artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,844 
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Post by artbabe on Jul 16, 2025 15:08:37 GMT
I was scrolling Reddit the other day and came across their scrapbook sub-Reddit. It was not what I was expecting at all- mostly junk journals and stuff like that. Lots of different things, really, but barely a scrapbook layout.
I know the industry is evolving to focus more on junk journals and stuff like that, because the kind of scrapbooking I do is going out and journaling is getting more popular.
I'm interested in the cultural side of scrapbooking. I'm interested in the business side of the scrapbook industry.
What are your thoughts on scrapbooking, junk journaling, the paper crafting industry as a whole, and current trends? Any predictions for the future?
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Post by melanell on Jul 16, 2025 15:42:15 GMT
In the "old days" scrapbooks were often junk journal-esque in that they contains snippets from life. Scraps from events, articles, pictures, anything someone liked when into a scrapbook so they could always look at it. And a photo album might be a completely different entity. Though a scrapbook might have photos tucked into it, too. To me, today, a photo album is something that holds only photos, but as soon as you start adding other things, either decorative elements, memorabilia, or journaling, it becomes what I think of as a modern day scrapobook. BUT that doesn't mean that I wouldn't still consider a junk journal full of things saved from day to day over time to be a sort of scrapbook, too.  |
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jediannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,357
Jun 30, 2014 3:19:06 GMT
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Post by jediannie on Jul 16, 2025 16:11:54 GMT
What are your thoughts on scrapbooking, junk journaling, the paper crafting industry as a whole, and current trends? Any predictions for the future? It seems that scrapbooking is really taking a downturn, with all the companies closing and hardly any brick and mortar stores anymore. I could see scrapbooking morph back into junk journaling (I already see it happening) and people will be less likely to buy traditional scrapbook products and just use whatever they have on hand. |
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 16, 2025 19:35:53 GMT
What are your thoughts on.... Scrapbooking: For me personally, scrapbooking is a way to document my life and things I've done throughout my life....using photographs, stickers, embellishments, etc... My scrapbooks are filled with memories, moments, occasions, life in general type stuff, etc... I am thankful I have my scrapbooks, especially when I am feeling like I haven't done a lot....my scrapbook remind me otherwise. Junk journaling: I have a scrapbook style journal. Not a fan of the "junk" look. It contains things I've written, favorite quote, lyrics, etc.... Written things, that describe who I am as a person, and how I live my life. My journal originally started as extremely neat and orderly( I type and printed out all my writings. In 2019, I deconstructed that journal, to embrace >> "life is messy, no one is perfect, raw feelings, etc..." style, and have been coping my printed writings in to handwritten, and have added more personal "who I am I?" type things. Though I am still very matchy-match in regards to my journal pages.....I have liked stepping outside of my usual comfort zone. The paper crafting industry as a whole: and current trends: I think the popularity of scrapbooking has declined, as new generations use social media and printed photo books to contain their photographs. I think there is far to much designer (and the various companies) bandwagon jumping and following....instead of coming up with their own thing, their style, their own products....they do a similar version of what someone else has done (example >> Words: cherished-blessed-best day ever-grow-etc...), owls, gnomes, bicycle, flowers, mushrooms, farm trucks, and so many more. If someone does something new, the rest follow. I miss the days of variety and individuality from the various designer and companies. Any predictions for the future: I think it's going to be more of the same .....bandwagon jumping, following, same stuff, different colors.....with the occasional and random >> something new (that all the followers will copy). My hope is that designers and company leaders would read scrapbook message boards, and read the feedback in regards to what the seasoned and long term scrapbookers want and need. ![]() |
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Post by grammadee on Jul 16, 2025 20:31:14 GMT
In the "old days" scrapbooks were often junk journal-esque in that they contains snippets from life. Scraps from events, articles, pictures, anything someone liked when into a scrapbook so they could always look at it. And a photo album might be a completely different entity. Though a scrapbook might have photos tucked into it, too. To me, today, a photo album is something that holds only photos, but as soon as you start adding other things, either decorative elements, memorabilia, or journaling, it becomes what I think of as a modern day scrapobook. BUT that doesn't mean that I wouldn't still consider a junk journal full of things saved from day to day over time to be a sort of scrapbook, too. This explains the history of scrapbooking so well! I still have a couple of the old scrapbooks you could buy to glue things in with a glue stick. They had newsprint paper in them. I have photo albums from when I first had my own camera. Photos only. I was introduced to the “ modern” concept of scrapbooking by Creative Memories, and their speil was that we needed to preserve STORIES that went with photos. And that spoke to me. My pages are usually about the story behind the photos. But that has evolved to include artistic expression as well. A story can be told in colour choices, design elements, and images other than the photos. It’s fun to play with inks or pastes, diecuts or stickers, reflecting feelings and moods. Adding in “real” ephemera (or photos of it) adds to the fun, but also in nailing down the story. So I guess sometimes my messy scrapbook pages might call to mind junk journals. |
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Post by Linda on Jul 16, 2025 20:32:54 GMT
Scrapbooking - to me? glorified photo albums with pretty papers and stickers and the like. But the focus is generally on the photos and/or journalling. It's memory keeping more than art FOR ME. But there are a myriad of ways and approaches to scrapbooking and I love the diversity of ideas and options even if I don't embrace all of them on my pages
I'm not personally creative enough for junk journalling but I love that it's an option for those who enjoy it. My DD25 keeps a junk-type journal with photos, cards, postcards, memorabilia, thoughts, quotes etc...
