Therapeutic Effects of Scrapbooking

As the economic recession leads to a rise in depression (or at least has many people feeling "down"), some scrapbook companies are choosing to focus their marketing efforts on highlighting the therapeutic effects of scrapbooking.

Big Picture Scrapbooking, the site started by Simple Scrapbooks magazine founding editor Stacy Julian which offers online education to scrapbookers, did a survey of their students about how scrapbooking affected them and promoted the results to media outlets. They shared what students said about the positive effect scrapbooking - and BPS classes - had on them:

Where else are you going to find, tucked into scrapbook design medium, a class on choosing joy and gratitude in your life instead of dwelling on the negative things that surround us every day? Where else will you learn secrets that will change the way you view life from top photographers and artists in simple, do-able steps? Big Picture Scrapbooking has changed my philosophy in life. I am learning from amazing women to savor life a little more and capture that in a form that my friends and family can enjoy and learn from for years to come.

Big Picture is also highlighting quotes from student reviews on the front page of their website that reflect the same marketing philosophy - their classes are not only about how to scrapbook, but are uplifting as well:

Stampin' Up! is also focusing marketing effort on the positive effects of scrapbooking. During the month of April, the stamping and scrapbooking direct sales company has been trying to encourage people who are stressed by the recession to relieve stress by adopting a new hobby. The company says that it believes that the "scenario of friends crafting together and enjoying a fun hobby may just be the ticket to relieving stress and helping people 'get connected' during these tough economic times."

Even those among us who are devoted scrapbookers and have known the help that scrapbooking was getting us through a hard time in the past (the loss of a loved one, for instance) can get pulled away from scrapbooking when we are stressed and other things seem more important. Scrapbooking businesses can do their industry and their customers - and their own individual business - a service by reminding people about the intangible benefits of their hobby.

It's value-added marketing: We're not just selling paper and stickers. We're selling relaxation and comfort, too

I hope you enjoy this article on scrapbooking. It's not just a hobby. Join me May 14th from 6:30pm-8:30 pm as we create 20 - 6x6 scrapbook pages for you to use with your photographs. Click here for details.

God Bless,

Martha

To Order Stampin'Up! Products 24/7 Click Here!

Divine Design: Autumn Vine DSP

Join me the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month as we create scripture based projects. Beginning January 28th from 10:30-11:30am and in the evening from 6:30-7:30pm.
At each class, you will recieve a sketch pattern, scripture card, and materials to complete the projects. One project will be made to bless someone with and the second to put into a scripture collection of your choosing for yourself. You will need to bring your own adhesive and paper snips(scissors). Cost is $5.00 (refundable with a Stampin'Up! order). RSVP by Monday the week of each class.


These pictures are of scripture based projects I created for the Divine Design challenge on Splitcoast Stampers today. It was a great day, to say the least! Hope you can join me.

God Bless,
Martha

If you would like to participate from out of town, let me know. I will mail you the projects.

Second Week of Thanksgiving: Thankful Thoughts

This week's project is a great way to record memories from your Thanksgiving celebration. The idea comes from Suzanne Dean . Have each person at your Thanksgiving table write down what they are thankful for and what hopes they have for the future. The cards are kept in a small box resembling a pizza box. This is a beautiful and easy way to preserve your family's "blessings" year after year.


Contact me if you need supplies to create this project, have any questions, or need more detailed instructions.

Recipe: All Stampin'Up! Products

Stamps: Thoroughly Thankful, Autumn Harvest(I love this stamp set!)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, and Whisper White card stock. Autumn Vine DSP.

Misc: Sticky tape, Earth Elements Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scallop punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, ticket punch.

Hope you enjoy this project!

Clear Envelope Brag Book

This project (as I've heard a number of northern demonstrators say) is just "stinkin' cute"! I made this for a friend of mine who loves Halloween. She can keep yearly pictures of her children in it and enjoy it for years to come. This is also an easy and versatile project. Besides being a Brag Book you could use it for holiday recipes, journaled memories from an event, scrap book and the list goes on. The recipe for this project is: Haunting Halloween Stamp Set; Stazon Black, Summer Sun, Only Orange inks; Black, So Safron, Tangerine Tango, and Whisper White Card Stock; Haiku DSP; Pumpkin Pie Ribbon, Eyelets, Clear Embossing Powder and Clear Medium Envelopes. Thank you to my up line, Adriana, for the idea. Tutorial from SCS, Clear Envelope Brag Book

Inspired by Nature

The projects below came from this new stamp set called "Inspired by Nature". The set includes two large stamp blocks and 2 phrases. Ideas for these projects came from the 2008 Stampin'Up! Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.