We asked Scrappin’ Soul Sisters owners Deb Bourbeau and Jackie Young to send a Q&A to some of the customers. Here's what they had to say:
Trieste Philbrook
35, Concord, stay-at-home mom of two girls, Ava 3 1/2 yrs and Reese 1 1/2 yrs
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? I started just after our first daughter, Ava, was born. I wanted her to have all her photos and memories organized and dated for years to come.
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? Only about one or two days per month.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? I have a large computer armoire that I can use that when I have a few minutes to spend. But mostly I keep the bulk of my items in a large tote on wheels and complete most of my pages at crops.
Are you working on any projects now? Each of my daughters albums are continually works in progress.
What's the scrapbook page or project that you're most proud of? I have a two page layout of when we took Ava apple picking for the first time. It was one of the first pages that I planned and created without “scraplifting” from a sketch in a magazine.
Any scrapbooking disasters? No, everything's fixable when scrapbooking. It's a creative process. I have completely torn apart a page and started over though.
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? And would there be stickers? Glitter? My Concord scrapbook would include many photos of the New England seasons, the great architecture around the city and journaling. I don't use many stickers generally, but glitter, stamping and other embellishments definitely.
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook
intervention? No.
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? It works for me.
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words. Journaling, crop, embellishments, bazzill.
What's your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Not having enough time to use all the great pictures I'm always taking.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? Only buy the essential tools/supplies (ie: small scissors, paper trimmer, adhesive, photo safe pens) and take a class at Scrappin' Soul Sisters to learn some basic techniques. Everyone's creativity and style is different so don't compare your completed pages to anyone else's.
What else do you do in your spare time? I really enjoy reading.
Melanie Austin
38, Candia, customer service rep
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? Held a Creative Memories party at my home which started it all.
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? Around four to six hours.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? A 10 x 12 room once it is completed, right now a corner in my bedroom.
Are you working on any projects now? Yes. I am currently working on my cat books and a trip to Hershey, PA.
What's the scrapbook page or project that you're most proud of? My Beach Trip album
Any scrapbooking disasters? Oh yes. Cutting a picture too much so that it can't be used.
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? And would there be stickers? Glitter? It would include historical sites and nature pictures. Love stickers and glitter, yes there would.
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook intervention? No.
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? That is correct for most of us.
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words. Crop-to cut to fit. Journal-include words describing photo.
What's your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Not finding the right adhesive that works great.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? When you purchase scrapbook product be sure to only scrapbook what you need for the projects you are doing.
What else do you do in your spare time? Love to read and take pictures.
Marcia Hewey
34, Concord, director of marketing
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? I’ve always enjoyed looking at photos and putting my photos in albums. Then I went to a Creative Memories party and learned how unsafe magnetic albums are for your photos. That was about seven years ago. I’m actually a Creative Memories consultant now. I started six years ago to help support my habit!
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? About an hour. Typically, my scrap time, is in large blocks spent at a friends, in my basement or at Scrappin’ Soul Sisters crops.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? My basement is my home for scrapbooking, so I’d say I have about 15 percent of my home is devoted to scrapbooking supplies and completed albums. I have tables for myself and friends, bookshelves, and I had a custom filing cabinet made for my 12-by-12 paper. Coincidentally it was made by Jackie Young’s husband. I use our pool table to display my products for sale. My husband jokes that it’s the most expensive scrap table around.
Are you working on any projects now? I’m always working on projects! I have two boys, 4 and 6, and we take A LOT of pictures. Probably several hundred a month. I have a hard time paring down what I want to scrapbook, so it’s easy to get backlogged. Oh, and did I mention that I have three books going at all times? I have one for each son and a family album. Most of the time I scrap the same pictures three times, once in each album. I scrap chronologically also, not by event.
What’s the scrapbook page or project that you’re most proud of? I’m a pretty simple scrapbooker, so if I take a lot of time to complete an album, use lots of embellishments and techniques I don’t usually use, I am proud of it.
Any scrapbooking disasters? Thanks to digital photography . . . no. If I make a big enough mistake, I can reprint and start over. Also, you learn tips and trick to cover up minor mistakes. I have some lousy first pages that I would like to rip apart and do again, but I’m so far behind I can’t see doing that. I guess it shows progression in my work.
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? If I were to make one from my point of view, it would include photos of the landmarks, hiking trails, shopping plazas, parks, places I’ve lived, the high school, the river. I would keep it clean as a sort of history book without a lot of embellishments. I’d talk about what Concord looked like to me growing up and what it looks like now. I’d include old photos and newspaper articles that I dug up; the fire at St. Paul’s Church when I was a child, for instance.
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook intervention? Absolutely not! My family loves the albums that I make. My boys like to look at pictures of them as babies, and my husband wishes he had albums from his childhood like the ones I make. I got my mom interested in scrapbooking, and she is working on her photos now, too.