As an industry? I think we're in a consolidation/downsizing stage - not too many new people are joining the hobby and those of us who have been around a while have good sized stashes for the most part so there's a bit smnaller market. Planners, junk journals, cards...are I think more popular and more of an entry way into papercrafts today and I think that's where market growth and innovation is going to happen more than in traditional scrapbooking. Digital and hybrid is quite likely to grow more than 12x12 style paper. Die cutting machines (Cricut etc...) have already switched their focus from paper to vinyl and sublimation
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,637
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 16, 2025 21:47:09 GMT
I’m currently a hybrid scrapbooker, because I often print and cut digital items to use on my layouts, but I am still essentially a traditional scrapbooker. I take a lot of photos, and I find a lot of satisfaction in creating layouts. When I want to just enjoy an artistic project, I do a mini album, but without photos. I may have to give junk journals a try, too. The LSS which is relatively close to me (about a 25 minute drive) definitely has a junk journal section as well as traditional supplies.
My guess is that scrapbooking will continue to be a variety show, with some individuals doing junk journals, some doing mini albums, and some doing traditional layouts, like it is now. However, I also think that as more scrapping businesses close, we will see more hybrid scrapbookers like me, who print and cut digital designs for what we need if we can’t find what we want in our stash, for whatever layout or other project we want to do.
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,843
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Jul 17, 2025 7:39:46 GMT
What are your thoughts on scrapbooking, junk journaling, the paper crafting industry as a whole, and current trends? Scrapbooking & junk journaling are different forms of papercrafting. Generally, scrapbooking documents memories/experiences/events in a structured/planned album with page protectors & includes stories/journaling, photos, patterned papers, etc., while junk journaling is a more spontaneous expression of creativity inspired by/using various mediums, words, & everyday items not typically within page protectors or intended to preserve a specific memory/experience/event. Since I exclusively scrapbook (using 12x12 albums with various sizes/configurations of page protectors for extra photos, memorabilia, etc.), I have little experience/cannot opine on the "papercrafting industry as a whole." However, IMHO the biggest trend in scrapbooking (for the last several years & counting) - perhaps due to its influence on my (lack of) purchases - continues to be the oversaturation of florals. Flowers bloom throughout most collections, regardless of brand &/or theme, & adorn various icons rendering them unusable for me.
Any predictions for the future? No (although :fingers crossed: the industry's florals era is ending SOON)
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artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,844
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Post by artbabe on Jul 17, 2025 15:25:03 GMT
Since I exclusively scrapbook (using 12x12 albums with various sizes/configurations of page protectors for extra photos, memorabilia, etc.), I have little experience/cannot opine on the "papercrafting industry as a whole." I wouldn't say that. You always seem really up on things going on in the industry. |
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jul 17, 2025 19:32:26 GMT
Yes, I am in that subreddit and post my traditional layouts. I say do what makes you happy. I'm not personally interested in seeing what stickers people pasted on a piece of paper, so I get little enjoyment out of that subreddit. If it was personal momentos I'd look closer, but, there doesn't seem to be anything personal involved.
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Post by hoopsfn on Jul 21, 2025 15:08:20 GMT
To me scrapbooking is whatever you need it to be for your Life. Whether it's for the storytelling or the artistic outlet or for handing down memories or just for fun. I like the junk journals that people put together with all the curious little things that are added. It's all good. Where is the industry headed? In today's business climate that's a huge question. I just hope that scrapbook supplies don't disappear and that we will still have some choices of products in the future. artbabe, always making us think! |
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