Howdy friends! I spent the day scrapbooking. The. Whole. Day. Today was the monthly crop in town and I was excited to go. I decided a couple of months ago to store my unscrapped photos IN my current scrapbook so I could see and enjoy them before I scrapped them and if I did not get every photo scrapped it was OK because the pictures were printed and in there. I tend to use photo collage software to print my pictures in a pleasing arrangement on 8.5″x11″ paper so I can slip that in a letter size page protector and put it in my 12″x12″ D-ring binder with my other layouts. It works great and look fine even if I never trim out the collage and scrapbook it but it is easy when I scrap it because I am dealing with one collage rather than the 5-12 photos I like to put on a page. I also had the brilliant idea to limit myself to creating with the contents of my crafty junk drawer, you know, the bin where you stash the unused die cuts, stamped images, and other experiments that have gone unused or defy categorization to be stored elsewhere. I grabbed a pad of scrapbook paper and I was off to the races…or the crop as the case may be. About a half hour before I was set to leave the organizer of the crop called, she had a sick kid so she offered to unlock the space for me and I could welcome anyone else who came, she was expecting a few more people. I had planned to crop from 9-6 no matter what so I did not mind, hey, I got to create in an area that was not 52 degrees! Well, nobody came to crop. 😦 Lorraine popped in just back from Florida to say “hello” and I saw another friend who was opening a preschool in another part of the building but no other croppers. This gets me to thinking…are crops a thing of the past? We have no local scrapbook stores and the big box stores do not have crops. I am the youngest scrapbooker who attends our local crops and I am no spring chicken! And to make matters worse many people are not even printing photos anymore. It kinda makes me sad. I have been feeling the same way about stamp shows too, the attendance gets lower each year with fewer vendors and the show-goers are getting older. How long will it last?
Well, that was just depressing, what I meant to blog about tonight was customizing clear buttons! I brought some with me today with the dream of every scrapbook layout I made having a cute custom button it but as luck would have it I forgot my wet glue and there was no one to borrow some from. Best laid plans…
But now! Oh, the buttons I shall make! I hope you enjoyed the video and my tale of woe. It’s just a reminder to go to a crop if you know of one because if you don’t there might not be any in the future. If you have a hobby you enjoy help the local craft community thrive! Maybe I’ll see you at a crop or stamp convention soon! 😉 Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
The Frugal Crafter Blog 
thank you for sharing this. I had not thought of doing this with clear buttons, But I sure will give it a try. Edwina Brown
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Sure wish I was closer – I would love to spend a day cropping with you! Glad you went, and I think it is just because we have had such a long hard winter – everyone is mentally exhausted. Paint us a sunny sky with a trellis and some beautiful spring flowers! Maybe a cute little squirrel too!
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Enjoy your frugal and creative ideas! Thanks for sharing. I have learned so much from you.
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How very cool! I haven’t seen this before. But of course now I have to go out and get all kinds of clear buttons!! LOL!
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Hi Lindsay,
Although I don’t do scrapbooking myself, I have been teaching Mixed Media art at the local scrapbooking store. I know that the numbers for the crops are always decreasing but my classes seem to fare really well. Perhaps it’s because so many people are buying online these days, the shops can’t survive. Here in Australia, there used to be at least one scrapbooking shop in every little town and village, but these days they are few and far between and I admit that I am one of those who buy most supplies online these days.
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I also meant to add that I love the buttons. I have always avoided clear buttons, but now I NEED some. 🙂
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Hi Lindsay,
Have been watching you for a while learned lots of great stuff this is my first time commenting. Love the buttons will definitely be trying these. Like Rob I live in Australia and yes we are loosing scrapbook shops but also quilt and general craft shops. I have participated in sew in and quilt in online maybe this is the way of the Crop nights or maybe this is already happening. I would certainly be interested in an online crop night once a month. Just a thought.
Maxine
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Just found you this week. I just have to tell you I find you to not only be so helpful, but a real kick! You have my attention for sure. (I am one of the oldies.lol)
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Thank you for another great idea!
