Scrapbooking Retreats Popularity on the Rise

Marielen Christensen of Spanish Fork, Utah is often credited with reviving interest in scrapbooking in the United States. She began designing creative pages for her family’s photo memories, inserting the completed pages into sheet protectors collected in 3-ring binders. By 1980, she had assembled over fifty volumes and was invited to display them at the World Conference on Records in Salt Lake City. Marielen and her husband AJ authored and published a how-to book, Keeping Memories Alive, and opened a scrapbook store that remains open today.

In addition to preserving memories it is popular for the strong social network that scrapbooking can provide. “Scrappers”, “scrapbookers” or “sisters” get together and scrapbook at retreats, local scrapbook stores, expos and even cruises. They share tips and ideas, and build lifelong friendships. The term “crop,” a reference to cropping or trimming printed photographs, was coined to describe these events.

The scrapbook industry has doubled in size between 2001 and 2004 to $2.5 billion with over 1,600 companies creating scrapbook products by 2003. Creative Memories, founded in 1987, saw $425 million in retail sales in 2004. In the US, this hobby has surpassed golf in popularity: one in five households has someone playing golf; one in four has someone involved in scrapbooking.

Scrapbooking retreats are dedicated to providing creative women with the time, space and the tools to work on their albums; as well as providing a relaxing atmosphere to be rejuvenated. One of the beauties of scrapbooking is that one need not know a thing to get started! The retreats embrace new scrappers, and the experienced ladies just love to share all of their years of expertise. For information on a scrapbooking retreat near you, visit http://www.sisterhoodofscrappingretreats.com/

or email sisterhoodofscrapping@yahoo.com .