Scrapbooking for others for pay????

I was just wondering if anyone was in the business of compiling scrapbooks or "skeletons" (albums that are completed except for pics and journaling)??? If so, how did you get started, do you like it...etc.......just exploring options for taking my scrapping to the next level....any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks and happy scrapping!!!!!!!!

I have thought about doing this so I would like to know about this as well. How much would you charge for this?

I haven't done that, but I actually make all kinds of gift tags and sell them in my mom's art gallery. They were a BIG hit, I sell them $3 for a pack of 3, and I usually sell out of them within a couple days of when I put new ones out! I wish I had the time to make more tags than I do, but I don't! I'm sure you could try making albums also, I bet they would sell in an art gallery. Just try to find an art gallery or something like a craft co op to sell your stuff. Usually they charge a certain amount each month to have your own space, but you will usually make that amount back- and then some depending on how much you sell for the month! I just have it a little bit easier since I can just put my stuff up in my mom's gallery

I am in the process of starting a business up with my best friend. We are going to do custom scrapbooks for ppl...they give us the pics and we do the book. But a good way to get started is to sell pre-made pages on ebay...I went on there and saw which kinds had the most bids, and how much they were charging.

Also I just googled "scrapbooking service" and found people all over the country who scrapbook for a living. I emailed a few of those ppl to ask them for advice.

There are also a couple of books out there available on amazon.com: "Scrapbooking for a profit" and "The scrapbookers guide to business"

Hope this helps!

I have started a business here in Ontario but I have yet to do some major advertising. I only have a few flyers out, a couple of gift certificates and a web page completed. The next step.... some customers!

There are many people here who do this for money. I think the best way to start out is by doing 2 page LO "skeletons" and sell on eBay or in local craft shops. If you start with an entire book it would be a big investment right off and people may not want to spend what it's worth.

From post I've seen floating around here most people charge anywhere between $15 - $30 per page (not 2 page LO, that's per single 12x12 page).

Although I have seen many mini albums and PBA's completely embelished ready to add pics sold on eBay but not the 12x12's.

I would do some surfing homework before investing precious time and money to see what the supply and demand is.

It's definately a great way to enjoy your craft and make money at the same time.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

I've actually asked someone here (dont remember who though) and she explained it a little to me. This was a long time ago though and I dont remember what she said either. Hopefully theres someone here to answer this; I've been wondering also.

I'm trying to freelance for pay, but so far I have had only one customer. I prefer to have the client supply the photos, and I create the layouts.I charge $15 per page, plus supplies.

I do not care for doing 'skeletons'. To confining for me. And I have found E-bay to be a real PIA, so I wont go there!

When I am much more experienced I would love to do this. My mom has already bought me an album..and my friend wants me to do one for her cuz who is in the Army.

I agree with ScrapSlave--starting out on Ebay with skeletons is a good way to get your name and work out there. Go on Ebay and type in "paper piecing" and then order the search to list highest price first. You'll be amazed. I honestly don't know how people get their stuff to sell so well and for so much. But it will give you an idea of what's in demand. I sold a few things this way--a couple two-page layouts and some 6x6 mini albums. You have to think about what it costs you to make the item, and how much you want to get paid for your time and skill. Getting your two-page layouts to go for $40+ takes time, tho.

We have a huge indoor flea market here and i started out by making skeleton scrapbooks and selling them there. I keep track of how much it cost me to make each book and then sell it for $10.00 to $20.00 more depending on how much time i put into it. I also have some customers who bring me their photos and have me put the whole thing together. If your lucky, you'll get a customer like one of mine...this lady gives me $100.00 and sais..here, make me a scrapbook, here are my pictures...i usually never spend more than $60.00...so i make quite a profit. I tried telling her that it doesn't cost that much, but she doens't care. i usually make between $300 and $500 a month.

I had this thread saved into my favorites. this may help...
scrapbooking for profit

I would hire someone to make a scrapbook for me. I just started looking around this site because I feel like a should make scrapbook of all the baby and wedding memorabilia I have -- but really don't *want* to. I have words and pictures but no desire.

$15 plus supplies for a 12 x 12 page? How much would you say that adds up to for a "standard" sized scrapbook? How many words, plus pictures, plus other random things -- map from honeymoon location, ribbon from the babies' first birthday. Do you take requests like "please use this wrapping paper from my wedding shower?" Can you handle using the baby's hospital bracelet?

