{pretty papers}
Let me first start off by saying I don't scrapbook - I take too many digital photos and use my blogs and flickr as my album so I don't really see a need to scrap. Maybe someday if my family grows but honestly, I tried it back in 04/05 and it really wasn't my thing. I started one for my wedding and another for our honeymoon and didn't complete them -- a sign that it wasn't a hobby I enjoyed. But I do love making things, little paintings, collages, mixed media gift tags and small art work with found items... painting furniture, stenciling walls, and I really love doing crafty things with paper. Do you scrap? There's nothing wrong with it, I just can't seem to take to it personally. Same goes with knitting.
My point of all of this is to say that me, the non-scraper, attended a scrapbook fair sponsored by Creating Keepsakes magazine last Friday (I was curious) in Manchester, New Hampshire and I had a great time! Okay, I felt completely odd (lots of women in 'scrapin' queen t-shirts) and out of place (I didn't know what half of the tools were for), but I was in print and pattern heaven. Here are some photos of my loot. I highly suggest hitting one of these if they ever visit your nearby city, you can find lots of gorgeous crafty stuff.
These stencils are for scrapbook pages (so the vendor told me) but I want to use them on a piece of furniture I think. She thought my idea was interesting but sort of brushed it off as a bit dumb.
I found tons of gorgeous paper that I will end up using for my arts & crafts sessions with my girlfriends, and I scooped up some pretty little gifts for my friends that they'll no doubt love. I really liked looking at all of the prints and patterns, it was exciting and I only wish they did something like this for design and stationery but they don't -- trade shows like the stationery show in New York are not cash and carry.
In a few months when I have some time to play (I'm thinking late August as I don't craft much in the summer) I will show you what I've made from some of these things. Sound good? Oh and I have to add a fun little something that I discovered in the show guide that was handed out at the door upon entering... Inside the booklet it talked about how some of the contributing editors of a few scrapbook magazines would be available to meet and, get this, the book had a little page that said "autographs" so you could have your favorite editors sign your book. I couldn't believe it. Is that odd or normal? I thought it was really, really different. I mean... I could never imagine someone coming up to me wanting an autograph because I write for a magazine or something.
(images: holly becker for haus maus)
Comments
Tracy
Thanks for sharing, Holly.
when youre steeped deeply in a hobby or craft you forget theres a whole world of people that dont know what a rolling tote or embellishment or cropadile are :)
enjoy the pretty papers you picked some of my favorites...and i cant wait to see what you do!
Question: When did owls become so popular? I noticed you picked up to lovely ones. I've been on the look-out for owls since college because it was my sorority's mascot, but now they seem to be everywhere! Jewelry, paper good, etc. How fun! Thanks for sharing, Holly!
i am a huge scrapbooker but know that from an outsiders perspective it is daunting/intimidating. I have been scrapping for 5 years and have never used the luggage, chalking tools, or hammers!LOL
i think scrappin' is awesome mainly cause you don't have to be some perfect "ideal" scrapbooker. i know women who spend 10 minutes or 10 hours on a page. it just depends if you look at scrapbooking as a minature painting, a collage book, or a journal.
i like to think of it as a hodge podge of all of these things.
When i scrapbook i think of all the things i wish one of my ancestors had left me. something to hold and treasure... but also get a glimpse of the culture/time they lived in...
plus sometimes it is nice to just have a paper frame to hold the "perfect photo"...
i think your blog pages on here are a scrapbook Holly... you show us glimpses of your life in photos, and quotes and journalling...
Now you just need to figure out a way to print and bind it! LOL
I know. I love the papers and the digital scrap stuff online is fun to perk up invites and stuff I make in my MS Publisher program (oh if i only had Illustrator or PS!). Lots of online freebies to play with too!
Just yesterday I discovered the mini craft shop in our town actually carries scrapbooking paper. None as cool as what you find in the US, but still, I was impressed. I was thinking I could use it for something, but didn't have any great ideas. I'll be curious to see what you use yours for!
Anyways! I just purchased some of those same papers so I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with them.
Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
As for the autographs it's pretty normal on the scrap scene. Some of the "scrap celebs" get elevated pretty high up there and unfortunately a lot of them have pretty big egos because of it (or so I've heard). Even though I am a scrapper I just can't see myself asking for an autograph just because someone happens to get paid to do it.
I would love to visit a fair though, I love all that stuff. When I am in a crafts store I feel like a kid in a candy store.
I love all the papers! You don't need to scrapbook to lve these things. You can use them for cards and moodboards and tags (or for wrapping your German phone registry book...)
Hugs,
Yvonne