Building Memories |
Fast-growing hobby appeals to all ages — and has eye-appeal
There's a new clutch of crafters in town and they're looking for a scrap. A scrap of paper that is — or a snippet of ribbon, an end piece of wallpaper; or anything else that can be used to embellish a page in a scrapbook.
Scrapbooking is one of the hottest trends in Canada, and it's transforming the family photo album into a bejeweled and bedazzled showpiece.
"Scrapbooking is relaxing, easy to do and is a great introduction to the paper arts," says craftsperson Rita Gramsch.
Scrapbooking appeals to all ages and is a terrific way to bring people together.
"It's like a 21st-century version of a quilting bee," says Shannon Leacy of Mississauga, who proudly displays her scrapbooks on her coffee table.
Leacy started journalling after the birth of her first daughter.
"I had the photo albums and all this beautiful stuff, but didn't know how to put it together," says the mother of two.
That's when she picked up a Close To My Heart catalogue, a direct sales scrapbooking and stamping company, and has been creating memory books ever since, including one for her father's 50th birthday and one for her grandparents' 60th anniversary.
"It's more than just pictures," adds Leacy, who has been cutting and pasting for five years and conducts weekly scrapbooking workshops in her home.
Now Leacy's six-year-old daughter is snipping and clipping right alongside mom, fashioning her own memory book.
Jodie Sargent decided to get "scrapping" when she became overwhelmed by the more than 1,000 pics stored on her computer. Now, the Toronto accountant records family vacations, school memories, and won $500 in this summer's Scotch Cross Canada Scrapbook Challenge.
The contest asked Canadians to submit a scrapbook page that best illustrated what their respective province or territory meant to them.
Sargent secured first place by recording her Ontario heritage using photos dating back to the 1800s.
Remember, scrapbooks can be so much more than a spot to store photographs.
Alison Beachem says, "They are windows that reveal who you are and your voice in times when you are silent. Use your scrapbooks to learn, grow and create a deeper bond with everyone around you."
