BIGGER THAN GOLF HOBBY IS HUGE

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Scrapbooking is bigger than golf; 'addicts' say the hobby enables them to document their family stories

Date published: 3/6/2007

By KIM BAER

Sure, the papers are pretty, the ribbons fun and the stickers cute.

But scrapbooking is about more than putting together attractive pages.

With their work, scrapbookers say, they preserve family memories.

Like the time when Lisa Ouellet's preschool-aged son got ahold of the scissors and chopped his hair until it stuck out in clumps like a newly hatched chick.

Or the day the next-door neighbor's tulips bloomed, so Ouellet snapped pictures of her two boys sniffing them.

The Spotsylvania County resident scrapbooks to document these moments.

"Otherwise, we'll all forget, unfortunately," she said.

Modern scrapbooking began in the early 1980s when the first scrapbooking store opened in Utah. But the hobby really exploded about 10 years ago, turning into a $2.5 billion annual industry.

In fact, the pastime is now more popular than golf. That's right. Golf.

One in four households has a scrapbooker, compared with one in five households with a golfer, according to Creating Keepsakes magazine.

As the hobby has grown, it has evolved. It provides a growing market for women entrepreneurs, a way to celebrate faith and a way to raise money for charities.

Cheryl Menders is one of the women who have broken into the scrapbooking business. Two years ago, the longtime scrapbooker created the Croppin' Companion--plastic folders for pages in progress. They have a large pocket for storing a scrapbook page and two smaller pockets--one at the top and one at the bottom--for photos, memorabilia and other items.

The mother of three runs the business from her Stafford County basement. The folders are available at croppincom panion.com.

Menders, who has a master's degree in physical therapy, never expected to become a business owner. But she's glad scrapbooking has provided the opportunity.

"It's a God-sized project. It's been his since the beginning," she said. "I couldn't do it on my own."

Scrapbooking also provides a spiritual outlet for a growing number of people.

Lori Reed of Spotsylvania County runs a monthly "faithbooking" group at Salem Baptist Church.

Reed, a Creative Memories consultant, provides a layout, usually tied to Scripture or a biblical story.

"We want to pass our faith down to our children and let them know it's important to us," Reed said.

WANT TO GET STARTED? Here's some advice from Cheryl Menders: DO scrapbook the pictures you most recently developed and then work backward as you get more comfortable. DON'T buy too many supplies before you actually need them. DO be sure all materials including the adhesive are acid free and photo safe. DON'T scrapbook every photo--just use the ones that help you tell your story. File the rest. DO make photos the focus of the page. Be careful when choosing decorative papers and embellishments like stickers, which can easily overwhelm the photos. DON'T forget to include not only details like the place, date and the people involved but also emotions attached to the photos, when appropriate. DO use photo corners to position photos or documents--like birth certificates--you might want to take out of your books later. DON'T be afraid to crop your photos to emphasize the person or detail in them. DO scan or take photos of 3-D items like trophies, medals or school projects so they can be used in your books without adding bulk. DON'T wait until you think you have enough time--start today. --Kim Baer SCRAPBOOKING TRENDS The trend these days is toward simple and clean pages, said Kanak of The Cropper's Corner. Many scrapbookers are using fewer photos and fewer embellishments per page, she said. The emphasis is on photos and backgrounds that capture a feeling. "It's the less-is-more approach," she said. Black and white pictures and geometric shapes are other big trends, said Theresa Buzsta, a manager and buyer for Scrapdoodles in Central Park. Embellishments made with felt and velvet ribbons are also popular now, Buzsta said.

Date published: 3/6/2007

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