Scribbles 'n Scraps

I think that is a question I ask myself a lot. I sit, staring at my endless supplies of paper and various tools.

Do you remember when scrapbooking was merely a pair of scissors, paper and photographs? You put them in a three ring binder. Done. And if you were an advanced scrapbooker back then, you used decorative scissors – usually deckle. Oh, and some stickers. (this was the Creative Memories and Pebbles in my Pocket era – I thought that scrap mag was the best back then – ha! Who knew?)

And then, it wasn’t long before you needed punches and the stores huge Ellison die cut machine and every template under the sun.  Oh, and a paper trimmer. You had to have one of those, and they never actually fit the big 12×12 piece of cardstock. That was what scrapbooking was about. (this was when Ivy Cottage made an appearance, and PaperKuts and some other scrap mag called Memories or something like that.) It was about this time that Creating Keepsakes and Memory Makers jumped on the bandwagon as well. Yes, but then….

Remember when they came out with all the tiny embellishments and suddenly you HAD to have a hammer to scrapbook? Yeah, because it went with that eyelet setter you needed? Oh, and the colluzle. You just had to have that to scrapbook, and you had to buy all the different templates to go with it. Oh, and right about that time, you also had to have the Power punch because you needed something to help you punch all those little punches you had collected. And rubber stamps, oh how they made an appearance. And they were so pretty with their little wood tops. Right about this time Crop Totes were beginning to surface. Another must have. (this was about the Scrapbooks, Etc. stage)

And then next it was a manual die cut machine you just had to have, with all the little dies. Then the silent/quick eyelet setter, and then the best of the best 12″ paper trimmer. Oh and lets not forget that our normal rubber stamps had now become acrylic! And you had to have so much crap to go with them. Let’s not forget the adhesive machines you had to have so that you could put adhesive right on your die cuts that you had cranked through the new die cut machine you just had to have. And then, this was when having a better than best digital camera came into play. The digital Rebel had made an appearance and everyone just had to have one, except nobody could afford one because of all the scrapbooking tools they had been buying for years.

I quit just shortly after that. I couldn’t understand why I needed  additional items, most of which did the same thing that all of my other supplies did. Except for an OTT light. Do I really need one? I mean come on. I’ve been scrapbooking for HOW long without one? Yeah. Didn’t think so.

I think I just figured that if I kept buying, I’d have more tools than house space to store it.

And if I want to be a totally hip scrapper now, I have to have a sewing machine, tag maker, electronic die cutting machine, a distressing kit, paints in every color in the rainbow, and I could probably keep going on and on. In fact, each day new things come out, and new devices are being planned. It’s nuts really.

“New” and “Fresh” are the key words in the scrapbooking industry. And if your scrapbooking buddy has it, more than likely you need it too.

Keep in mind a golden rule. If you cannot justify using it at least once per dollar spent (a $15 item needs to be used 15 times to be considered valid, a $300 items – 300 times), then it is NOT a purchase I would consider. Try borrowing or get in good with the local scrapbook store. It’s a heck of a lot cheaper! And besides, next month a “new and improved” model is sure to surface!