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? Yes.
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words.
Crop: an event you attend and scrapbook with others and also a term for cutting your photos.
Scraplift: stealing someone else’s idea. It’s the best form of flattery, right?
Lipo-crop: cutting off unflattering areas of yourself or others in photos.
Layout or LO: Your complete page-to-page spread: Two pages combined equals a layout
Wall paper: Cover your entire scrapbook page with patterned paper embellishments: ribbon, eyelets, brads, chipboard, etc., that you use to add texture and dimension to your pages
Sketch: a layout design showing you where to put photos, patterned paper and embellishments. Basically a map you follow to a complete a page.
What’s your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Storage of my supplies. There are a lot of supplies that go along with scrapbooking, and finding the space and the proper organizational tools is very difficult. You’ll find articles about the perfect scrap room a lot in magazines, and scrappers eat it up. I’d say my second frustration is finding the time. It’s meant to be a hobby and enjoyable, but sometimes the backlog gets to be overwhelming.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? Start small and take a class. Start with your current photos, that way you never get any further behind. Spend time organizing your old photos and writing down facts about who is in them, when they were taken.
What else do you do in your spare time? Spend time with my family and household chores!
Janine Page
42, Laconia, mother, nana and nurse
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? My best friend got me hooked!
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? Two to four hours.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? My husband fixed up one whole room for me, and sometimes all my pictures spill over to the next!
Are you working on any projects now? Several . . . my daughters’ life story, my hiking adventures and our annual camping trip!
What’s the scrapbook page or project that you’re most proud of? I love working on my family’s story, and I can’t wait to be able to peruse through them when I am old and gray and share them with all the generations!
Any scrapbooking disasters? Oh yeah! We were scrapping after a few glasses of vino, and a fellow scrapper noted “OOOh . . . you are not going to like that page in the morning!” P.S.: She was right!
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? And would there be stickers? Glitter? The sun over the capitol building, with a long shot of main street . . . with all the life that meanders down on a Saturday! Lots of gold glitter and light paper, maybe some transparencies. No stickers, but brads and die cuts!
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook intervention? Yes, especially after the “weekend!” (Ed. – Sounds like the scrapbooking retreat!) I try really hard to hang on to that “I live life to scrap!” feeling for days after, and walk around in a page-making, journaling fog!
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? Scrapper, fanatic, storyteller, camera freak . . . My family and friends have used these words ( and others) to describe me, but they are the first to ask to see the books of pictures and say, “I wish I had thought of that!!!”
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words. Scrappy! Massage time! Glitter, cricket, punches, ribbon, picture contests, friends, dinner! On sale, scrapbookin’ queen, scissors, journaling, corner cutter, die cuts, ink, white out, red eye! Paper, paper and more paper! Buttons . . . mosaic . . . do you want me to go on???
What’s your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Not enough time, and needing “just one more page of that color,” and not being able to find it anywhere!
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? DO NOT run home and dump all your family photos in to a giant pile on the living room floor to sort! Seriously though, go for it! Jackie and Deb can point you in the right direction, and start you small, so all you see is success! Try it . . . you will be hooked!
What else do you do in your spare time? Hanging out with my kids, running, hiking, spinning, reading and, of course, buying new scrapping stuff!
Judy Godbout
Concord, works for state of NH
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? A friend did scrapbooking,, and her pages were beautiful. I wanted mine to be beautiful also.
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? Not enough. I don’t always find time every week. Sometimes I spend a whole day, and sometimes I don’t scrapbook for a week, than I might spend a whole weekend scrapbooking. It really depends if I have new pictures to use.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? I have one room that is a craft room. But sometimes I drag my supplies to a second room to work in.
Are you working on any projects now? Yes my trip to Alaska.
What’s the scrapbook page or project that you’re most proud of? My trip to Alaska. I also love doing mosaic pages.
Any scrapbooking disasters? Yes – I sometimes think I can be really creative, and I end up having to get my pictures reprinted. That is one good thing about digital photos.
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? And would there be stickers? Glitter? Concord is where I live, so the book would include my home, pictures of the East Concord Garden Club (I am a member), the State House and other landmarks of the city. I do use some stickers and if I could find the right one, yes, I would use stickers. I now like die cuts more than stickers. Glitter is fun to use, and I like using it on some pages.
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? Yes.
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words. Mosaic, borders, die cuts, journaling, making mattes, chalking, templates, adhesive, stamps, ink, embossing, Cricut, Quick Kutz, stickers, vellum, stencils, buttons, brads, ribbon.
