What you never wanted to know about Scrapbooking

2 years ago (was it really that long???) One of my online friends started a scrapbooking group as a spin-off from another group several of us were in together. Well, I loved the other ladies, but had no clue about scrapbooking, and really no desire to learn (famous last words!). So I joined...and chatted with all my old friends, etc. In December, A---'s son was involved in a terrible auto accident, so I 'angeled' for her in a Christmas swap. Still didn't have a clue what I was doing, but the list-owner helped me figure out what I needed to do! When I got that first swap back, I couldn't believe all the neat goodies! After that, I joined every swap I could--but I always contributed "purchased" items...like brads or paper, stickers, etc. Ahh, but the GOODIES! It wasn't long before I just HAD to get those goodies out and play with them...so I started matching pictures I already had with the swaps stuff I had. Some of those first pages were not particularly good (masterpiece of understatement)...but now I'm well and truly HOOKED!!! ROFLOL. My life is chaotic right now, so I'm hardly participating in swaps, wanted to host one in Sept, but couldn't get my act together long enough to do so.

My advice to anyone who wishes to learn, is to JOIN SWAPS. Don't over-extend, or you will regret it, but don't be afraid to try. You might watch for a swap that tickles your fancy and join it...if you need suggestions on how to make an item--like a tag, deco square, etc...just ask. You can also look on a home page of a scrapbooking group and see if you can identify the different elements she used there, then see what you think you can make prety easily.

Oh yeah, the first swap I got, I had to take it to A-- so she could tell me what a "topper" was, a "journal box", etct--much less a Shaker Box! lol

that's my story