Scrapbooker's Retreats

Scrapbooker's retreats can be a wonderful way to squeeze in some extra cropping time while socializing with crafters who share your love of preserving your family's precious memories.

Enjoy spending time with your friends while working on your scrapbook album.

Planning a scrapbooker's retreat doesn't have to be a stressful experience if you keep in mind a few simple tips.

Generally speaking, people interested in attending scrapbooker's retreats will fall into one of three categories:

• People who are enthusiastic scrapbookers
• People who are just beginning to learn more about scrapbooking
• People who have never scrapbooked, but want to learn

Although a retreat that includes only experienced scrapbookers can be very productive in terms of the number of layouts completed, don't forget that there are many advantages to including less experienced guests as well. New scrapbookers often have an enthusiasm that's hard to match; teaching them your favorite techniques can be a great way to rekindle your own passion for the hobby.

Keep in mind that all of your guests don't have to know each other before the retreat to have a good time. You can invite your sister to scrapbook with your best friend, your coworker, and the crafty mom from your son's playgroup. Working on layouts together is an excellent way for everyone to get acquainted.

To get ready for your retreat, you'll need:

• Large tables so people can spread out while working
• Comfortable chairs
• Good lighting to allow everyone to see what they're doing
• Trash cans to keep work areas clean

Although each guest should bring their own supplies, you might want to consider having a few basic items in a central location for everyone to share. For example:

• Black journaling pens
• Paper trimmers
• Cardstock in neutral colors
• Glue sticks, double-sided tape, and other adhesive products
• Alphabet stamp sets and inkpads
• A Cricut or another die cutting machine, plus paper scraps for practicing
• Scrapbook magazines and idea books to view for inspiration

Of course, it's a good idea to keep your camera handy during your scrapbooking retreat. You'll want to have plenty of pictures to make a special layout about your experience!

Getting the right atmosphere is crucial part of planning successful scrapbook retreats.

• Location: You don't necessarily need to rent a beach house for the weekend, but you should try to minimize outside distractions during your event. If you're having the retreat at your home, send your husband and children away on a separate trip. Move piles of laundry, to-do lists, and other reminders of your daily obligations to a different location to help keep the focus on scrapbooking.
• Music: Create a playlist of favorite tunes to keep energy levels high as everyone is working on their layouts. If you think your guests may have varying musical tastes, ask each person to send you a list of their "top 5 scrapbooking songs" before the event.
• Snacks: Snacks are great to have on hand for a long crop. Trail mix is a good choice for eating near the work area, but it's best to save pizza, brownies, or other messy food items for a separate location. Drinks should be served in closed bottles to reduce the risk of spills.
• Prizes: To make your event seem extra special, consider having a contest that lets guests win stickers, rub-ons, ribbons, or other small scrapbooking-related prizes for being the "Most Enthusiastic" or "Most Prolific" scrapbooker. You could also award prizes for the best layouts in categories like travel or baby pages, assuming the judging process doesn't manage to accidentally hurt anyone's feelings.

While scrapbooker's retreats can be enjoyable events, the expense of hosting a retreat can easily become overwhelming. If you're on a tight budget, but still want to host an event, consider asking each guest to contribute a small amount towards food, drinks, shared supplies, and other event expenses. Alternatively, you could ask each person to bring one item instead of making a cash contribution.

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