Today...is a great day!

Today...I'm sharing another observation about the looming polarization of the scrapbooking industry. This month, Primedia released a new publication called Creating Keepsakes: The Ultimate Guide to Photo Keepsakes. At CHA last week, craft group publisher of F&W, Jeanne Wines-Reed, stated the term F&W will use from now on is "memory projects." Both terms are accurate, and both help support a broader definition of scrapbooking.

Each term also supports the publisher's flagship periodical..."keepsakes" for Creating Keepsakes and "memory" for Memory Makers. But what these terms really do is to help dig a deeper line in the sand between the two primary players in the scrapbooking industry.

It's the scrapbooking version of the Coke vs. Pepsi war. Never mind that the two most popular sodas pretty much taste the same (Hey, I took the challenge.). Marketing agencies have done an excellent job emphasizing a perceived difference between the two sodas to convince consumers that there is a difference. Still, many cola lovers are die-hard fans of their favorite brand. My best friend only buys Diet Pepsi. Me? I'm a Diet Coke fan.

But my dad will order a rootbeer at any chance he can get. Although not as popular, rootbeer as a soft drink is known, has limited availablilty yet a loyal following. Same thing with Dr. Pepper.

All this makes we wonder ... where does the NSA fit in? Simple. The NSA is water. Cool, crisp, refreshing, neutral, life-giving, cleansing...a necessity.

ETP!

Today...the mail included my pre-CHA copy of Scrapbook Premier. Like all the trade magazines I receive, I devour it cover to cover. This issue had no less than four articles -- all on different topics -- discussing what the industry needs:

• hand holding
• broader definition of scrapbooking
• personal portable printers as a retail solution
• importance of written instructions
• competition vs. cooperation

I've been touting all of this for well over a year. In fact, I'm starting to identify what scrapbooking will be dealing with next year (should I tell...or maybe I already have?)

My boyfriend says one of my greatest assets is my ability to not say anything (drives him crazy!).

So, I'll do what my coach taught me. I'll bite my tongue, praise the concepts as fabulous, original ideas, and offer to help champion the cause. Besides, no idea is really original, and I'm thrilled that more people are doing the work and bringing the issues to the forefront. That's what we really need, right?

ETP!

Today...I'm posting links to recent articles mentioning the NSA...

• Computer-assisted photo projects are more than scrapbooking - Chicago Tribune
• Digital scrapbooking lets you create with a click - The Grand Rapids Press

ETP!

Today...I gave an interview to a reporter looking into the impact of digital scrapbooking (Renee Pearson calls it "digi"). She asked for numbers (we just know that the trend is growing) and what effects digital might have on traditional scrapbooking. She also was interested how scrapbookers are combining digital with traditional scrapbooking techniques.
Here are the thoughts I shared with her:
Digi is growing because:

• Software like PSE filters out the features superfluous to most scrapbookers and makes it easier to apply the effects they are looking for
• Digital photos are loaded to a computer, and scrapbookers find it easier to scrap them on the computer
• Many digi scrappers say it's about convenience and cost. No product to buy, organize, pull out, put away, etc.

Here's why some scrappers have not converted:

• They need a hands-on activity. The textures of paper and embellishments is a big part of the experience. Happiness is an inky, paint-stained hand.
• Like me, they may spend most of the work day at a computer. Traditional scrapbooking gets them away from the computer.
• Or they are not computer savvy, and they don't want to have to learn to scrap on a computer.

Needless to say, many scrapbookers use their computer for scrapbooking:

• Uploading, editing, and printing photos
• Journaling and titles
• Some design layouts on the computer, like a sketch, before assembling all the pieces
• There's a trend to do both: create a page with digital elements, print it, then add 3-D embellishments like ribbons and charms, to create a totally unique look. The Leeza Gibbons Scrapbooking Software software by Mountain Cow facilitates this approach.

And for the final bullet points, here are my thoughts about the impact of digi:

• Digi has the potential to bring more people into scrapbooking and to help more people to create more ways to preserve their memories.
• It has the potential to attract men to the hobby. Generally men buy the cameras, but it's the women who take the pictures. Showing men what they can do with the photos with their other "toys" may entice them to scrap.
• Digital scrapbookers should utilize services to print and bind their albums so they can to showcase and share their memories in book form

And finally, digital scrapbooking further proves the point that scrapbooking is for everyone, even the person who doesn't want to get ink on their hands.

ETP!

Today...I'm sharing photos from last year's fireworks display. Enjoy!