amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,448 
|
Post by amom23 on Nov 13, 2014 15:40:03 GMT
In the hayday of my scrapbooking adventure I used to attend at least 1 monthly crop, several all day crops and 1 weekend retreat per year. Now I am down to nothing. There are no more crops in my area and with my busy kids I just don't have the time/energy to pack up and drive several hours to a retreat. For a while some friends and I would get together to scrapbook, but we have fizzled out. Most of my friends no longer scrapbook and the ones that do are busy like me. Yes, I have a great scrap space at home, but lack the motivation to spend a lot of time in there alone scrapbooking. I really do miss the fellowship of spending time with all those other ladies. I have met some really great people through this hobby.
|
|
|
|
Post by miominmio on Nov 13, 2014 15:56:17 GMT
I used to scrap together with some other women every week, but they have all quit. Scrapbooking alone just isn't the same, is it? So at least twice a year I drive (and take a ferry, I HATE ferries!) to go to a weekend retrear several hours from where I live. It's me time, and I think it's really important to do something just for me, and that not everything I do revolves around the family. I go by my own, but after several years, I know most of the others who attend, and it's great fun! If you have the opportunity, I really recommend it.
|
|
|
|
Post by sbartist on Nov 13, 2014 16:26:24 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 26, 2024 4:33:03 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 16:28:58 GMT
I feel the same way. I used to hold crops a few times a year and I miss those, even though they were a lot of work. It just became so hard to get sign-ups that I couldn't even pay the rental on the room anymore  Also, like many, I went from part-time to full-time work because of the economy so less time and less disposable income. For the last few years, I do an annual retreat with friends from my crop days. But it's close by and we bring our own food so the cost is reasonable. And I try to meet up with my mom once/twice a year. We rent a hotel room halfway between us (400 miles apart) and crop all weekend, splitting the cost of the room. And we hit Hobby Lobby because I don't have one where I live  It's very sad to hear both of you saying how many friends of yours no longer scrapbook. No one in my core group of about 8 shows any sign of stopping but, yes, a lot of us are very busy and it's harder to fit it in. Even if I had an LSS with weekly or monthly crops, I doubt I'd be able to go very often. |
|
tiffanytwisted
Pearl Clutcher
you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave
Posts: 4,538
|
Post by tiffanytwisted on Nov 13, 2014 17:45:00 GMT
I went thru a dry spell where a few of my friends got busy and couldn't find the time or quit all together. Yes, scrapping alone isn't quite the same. I do it, but still . . .
A few years ago a gal I worked with & discovered we were both scrappers. She told me about a monthly crop at a a church near her mom. I joined her for a few and found a lovely group of ladies. It's over an hour drive for me, so I don't get there very often but it's nice to have the option.
Then about a year ago, I reconnected w/a friend who used to run the LSS. She had sold the store and we lost touch. We made plans to get together again and not only do we scrap once a week (at least!), but we get away for the weekend (her lovely brother & his wife let us use their beach house in the off-season) a few times a year. We're going this weekend as a matter of fact.
My longwinded point is, don't give up hope! You never know when things will turn around and you'll find scrappy buddies again. Hang in there!
|
|
|
|
Post by cmpeter on Nov 13, 2014 18:49:11 GMT
I am sorry...I would be sad if my group of scrappy friends stopped scrapping. We all met via a Yahoo group about 14 years ago. 3-4 times a year we rent a retreat house owned by a local church and scrap for a long weekend (Thur-Sun.) Sometimes we are busy and the group is small (maybe 5 of us) and sometimes we are packed with 15 (sort of our max because we like to have lots of space.) Over the years we have had ladies come and go from the group, but a core group of us (8) have stayed consistent. We try and do things not scrap related (dinners, shows, Christmas party, LSS hops, once even a trip to Disneyland). We are spread out in various suburbs of Seattle, so not really neighbors.
I don't do crops at stores anymore. My closest LSS has a really small and cramped classroom space and it's no fun to spend time in there.
|
|
|
|
Post by blueswede on Nov 13, 2014 20:35:03 GMT
Thankfully I still have friends that enjoy scrapbooking. Instead of going to stores, we now meet in homes. Some of the brick and mortar stores that closed still sponsor occasional crops at hotels or churches.
I did receive quite a shock this weekend when I showed up at a store for a class and they were having a going out of business sale. It's sad to see them disappear.
|
|
|
|
Post by megs78 on Nov 13, 2014 22:44:18 GMT
I've never attended a crop - they just don't seem to have them where I live, or anywhere close for that matter - I'd travel up to Sydney if I had to, a few times a year, but there just seems to be nothing out there. I've always wondered what it would be like to go...
|
|
scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
|
Post by scrappington on Nov 14, 2014 0:04:59 GMT
I know what u mean. :-(  ? |
|
doglover
Full Member
Posts: 237
Jun 27, 2014 14:50:33 GMT
|
Post by doglover on Nov 14, 2014 1:11:02 GMT
Have you looked on meetup.com? I've found a couple of local scrapbooking groups through them with really nice people in them.
And then once you join, you hear about other local crops and groups.
There are a lot of charity crops in my area that I never knew about.
