Fluff: How would you describe the “average scrapper?”

I think the average scrapbooker when they buy scrapbook supplies don't pay attention to brand names or scrapbook designers like we do. Some of them only buy Creative Memories products and are not even aware of what is in the stores.

Years ago when the scrapbook magazines were popular I gave some of mine to my mom to read. She didn't even know what to do with them, she bought her scrapbook albums at Hallmark and used mainly stickers so the ideas in magazines like CK were foreign to her.

I'm not sure, because I don't know any scrappers in "real life" and I have never been to a crop. You all are my people 😊

However, I did check out r/scrapbooking on Reddit for a bit and most of it seemed to be Creative Memories style, with deco scissors and photos cut into shapes with multiple photos on a page. I'm thinking that might represent the "average scrapper"--tried and true style.


ETA:This observation was not intended to disparage Creative Memories or any particular style of scrapping. It was an impression of a style I had after visiting an online group other than this one. My apologies to anyone I may have offended.

Gosh I really think ones take depends on where you check in at.  I'm part of the RTS Facebook group and there are a lot of us. The vast majority are boomer/gen X empty nesters, lots of grandmothers. Also everyone seems to be like me, old school TwoPeas style scrappers who keep up on all the trends and love to shop.

I disagree that the CM style scrapper is the average scrapper now-a-days. From what I see on the internet (here, youtube, instagram), the average scrapper uses a lot of product per page, uses a lot of layering, and a lot of embellishing. I don't know any scrappers in real life, other than my mom who hasn't scrapped in like 20 years though. Now she is into her cricut and makes cards and other things with her cricut.

Also, people who knock CM should really head over to their website. Their paper designs and embellishments are lovely and on trend. I just don't like the price and the thinness of the paper.

No, it's just that I don't see anyone scrapping in the old-school CM style any more. But again, I don't know any scrappers in real life. I've never been to a crop, etc. 

Is there such a thing as an "average scrapbooker"? We all scrapbook for our own reasons, in our own style, with materials we have or can purchase. We find friends--either in person or on line--with people who have similar interests to our own. We learn from them and pick up techniques and designs and other ideas from the people we gravitate to.

One of the scrapbook magazines did a survey a few years ago about what type of scrapbooker we are, but I have no idea where to find that. But these are just some of the ways we vary:

WHY do we scrapbook? To document the past? The present? Tell stories? Play with paper? Artistic drive? For fun or a relaxation from a busy life? To prevent boredom from an UNbusy life?

HOW do we scrapbook? With paper and glue? Digitally? PL pockets? Clean & Simple? Layered and poofy? ALL the products and trends? With lots of photos or one per page? What size page? Do our own thing? Electronic cutters or stickers & purchased diecuts? Use mixed media? Or lots of glitter? Or nothing wet and messy?

WHAT do we scrapbook? Our everyday lives? Special events? Precious memories? Dates and facts? Feelings? Impressions? Our take on the world as it was, or is?

WHERE do we scrapbook? At home? In a designated studio or room or corner? On the dining room table? Only at crops?

WHEN do we scrapbook? When the mood strikes? Whenever we can? Every day? On evenings &/or weekends? Mornings? Afternoons? Late at night?

Am I average? I have no idea. As Willie Nelson says in his song, "Woke Up Still Not Dead Again Today, "I've never been accused of being NORMAL, anyway..."

I know this was offered up as a joke, but it's pretty accurate!

When I go to crops, the scrappers are 55 and older, "catching up" on their children's albums or scrapping grandchildren, and not spending a ton of time on journaling but getting the basics on the page. More than half are tech savvy and bring electronic cutters. Most stamp for cards but not for layouts. On their pages, they layer, make clusters, add enamel dots. Pages are multi-photo. Most are 2 pagers. Most shun mixed media for reasons of time and ease. They shop and they're down to scrap. They vacation together at scrap retreats.

But having said that, I'm not sure these ladies are representative of the average scrapper. Or are they? Lately I'm only meeting ones that are as over the top as me, or more so. The ones who weren't so into it quit scrapbooking years ago.

I have a local LSS and there are quite a few crops that happen in my community. Just based on my experience in a largish city:

Age: the two big groups seem to be equally split between moms of school age kids and grandmas. Outliers are no kids or adult kids/no grandkids.

Type: Two page layouts. Usually I’m the only one doing PL. I do occasionally see someone doing DD, WITL, DITL. I see more card makers now.

Technology: few digital scrappers. Most EVERYONE has a cutting machine (Cricut/Silhouette) and makes elaborate scenes for their pages. Also the portable Epson printer is popular for printing photos.

Scrappy celebs: the majority seem to be aware of at least one or two big names. Some have no clue the inspiration that is out there.

Demographic: white. I rarely see WOC and never a man of any color. The majority seem to be college educated, typically teachers or medical professionals. Not surprising since this hobby consists of using discretionary spending to support it. It’s a bit disheartening since this hobby can be done with minimal supplies.

