Scrapbooking a dying trend?

I think with a larger online presence and more monthly kit clubs, the local scrapbook stores were hit pretty hard. Sadly, all of the ones near me closed down several years ago. There's still one around but it's over 2 hrs away so I rarely go.

I hope it's not a dying craft. I've been scrapbooking for almost 10 years and would be so sad if it went away. What would I do with all my hoarded stuff?? LOL I think and hope the format will continue to evolve (think about how big pocket style scrapbooking has become) but scrapbooking won't go away. There are many of us that still love to record our stories and memories for future generations. And although digital scrapbooking is popular, I'm still a paper, scissors and glue kind of gal.

I believe in the cyclical nature of things also. The economy does play a big part, too.

I hope it doesn't die out. I think they shouldn't stop selling. Cause I know when I was at JoAnn's the other week there was so many customers in the scrapbook area stocking up on stuff.

I just hope that in a year that it will bomb right back up again. I am sure if it was a dying trend that Cricut wouldn't keep making new machines.

Scrapbooking is such a wonderful hobby... I adore it and just used a vacation day to stay home and scrap.

An idea: Do you think that there is any chance that the wide range of techniques and products might make the hobby intimidating to outsiders? Obviously, those of us in the inside know that you don't have to have it ALL (even though we want to/aim to) and we all know that we started somewhere and continue to grow our tallents/skills. But I have met so many people who think its hard... or scary...they won't even dip their toes in the water. Of course when I hear this my brain explodes, because I don't understand why paper, sizzors, and glue is intimidating. But I do wonder if it is impacting the industry. Clearly, those of us who scrap are very loyal and the new ideas, products, and techniques only push the love closer to our hearts...but I wonder if it could be pushing away outsiders. Especially since there aren't LSS to do demos and classes. Your thoughts?

Oh, I agree with you!
Imagine a beginner flicking thru a magazine that is dedicated to showcasing the latest and greatest products, showing pages that cost a fortune to put together. If I were a beginner I would run a mile, too hard, too expensive, and believing I could not possibly re-create that. Shops that are still around don't seem to offer beginner classes, as they think there is no money in it.
But if they showed people where to start....got them excited about the hobby....demonstrated products....explained things to them....rather than acting like they are wasting the owners time by even being in their shop.
Grrrr! I shouldn't get up on this box!!!!
I'll get down now.

I have been thinking about this very topic. I am hosting a 12 x12 challenge for National Scrapbooking Day that is open to everyone, but very suitable for beginners. My sample layout wad super simple and fun. I hope we can atteact some new scrappers without scaring them to death first.

Donna, that is fantastic! I am sure your passion and excitement for this wonderful hobby will inspire many new people to start scrapping Hope you have lots of fun on the day!

Donna, that is great! I saw your post about doing a beginners challenge and I think it is super important to support beginners. Everyone deserves a chance to learn something new and be supported...we were all new once.

Not to mention that from a fiscal perspective we ALL need newbies. New scrappers do not have a huge stash of goodies and supplies to live off if there is an end or worlds scene, like the rest of us (ok I wouldn't make it that long either---still building my stash). And while they are new and building their stashes they are keeping the manufactures alive as we (the horders) become more picky about our purchases. Note the forums where ppl openly admitt they need to slow down on their buying...I am sure that scares the ******** out of manufacturers. SO we need to find a way to encourage/ teach/ support newbies...so the industry can come back. Any Ideas? More local (unsponsored) crops? Damand classes at the big box stores? Reach out to girl scout troops and college clubs (hook 'em while they are young)? What would/should we do to keep this community strong?

Now wouldn't it be nice just to walk into the Scrapbook or even Craft stores and be like Look here people!

Do Scrapbook classes for beginners! Heck even set up "Tabs" just like Archivers did when they where open for business. Cause they that would get them motivated. Cause, then they could go through the store and pick out what they need and add it to their tab. I actually really liked doing that, cause you had what you needed right at your finger tips. (And they even did a small discount for you for doing that).

Or even have fliers up of up coming scrapbook crops that bigger cities handle, so people that are interested in can actually walk through and ask fellow scrappers how they started and what they bought to get started.

Thank you everyone for your support. I hope you all will join the challenge too. You can make it your own and add whatever works for your style. There is also a tag challenge. Prizes for both through Random.org

I don't buy many supplies at all - I could open my own store with all this stash I've accumulated the past 8 years. f

I discovered digital in January - we went on a 4 month cruise and I took my computer and a portable scanner and had a ball on sea days - got nearly the whole trip digitally scrapped.

I'm making a cookbook for my mother with trimmer and paper and I do the grandchildren's pages with trimmer and paper.

I am printing Shutterfly books of my digital pages and scanning and printing the paper and trimmer pages in Shutterfly books also.

I feel very blessed - when my 40 year-old son and his family visit he spends time with my scrapbooks and enjoys them. He has asked me if he can have them all and he will get them. I just hope my granddaughter grows up to enjoy them. But if she doesn't, it's okay. My husband and I enjoy them and that is why I make them.

As to whether I feel its dying out... I don't know but I do know that quite a few people have given me all of their scrapbook supplies because they are through with it. When we were in Melbourne, Australia in February a friend who just gave up scrapbooking gave me a full suitcase of nice things which I brought home with me. I do not know if enough people are starting to scrapbook to fill the void of all I know who have retired from scrapbooking.

