» 99 percent of scrapbookers are women
» $4 billion was spent on scrapbooking and other paper-craft products in 2009
» There are 1.3 million scrapbook bloggers, according to Google
» The average scrapbooker owns $2,000 in tools and supplies
Sources: Scrapbooking in America study, Memorytrends magazine, Craft and Hobby Association
It's no secret that scrapbooking has changed drastically from the days when a few photos and newspaper clippings got pasted into a book with construction paper pages.
Now one simple book just won't do it. Today's scrapbookers have multiple books full of photos, colorful paper, embellishments (buttons, flowers, ribbons and bows, stickers), stamps, calligraphy and paper cutouts.
These books tell the history of their families — in detail, with flourishes.
Keeping these scrapbooking wizards in supplies is big business. There are stores that sell only scrapbooking materials or have scrapbooking departments, give demonstrations of new techniques or machines, and hold classes for beginners or advanced participants.
It's also become a social occasion, when scrapbookers get together informally with friends or form clubs that meet as often as once a week.
They also take part in daylong "crops" or scrapbooking sessions, sometimes put on as fundraisers. On a recent Saturday, more than 30 women gathered at Omaha Bryan High School to raise money for the Bryan Baseball Booster Club.
Yes, they were all women. Industry experts say 99 percent of scrapbookers are women.
They showed up at 9 a.m., and most stayed until 8 p.m.
The $35 fee to participate went to the booster club. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks were donated by local businesses and baseball parents, said Liane Prucha, the organizer.
In addition to the scrapbookers, who each needed at least a table to hold all the paraphernalia they brought with them, there were vendors on hand who had more stuff to sell them.
Today's scrapbookers don't use just one pair of general-use scissors; there are countless cutting instruments especially created for different tasks. No one uses plain white paper as the background; now there are myriad of designs and colors to pick from. There are stick-on letters and numbers, letters and designs you can stamp, stencils for every occasion. And it's impossible to count the different pens and markers and ribbons and flowers and things that sparkle.
The scrapbookers at the Bryan crop all gave similar reasons for scrapbooking: creating something to hand down in the family, having a creative outlet, socializing with other hobbyists.
Tammy Tamborini, like many of the scrapbookers at Bryan, started the hobby when she had her first child.
Tamborini said she sometimes gets together with friends for scrapbooking sessions, but mostly she watches for daylong crops or scrapbooking retreats where she can visit with people she knows, learn new techniques and generally just have fun a few times a year.
At the other end of the spectrum is Lori Apgar, who some of the participants laughingly called the "Queen of Scrapbooking."
Apgar not only does scrapbooking for herself, she works at a Michaels arts and crafts store, teaches lessons and keeps a blog. She has the latest equipment and, at a crop, is willing to let others try out the devices. She checks the Internet for new ideas or materials.
She got started because "I like to make things myself," and she sees scrapbooking as telling a story.
"I take a picture and then I paint the story behind it."
While Apgar laughs at being called the scrapbooking queen, she does admit to being addicted to it.
She's willing to share anything she learns or creates on her blog. (http://www.scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com) And she loves helping get others started.
"I like helping someone because it makes me feel good."
Working on pages for a family game night and a trip to the zoo was Debra Evans, who has been scrapbooking for 14 years. She said she has created about 20 books, not counting special ones for holidays.
She agrees it's addictive, but it's also creating something to leave behind. "Your whole life is right in front of you."
Evans is one of four friends who often scrapbook together and came to the Bryan event. She said they spend occasional weekends away at a craft cottage in Iowa. They get away from their families for a couple of days to indulge in scrapbooking, watch movies and do "girl stuff."
With her at the crop were Patti Bengard, Paulette Maurice and Nancy Duffy, who said they met at work, First National Bank.
They love the hobby but they're reluctant to reveal how much money they spend on it.
Carrie Crew and Nikki McKee have found a way to allay some of the expense. They weren't creating scrapbooks for themselves during the crop. The two women — whose business name is Scrappin' Crew — make books to sell to others who can paste their own photos on the theme-oriented, pre-decorated pages (holidays, graduation, birthdays, special requests). At the crop, they were working on clever small paper bag albums.
"We make money to buy more stuff," McKee said, with a laugh. "But we have fun doing it."
Contact the writer:
402-444-1067, carol.bicak@owh.com
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