As to what an "average" scrapper is - do you mean most common type scrapper? I'd say 1. multi-photo scrapbooker, 1 or 2 pages 2. enjoys shopping, gravitates to themed lines and likes matching embellies 3. uses layers and tends towards pp backgrounds 4. aware of a few "celebs" but doesn't look overly hard for online input - happy with their style.

My POV about CM is because I have been scrapping with CM scrappers since 1999 but I have never used a CM album in my life. I own about 3 CM tools - a corner rounder, a wave cutter my friend gave me, and a scallop border punch I just won at a CM NSD crop.

I now regularly/at least once a month scrap with the customers of at least 5 CM consultants. I on the other hand buy everyone's product, CM and every one else's as well. I've attended every convention and expo within driving distance of my area since 2001, have worked for vendors at conventions and taken classes with Lisa Bernson, Renee Lindgren and other former names in the hobby. I worked in an LSS for 7 years in the mid 2000's.

Current CM product is equal to anything I can buy elsewhere in regard to paper and stickers. And the CMers I scrap with are not really using deco scissors and cropping photos into shapes much any more. They are formula scrapping, putting lots of photos on a page and using CM product pretty much exclusively. They are not inking, stamping, misting, or chalking. They are punching, piecing and layering.

I am not bashing CM style at all. I am saying the average scrapper I know is a CM scrapper. In my area we now have zero LSS in I believe the entire state. In the heyday a 30 mile radius we had 15 LSS. All are long gone. CM is it for touching product. Michaels is down to 4 aisles - one paper, one albums, one stickers and one tools plus die cut machines. Hobby Lobby is about an hour away.

I will be going to CKC in July. I haven't missed a convention or expo since the first one held within a day's drive of my house. I see who is buying and what they are buying. Card making and stamping has I believe exceeded scrapping photos and memorabilia. Many vendors cater to stampers.

Of course I'm not familiar with what is going on in Utah, Arizona and California where scrapbooking had a huge presence and influence. Everything may be going strong there. But where I am, even in regard to this board, I only know one local person who is still on this board and I don't think she is scrapping anymore. Used to be I knew tons of local scrappers on the boards.

I wish I had known about the community when I first tried scrapbooking in 2003. I made one book for my wedding and that was it (I still have it despite being divorced, it's fun to look back on the style) and then didn't do any more until I discovered PL in 2012 and the online community/resources through blogs. I wonder if more people would be into if they knew there are more options/styles than just what the big box stores offer. I'd guess there are more big-box scrappers than us, who use the bound albums and a more "traditional style", CM or otherwise here in the US. Definitely skews white, 50 and up, and has kids/grandkids. There's still an LSS about an hour from me that over the years has shifted more & more into mixed media, Tim Holtz, and carries cutesy style brands I'm less familiar with and then has a bunch of old stock from the last 4-5 years. They do a ton of card classes these days. My IRL friends love seeing my albums and I encourage at least printing photos, but I have yet to bring anyone into our fold sadly.

To me the average scrapper is someone who enjoys preserving memories with pictures and/or words in an artistic way.

I go to a 4-day retreat in the area twice a year with about 10-12 other ladies. We're all between 45-55 and most of us have kids high school age or beyond. A few are Grandparents. We're all married and have money to spend on this hobby. We have a "real" scrapbook store near us/the retreat and we usually get both big scrapbook conventions in our area (Scrapbook Expo and Great American Scrapbook).

I see the full spectrum of scrapping amongst our group.

A couple (like me) know the scrapping celebrities, and influencers, frequent message boards, follow lots of Instagram pages and like to try new products and trends. But we also like to make cards and mini books and use some page kits and sketches. We do 2-page layouts, 1-page layouts, lots of journaling, no journaling - whatever floats our boat! We take classes at conventions and watch YouTube tutorials for new techniques.

A few are PL scrappers and they love it and are perfectly happy just using the divided page protectors & journaling cards. They love to just get it done!

A few love to use their Cricut for every page and make elaborate titles and paper piercings. 

Some are very "theme" oriented. I love themed products too!

I think it's so hard to define the "average scrapper". I also don't think one way is better than another to scrap. Scrapbooking does two things for me - 1) Its' a creative outlet. I love to play with pretty paper and design pages. 2) It's a way to preserve my memories. 

All this to say I'm just thankful I have a group in real life that still loves to get together in person and create It's my happy place for sure!!

I do know a lot of scrappers and did go to crops pre-covid. From what I see the average scrapper is nothing like you see online.

The average scrapper I see is cardstock heavy, very themed embellishments, lots of photos per page, two-page layout. There are definitely old-school CM scrappers out there. Most of the scrappers I know can't identify products by brand and seldom buy collections. They are unaware of internet scrappers and buy most of their stuff from Michael's, Joanne, or Hobby Lobby.

They have older children or are grandmas.

I'm not the average scrapper. Well, maybe average for 2peas, but not the general scrapping population. I'm older, but single, and I'm scrapbook obsessed. I order online at least once a month and get excited with each new release. I check 2peas everyday and get a lot of inspiration online. Back in the heyday I had a subscription to all of the magazines and new the names of all of the scrapbook celebrities. I have spent an insane amount of money on this hobby.