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Love them
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Great tutorial…will have to look for some clear buttons!!! TFS
Jan
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Thanks for the great tutorial! I was given some clear buttons but they’ve been sat in my button box for months as I had no idea AT ALL what to do with them! Now I might end up needing MORE!!!
Round here, those stores that were just scrapbooking have closed, but those that are diverse across the crafts (not just the big chains but the small independent ones too) are still running fine. The one I use most runs scrapping, stamping, cardmaking and now even knitting etc workshops, and they’re always full if not oversubscribed. And they run a monthly club which used to have one evening session but now has two evenings, two daytimes and one weekend daytime! I guess it’s just a case of variation and appeal really.
Good luck with keeping your group going, and please keep your tutorials going – I’m learning so much from them!!
Donna x
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trop loin pour passer une journée avec vous. J’aimerai bien!!!
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You always have the best ideas!
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Thank you so much, what a great idea!!! Love It!!!
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I’ve been noticing more and more scrapbooking supplies for sale on kijiji and at garage sales. Reasons given: no time for scrapbooking, supplies too expensive, supplies take too much space, too much “stuff” in the house. It would seem that young people are just too busy with all that they have to do. Around here, it’s income tax time, property tax time and many people just returned from winter vacations, so time and money for hobbies is not in the cards right now. There you go —lots of possible reasons. 🙂
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Wish I lived much closer I would have been there cropping with you !! Here in Northern Wisconsin I live in the boonies and the closest craft store is 3 hours away and there is no such thing as a crop around here,it is very sad 😦 Sometimes I wish I lived closer to crafty things.I love watching you I get my mojo going 🙂 Love this button idea,TFS Kelly
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I don’t crop any more because I don’t have any kids. I got into scrapbooking when my great grandkids came along. Now we get together to do what ever project we choose whether cards, tags or what we want to do.I haven’t been to a big show but people here go to some in Maryland, Penna, all of which are quite a drive. I go to a card class once a month. The lady that gives it worked at the art shop, ( mom and pop ) which closed. We are all sad about that.Now she teaches at Hobby Lobby. It was nice in the art shop to be able to run and buy one Tombo marker, or eraser or one bottle of Stickles if you needed it. Sadly you have to do that on line for the most part now.
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Another great idea! Whatever did I do before I found you? Love em all!!
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I know what you mean Lindsay, I have been unable to find åny local stamp/scrapbook stores in my area (Clearwater Fl) and have to buy what I can at Joanns or Michaels and order the other stuff on line. That’s ok but when I want a certain stamp or product I hate having to wait! Plus there isn’t anyone to craft with. So glad I found you on the net feel like there are others crafting away like mtself. Keep up the good work!
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I’m not a scrapper, but I’ve missed only a handful of Heirloom Stamp Conventions since it’s inception. I too have noticed a decline in attendance. I would be sooooo sad to see this go by the wayside.
Come on people, support your local stamp shows. You can’t believe the fun you have . . . lots and lots of inspiration in product, demonstration, and new creative friends. It’s my once a year splurge.
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Groovebook.com
My brother &I were talking the other day after I saw the website listed above. I’m 59 and have a scrapbook my mother made (not quite like our scrapbooks). She made one for all 3 of us kids, dividing all the pictures with us in them. I know so many people who take cell or digital Cameras. How many actually print pictures? Remember when we couldn’t wait to get to the drugstore and tear open the package and sit around and pass them. In a few years there is going to be a generation of people that dont have pictures of themselves for their children or grandchildren to look at. Think of the old pictures we buy at sales or collage sheets of anonymous people. I have pictures of my greatparents but never copy or use them. I think this is a big part of why their are so few small stores now. I’ve never used this site, but I think it would be worth a try.
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What a great idea with the buttons, loved it.
If anybody knows where to buy a bag of clear buttons reasonably please post it and thanks.
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Simon says stamp has a pack of 48 for $2.50: http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/servlet/the-30578/Hero-Arts-CLEAR-CARD/Detail
I got mine from stampin up (the flat ones) and the ones with more detail were from Autumn leaves, the Foof-a-la bag of button at ACmoore but I could not find them wen I searched on line.
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Thank you Lindsay, Ill check that out.
