I just read that Google searches for "scrapbook/scrapbooking" are down. You can read the full blog article at Scrapbook Update. This is something I've been thinking about and discussing with my scrapbooking friends. So here is my question have those of us who enjoy scrapbooking as an art as well as a hobby created a vision of scrapbooking that is too hard to live up to? In other words, have we made the simple concept of sharing pictures/stories so overwhelming to the general public that they simply gave up?? Could another possible reason for the downward trend be the sheer volume of tools and stuff that major retailers and magazines suggest is required for scrapbooking? I enjoy scrapbooking as a means to record my family history and as a creative outlet. It makes me sad to see the industry struggling so much.
So what's the answer? I think Stacy Julian has taken a step in the right direction with her Photo Album scrapbooking concept. Stacy's point is that in this digital age we have entirely too many pictures to actually scrapbook in the traditional sense. So what is Photo Album scrapbooking? It's simple really. Just use any type of photo safe photo album and insert your pictures but leave a couple of slots blank and add journaling or decorations. You have now completed a photo album scrapbook! What are the benefits of this type of scrapbooking?? First - you have a finished album of pictures to share with your family. Second - since you have an album with some of your pictures in it you are now free to make a page or two about your favorite pictures from the photo album scrapbook. Finally, you can let go of the guilt of too many pictures to scrapbook in a lifetime. Want to read more about Stacy Julian's photo album scrapbooking? Check out her blog Altogether Too Happy or visit the Big Picture Scrapbooking classroom.
I would love to hear what you think about the future of scrapbooking.
Marcie
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