What is scrapbooking

I live in a very small town. Until a couple months ago the closest place to buy supplies was 45 mins away. Then a small boutique opened. There is very little there so basicly I still have to drive a good ways to buy my stuff. Now my question in the subject line is because, the new store offers classes and crop nights. A friend that works for me has recently started scrapping w/me. I think she is doing great. She has about the same style as me. However a friend or her's just started takeing the classes. She came and showed my friend the book she is working on. Basilcy it has a background paper middle paper and 4 pics which are matted and with a couple stickers. This is fine. I am not by any means saying there is anything wrong w/it if she likes it. However what bothers me is that my friend's friend told her the stuff we do is not scrapbooking. The instructor told her that adding all the embellishments we add takes away from the pictures and it is not scrapbooking. I had actually mentioned to a couple of my friends I scrap w/about going to the crop night on Friday's but now have rethought it. I mean, what is she going to say to us when we come in w/our stuff w/her other members? I may be offended if she told me what I do it not scrapbooking. My friend even mentioned to her friend to come to SC.com and check out all the neat LO on here. She quickly said the instructor advised against going to sites like this do to gettin overwhelmed by others work. I kinda think she teaches this way, because she is such a small boutique and doesn't sell all the embellies and if her members see other stuff and ask where we get it, she may loss business because they will go the HL in Lufkin also. But I also think they should learn how far they can go w/thier LOs. What do you guys think?

My opinion is that there is no right or wrong way to scrapbook. Some artists focus on the photos and the words, like my creative hero Ali Edwards. Others create layouts with oodles of embellishments. Some journal alot and others journal very little or none. I think it can be anything you want it to be.

And as far as the store owner's comment about your friend's work not being scrapbooking: I strongly believe that we should support local businesses, but if she had said that to me, it would have been my last trip to her store.

Just my opinion.

I think she's got NERVE is what I think,,,,,and a whole lot more than necessary too,,,,

If she wanted to say that she teaches a specific APPROACH to scrapbooking and that is not the approach she TEACHES, that would be fine,,but to suggest that it is not scrapbooking,,,,,well, that takes big ones, IMHO,,,

Holly

There was a similar thread a while back.
I think do what makes you and your family happy.

I find myself doing some basic LOs and some more elaborate ones.
...however it's put together, the memories are still there and that's what it's all about!

Holly is right, there are many different styles of scrapping, but I don't believe any one style is superior...if the proprietor feels that her style is superior, for WHATEVER reason (my CM upline used to tell me that bulky embellishments would leave unsightly imprints on my pics when my albums are stored lying down, LOL), she should really keep that info to herself - if only for the sake of not offending her customers! I'd march right out of an LSS if the people that work there attempted to villianize my scrapping style. She may think she's helping folks, but she's really just alienating customers.
I know this is long, but I feel so strongly on this subject! When I started using more embellies on my pages, my CM upline kind of freaked out! She was just convinced that preserving memories is hindered by artistic expression. She didn't understand that while the CM style is a great introduction to scrapping, and may remain a viable method for many, the restrictions on what "style" and embellies you use can quickly become stifling, and cause others to seek out new techniques. Remember, this hobby started a LONG time ago before acid- and lignin-free were even dreamed of, without CS or corner rounders or whatever. There IS NO right or wrong way to scrap. Whatever style you're happy with, that is the right way do it - and I will do what style is best for ME!

That kind of bothers me too! I work in a scrapbook store and our customers have different styles of scrapbooking, they are all over the map. Some have elaborate pages with lots of embellishments, and some just stick stickers with their pictures. But each one scrapbooks! We just tell them scrapbooking is a personal experience. You don't have to keep up with the Jonses. It's all about what you like and what you want to do!

Now, I think if a customer TELLS you that they are trying to effect a certain LOOK and ASKS you for your recommendations as to which embellies to use, THAT is a different matter,,,,in THAT instance you are ASKING a professional for her professional opinion on how to maintain a certain look,,,,,

otherwise,,,,,ummmm what's that olllllllld song from the 70's???

and oh BOY am I gonna date myself here, but it was a really REALLY fun song,,,,

"What'sa matta you, HEY,
Gotta no respect, whatta you think you do,
Why you looka so sad?
It's-a not so bad, it's-a nice-a place,
Ah, Shaddap You Face."

we kids used to SCREAM Shaddap You Face,,,,

Holly

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said she teaches that way because she has limited supplies and doesn't want to lose business. Personally, if it were me, I'd get my friend that I scrap with and I would go to her crop. I would take all of my needed stuff and one of my albums. And the moment she told me what Iwas doing "isn't scrapbooking" I'd teach her a thing or two!! If you know what I mean!!

I would be upset also , I like supporting the small business but if they don't support what I need I have to go elsewhere.

What I would do is buy this friend a scrapbooking magazine and let her see for herself we have many options and many different styles.

I'm a scrapbook teacher at my LSS, and I would NEVER criticize anyone's layouts! The NERVE of that woman! Jeez. I wouldn't let her affect the way you scrap. You never know... she might be jealous!? LOL

Hugs!
Heather

There was another thread on this.. it is true. There is no right or wrong way. Your style is yours. I, personally, think it is ever evolving, as new products, techniques come out. I don't think I would frequent that place. Holly, I so remember that song - dates me too! Love it!

