Video - is the golden age of scrapbooking over?

I saw that video in another group I belong to. I don't know that I am giving up on SBing but I do think it's way harder to get excited about it now that so many actual SB kits are closing down. I don't want to do a travel notebook. I really don't want to do a planner either. But its slim pickings from 12x12 SB paper kits now.

When we moved here in 2004 there were a few scrapbook stores, but since I didn't scrapbook consistently until 2008, I think I went into one of them once... I remember trying to push a stroller in the store, and hold my 8.5 by 11 scrapbook paper in the other hand.

By the time I got totally obsessed with the hobby, had a car I could drive to go shopping during the day when things were open, and a little money to spend, all the real-life stores were gone...

I have never had my own scrap room and that has definitely limited my ability to support the industry by myself...

The two people I know in real life who scrapbooked, have not done so since around 2011/2012.

People keep saying crafts go in cycles, so I'm waiting impatiently, for stores to start adding aisles again!

I just watched the video. You know, we, here, now are part of the solution, right? We're virtual, but we're a strong community. We encourage and support one another.

I actually started stamping and cardmaking (or wanting to card make, at least) prior to when I made my foray into scrapbooking (which was, indeed, around 20 years ago). So I guess I've known that paper was my jam since before this so-called golden age and I'm sure it will continue as long as someone will sell me ink and card stock....

I watched this video this weekend...it is depressing. I am very lucky to have a LSS and a close friend who loves paper as much as I do. I am also happy that I was able to work at a store while scrapbooking was still very popular so I have a generous stash of supplies to pick from.

I am very much in the group that she references who do it for the pure enjoyment and creativity of it. It's good for my mental health and stress levels to be able to play with paper. I really hope that breetheflea is right and it all cycles back

I just watched the video.

I have no idea who the lady in the video is. Personally, I think she has a very negative view of scrapbooking industry as a whole.
*She* thinks too many people overbought products in years past. 
*She* thinks too many products are being made and too many collections are being released.
*She* thinks if scrapbookers don't gather in person, the camaraderie is lost.

I love my scrapbook product stash. I don't think I have too much.
I would be happy if more products were released and more collections were made.
More different type of products in a collection, means there's will something to please everyone. 
We as peas are still going strong after 24? 25? years. There is camaraderie, support, advice, help, caring, compassion, epic pea dramas, etc...

Scrapbooking may not be as popular as it was years ago, but those of us in it for the long haul will always have the passion for it.

Personally, I am not a follower and not influenced by anyone.
I watched the video...for me, it's in one ear-out the other.
I'm not going to let one negative person and their beliefs....affect me or diminish my passion for scrapbooking, or stop me from purchasing new products (as long as my finances and budget allows for it).

I was also a card maker before I was a scrapbooker. Now I rarely scrapbook and mostly make cards due to time constraints and just habits, I guess. I want to get back to scrapbooking more again. I did a photo book for our anniversary Disney trip, and it’s not nearly as satisfying to look at as a scrapbook version would be.

I have done a layout here and there, so I haven’t given up scrapbooking completely.

With everything that I have collected over the years, I can keep scrapbooking and card making indefinitely, even if I spend most of every day paper crafting, and even though I don’t live near any LSS. I don’t care if my layouts are trendy, or whether I am using the latest and greatest. All that matters is if I like my layout.

However, I am always sad to see scrapbook stores and businesses close. I notice that the upcoming conventions seem to have only a third to half as many booths as they used to, and that may be an overly generous estimate, but there will always be a some who scrapbook.

Yes!!! I totally agree! We are part of the solution. And SBC Fest this Friday and Saturday is part of the solution! I know it is a big advertising day for scrapbook.com but honestly, kudos to them for putting it on, getting presenters and working on creating that community. I'm excited! 

I think much of what she said is true but I think it was ALSO true 10 years ago and the diehard papercrafters are still around. Scrapbooking isn't the trendy craft of the day the way it was 20-25 years ago at its heyday but that doesn't mean it's dying completely - I think in one form or another, it'll stick around and there will be people interested in scrapping and materials available for it - perhaps not in the quantity and variety of the past.