What’s your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Not getting as much done as I would like. I go away for a weekend scrapbooking and come with some pages done, but not as many as I would like. But I do come home with new ideas and that is great
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? Get organized as much as possible before you start. Start with a current project first, one that is fresh in your mind. Don’t feel you need to have everything that is on the market, start with the basics and add on as you progress. Take a Scrapbook 101 class and get some hints on how to get started. Ask friends to see their work. Most scrapbookers love to show off their work. Get to know Deb and Jackie at Scrappin’ Soul Sisters – they both are a wonderful resource and will help with most questions you might have.
What else do you do in your spare time? Card making, genealogy, gardening, stamping photographing flowers, hot air balloons, covered bridges, family and vacations
Charlene Cutting
61, Concord, retired
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? My friend, Deb, introduced it to me a number of years ago, and it took. I found scrapbooking to be relaxing and an opportunity to be creative.
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? A couple of hours on average – a lot of time planning and thinking about what I am planning on doing.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? I use our spare room for my scrapbooking and sewing area.
Are you working on any projects now? Yes. I retired a year ago, and I am finishing up that book as well as my 60th birthday. I am working on books for my grandchildren, daughters and my own wedding.
What’s the scrapbook page or project that you’re most proud of? The mosaic of our trip to Lincoln and the book I did for my husband’s place of employment, Blue Seal Feeds.
Any scrapbooking disasters? My biggest disaster is keeping everything organized and trying not to take on too much.
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? And would there be stickers? Glitter? That is easy – my husband takes pictures of everything trying to record history of the town he grew up in. There would be buildings, holidays, parades, scenery and people. Stickers would be used sparingly. I love glitter and sparkles, so I am sure I would work some in where appropriate.
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook intervention? Not that I know of – they all enjoy the final results and know that I can do other things, like enjoy family time, church and other hobbies.
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? Why not – I don’t mind that title.
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words. Quickutz, silhouette, paper, pictures, crop, punch, eyelet, pens, chalk, stamps, adhesive – I could just keep going.
What’s your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Not having enough time to get it all done.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? Go to Scrappin’ Soul Sisters – look around – talk to scrapbookers in the area, you will find they are willing to share tips with newcomers and are willing to take new folks under their wing. Going to a crop is a great start; most everyone is willing to share tools and ideas. Buy your tools after you find out what will work for you.
What else do you do in your spare time? I love to sew also. I find that templates for quilting and scrapbooking are interchangeable, which makes it even more fun.
Lisa Miyara
43, Bow, self-employed
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? I was looking for a creative hobby and was invited to an in-home demonstration.
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? I hardly ever find time at home. I mostly scrap at retreat weekends.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? I have a closet in my living room filled with supplies.
Are you working on any projects now? I’m currently working on my Italy trip.
What’s the scrapbook page or project that you’re most proud of? Hopefully, it will be my Italy album(s) when they are finished.
Any scrapbooking disasters? The only real disaster is when you glue a page on backwards or out of order.
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? A Concord page would probably include some fun night out at the Capital Center attending a concert. I would include the ticket for the event.
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook intervention? Not yet.
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? Yes, but there are so many different techniques and levels of scrapbooking that it doesn’t always tell the true extent of their dedication to the craft.
What’s your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Not having space in my house where I can leave everything out.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? Start with a current set of pictures and don’t fret over all the years of photos sitting in shoeboxes. Once you get the hang of it, you will be able to better organize the old stuff and scrap what is most important. Also, don’t use every picture ever taken. Just choose the best ones.
What else do you do in your spare time? Reading, movies, concerts, plays and dinner out with friends.
Annie Samuels
52, Concord, household manager
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? My college roommate, who lives in Chicago, introduced it to me knowing how much I liked capturing life in pictures. Then I met Deb Bourbeau at a Creative Memories event. The rest is history.
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? I do a little bit several hours a week, even if it’s just sorting and organizing photos or reading scrapbook blogs for inspiration.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? I “took over” my son’s room once he left for college . . . it’s a bright and sunny room that I enjoy spending time in.
Are you working on any projects now? I’m in the midst of a massive family heritage project. Right now I am sorting old photos and ephemera.
What’s the scrapbook page or project that you’re most proud of? I have several, so it’s hard to choose.
Any scrapbooking disasters? Of course . . . my earliest efforts were not as well designed as my later efforts.
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? I would include some of my favorite places in Concord and then include architectural or natural details to highlight them.
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook intervention? Oh, I don’t know . . . I’m sure they’ve considered it!
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? Yes, but “scrapper” also works.
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words. Crop (used for both the literal, trimming photos to size, and for an event where scrappers gather), photo corners, corner rounder, square punch, tape runner, cardstock, patterned paper, paper trimmer, cutting mat, photo sorter, embellishments . . .
What’s your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? I’ll never be caught up!
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? Grab a stack of photos, go to Scrappin’ Soul Sisters and get an album, some paper and a tape runner and give it a try. Start small, and keep it simple. Eventually, you will find your own style. Pick up a magazine like Creating Keepsakes (industry leader) and get inspired. Attend a crop at the store (they have fun Friday night crops), and you’ll make a bunch of new friends who will be more than willing to help you.