Tell her to pay a visit to this website and take a look at the gallery to see how the rest of the world is preserving their memories...in so many different ways..using so many different techniques and products that are so popular on the market. It is the freedom of expressing one's creativity and how one wants to preserve their memories. She needs to understand that scrapbooking is always evolving. I think she's living in a bubble. Truthfully, I wouldn't bother going back there if that's how she wants to be.

I think you have come across a close minded person who opened up a store to promote/teach her way of thinking. She will soon learn (especially in this economy) she won't last in business with an attitude like that. IMO scrapbooking/paper crafting is all in individual taste. Some people like more, some less, and some right in the middle.

• holly1965 Said:

WOW..I couldn't agree more. SB'ing is in your heart. Everyone's heart reads and sees something different. That's what makes it so fun to look at others work. I can't believe she's so opinionated like that.

Just cuz one owns a store doesn't make her an expert on scrapbooking. A good scrapbooking teacher wouldn't say that...it's a form of art and there is no right or wrong way. If you want to bury your stuff in embellies or just frame a photo and date it..THAT is scrapbooking. That's like an art teacher telling someone there is only ONE style of painting, MY style, and all others are wrong.

Everyone has their own way of scrapbooking. I would guess you are probably right that she might be afraid of losing business if people go in search of all the embellishments she doesnt carry. Knowing what style she does and that she has actuALLY said that they way you do it isnt scrapbooking, I would probably be uncomfortable going there for classes or crops.

I was scrapping at my Creative Memories Consultants house the other day and she was getting pretty upset with all of the bling I was using. She said it will cause my books not to close correctly and they won't last for 100 years and stuff like that....If they last my lifetime, I will be happy.

• Matthews Wife Said:

with the straightest face you can muster, look her straight in the face and say that the world will end in 2012 when aliens will abduct all worthy humans on the good shop Lollipop (from whence we came originally) before covering the earth in cotton candy, so you don't really NEED 100 years,,,,,

but you appreciate her concern. Then look very very troubled,,,,,stutter a moment,,,,start to speak,,,,then stop,,,,,and finally DO speak,,,,and ask gently,,,,

"Child,,,,are you worthy?"

Holly

• holly1965 Said:

Wow, I love your way of thinking!!! My sides hurt from laughing so much!

• LPinto Said:

That is exactly what we told her. Her reply was that the instructor advised against visiting internet scrapbooking, because it would be too overwhelming and again most of it was not actually scrapbooking.

That scrapbook owner needs to get her head checked. There can't be a wrong way to scrapbook! People who say things like that just irritate me.

If you don't sell something don't tell people that want to use that kind of product that they are wrong for wanting it. Suggest a place to buy it, and you know what? They are probably more willing to come back to your store for anything you do sell because they will remember the helpful service and suggestions.

• JessieGirl01 Said:

If you can do it with a straight enough face, she'll probably walk away and never bother you again

Holly

That's ridiculous! It sounds like this "teacher" has no experience with any other type of scrapbooking and can't teach it, so she would rather poo-poo it than admit it exists and she doesn't know anything about it. I would never bother visiting her store with that attitude.

And we are worried about lss closings! Sounds to me as if she doesn't need customers. She apparently has a very closed mind, and closed minds can't run a successful business.

• okiegrandma Said:

Exactly! I own a video store and if I didn't get movies just because I didn't like them I would not stay in business long. I am still debateing on whether or not I want to go to a crop night just to see what she says when we pull out our books and supplies to work w/. Grated I will be nice about it(only cause I have to) but I will ask where she gets off saying what I might put on my page is too much or not scrapbooking. I have only been in the store once because she has very little to buy anyway, so if it turns out that I am not welcomed back or that I don't want to go back, I won't be missing out on much.

The shop owner sounds like she's "teaching" a very limited style, because she wants to promote only the limited stock she has. Perhaps she's been taught to scrap that way herself, and she may not have enough confidence in her own scrapping ability, to break out and try new styles. It's a shame she's limiting other scrappers in the process.

You could always join a party plan company like SU, and start doing your own weekly classes - and show the other srappers in your area, that there's a myriad of fantastic styles and products, and how much more fun it can be when they start stretching themselves. I'm not meaning to poach the shops students - just to offer an alternative. You could include card and OTP classes.

BTW - I have no affiliation with SU, I only know of them because they operate in Australia.

I cannot believe that anyone would even say that that is not Scrapbooking. I recently just started going to a crop, every Friday night. And I showed up with one plastic container with my supplies...and all the ladies there asked, "That is all you brought?" They had brought so much stuff, it is your scrapbook and your style, never let anyone change that!

• armyscraper Said:

Can you believe I'm scared to go to a crop because I'm a beginner and I don't have much stuff yet? Everything I own could fit in one good size shoebox (except paper and my cutter),,,,,and I'm afraid I'll get made fun of?

Can you imagine? I'm 43 years old and I'm afraid to get made fun of on the play ground? Now what's wrong with that picture??? LOL,,,,Holly

[quote=holly1965Can you believe I'm scared to go to a crop because I'm a beginner and I don't have much stuff yet? Everything I own could fit in one good size shoebox (except paper and my cutter),,,,,and I'm afraid I'll get made fun of?

Can you imagine? I'm 43 years old and I'm afraid to get made fun of on the play ground? Now what's wrong with that picture??? LOL,,,,Holly