At the crops every month there used to be a lot of scrapbookers but the majority now make cards. Many of them claim to have left scrapbooking and prefer other paper crafts.

Memories and photos have always been important to me. I never had time get into Scrapbooking until after college. I was lucky to find some amazing ladies through meetup.com to take me under their wing and introduce me to the Scrapbooking circles.

Over the years I saw many LSS come & go like the wind. There was 1 regional store (Craft Warehouse in WA, OR, & ID) that built an ingenious foundation for its scrappers. In 2012, CW started a scrap club. Each attendee would receive a free packet with a few goodies & unique items and was asked to return to the next monthly meeting with those items incorporated into a LO. It was only a couple hours one night per month, but nearly 100 ladies were there monthly to share their talents. We also received a coupon for discounted purchases for that night. Imagine if we took our online sb.com challenges to an in-person meeting for beginners & experienced alike! We all became much more engaged with the store and spent a lot more money there! I miss this club very much. There was no obligation to buy, but we were all so inspired we wanted to. Now I moved to a new area with only Hobby Lobby & Target. I hear there's another great business model at a store 1hr away. They keep a large stock of cheap, little bit older supplies (perhaps they are helping other LSS clear their shelves) and host lots of crops. With so many online opportunities to purchase & participate in this hobby, it would be a challenge to come up with a good business model to compete these days.

I think a lot of it has to do with the DIY trend too. People are making their own patterned papers and all of their embellishments. I still have a stack of Thickers 3 feet high but I rarely use them now that I have a digital die cutter. I make so much with my machine that I just really don't need to buy anything.

Ya know, I never thought of that! Interesting.

I have hoarded so much stuff my friends rather "shop" in my craft room as a lot of what I have are items that are no longer for sale in the LSS or discontinued on websites as they need to makewa for new products. Which is disappointing because I rely on certain products to reach for. And it's fustrating having to search everywhere to replace something you could find at one place locally or on-line. But because I have built up my stash I don't buy regularly anymore so to the retailers it probably feels like a dying industry when sales have slowed.

Also, I know ppl who love to scrap but stopped because they started a family or family is growing and Moms just can't find the down time to create.

As far as stores go I think it would be in their best interest to offer free classes and let newbies sample various products to help them decide what to purchase to get started, and maybe free classes for the seasoned scrappers "who think they have evrything" test new products coming out so they may be interested in upgrading. People can post why they like (i.e., a new die cut machne) or I can watch videos about the but if I can't touch it, see it in action, and ask questions to an actual person in one shot I'll continue to be happy with what I already have.

I agree a lot with what Josh and Totem have talked about. I think so many pictures are taken, more than ever but such a small portion actually make it into printed photos. When I have a stack of printed photos in front me of me I start scrapping. Photos on my phone, computer etc, out of sight out of mind.

The sad thing is most of these photos will be lost forever at some point. That's great they are saved on a computer, or cloud or external hard drive somewhere. I doubt our descendants will go back and collect them and print them, if they even can anymore due to technology changes or damaged equipment.

I myself was thrilled with project life style. I started as a stamper who liked to also write and collect odd bits of paper. I always felt intimated by the gorgeous layouts using 30 dollars worth of products I could never imitate. To me that was a a breathe of fresh air.

The other factor on that front is there is such an overwhelming amount of new things to try out there and it is sold out and replaced so quickly. You like that paper line...buy it now...in 2 months it is gone and you can never buy it again. My other gripe is, while it has gotten better, they haven't done a great job of understanding the diversity of their market. Many of us don't have kids and want to scrap trips or pets, or nature etc and we get a limited line or certain color choice or theme every once in awhile. Like right now I hate "gold" and I feel as if "gold" is being jammed down my throat.

But I will say scrap booking is no different than any other craft. It ebbs and flows. I think the bigger concern is the future market. Many of us grew up with moms or aunts or grandmas etc. that taught us sewing and paper crafts and embroidery in our homes. Sure I can look up everything online now...if I am even familiar with it or curious enough to look into it or even be aware it exists. Then learning alone is always more difficult. How the industry decides to evolve will answer that question.

• michprice Said:

The DIY trend to me is what is saving the Scrapbooking industry...because really scrapbooking is just paper crafting and finally companies are catering to a wider variety of people (cardmakers, planners/stationary fans, artsy mixed media, stamping, party decor etc)

Like the comment above where a poster said now at crops people are making cards...to me that's how it should have been from day one. We're all just playing with paper and ink. And to the other poster that said canvas painting is hot in their community...that could easily transition into mixed media and collage.

As long as scrapbook/craft businesses think outside of the box (and wider) the industry will survive.

I've always loved scrapbooking but to be honest it has slipped away from me the last year and my focus has switched over to card making. A few factors may be that it's a lot quicker for me to make a card than a whole scrapbook page. Cards also don't take up a lot of room which, after 10 years of scrapbooking and 30 albums later I'm in dire need of. I give my cards away all the time and it's great to see they make other people happy, not just me. It is definitely not cheaper to make cards as I've invested in a whole lot of stamps, dies and cardstock for my card making. I don't know why I can only focus on one craft at a time but for some reason when I scrapbook I don't make cards and when I make cards, I don't scrapbook. It goes in spurts for me. My card phase is just lasting a little longer than I thought it would.