Take heart—memory crafting soothes the soul with tangible results.
(Derby, Kansas, 2/20/2008)--People around the globe are saying "no" to stress while preserving precious memories. Scrapbooking, a popular craft based on creating albums with photos, decorative papers and embellishments, provides a relaxing and creative outlet for people of all ages. Scrapbooking is the fastest-growing craft in the United States, with $2.6 billion in annual sales, according to the Craft and Hobby Association.
"Studies and anecdotal information indicate that crafting is a soothing activity, possibly because when you focus on the project at hand, your mind moves away from stress-causing thoughts," says Beth Mauro, executive editor of Scrapbook Retailer magazine, a national trade publication for the scrapbooking and papercrafts industry. "Scrapbooking is tremendously engaging and there are many entry points, so you don’t have to be an expert to give it a try. Kits and papers designed to look like finished layouts allow a novice to sit down and with little or no instruction and create a great-looking page."
"People tell us all the time that scrapbooking is cheaper than therapy," says Deborah Eilert of BellaScrapbook.com in Derby. "We’ve seen scrapbooking used in a variety of therapeutic settings. People participate to relax, some find it helpful in the grieving process, and others participate as a low-impact activity while undergoing treatment."
Eilert adds, "People scrapbook for many reasons. Initially people turn to scrapbooking to preserve milestones such as a birth or wedding. But, lately, people are just as interested in recording ordinary moments like a toddler with a face covered with spaghetti sauce, or a daily walk on the beach. Most recently we are seeing a lot of interest in creating mini-albums and other projects that are quick and easy to make Another hot trend is making scrapbooks to save family recipes. You can also scrap your home décor. Pages can be turned into shadowboxes or framed art."
Scrapbooking inspiration can be found at local retailers and online; memorymakersmagazine.com offers a special section for new scrapbookers looking to give the craft a try. Mauro adds that most stores present crop parties—marathon events where scrapbookers can enjoy scrapbooking time with like-minded friends. Mauro reports, "People can also find scrapbooking vacations: scrapbooking weekends at a nearby hotel; scrapbooking cruises in the Caribbean; and even papercrafting vacations in Italy!"
Deborah Eilert says anyone interested in scrapbooking can visit www.BellaScrapbook.com and enjoy the easiest way to scrapbook! Download our free software which includes over 1000 ready-made pages to drag and drop your photos into. We print on archival photographic paper in standard scrapbooking sizes, so your pages are album ready!
Check out the numerous blogs and message boards on scrapbooking Web sites, and you’ll be regaled with stories of how scrapbooking offers a creative respite in a stressful world. And, for everyone out there who feels guilty about all those family vacation photos stored away in boxes, scrapbooking is an activity that soothes the guilt as well as the soul.
Learn more about scrapbooking at BellaScrapbook.com. The software is located on your computer so scrapbook anytime with the mess!





For immediate release
12-28-07
BellaScrapbook.com
In the past few years, we’ve learned as a culture to bank and shop online, keep in touch with friends online and view hours of hilarious video on You Tube. Now try doing your favorite hobby, scrapbooking online.
"This is the answer for all busy moms like me. I love to capture memories and scrapbook, but seem to never find the time to pull out all my tools and accomplish something," says Jennifer of Wichita, KS. "Now I can do one page at a time online with no mess and no fuss."
BellaScrapbook.com in Derby is launching a nationwide company that allows you to build your scrapbook pages online quickly, efficiently, and still document your memories on paper. It is so simple to open your folder of photos, use their free software, choose from over 1200 designs and sizes, order and they will ship right to your door.
I love that the upload goes so quickly, only uploading the pictures I use!
"I was getting so behind in my scrapbooks the older my children got. Pulling out all the tools, shopping for more paper, it was taking the fun and enjoyment out of it for me," says Michelle of Seattle, WA, loyal online scrapbooker. "I’ve used online album sites, but I don’t have time to do an entire book at each setting and I like the diversity of page by page scrapbooking."
Bella has incredible high resolution on their final printouts and even color corrects your photos free of charge.
"We have found that women have gotten so busy lately, but still take very seriously the idea of documenting their families, children or their travel adventures. We created a way to do it quickly, without sacrificing the quality, while releasing the guilt of not getting it done," says Debbie Eilert, creator of the BellaScrapbook.com concept.
Printing out page by page still allows for the user to pace themselves, stay within a budget and do one at a time or finish an entire book. Their page sizes also work with standard album sizes, so you can still use all those materials you already have for the album and for additional embellishments.
"What could be easier," says Jill of Atlanta, GA, "I’ll do one gorgeous page in minutes and order three. One for me, one for my mom and mother-in-law for Christmas. Scrapbooking hasn’t been this fun in years."