Books and papers come in 8 X 8 sizes. The benefit of beginning with this size of page is that it doesn't require as much planning or products to fill a page. It is also easy to choose a theme and develop the book around it. This could be entirely about the pet dog or one soccer season. A smaller book can be a fun and easy way to try scrapbooking without the intimidation of the 12 X 12 book.

Choose a First Theme

One mistake that new scrappers make is jumping around with page ideas. It is easy to do one page about Halloween and then a baby's baptism. It is easier to just buy products around one theme. For example perhaps decide to do a Christmas scrapbook or a soccer themed book. If the scrapbook has 10 pages, the scrapper can plan to do 20 scrapbook pages; therefore purchasing 20 papers, stickers, and so on about that one theme. It gives focus for the beginner and requires buying fewer supplies to begin with.

Two Pages at a Time

It is important to always view scrapbooking as a two-page design. Always put the pages that will face together out at the same time. It is fun to carry the theme of one page over to the second page. This is important also for the color theme of the papers and embellishments.

Get Together with Friends

Contact friends that have been scrapping for a long time. They are usually generous with supplies and advice. It also is a good way before purchasing a lot of products to try out different items and to decide which a person likes. This is especially good for adhesives. Odds are that friends have already tried many of them out, and by trial and error know which brands are preferred. This can be a fun girls' night out and a great way to learn more about the hobby.

Scrapbooking is a fun way to preserve memories while at the same time taking on a hobby that will become a fantastic social activity as well. Remember not to jump in with a huge investment of money and supplies. Do it gradually and before long the new scrapper becomes the expert.

Learn more about this author, Jayne Suttor.
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