Starting Your Own Scrapbook Club
Before I discovered the world of scrapbooking, I was
inexplicably drawn to my local office supply store. I loved to
stand in an aisle surrounded by the different colors of copy
paper. And the pens!
At the time, I thought this was really strange. (So did my
family). And then I discovered that there are a lot of people who
share this fascination. I realized that there is an entire
industry that caters to my obsession with patterned paper and
coordinating embellishments.
Then I discovered that these people also form clubs where they
get together, share ideas, and eat chocolate. What could be
better?
Scrapbooking clubs are the quilting bees of the modern era.
When you join - or form - a scrapbook group, you create a regular
time to meet with creative, loving, and family-centered
friends.
Carving out a regular time to meet is an ideal way to create
and maintain these meaningful friendships. Plus, as everyone gets
together to work with family photographs and poignant memories,
conversations tend to be deep and meaningful, too.
You can start your own scrapbooking club by asking yourself
these questions:
--> How often do you want to meet?
How frequently do you want to hold group meetings (or crops)?
Weekly, twice-monthly, monthly?
It's best to get a consensus from group members as to which
day works best, as well as which time of day. Will you need child
care - and how many people will be pitching in for the sitter?
How many people do you want in your scrapbook club?
The group dynamic varies greatly if you have 12 people, versus
30 or more. Decide in advance how many people you think will
comprise an ideal group. Do you want an intimate gathering of
friends - or the energy of a larger collaboration?
--> Where do you want to host the crop?
You can start out at your home, if you have the space. Or you can
ask if the scrapbookers in your club would like to rotate
houses.
For larger groups, consider churches, community centers, or
conference rooms. Often churches and businesses will be very
receptive to providing space for this type of gathering.
Scrapbooking is a fun, family-oriented activity, which places of
worship and community centers generally love to embrace.
--> Do you want to charge membership dues?
If you have to pay for your scrapbooking space, you'll probably
want to recoup those costs. If you are going to provide
instruction (or food or a babysitter) - simply charge reasonable
dues from each member to cover your costs. Many scrapbookers are
accustomed to paying for this type of scrap space.
--> What will you serve?
You can serve food - or not. I like to keep things really simple.
I have a simple basket of cold Evian bottles - which I stock up
on when there's a sale.
The best foods to serve don't leave anything behind, so stay
away from anything that would make it necessary for guests to
wash their hands with each bite. If you're going to serve finger
food, use toothpicks. And - for the chocolate fix - M&Ms are
wonderful because they really do melt in your mouth and not in
your hand.
--> How structured would you like your meetings to be?
Some scrapbooking clubs will invite Instructors to teach a
variety of more advanced techniques. Check with your local
scrapbooking store and direct sales consultants to see which
classes might be available.
Tip: You - or one of your club members - might want to
consider becoming a consultant yourself in order to supply the
group with product and training in the latest techniques (direct
sales consultants often receive this training from their teams and
from the company themselves, ie.
http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking/business.htm ) Then you can
earn a profit and the club can earn and share the free hostess
rewards. Free scrapbooking goodies for all! Or you can schedule
your crop around a monthly scrapbooking club kit, ie.:
http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking/scrapbook-club It's fun to
see the different projects that each club member comes up with,
using the same supplies. Plus, some monthly club kits (like the
one cited above) come with idea sheets and an artist/designer
gallery of club creations.
--> What is the best way to set up the meeting space?
Make sure the lighting is adequate and that each guest has enough
table space. You can set everyone up on your dining room table,
or - if you have the space, create a more elaborate
configuration. One idea I found on the Two Peas in a Bucket
(http://www.twopeasinabucket.com) message board is to create a
square from 2 8-foot tables and 2 6-foot tables. This
configuration will comfortably accommodate 8 scrapbookers.
It's fun to have some community tools on one table, too. I
have the basics: trimmers, Coluzzle, Silent Eyelet Setter, a mini
sewing machine, etc.
I also like to bring a selection of my favorite idea books and
scrapbooking magazines, especially those that feature seasonal
project ideas.
And place a small gift bag or paper lunch sack in the center
of each table for little scraps. This goes a long way in helping
to keep each workspace organized and clutter-free. You can also
set a relaxing (or energizing) mood with your choice of soft
background music.
--> How will you find club members?
If you don't already have a group of scrapbooking friends (or you
want to find more), simply announce your group in the
community.
Word of mouth is the best way to do this. Ask your
scrapbooking friends to bring their scrapbooking friends to the
club meetings.
You can also post flyers and announcements on community
bulletin boards in libraries, grocery stores, community centers,
etc.
Check to see if your local newspaper will run a free ad in the
Community Notes section before each scheduled crop. For example:
"Free Scrapbooking Crop. All levels of experience welcome.
Instructor/designer on hand to answer questions and provide
instruction. Come have fun and meet new friends. Time and
location. Your contact info."
You can also send email invites to all your friends. Evite.com
(http://www.evite.com) is a great tool for keeping track of
invitees. Simply pitch your crop night as a "girls' night out"
(or "mom's night out") where you'll get important things done
(and it never hurts to let them know you'll have chocolate on
hand.)
Have a great time meeting new scrapbooking friends and
inspiring one another to complete cards, layouts, and
gifts-from-the-heart in your new scrapbooking club.
About the author:
Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape's Scrapbooking
Playground. Subscribe to her free twice-monthly scrapbooking
newsletter, featuring best-of-the-net design ideas, advanced
techniques, and money-saving specials on supplies - here:
http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking
 MORE RESOURCES updated Sat. June / 15 / 2019
Hobby Lobby will be coming to Chico Chico Enterprise-RecordCHICO — Hobby Lobby, the national arts and crafts retailer, has confirmed that it will be opening up in Chico. After an inquiry from this newspaper, the company ...