I am actually serious. Ballpark information would be appreciated, though.

I'd say its pretty good business to get into.
First off there are a few people on the site that have posted pages that they have done for customers-and they are amazing. Two that I can think of off hand are Heather020802 and emilyb.

I work at a scrapbook store and a lot of people ask us to put pages together for them and often they will spend a ton of money!

• melkarth Said:

Well, I'm thinking about if you were to use a postbound album for your scrapbook. A cute one would run about $20 - 25. Then if you paid $15 a page (post bound albums usually come with space for 20 single page lo's) you would be paying approx $325 which doesn't include all of the extras (like embellishments, lettering, etc). I would have no problem doing an album for profit and would have no problem using hospital bracelets, wrapping paper, and other memorabilia. Using things like this would actually cut on overall cost because they would use space that you would normallly spend money on embellishments. I'd probably use about $3 worth of embellishments on a page on top of the $15 per page making it about $18 per page. I could probably safely quote doing a 20 page album for you for $385 granted you supplied all of the photos and journaling (which could be written on the back of each photo.) Approx $10 for shipping would probably need to be added for the return of the scrapbook. PM me...

Hello Everyone,

I am new here and I just came across your post and this is so intresting to me. I was wondering what I could do to make some extra money and even though I am new to scrapbooking, I would love to try something like this.

What I was thinkg of doing not sure if this would be profitable? Selling a lot of scrapbooking items but through my research it would not be too profitable.
Unless you owned a store.

Does anyone have ideas or do something else other than make the 12x12 pages?

Emily

WOW.....thanks for all the feedback!!! I guess I should have explained my situation more. My husband is in the military and we are currently stationed overseas...I have decided not to work here and with our current situation this is possible......my thinking was that this would be a worthwhile way to spend my time.......I realize that there are plenty of ppl that would love to have these "beautiful works of art" and for whatever reason........can't or won't do it for themselves. I have been teaching a few workshops since we got here to some of the spouse groups and really enjoy that as well........I just think that if you can make a little extra $$$ doing something you love....Y NOT??????? I am still doing online research and it really seems to be a viable oppurtunity....I am just not sure what to charge???? Thanks for all the great insight and keep the ideas coming, I am new here and I have learned so much from y'all in the past few days!!! Thanks again and happy scrapping!!!!!!!
Cid

Hey there, this is my question as well......I have realized in the last few days that there is definately a market for this type if thing.......just not sure how much to charge or how to go about working out the details of how client would want it done.....it would be just awful to have a client hate an album......individual tastes can differ so much!!!!! I was just thinking that if maybe you showed potential clients finished albums of your own...it would give them some idea of what your style was like and they could decide from there if you were the right scrapper for them. Thanks again and happy scrapping!!!!!!!!!

My cousin has been doing this for about 2 months and has made about $2000 (profit). She has only been scrapping for about 6 months all together.

She fell in love w/my books so she started making some of her kids. When she brought them to work at the hospital EVERYONE wanted one. She has made a lot. (paper bags, 6x6, 8x8, 12x12, calendars) She had done both skeleton and entire albums, pics included.

She enjoys it. She goes and meets with her client gets their ideas and does it. Everyone seems to love what she comes up with. I'm a SLOW scrapper so it wouldn't be in my best interest, but she can do a 12x12 album in a weekend.

She has found that 'coordinated' albums seem to be peoples favorites. She usually buys a paper line, like MM Sam and adds some of her own touches.

• Sweet Genevieve Said:

I think the successfull sellers on ebay do so well because they've built up a name for themselves and the buyers look for those sellers. I've noticed when doing searches myself that the higher priced items are mostly from the same handful of sellers. I sold paper piecings on ebay a few years ago. I did very well - for awhile. I'm a no-frills scrapper and eventually the demand was for over embellished pieces or large sets. Nobody wanted a single piece that took a couple of hours to create - they wanted whole sets complete with title, mats, journaling boxes, and the kitchen sink. I'm not bitter about it (even if it sounds like I am!). I just realized I wasn't willing to spend my free scrapping time making things for other people. The time spent isn't worth the money it brings in. The most I ever made was $20 for one piece that took me a couple of hours. That was good enough for me. I've given up on selling handmade stuff on ebay because the competition is incredible (although I did sell one set of premade pages last year and only made $15 on something that took me about four hours).