Scrappy trends — New ways to put your stamp on scrapbooking

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Some people do it for the artistic expression. Some see it as a way to preserve memories. Others like the social aspect. Some think it is just fun. Some do it for all these reasons and more.

But whatever the incentive, the bottom line is that lots and lots of people are scrapbooking. And those people are always looking for new ways to do it.

At the recent Craft & Hobby Show held in Anaheim, Calif., and sponsored by the Craft & Hobby Association, more than 300 scrapbooking companies showed off their newest wares. Scrapbooking accounts for a huge section of the industry. With annual sales of $2.59 million last year, representing a 4.3 percent increase over 2006, it ranks No. 1 in sales. Second place is art and drawing, recording $1.94 million in sales in 2007.

A CHA survey also projects an increase for 2008 of 2.5 million households who say they plan to do this craft during the upcoming year.

Many of the companies involved in scrapbooking are based in Utah, but it has also gone global, with companies from Japan, England, Australia, Nepal and other corners of the world now offering products.

There was something new at every booth. But these are some of the things that stood out:

Individuality. There is truly something in this industry for everyone. Want it quick and simple? You can find it. Want it elaborate and detailed? That's there, too.

There are also increasing ways to personalize your books. One of the fun new additions we found comes from My Pages Talk, based in Lehi. It is a 30-second voice recorder that is about 1/4-inch thick and comes with an acid-free paper cover that can be embellished or decorated however you like. There's a slide-out battery tray and batteries and enable/disable switch to protect the recording and flash memory that store the message forever.

Bright, bold and edgy. Maybe because it was the winter show, or maybe because there's so much dark and dreary news these days, but it seems like bright is better.

"Bright colors are definitely in," said Erik Haneberg of Utah-based Scribble Scrabble. Among its new offerings: Felicity's Collection, paper die-cuts and cutouts featuring Crimson Daisies and Mini Gumpdrops in "vibrant colors to dazzle the eyes."

Bright is beautiful, echoed Lisa Parken of Crate Paper, in Spanish Fork. "We have four new collections all done in hot pink and purple and other bright colors."

And BamPop, from Orem, offers exactly what its name implies: paper with bright graphics and cool, hip designs. Owner and designer J.J. Harrison has a background in animation, he explained. All his designs are hand-drawn and tend to be "more illustrative. They appeal to hip young people with kids."