At Your Library: Learn a new hobby - News The Fayetteville ObserverOn June 18 and on the third Tuesdays of every month, the East Regional Branch Library offers its Crochet and Knit Club, where future yarn enthusiasts can meet ...
Betty Mount | Bureau County Bureau County RepublicanPRINCETON — Betty Mount, 93, of Princeton, formerly of Wyanet, met her heavenly father at 1:41 p.m. Thursday, June 13, 2019. Betty was born July 2, 1925, ...
Dorothy Virginia Moore Sandusky RegisterMay 24, 1938 - June 10, 2019 Dorothy Virginia Moore, 81, of Sandusky, passed away June 10, 2019. SANDUSKY — Dorothy Virginia Moore, 81, of Sandusky, ...
De Anda: Picking up new hobbies this summer Iowa State DailyDuring the school year, one might get carried away with the long list of to-do's that never seem to end. You finish one assignment, and just when you think you.
Frances Ruth Davidson Champaign/Urbana News-GazetteFrances Ruth Davidson, 92, of Tuscola, formerly of Newman, passed away at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday (June 11, 2019) at home at Jarman Center, Tuscola.
Library offers database | Local News The Star BeaconASHTABULA — Patrons visiting the Ashtabula County District Library who would like to learn a new hobby, craft or sharpen current skills, the ACDL has an ...
New Money: Funds With Friends Associations NowThe Alzheimer's Association started its Longest Day peer-to-peer fundraising effort with just 640 participants, and in a few years, the program has ballooned in ...
Ruth Veglahn -- Chatfield PostBulletin.comRuth Veglahn, age 91, of Chatfield, and formerly of Preston, passed away at the Clara House in Harmony on Sunday, May 26, 2019.
5 hobbies you should take up today IamExpat in the NetherlandsNeed something to do outside of the daily routine slur? Here are five hobbies you should take up today. You could even take all of them up, but it might be best ...
Rising Young Professionals of 2019: Allie Lloyd Finance and CommerceCertain truths are immutable. For instance: Water is wet. Winter is cold. And Allie Lloyd wears many, many hats at Lloyd's Construction Services. Her official title ...
Foley Main Street Survey results are in Gulf Coast News TodayFOLEY - Recently, Foley Main Street conducted several surveys for both consumers and businesses in the area to determine the next steps to be taken in the ...
Victoria Shanea 'Wikkii' Cannon, 34 Coastal PointVictoria Shanea “Wikkii” Cannon, 34, passed away on May 30, 2019. She was born Aug. 6, 1984, in Lewes, Del. She was well-loved by everyone. She had a ...
Community Happenings Johnson City Press Johnson City Press (subscription)Registration is open for these upcoming events at Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., Johnson City: · Farmer's Market *Fresh* Ideas: Monday, June 17 ...
Ruth Veglahn, 91, formerly of Preston Bluff Country Newspaper GroupRuth Veglahn, 91, of Chatfield and formerly of Preston, died on Sunday, May 26, 2019, at the Clara House in Harmony. She was born on Jan. 19, 1928, to ...
Local Matters Pleasanton ExpressThere are only 18 summers in childhood. How are you going to make your child's summer count? The easiest way locally is to show up weekly for the City of ...
JOAN LEE NORTON PEEBLES Sumter ItemJoan Lee Norton Peebles, 90, widow of John E. Peebles, died on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. Born on Dec. 5, 1928, in Berkeley, ...
This 'N That Lewiston Sun JournalTOPS. NORWAY — TOPS meets Tuesdays in the Association Hall at Town & Country Mobile Home Village, 99 Town & Country Drive, Norway. Weigh-in is from ...
Wendi (Nathan) Landholm | Obituaries Blair Enterprise PublishingWendi Sue (Nathan) Landholm, 49, of Oakland, Nebraska, entered her eternal home in heaven on May 31, 2019, at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center, ...
25 Crafts to Make and Sell for Profit Small Business TrendsMaking crafts is a great creative outlet, but if you decide to monetize your creation what should you make? Here are 25 crafts to make and sell for profit.
Cycling Without Age | Crafts and hobbies Madison.comCycling Without Age is a movement started in Denmark, in 2012, by Ole Kassow. Ole wanted to help the elderly get back on their bicycles, but he had to find.
Humanities, crafts aren’t ‘hobbies’ Pune MirrorThey are food for the soul and can put food on your table, too. After decades of favouring technical academic subjects over the humanities, in fact pushing and ...
New craft market comes to Ankerside Tamworth InformedIN just a few days' time, Ankerside Shopping Centre will add a new offer to its line-up in the shape of a craft market, which will offer...
How to Make Paper Snowflakes the Easy Way Real SimpleWhether you're making a Christmas garland or DIY window decorations, learning how to make paper snowflakes is the easiest way to make your home feel ...
Weekly Calendar, June 9, 2019 The Grand Junction Daily SentinelJune 9. Special Olympics Summer Games, 8:30 a.m., Stocker Stadium and Colorado Mesa University, athletes from across Colorado; competitions in aquatics, ...
30 hobbies to try in 2019 in Asheville AVLtodayWhenever we ask you (our readers) what you love about WNC, one of the biggest responses we hear is the range of things to do. From hiking + rock climbing to ...
Art & Craft Fair | Crafts and hobbies Madison.comGet a head start on your holiday shopping with over 100 vendors at American Family's annual Art & Craft Fair! This event is free and open to the public. There.
|