Honestly I LOVE the online communities and the online aspect of cropping, taking classes, finding inspiration etc...I'm an introvert and even when there were two LSSs in my small town and another in the nearby city and I was able to go to crops in person, I never found my niche, my scrappy friends - it always felt like there were little groups of friends and then there was me...the odd one out with my 8.5x11 layouts and my simple, linear style. I've found my place here at Refupeas and at SG squad on FB and in the past at Lifetime Moments.

I know I'm probably part of the problem because I'm not and never have been a big shopper - my budget doesn't allow for it, my scrapbook style doesn't use a LOT of stuff per layout, and I'm not a trendy sort of person who wants/needs the newest and greatest. I use a lot of cardstock, I buy (or DH buys for me) a lot of older supplies people are destashing, I still have (and use) a Cricut Expression...but by the same token, that means I was okay when the LSSs shut down and I'll be okay if the scrapbook industry shrinks again - I have supplies, I can make my own embellishments, and cardstock isn't going anywhere, lol. I've done the scrappy math, lol - and I'm pretty sure that if I can continue to get photo squares and cardstock and trimmer blades...I can scrap for years.

There are in fact younger people who take pictures on their phones and still do paper scrap booking. At least one. I know her. But I strongly suspect she's not really a complete unicorn

true true true! i haven't printed photos in over a decade if not decadeS.  social media is the new scrapbooking without the massive financial outlay and need to store all that stuff.    

I believe (as others have said) that the Golden Age of Scrapbooking was over long ago -- probably about the time that 2 Peas closed its virtual doors. But things seemed to have started downward with the housing market crash (2006) and the subsequent recession (2007-2009) -- stores closed, magazines ceased or cut way back on their issues, and people had less money for things like hobbies. But technology like digital photography and Facebook also contributed to its demise -- in my opinion (and others here have noted this as well).... as others have alluded to -- scrapbooking as a hobby became popular because people like me had boxes of disorganized photographs  -- my own and my parents  (do you remember that CM ad in Creating Keepsakes - the lady holding the big box of photos?)  -- that I wanted to organize. We found scrapbooking and we loved it and we bought all the supplies, and yes, I'm good on supplies for the next 25 years as long as I can get adhesive and albums, but my preference would be to continue to see fresh and creative archival products on the market. I think the final missing piece in the decline of scrapbooking is just that our children and grandchildren are very technology oriented and not really into many of the hobbies that interest the Boomers. Plus, the 20 - 40 somethings may not be thinking through whether the future generations will be interested in those thousands of photos they have on their laptops, hard drives, Facebook, and cloud storage because they have shared them during their lifetime. So while I like my photos in a 12 x 12 paper album that can be viewed and passed on, they (younger generations) are already 'sharing' their photos and stories digitally in the present, not thinking about whether the photos should or will be seen by future generations.

I'm another who believed that the golden age was over at least 10-12 years ago. So many stores, sites, and crops available.

I wasn't a fan of most of the papers of CTMH or Pinkfresh, but I can sympathize with everyone who loved them. There are a lot of people on YouTube who made their money off of making videos using their product, so I can see why they are especially upset. It probably feels like their business is closing and they are all reacting.

I still have one LSS and a second hand store and would be very sad to see either of them go. Buying online isn't nearly as fun and I can see why people lessened their spending online. I went to a big box bookstore last week and they had hundreds of different magazines on display and not a single one on paper crafting. There was one about crafting spaces, but that was it.

I have an almost 30 year old kid, and he just puts his photos on a large tv screen to display. He loves his pictures, but just views them differently.

ETA: We are finally getting back a Scrapbook Expo in Denver after 3-4 years of it disappearing.

I think with any craft there will be ebbs and flows...scrapbooking included.

I think you could say the same for crochet/knitting...seemingly more popular now than it was 10 years ago. Also cross stitching/embroidery, I feel like this was very popular in the 90's and now again embroidery is showing up everywhere my DD age 20 is all about embroidery.

I don't think scrapbooking is going anywhere. I think it will evolve, there is more mixed media in scrapbooking for sure it seems. Junk journaling and calendar (Stop the Blur series) are becoming more popular.

Also wanted to add that although there are a lot less brick and mortar stores I think online stores are still pretty prevalent and in general for anything there is just less need to have a brick and mortar store. 

I also think it was over a long time ago (10+ years) and wish I hadn't given in to the clickbait.