Scrapbooking is a Stress Buster

Scrapbooking Is a Stress-Buster
Press Release

Take heart—memory crafting soothes the soul with tangible results.

People around the globe are saying “no” to stress while preserving precious memories. Scrapbooking, a popular craft based on creating albums with photos, decorative papers and embellishments, provides a relaxing and creative outlet for people of all ages. Scrapbooking is the fastest-growing craft in the United States, with $2.6 billion in annual sales, according to the Craft and Hobby Association.

“Studies and anecdotal information indicate that crafting is a soothing activity, possibly because when you focus on the project at hand, your mind moves away from stress-causing thoughts,” says Beth Mauro, executive editor of Scrapbook Retailer magazine, a national trade publication for the scrapbooking and papercrafts industry. “Scrapbooking is tremendously engaging and there are many entry points, so you don’t have to be an expert to give it a try. Kits and papers designed to look like finished layouts allow a novice to sit down and with little or no instruction and create a great-looking page.”

“People tell us all the time that scrapbooking is cheaper than therapy,” says Heather Turner of Everything Scrapp'n in Warner Robins. “We’ve seen scrapbooking used in a variety of therapeutic settings. People participate to relax, some find it helpful in the grieving process, and others participate as a low-impact activity while undergoing treatment.”

Heather adds, “People scrapbook for many reasons. Initially people turn to scrapbooking to preserve milestones such as a birth or wedding. But, lately, people are just as interested in recording ordinary moments like a toddler with a face covered with spaghetti sauce, or a daily walk on the beach. Most recently we are seeing a lot of interest in creating mini-albums and other projects that are quick and easy to make. Another hot trend is making scrapbooks to save family recipes. You can also scrap your home décor. Pages can be turned into shadowboxes or framed art.”

Scrapbooking inspiration can be found at local retailers and online; memorymakersmagazine.com offers a special section for new scrapbookers looking to give the craft a try. Mauro reports, “People can also find scrapbooking vacations: scrapbooking weekends at a nearby hotel; scrapbooking cruises in the Caribbean; and even papercrafting vacations in Italy!”

Mrs. Turner says anyone interested in scrapbooking can visit www.everythingscrappn.com to find great products. They can send questions to info@everythingscrappn.com and she will be happy to answer any questions that she can. She also says to check her blog www.everythingscrappn.blogspot.com for layout ideas and techniques that come not only from her but from some great friends that post on her blog as well.

Check out the numerous blogs and message boards on scrapbooking Web sites, and you’ll be regaled with stories of how scrapbooking offers a creative respite in a stressful world. And, for everyone out there who feels guilty about all those family vacation photos stored away in boxes, scrapbooking is an activity that soothes the guilt as well as the soul.

Learn more about scrapbooking at www.everythingscrappn.com . The store is located on the web. Store hours are what ever time is best for you!