Luck! I am sure you will be fine!

__________________
Check out my blog for great product reviews and giveaways. http://sheilacakes.blogspot.com