Is this a chicken before the egg question? Newbie with scraps? LOL
Part of the answer probably depends on what kind of scraps you have. Are they all cotton, quilting fabric? If not, you can still make a quilt, but the techniques and designs might be limited by your fabric. Are your scraps big pieces? Strips? Small bits? All will work, but in different ways.
This is what I do with my scraps - log cabins -
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...in-t23612.html