If there isn't a meetup group, maybe you could start one. |
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 14, 2014 4:10:21 GMT
I know of a monthly crop (well almost monthly, the people who host them take the summer months off) that I've wanted to try out but it seems like every weekend one is scheduled to be hosted something else is going on so I can't go. Like this Saturday she's hosting one and DH is out of town hunting which means DD and I are on our own, and my BFF's daughter is getting married that day so it's a no-go yet again. At least I'm at the point where I'm finally moving forward on getting my studio space done, so that's a bright spot. My cabinets have been ordered and should be ready around the end of the month, and I don't know how long it will take to get them installed. After I have the cabinets in, I'm ordering built in wall shelving next and then comes the heinous task of unpacking dozens of boxes of stuff that have been packed up for three years and going through it all to see what is still relevant to my life.  Hopefully before winter is over enough of the mess will be cleaned up so that I'll be able to have some friends come over to scrap. It really is so much more fun to scrap with friends than to sit in your own little void scrapping alone. |
|
LisaDorothy
Full Member
"Do it now 'cuz tomorrow ain't promised today"
Posts: 239
Jun 30, 2014 15:47:18 GMT
|
Post by LisaDorothy on Nov 14, 2014 14:10:30 GMT
My advice would be to find a sitter for your busy kids, force yourself to make the time for yourself and GO to a retreat! I find that those energize me and renew my interest in scrapping like nothing else, maybe it will do the same for you. You'll have fun, be around scrappy people (even if it's only for a little while!), and recharge those Mom batteries! I always return with renewed inspiration from being around other scrappers. And I hate to hear about a great scrap space going to waste!  |
|
|
|
Post by onlywork2scrap on Nov 14, 2014 15:40:58 GMT
My advice would be to find a sitter for your busy kids, force yourself to make the time for yourself and GO to a retreat! I find that those energize me and renew my interest in scrapping like nothing else, maybe it will do the same for you. You'll have fun, be around scrappy people (even if it's only for a little while!), and recharge those Mom batteries! I always return with renewed inspiration from being around other scrappers. And I hate to hear about a great scrap space going to waste! Lisa, I totally agree. You will have to be proactive if you want to get with other scrappers. It's so important to get away from your normal routine, and you need time for yourself. Use whatever means you can find to get with some others that need to get away too. |
|
|
|
Post by kimmie75 on Nov 14, 2014 19:19:58 GMT
Me too!
I moved to a new state and don't have scrappy friends here.
|
|
angel97701
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,573
Jun 26, 2014 2:04:25 GMT
|
Post by angel97701 on Nov 15, 2014 5:59:04 GMT
Yes! So do I! My mom, sis and I were faithful for about 10+ years to do at least one weekend crop together, if not two a year. We attended CKC in Portland every year except this last year. Wow, 16 years! But the conventions have been slowing dying off too, not as many exhibitors, and more of the kit club or pre-made pages seemed to show up. The best find was about 4 years ago, Heartfelt Creations.
I've had 4 LSS come and go in my town of about 80K people, and 2 retreat companies. I know of people locally who scrapbook, but I've never really hung out with them much. My sis doesn't do it at all anymore, and my mom does books for each grand kid and then travel books, all in 8 x 8 size.
I am thankful for the online community, and I've gotten really active recently on my blog. More with stamping and altered art, but scrapbooking will move to the fore front again. I am also thankful I have a well stocked room er stash. M's and J's locally and a nice craft store in my Mom's hometown about 2.5 hours away. I visit several times in the fall so I usually get my fix then. So meanwhile I shop online, and dream away!
|
|
momtomy2
Junior Member
Posts: 58
|
Post by momtomy2 on Nov 17, 2014 20:31:42 GMT
I miss crops too. I am very much a social scrapper. I am going to check out the FB groups above.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Nov 18, 2014 5:09:56 GMT
We have a lot of crop places in the mountains that ate 1.5-2 hours away. I would love to own one. Several of them are almost all booked for 2015.
|
|
|
|
Post by scrappingbuckeye on Nov 18, 2014 18:40:36 GMT
I just went to a retreat this weekend. There are quite a few crop cabins here in MI and they are booked thru 2015.
|
|
gloryjoy
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
|
Post by gloryjoy on Nov 20, 2014 16:15:12 GMT
Do you have the space to host your own monthly crop with your scrapping friends? That is what I do but I realize that only works if you have the space which I do. I have enough room and tables downstairs for 6 of us to scrap.
Another thing we do is we got the 6 of us together and found a house that we could rent for a weekend, Friday night to Sunday afternoon once a year. The cost is $600 but split 6 ways it is $100 each. Then we take turns doing a meal.
Just some ideas you may or may not be able to do.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 21, 2014 1:28:51 GMT
Do you have the space to host your own monthly crop with your scrapping friends? That is what I do but I realize that only works if you have the space which I do. I have enough room and tables downstairs for 6 of us to scrap. This is me too, when my space is cleaned up there is enough room for five others to comfortably scrap besides me. My cabinets should be coming in a couple weeks so I need to get busy moving junk out of the way, and then it will be a total wreck for a while! |
|
amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,448
|
Post by amom23 on Nov 21, 2014 4:15:32 GMT
Do you have the space to host your own monthly crop with your scrapping friends? That is what I do but I realize that only works if you have the space which I do. I have enough room and tables downstairs for 6 of us to scrap. Another thing we do is we got the 6 of us together and found a house that we could rent for a weekend, Friday night to Sunday afternoon once a year. The cost is $600 but split 6 ways it is $100 each. Then we take turns doing a meal. Just some ideas you may or may not be able to do. That is awesome you have scrapping friends to get together with. Unfortunately I don't even know a handful of people who scrapbook anymore. How sad is that? |
|
gloryjoy
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
|
Post by gloryjoy on Nov 21, 2014 13:36:16 GMT
Do you have friends who "craft"? For us it doesn't have to be scrapbooking, it's just creating.
Last Saturday night two ladies scrapped, one made cards and my other friend and I were busy etching beer mugs for Christmas presents.
I find there and less people scrapbooking now so the "crop" for lack of a better word, is more about being together, having dinner, sharing. It's really whatever you want to do. Heck I wouldn't care if someone came and knit!
|
|
Also, like many, I went from part-time to full-time work because of the economy so less time and less disposable income.
?