What else do you do in your spare time? I enjoy traveling, taking photographs, walking (with my two labradors), reading, playing with art materials, knitting, needlepoint and spending time with friends and family.
Catherine Sweeney
Weare, president Acclinet Corp and Danconia Media
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? Approximately seven years ago a friend introduced me to scrapbooking. Needless to say, my first pages were pretty simple and stark.
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? Not enough! Three to four hours if I can squeeze it in these days.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? The basement! My friends say I could open shop in the basement.
Are you working on any projects now? An album for the twin infant foster children who reside with us.
What’s the scrapbook page or project that you’re most proud of? A beautiful scrapbook page that I placed in a frame for our dear friends in Grand Turk who lost all their photos and mementos when Hurricane Ike hit the island.
Any scrapbooking disasters? Not really, I love all my pages, including the ones with less time and effort involved.
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? I love Concord and its charm, so I would include Main Street, the State House, White Park, Margarita’s, Centennial Inn, the city library, which is absolutely wonderful, Concord Community Music School, Capitol Center for the Arts and, lastly, St Paul’s.
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook intervention? No.
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? Yes.
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words. Scraplift (using other’s layout ideas).
What’s your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Not enough time.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? Try it! It is a wonderful way to be creative and spend time with friends.
What else do you do in your spare time? Photography, books, gardening.
Joyce St. Onge
55, Concord, administrator of program operations for the Division of Family Assistance
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? I wanted to make a scrapbook of my son’s life for his fiancée, who hadn’t known my son when he was a boy.
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? Two to three hours.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? My husband and I share a room. He uses half for an office, and I use half for my scrapbooking.
Are you working on any projects now? There are always projects. I am working on several now.
What’s the scrapbook page or project that you’re most proud of? I did a set of scrapbooks that chronicled my parents’ 50 years of marriage. However, I am also very proud of my wedding scrapbook.
Any scrapbooking disasters? There are no scrapbooking disasters that can’t be fixed! However, once in a while I will accidentally do back-to-back pages upside down. (One side faces up and the other side faces down. Not good.)
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? And would there be stickers? Glitter? I would include the people of Concord doing things in Concord that I think of as “Concord.” Of course, the capitol building and other key buildings. The church steeples of Concord. Skating at White Park. All the city parks – and the kids that play there. Loudon Road. The grounds of the State Hospital. Downtown. The “country side” of Concord. Too many things to list! As far as stickers and glitter? I am not above using a few tastefully placed stickers. Glitter can be very good.
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook intervention? Probably. I am a “collector” of paper, ribbon, glitter and tools.
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? It is okay. I prefer “scapper.”
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words. Adhesive, page layout, cropping, journaling, punching, embellishment, pages, memories, title, photos, templates, collage, mosaic.
What’s your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Finding just the right thing to say when journaling.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? Start slow. Go to scrapbooking events to see what others do. Also – when in doubt, less is more.
What else do you do in your spare time? Photography, spend time with my grandchildren, read, travel.
Paula Brodeur
46, Merrimack, IT manager
How did you get involved with scrapbooking as a hobby? My best friend got me hooked on scrapbooking. I wanted to create beautiful memories as she had done.
On average, how much time a week do you spend scrapbooking? It varies. It can be as much as five to 10 hours or as little as zero.
How much space in your house is devoted to storing scrapbook supplies? I have a whole room devoted to all my scrapbooking supplies. However, would rather scrap on the dining room table with friends.
Are you working on any projects now? No, but I’m getting items together to create my next memory and prepare for my four-day-weekend at the Beacon in Lincoln with Scrappin’ Soul Sisters.
What’s the scrapbook page or project that you’re most proud of? That’s a tough one. I love so many of my layouts. I guess my all-time favorite is when we did a corn maze a few years back. I just love the layout!
Any scrapbooking disasters? Oh ya . . . many . . .
If you were to make a Concord scrapbook, what would it include? And would there be stickers? Glitter? It would include sites that I’ve been to and the memories I have of them. There may be stickers and glitter, it’s hard to say. I usually don’t plan pages too far in advance as there are always new products coming out.
Has your family ever staged or thought about staging a scrapbook intervention? Not that I am aware of, but scrapbooking is addictive!
Is “scrapbooker” the appropriate term for someone who does scrapbooks? That’s the only word I’ve heard for people like us.
Tell us some scrapbook vocabulary words. Bling, distressing, paper piercing, layout.
What’s your biggest scrapbook-related frustration? Being 100 percent happy when my layout it complete. I am critical of my work, and often the design in my head isn’t what comes out on paper.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to try scrapbooking? Go for it! Take some classes and have FUN!
What else do you do in your spare time? Spend time with my family, travel.
