Kids scrapping party - the voice of experience!!

[MazdaUK]

OK, last night I did the scrap evening for my DS(7)'s Beaver Lodge (baby Cubs to you). I survived but boy did I need when I got home! I thought I'd shared the lessons learned in case anyone was thinking of doing something similar:

DO:

Use small pages - I used 7 x 7 but 8 x 8 would also be good
Have enough helpers - I had another 4 adults but I was still running around (there were 21 boys between 6 and 8), mainly because the other helpers were not scrappers so I had to show them how to use photo splits. I ended up by tearing some off for each boy, but their stubby little fingers had trouble removing them from the backing!
Have paper pre-cut in a variety of shapes and stick a couple of photo splits on the back ready
If using stickers have a section for each child - they're not good at sharing at this age! (girls or older children might not be so problematical)

DON'T

Expect them to sit quietly and get on with things
Bother with lots of cutting stuff - some shape makers are fine. I also used corner rounders (normal and fancy).
Bother with explaining too much about the importance of using safe products - I just kept it to "don't use ordinary glue"!


I would hesitate about doing it again - may be with smaller numbers, or substantially older children. But they did all complete a page, and some of them really got into selecting paper shapes and arranging their page.

Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[Lisa]

I've done scrapping parties for 4-H Group and Girl Scouts. It's choatic, but fun all the same. Definitely reward yourself after.

 

[MazdaUK]

Still rewarding myself! I also was very disciplined and sorted out the supplies back into their proper places before I relaxed - couldn't leave that paper stash out where DH might see it

 

[mikamah]

I was going to start a friends little girl on scrapping. She is eight, and I figured I'd get her a book, papers, fancy scissors, stickers, and adhesive. I wondered if you have an idea which adhesive would be best for her. I use the 3m roller thing. Thanks.

 

[Olaf]

YOu are a brave woman, Maxda.

 

[btass]

I did the Scrapbooking Achievement with the Tiger Cubs (7 year old boys) last year and this year. One group had 10 boys (5 with special needs), one group had 5 boys. I had a great time at both of them!

I do have to say that I took a very different approach to it though. I told them thier scrapbook is what they want it to be. I showed them one of my scrapbooks that I had done and how I put paper behind some of the pictures to make the picture stick out. I gave them each one sheet of paper and showed them all the colored papers, makers and stickers they could use. Then I let them loose. They had a ball, I had a ball, the parents had a ball and all of the kids left with their own page done and a book with more pages to go home and do there. To be honest, some of thier pages looked not so good but the whole point was for them to do it themselves and learn something that they normally wouldn't do.

 

[MazdaUK]

Exactly! So the pages have fingermarks all over them - no matter! But next time I'd definitely train the helpers.

My DS(7) likes photosplits best - he finds tape runner a bit tricky yet.

 

[aroyer]

My DD (7) loves to scrapbook. She's already finished her WDW album, whereas I have not. She started out using the CM tape runner. It took her a little while to learn it, but she is now a pro!

 

[laura&fam]

Thanks for sharing. I asked my DD7 if she wanted to have a scrapbook birthday party this year, but she said no. It still may be an option another year.

This may be off topic, but at what age do you let kids make their own scrapbooks? My DD7 has made a small album, but I don't like it. It has a ton of stickers, cut outs, etc. and she cropped about every picture. At what point do you decide that it may look crappy, but it's theirs?

 

[rlovew]

If she is having fun with it and not using your only copies of the pictures let her do her own and enjoy it. I like my scrapbooks but that doesn't mean everybody does- we each have our own taste.

Rebecca

 

[btass]

If she is having fun with it and not using your only copies of the pictures let her do her own and enjoy it. I like my scrapbooks but that doesn't mean everybody does- we each have our own taste.

Rebecca

DITTO!!!!

To me, Scrapbooks are a reflection of the person that makes them. It is not for anyone else to like or dislike what I do in my books, they are my books and I enjoy them. (Of course, if I am making a book to give to someone else, I make it in thier taste, not mine.)

That is why I encourage anyone that makes a book, whatever age they may be, to make what they want to make. I do actually remember a mom trying to "take over" a kids page at one meeting and I just kept reminding the kids that it was their page and they could do what they want with it.

 

[MazdaUK]

Agree! DS gets a bit stressed somethimes and says "but I want a picture for every page" or "I'm going to do a whole album for (some trip) " os "but I didn't take those pictures" and I have to strike a balance between what he chooses to scrap and what is possible. He needs to choose a new album and wanst a 12 x 12 this time - could get scary!