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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Feb 28, 2022 22:53:24 GMT
If I knew then, what I know now..... I would triple or quadruple (or more) my purchase, of each set of patterned alphabet stickers. 25 years scrapbooking. I have learned to check the quantity of certain "most used" letters. All the patterned alphabets (that I've been hoarding-saving from the earlier years, waiting for the right photo(s), event, photo op, etc... to use them), I have one sheet of each of each patterned alphabet. When using my older alphabet stickers.....I always seem to be ONE letter short. ALWAYS!   Thankfully, I found a couple "one only" sheets on ebay, and was able to acquire them. Kicking myself in the ass, for not buying more of certain patterns, way back when. What is your scrapbooking >> If I knew then, what I know now....? |
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Post by kmage on Feb 28, 2022 23:14:20 GMT
I'd buy 2 or 3 sheets of paper that I really loved and not buy any of those DCWV stacks when they were on sale for 4.99. I guess from a more macro level, I would tell my self, "Buy what you love, not what is on sale!" I gave away so much paper because 20 years later I had still not used some of those paper stacks, and I wish I had more of some single sheets. Cost was a HUGE factor in what I purchased back then and I talked myself out of a lot of things, because I went the "more and cheaper" route.
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Post by refugeepea on Feb 28, 2022 23:25:54 GMT
Not cut my photos into shapes. Start pocket scrapping earlier. Besides, that I've always been a basic scrapper. I'm really not sure.
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Post by myboysnme on Mar 1, 2022 0:06:41 GMT
I would organize as I acquire. Instead I have bins, boxes, piles and tote bags full of stuff that needs to be organized.
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Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,688 
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Post by Elsabelle on Mar 1, 2022 0:09:53 GMT
I wouldn't have cropped so many pictures down so much. There's a lot in the backgrounds of pictures that I would have liked to look back on.
Also, I wouldn't have followed trends just because they were trendy. My 2005-ish layouts are not my favorite.
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,440
Location: New York, NY
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Post by christinec68 on Mar 1, 2022 0:15:41 GMT
At the very least, note the who, what, where, when somewhere on the page.
Take more pictures
Don’t dive headfirst into every trend.
Shop as needed and not bc of a sale or hype
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,451
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Post by amom23 on Mar 1, 2022 0:41:23 GMT
I would have stuck to the keep it simple approach and not bought all the crap I never used and later just donated.
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Post by hop2 on Mar 1, 2022 1:06:35 GMT
I would scrap whenever, doing all the things wasn’t ever going to save my marriage I might as well have enjoyed my hobby more often.
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Mar 1, 2022 1:11:10 GMT
I would have chosen to work with 8.5x11 for the cost and the shelf space.
And I wouldn't have bought so much colored card stock. I rarely use it. I much prefer patterned paper.
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Post by riversong1963 on Mar 1, 2022 1:46:37 GMT
I wouldn't have bought so many border punches that never lined up right or that I forget to use.
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Post by gizzy on Mar 1, 2022 3:07:21 GMT
I wouldn't have cropped all my photos into shapes.
I would have tried to talk myself out of purchasing certain items that I had to have. They now sit on shelves collecting dust, never even opened.
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Post by Linda on Mar 1, 2022 3:09:34 GMT
I would have been better at weeding down photos earlier on and done more journalling
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Post by scrappyrabbit on Mar 1, 2022 3:38:08 GMT
I wouldn't have cropped so many pictures down so much. There's a lot in the backgrounds of pictures that I would have liked to look back on. Also, I wouldn't have followed trends just because they were trendy. My 2005-ish layouts are not my favorite. Your comment has me wondering what was trendy in 2005? |
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Post by Citygirl on Mar 1, 2022 4:08:31 GMT
Started with a smaller album size. My 12x12’s are so big and awkward.
Not bought the Quickutz tool and all those dies.
Put dates on my memorabilia!!!
Bought the DSLR with WiFi connectivity.
Not asked for a silhouette.
Not bought Dylusions paints or paint pens.
Used my stash, especially mixed media supplies.
Bought more than one of my beloved Making Memories trimmer.
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Post by mom on Mar 1, 2022 4:35:45 GMT
I would organize my photos better from the get go.
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Post by jameynz on Mar 1, 2022 8:25:07 GMT
I would have purchased more border punches, some fancy shape punches, decent tools and less of the single patterned papers.
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camcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,161
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Post by camcas on Mar 1, 2022 9:09:28 GMT
I would have bought ALL the OA minimarket stickers and a ton of sassafras foldeez
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elljay
Full Member
Posts: 133
Dec 15, 2018 1:32:42 GMT
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Post by elljay on Mar 1, 2022 13:03:54 GMT
I would have kept my stash very small and used what I loved right away. I would also have not bought grab bags.
