| Many people would hold a scrapbook crop at home if | | | | cause sticky problems for someone's projects. It helps |
| they knew more about how to make them fun events. | | | | to put out serviettes, baby wipes or paper towels for |
| I know the first few I held were nerve-wracking affairs, | | | | people to use. Also consider asking people to bring |
| with me biting my nails and hoping everything would | | | | along a food item to share, to cut down on the |
| work out. Now I am able to organise one pretty quickly | | | | expense of feeding everyone yourself, if that is an |
| and easily, without too many nerves! See if my check | | | | issue. I often serve crackers and cheese, olives, sliced |
| list helps you decide to hold some home crops too. | | | | vegetables and dip, non sticky candy like wrapped |
| 1. Before the Event: | | | | hard candies or jelly babies or mints, sliced fruit, etc. For |
| - I like to give plenty of notice about when my crops | | | | a lunch, chicken or cold meats and salad with bread |
| are going to be held. This gives people a chance to | | | | rolls is quick, easy and not very messy or hard to |
| think about what they are going to work on, and what | | | | prepare. (Many do not want to give up too much |
| to pack up to bring along. Allow a couple of week's | | | | scrapping time by sitting down to a three course meal, |
| notice if you can and be in touch with people about the | | | | but it depends on the group). |
| day throughout that time. Talk it up. Say what you are | | | | 4. When Friends Arrive |
| going to be doing and ask your friends what they are | | | | - When your friends arrive, be ready to help with bulky |
| thinking of working on so they will think about bringing | | | | items from their car. Provide them with glasses of |
| only enough supplies to work on their particular | | | | water, tea and coffee. Scrapping can be thirsty work! I |
| projects. | | | | always put empty glasses and coasters out before |
| When you first think of having friends over to work on | | | | my friends come over. If you can provide a small area |
| their scrap books with you, it is important to think | | | | for people to prepare their own drinks, this will free you |
| carefully about where and how people could work | | | | up to scrap longer too. Oh and make sure everyone |
| together: | | | | knows where the 'facilities' are at the beginning of the |
| - Do you have a large dining room table or a picnic | | | | crop. |
| table? Think about the size of a trestle table. Most | | | | 5. During the crop |
| scrappers are comfortable with half a trestle table. | | | | - Depending on the group, you could organise a small |
| How many half trestle table surfaces could you | | | | joint project such as the making of a place card, name |
| provide in your home? Try to set things up so | | | | tag or ATC when people arrive. Have a vote about |
| everyone can face each other and feel part of a | | | | which one is the cutest and give out a small prize such |
| circle of friends. I have three trestle tables and a dining | | | | as a pack of crystal embellishments or a hand made |
| room table so I set the trestles up in a 'U' shape and | | | | embellishment of your own. Or ask people to make a |
| make my dining room table a shared space for tools. | | | | set of small embellishments to swap with others on |
| - Once you know how many people you could | | | | the day. |
| accommodate, aim for asking that number of people | | | | - Let people know that they may bring things to trade |
| to a day or evening of scrapping with you. My crops | | | | with them on the day. We all have an item or two we |
| usually go from 10am to 4pm with people coming and | | | | know we just won't use - it could be someone else's |
| going as able. | | | | treasure! Share books or magazines as well. |
| - Provide a few rubbish bins for people to use while | | | | - Play some music in the background. People could |
| scrapping. Small ones are enough - a clean ice cream | | | | bring their own music to share. |
| container or plastic bowl can work well between two | | | | - Encourage people to show their albums, cards, and |
| people. Or if space is at a premium, tape small plastic | | | | off-the-page projects so everyone has a chance to |
| bags to the edges of tables for people to keep their | | | | share their ideas. Be encouraging! Scrapping is a |
| scraps in. Keep an eye on the bins while people are | | | | personal affair and I believe there is no wrong way to |
| working and quietly empty them when necessary. | | | | do it, as long as the scrapper is happy with their result. I |
| 2. The Tools | | | | am always amazed that so many people feel |
| - Offer to make heavier tools like paper punches, | | | | intimidated by each others skills. Encouraging your |
| guillotines, heat guns, Sizzix or Cuttlebug machines, | | | | friends with their scrapping may help them to enjoy |
| sewing machines etc available, so your friends do not | | | | their craft more freely. |
| all carry these items to your house. Or ask if people | | | | - If someone in the group is skilled in a technique, |
| will bring one particular tool on the understanding that it | | | | consider asking them to demonstrate it for your other |
| will be shared by everyone on the day. How lovely to | | | | friends. |
| be able to share dies and allow people to take home | | | | 6. At the end of the day: |
| some freshly embossed or die-cut images! Ask them | | | | - When it is time to leave, help people to return their |
| to label their equipment before they arrive so | | | | bulky items to their cars. |
| everyone knows what belongs to who when it is time | | | | - Thank everyone for coming and maybe set a |
| to pack up. | | | | tentative date for your next crop! |
| 3. The Food | | | | A well-organised scrapbook crop can be relaxing, fun |
| - Are you going to have food on the day? Make sure | | | | and a source of great new ideas for everyone. Enjoy |
| your food choices will be scrapbooker friendly and not | | | | your crops! |