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Me too, me too, if I lived close I would have loved to spend the day with you. I’d be card making tho. :0) It is so much fun to have someone to talk to while crafting. Cute idea with the clear buttons.
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What a great idea for those clear buttons I have not known what to do with!! Thanks, Lindsay!
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Not that I want to leave the warmer temperature of Texas, BUT…I would have totally BRAVED the fierce weather and come to spend the day with you! Drinking coffee, chit-chatting, crafting….OH YEA!
Valerie
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Great idea. I don’t buy patterned or coloured embellishments any more – only white or clear that i can colour with AI or markers. Buttons are something I hadn’t considered. Thank you.
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Great button idea! Thank you! Yes, I think scrapbooking is a thing of the past. Many people are turning their favorite photos into books and just leaving the rest on disks (thinking if I ever need it I can print it then…). I still print/scrap the photos, but with much less embellishing than in the past (no stickers, focusing on the journaling part to identify the people/event.) But now I make greeting cards for Operation Write Home with my former scrapbooking supplies. 🙂
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Wow, I love these buttons, they are fabulous! Great idea as always. I don’t do crops because I don’t scrapbook but I do make it a point to support my local scrapbook store. The big box stores are putting them out of business. I try to buy the things that normally are only available on line there, so the lack of shipping is offset by the higher prices they charge. ~Diane
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What a great idea!! Now I have to go and fine some clear buttons.
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I am probably the only one who doesn’t know what a “crop” is, but I was hoping you could explain exactly what it is, or what you do there. ? Thanks in advance 🙂
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A crop is when a bunch of people (usually women) get together at a scrapbook store, church or community center to scrapbook all day. They used to happen all the time but now they are hard to find.
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Never thought about doing that with buttons but now I might. Cute idea. Loved your scrap-booking story. I don’t scrap book, but do make cards all the time. And today, I drove 153 miles from Michigan to Indiana to a card class with Emma Lou Beechy of Heartfelt Creations. I love their products and the way she demonstrates them. Was a fun class. Found out the ladies from Indiana are coming to Michigan in May to the annual stamp show and that’s over 200 miles for them. So not everyone is staying home. But I agree, the shows have less vendors and some have quit coming because of the cost and I find less people there but it is easier to shop. So keep your ideas coming. Edna B.
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Love how you use what you have on hand. I agree with you about crops & shows. I was at a crop yesterday & there were 6 of us there. I like to be uninterrupted (no phone, laundry, etc) to take time away from creating. There is another crop next week end in my home area that I will attend to continue the creative process.
I really like watching your videos. Thanks for sharing your creativity!
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Oh I love this idea. My girlfriends and I just attended the Utah Scrapbook Expo (this weekend in fact). You are right it seems there are less and less vendors and attendees attending these type events. If we want this to stick around it requires us as participants to do just that participate. Thank you for keeping my creative side creative. I have used many of your tips, techniques and ideas in many things and am always recommending your website to other crafters. As always until next time – Happy Crafting.
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It’s sad to hear that other states are having the same type of turn out for their stamp show as in Indiana. We have an Heirloom Pro show in Indianapolis each spring and I wouldn’t miss it for anything. But I have noticed it is getting smaller each year. And the two companies I contacted to see if they were going to be there said they could go somewhere else and make more money. Sigh. I do occasionally order online, but not often. I’ll wait until I either order enough to qualify for free shipping, or if someone goes in with me so that we qualify for free shipping. I mean, it’s not really worth it if it costs as much to ship as it does for the item itself. Maybe the slump will start going the other direction again. Hope springs eternal, right?
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I’m not a scrapbooker but my thoughts on the matter are this. With digital cameras people take sooooo many photos, I think they are overwhelmed by the sheer number. And so much of what we do as inspiration or preparation ‘to do’ prevents us from having the time to actually do it. So we quit.
I’m a stamper, and I have so much stuff (compared to most not all that much at all) that I always feel overwhelmed, wondering what to use, where to start.
Ahhh…the burden of abundance. Yes a first world problem. Still, blessings come with the counterpart curses if we are not wise.
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wow i have said it before clever lady! thank you so much for all this info
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