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 Wed. August / 21 / 2019
Sawdust flies at WOE Heritage Fair Cottage Grove SentinelThe debate over what is and isn't considered a sport rages on in conversation all over the country. For viewers of one particular event last Friday evening, ...
July Write-In | Crafts and hobbies Madison.comWriting can be hard and lonely. We might not be able to make it less hard, but we can make it less lonely. Write-ins are one of ArtLitLab's core programs,
Community News For The East Hartford Edition Hartford CourantEAST HARTFORD -- The Hillstown Grange will host its 131st annual agricultural fair on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Grange Hall, 617 Hills St. The ...
Kathleen R. Langworthy | Obituaries Cadillac NewsCADILLAC — Kathleen R. Langworthy of Cadillac passed away on August 16, 2019 at her home surrounded by her family. She was 58.
'Fairwell' to fair board Sentinel-TribuneIt's “fair” to say that the Wood County Fair runs in the blood of many families — and Collette Dickey is no exception.
DISPLAYING LOCAL TALENT Weakley County PressDISPLAYING LOCAL TALENT — With the grand opening of the Obion County Fair set for Aug. 19, local residents flooded the fairgrounds on Saturday to turn in ...
Community Calendar | News, Sports, Jobs Evening ObserverWEDNESDAY, AUG. 21 Dunkirk Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., outside the Dunkirk Senior Center on Ruggles Street. Rain or shine, every Wednesday from ...
The Second Half: Lots of ways to fight boredom Eureka Times StandardDear Tracey: I'm bored. I need a new hobby or something to do with my time. The first couple of years of retirement were great, but now? Like I said, I'm just plain ...
The highs and goodbyes in crafting 2018/2019 Craft BusinessHobbycraft, the UK's largest arts and crafts retailer, reveals the rising trends in crafting and a new-found interest amongst millennials spurred on by the digital era ...
Art Hall and Horticulture Hall results Troy Daily NewsRanger Selvidge 101 — Farm Display Youth, Ages 8 and Under — 1. Gage Thompson 101 — Farm Display Youth, Ages 8 and Under — 2. Remington Selvidge ...
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 ...
Terrace Art Takeover | Crafts and hobbies Madison.comJoin the Garden at the Memorial Union Terrace for a guided workshop on how to create a beautiful flower arrangement with flower cuttings from the Garden and ...
Local artist/author to seniors: Get a movin' Ahwatukee Foothills NewsHey, why can't you start a new career in your senior years? Whether you're 60, 70 or 80 or somewhere in-between, you have more to offer from your life ...
Now Playing: Arts listings for Aug. 22-28 Sarasota Herald-TribunePROFESSIONAL THEATERSARASOTA“THE COTTAGE”: Sandy Rustin's contemporary comedy inspired by the witty style of Noel Coward is set in a 1923 ...
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.
Pamela Lafrenz Cavalier County ExtraFuneral services were held on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, at Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Langdon for Pamela Lafrenz, 53, of Langdon, who, passed ...
Revel x Kendra Scott: You're a Gem Party Madison.comYou're a gem, darling! And you deserve to enjoy an evening of gorgeous accessories and jewelry-inspired DIYs Make plans to join us at the Kendra Scott store ...
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 ...
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 ...
I like crafting NewsdayHobbies I enjoy are piano, writing, math, and swimming, but my favorite thing to do is crafts. I like to make miniature places like mini campsites out of paper, glue, ...
13 Hobbies That Can Make You Money WomansDay.comIf your full-time job just isn't fulfilling, or you need a little extra income to to reach a goal or pay for a vacation, turning to a hobby that makes money can be a great ...
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 ...
Hobby Lobby opens in New Iberia KATC Lafayette NewsNew Iberia artists and hobbyists can now get their crafting supplies right at home. Hobby Lobby officially opened today on 900 E. Admiral Doyle Drive. Before ...
Hobby Lobby Store Coming to Thunderbird Mall FOX 21 OnlineVIRGINIA, Minn. – A new Hobby Lobby location is moving into the Thunderbird Mall in Virginia. A recent Facebook post by the Thunderbird Mall says the store is ...
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.
50 Craft Business Ideas Small Business TrendsThere are so many different business opportunities that allow you to share your crafting skills. Here are 50 craft business ideas to get you started.
|
