Greetings!

I am a first-time blogger and have chosen to "blog" to promote my passion: scrapbooking!! Relatively new to the craft, I have quickly become addicted to this growing obsession, and have learned a few things along the way. If you've never tried it, I encourage you to do so. Yes, it can be extremely overwhelming, but here are a few tips:

1. Remember why you're scrapbooking. This is probably the most important advice I can give a beginner. Do it because you enjoy the craft, you want to preserve your memories, and/or you want to show posterity how you live your life and what is important to you.

2. Try not to spend a fortune. I had (okay, HAVE) this problem, but it's not necessary. Not at all. You need an album, cardstock, an archival quality pen, a paper trimmer, and pictures. That's it. Stickers, patterned paper, and other embellishments are great to add to your pages, and I use them, but the focus is on the memories, not the froo froo. Michael's, A.C. Moore, and JoAnn's put out coupons every week and always have something on sale in the scrapbook section.

3. Use the internet. The internet is an amazing resource for ideas. There are many, many talented people out there who are more than willing to share layout and project ideas. If you're into digital scrapbooking, you can find lots of freebies to download.

4. Relax. I often have to remind myself that I'm not trying to impress anyone. For me, scrapbooking is about the memories I want to preserve and share with my family, and the enjoyment of crafting.

That's my 2 cents. For today, anyway! Have a wonderful day!

Erin