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Post by mikklynn on Mar 1, 2022 13:35:42 GMT
I wouldn't have cropped so many pictures down so much. There's a lot in the backgrounds of pictures that I would have liked to look back on. Also, I wouldn't have followed trends just because they were trendy. My 2005-ish layouts are not my favorite. I agree! Because I love seeing the backgrounds in my childhood photos, I try not to crop out things in the background at home. I know that 1987 stove will be a fun thing to see when my grands are older. |
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Post by honeypea on Mar 1, 2022 15:17:13 GMT
I wish I would’ve used my favorite products and not saved them “for something special”. Because over time they were no longer my favorites, and what a lost opportunity that was to play and enjoy the stuff while it was still beloved.
I wish I hadn’t taken so many years away from this craft when my kids were small. It just felt hard to get in a creative groove with that level of exhaustion (and lack of dedicated space to work in). But in hindsight I see how much I lost from not scrapbooking during that time.
I wish I’d bought every piece of every line October Afternoon ever made, in triplicate.
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Post by infochick on Mar 1, 2022 16:38:21 GMT
This is such a great thread...I have loved reading all of the responses and agree with so much of what has been said.
I think for me it is buy what you love and will use. I too felt the pull of many Michael's paper pads that are sitting untouched (now I use them for envelopes, or on layouts where I just need a base and am covering everything up). I also just tossed a bunch of dried up mixed media. I am much more selective about what I buy now. I do wish I would have bought more embellishments to go with my papers, but going through some of my older stash recently, I have been pleasantly surprised by how much of it I still really like and am excited to use.
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Post by mayceesgranny on Mar 1, 2022 16:50:51 GMT
I would have stocked up on MME and BG papers and started using mixed media sooner. I would also take the time to really learn what I can do with my cricut!
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,597
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Mar 1, 2022 18:04:23 GMT
Less DCWV, more Basic Grey.
I'd probably ignore the call of 12 by 12 albums and stick with 8.5 by 11...
There were also some organization things I regret doing but I'm glad I did not unmount my stamps, they are so much easier to use on a wood block!
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Post by papersilly on Mar 1, 2022 19:10:54 GMT
I would have stuck to the keep it simple approach and not bought all the crap I never used and later just donated. omg, THIS! especially those massive paper stacks they sold back in the 2000's. i had enough to keep a bonfire going. |
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Post by papersilly on Mar 1, 2022 19:13:36 GMT
Bought more than one of my beloved Making Memories trimmer. i loved those so i bought 4 of them. the self sharpening blade was the game changer. i finally got rid of 3 of them when i got the fiskars Procision. i still keep one at the office. |
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Post by papersilly on Mar 1, 2022 19:14:55 GMT
if i knew then.......i would have just started off with a paper trimmer with self sharpening blades and not the ones where i had to keep replacing the blade every week because i cut through cardstock most of the time. the money i could have saved!
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 7,290
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Mar 1, 2022 19:54:03 GMT
Dang. I don't even have to make a list. A lot of you have made it for me.
3-4 things that stand out to me more recently:
Don't buy tons of an embellishment you like until you see if you are actually going to like using it. Looking at you washi and ribbon!
You don't need 2 sheets of each paper because you *might* make a double layout. This was in the beginning of my papercrafting collecting years. I can't even remember when I did a double layout.
You don't need all that naked chipboard.
Just because the SB conventions have bargains, does not mean you need to buy them.
ETA: YES! about the pictures. I wish I would have taken more pictures throughout the years. And YES on the backgrounds. Backgrounds matter.
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Post by katieanna on Mar 1, 2022 20:40:16 GMT
I have been scrapbooking/paper crafting since about 1998...and you know, all these years later, I don't know what I should have done differently. Over the years, I've branched out into other crafts (i.e., card-making, crocheting, painting, doll collecting) and now wish I would have stayed more focused on ONE craft. But, no can-do. I NEED that versatility in my life. Unfortunately, that versatility ends up creating a lot of stash! I retired over a year ago and I'm still having trouble cleaning out, sorting, and getting rid of stash. Believe me, cleaning out my kitchen cupboards and closets was a lot easier than dealing with my crafting stash.
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Post by checkwheelsdown on Mar 1, 2022 20:58:58 GMT
Written dates, locations, and who people are in the photos on the backs. Started writing details of our lives on calendars much sooner. Things I thought I'd always remember...turns out I don't. Whole chunks of our family's collective memories are missing.☹️
Who could predict scrapbooking would be my beloved hobby? I wish, I wish, I wish I embraced it earlier....
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Post by cmpeter on Mar 1, 2022 22:54:04 GMT
I would have skipped buying clear epoxy embellishments that would later turn yellow, not used Yes paste to adhere my photos in the early years, passed on all the fibers and ribbons and started PL earlier.
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