Hey Robin...just jump right in there doll!!
It would probably be a good idea for you to start with your most current photos and from now on get double prints made. By starting with your most current, you are getting lots of practice and developing your "style" I wouldn't want to start to "learn" on any of my baby or heritage photos.
You will be a scrapaholic like the rest of us in no time!!
Keep us posted!
~Mar~
Ontario, Canada

How about trying your 1st attempt on some bad pictures that you aren't interested in keeping? Then you can get some practice with cropping and color schemes without having to worry about ruining any treasured pics. I wish I had done this. I absolutely HATE my 1st few pages. Someday I'll get around to re-doing them. It's amazing how quickly your skills will progress. GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!

Part of the fun is learning as you go. I cringe everytime I look at my first attempt, but everyone has to start somewhere! Don't give up--YOU GO GIRL!!!

Hello,
I agree with Meredith saying to start with some bad picture to learn to crop or to practice, but I think it is much more difficult to make pages with pictures we don't like. It is not a good source of inspiration. Maybe try to find some ideas you like, in a magazine,with a subject close from pictures you have (baby, fall, spring, new home...), and first try to "copy" the idea! The first pages maybe, will not very personnal, but I am sure that you rapidly get ideas from your own to create your really own pages. And that way, your very first pages will not be too disappointing! It is not exactly the way I began,in fact I did very simple first pages, I don't hate them, but when I watch them, I am proud of my improvements.
Thank you girls for this forum, it is a great pleasure for me to "talk" with all these hooked people, and a terrific way to practice my english.
bye
Joelle

Robin, if you want to get some practice with your own photos, how about going to your local copy shop and having color copies made? Crop the copies, make a layout, and if you don't like it, crop a different one. Then, when you find a layout you're comfortable with, crop the actual photos. I wouldn't recommend doing this on a regular basis, but for your first 1 or 2 pages, it might be worth the $2-3 you might spend on copies.

By the way, I never EVER get my pics developed without getting duplicates. Our local Walgreens always offers the 2nd set free so I keep one copy, untouched, in a traditional photo album, and my 2nd copy is for me to crop and play with as I wish. The added benefit? If I mess up, I have another copy or I can grab my negative and get another copy made.

The main point is to jump right in and have fun. Making that first cut was the hardest thing I did, but now I'mhappy to cut off all that "junk". :)