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 consulants 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

---

Use Newspaper Clippings, Graphics, Kids Art, and Clipart to Enhance Your Scrapbook

A popular addition to scrapbook pages is newspaper clippings. Newspaper... Read More

A Look at Cabinet Humidors

Cabinet humidors are specially designed for the serious cigar aficionado.... Read More

Scrapbooking Tips And Tricks For Photos And Images

When you're incorporating pictures of any kind into your scrap... Read More

Jewelry Making: Measuring for Bracelets Without a Tape

Your cousin's friend in Saskatchewan has asked you to design... Read More

Organize That Stash!

Do you control your stash or does it control you?... Read More

Amish Furniture for Kids Summer Projects

Summer is coming, and the kids will soon be out... Read More

Embroidery Sewing Quality of Machine Embroidery Designs

Many new to embroidery have experienced numerous problems because of... Read More

Easy Origami

Starting outOrigami is an art of paper folding, therefore all... Read More

How To Make a Pinata

MATERIALSA Large Round or Oval BalloonNewspaper, torn into 1 inch... Read More

Using Your Dogs Hair

Dog hair (called chiengora)can be spun into yarn, much like... Read More

Jar Lid and Jar Candle Decoration

Supplies Needed:Most items can be found around the house or... Read More

Getting Rid of Messes and Mistakes in Your Scrapbooks

No matter how careful you are, you will undoubtedly find... Read More

Antique Delft and Very Collectible Tiles and Ceramics: Beginners Start Here

So you fancy starting a collection but you're not sure... Read More

The Leather Look, Accents, and Punching for Your Scrapbook

A leather look can add elegance to your scrapbooking page.To... Read More

A Beginners Guide to Buying Authentic Swords Online

Looking at all the various swords for sale online can... Read More

Collecting Depression Glass ? Where to Start

Okay, so you've been bitten by the Depression Glass bug,... Read More

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

The song says it all, "Hot Fun in the Summertime."... Read More

How To Make Your Own Gift Baskets

Haven't you always wanted to give someone a beautiful gift... Read More

Woodworking Beginners: Introduction To First Time Crafts

Woodworking: The Process Of Making Something Using WoodThe art of... Read More

Endless Possibilites With Custom Printed Lanyards

Custom printed lanyards are an extremely popular item and are... Read More

Embroidery Thread Tips for Better Machine Embroidery Sewing

I have some tips for you to get better results... Read More

Turn An Arts And Crafts Hobby Into A Business

Are you searching for a quick way to make an... Read More

Antiques From Europe...Is It Really The Goose That Layed the Golden Egg?

Many dealers and auctioneers have been bringing container loads of... Read More

Save on Kids Craft Supplies - Recycle!

Here is some information about how to collect and use... Read More

Introduction to Hobby Metal Casting for the Practical Home Mechanic - Engineer

Your enjoyment will start right from the moment you start... Read More

Printing on Canvas

Given the progress in inkjet and media technology, demand for... Read More

Ribbons and Lace, Embroidery Cotton, and Hemp to Spice Up Your Scrapbooks

Ribbon and lace are by far the most common, and... Read More

Sharing Journals

Creating a journal or diary that combines scrapbooking and journaling,... Read More

A Brief History of Candles

For centuries man's progress has been lighted by candles. However,... Read More

The Proper Use of Comic Book Supplies Will Help You Maintain a Top-Notch Collection

If you want to keep your comic book collection in... Read More

Woodworking: Protection When Working With Wood - Ignoring Could Potentially Harm Your Health Or Kill

Woodworking: Basic Safety TipsWoodworking can be a dangerous undertaking if... Read More

Setting Up Your Display Case

One of the best ways to display photographs, memorabilia and... Read More

Leather Work Tips

For leather work, consider the basics: an awl and spare... Read More