Dec 7, 2007

Campaign for REAL Scrapping



Have you seen the ads for Dove products? They have a "Campaign for Real Beauty" going on. Instead of the unrealistic models in fashion magazines, they have decided to showcase the beauty of REAL women of all shapes, sizes and ages and point out to the young women of the world that what they see in Vogue is not reality - it's airbrushed and Photo-shopped to death.

It seems in the last few months that we have a similar campaign brewing in the scrapbook industry. We have a "Campaign for REAL Scrapping" going on. We (collectively) have had it with over-the-top techniques and insane layouts featuring single photos and random thoughts where the stories should be. If I put ONE photo on a page, there wouldn't be enough room in my house to store my albums - that is if I ever finished all the photos. I need multiple photos AND I need the stories behind them to be together in as efficient a space as possible. Oh, and I need the pages to be simple and fast.

We have also rejected the "sport" of scrapping. When and why did this become a competitive sport? This isn't about who scraps better or who thinks scrapping should be done a CERTAIN way - this is about preserving our family or personal history for our posterity. I don't care what you do and you shouldn't care what I do in my albums. I'm not scrapping for glory, an "atta-girl", or social acceptance - I'm scrapping for me.

Let's bring back REAL scrapping! That doesn't mean you have to set aside all the embellishments, but maybe you need to re-focus on the photos and stories. It may also mean that you spend less time fussing over a page and more time writing on a page. Give up worrying about how you measure up to others and sit down and go through your albums with your child. You'll find out that you are truly the Scrapbooker of the Year - at least in THEIR eyes. And really, they are all that matters.

Here are my steps to reclaiming REAL scrapping:

  1. Focus on the photos
  2. Add the stories and not just the names - limit the use of third-party quotes.
  3. Crop conservatively - Grandma's house in the background may be precious someday
  4. Use themed products - match photos to products
  5. Keep the page simple - don't overwhelm the photos with embellishments
  6. Use imperfect photos if that's all you have. Not every photo will be stunning.
  7. Reject time-consuming embellishment techniques
  8. Worry LESS about acid and MORE about history.
  9. Spend less time doctoring photos and more time scrapping
  10. Find your passion again!
If you would like to join my Campaign for REAL Scrapping then copy the logo and add it to your blog. Write your thoughts about what REAL Scrapping means and how to refocus our efforts to make sure we aren't overwhelming and frustrating ourselves with that which is not real.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I posted about this on my blog today as well.

http://memorylane.typepad.com/awalkdownmemorylane/2007/12/the-campaign-fo.html

Pieces of me said...

Kim,
HERE, HERE (Applause, applause) what an awesome concept. I will be placing this on my blog. But no one goes there I'm afraid so don't know how much it will help. But I'm in.
TTFN~
Rose

Celestial Creations & Scrapbook Supplies, Inc. said...

Kim,
I fully agree. Just get your stuff scrapped!
Jen

Musicmom-Amy said...

Wooohooo!!!!! Do you see me jumping up and down?? I will definately put this on my blog. After I post Lizzie pictures :O)

cakhuxel said...

Dear Kim, I really enjoyed all your recent posts, and especially this one. I've been complaining for a while now about the creative cropping that eliminates all the interesting features of your background, like "grandma's house". There are, as you say, literally millions of people out there who's interest in scrapping is limited to getting the pictures in the book, and yet all they ever see in ad-driven mags like CK are more and more $25 pages. By actually scrapping ALL my pics, I consume about $20 worth of simple supplies a month, including paper, embellishments, adhesive, etc, which I deliberately purchase from my LSS because I don't have to worry about 40% coupons when I'm only spending $20. If 1,000 people in my community all purchased $20 worth of simple supplies every month, the LSS would not have to worry about closing and all the people with cameras would be happy with their family albums. It's a simple philosophy. The only reason CK et al won't embrace it is because they've built an empire that's a never-ending loop of layouts that only use product from advertisers who place ads in their magazine, which only shows layouts using their advertisers product, etc. It's time to walk away from CK and take the hobby to the LSS.
-c

Anonymous said...

Great post. I love it and could not possibly agree with you more. I've blogged about it here:

http://scrappincabinet.com/2008/01/02/scrapbooking-for-real-people/

Anonymous said...

I only can agree with number 8. I guess I just approach scrapbooking with a different mindset than you. It is a way to express my creativity, not record my family history. But good luck with your campaign, if it gets more people scrapping then great.

Tawnie McNeil said...

I agree. I find that when I do buy scrapbook magazines I only use the layouts as a general inspiration. I usually add extra photos and leave out the long, usually sappy journaling. Thanks.