Where Are the Younger Scrapbookers?
A Reflection on Age, Tradition, and Passing the Craft Down
Not long ago, I published a deep dive into the results of a scrapbooking survey I ran this spring. You can check out that original post here, but the short version is this: the people who responded were overwhelmingly experienced, passionate, and—let’s be honest—aging.
Most were women over 55, and every single one had been scrapbooking for more than 15 years. It was a great reminder of the depth and dedication in the scrapbooking community. But it also raised a big question for me:
Where are the younger scrapbookers?
Is this craft we love quietly becoming a legacy hobby? Or is there still room to bring in a new generation?
I don’t think the answers are simple. But I do think it’s worth talking about—especially if we want scrapbooking to remain a living tradition, not a nostalgic one.
🧓 The Current State: Seasoned, Skilled, and Settled
Right now, scrapbooking is dominated by people who have been doing it a long time. That makes sense. They’ve had time to build up a stash. They’ve been through the days of Creative Memories, Archiver’s, and peak Michaels aisles. They’ve made albums of their kids, their vacations, their family trees.
But what happens when these memory-keepers stop scrapping? When eyesight gets harder or life slows down? What will become of the supply lines, the community groups, the inspiration channels?
We’ve got momentum, but we may not have sustainability—unless we start pulling in new blood.
🧒 Why Aren’t Younger People Scrapbooking?
There’s no single answer, but here are a few likely factors:
- Digital convenience: Younger generations grew up in the cloud. Their memories live on phones, Instagram, or Google Photos.
- Space and budget: Traditional scrapbooking takes room and money—two things many younger adults don’t have a lot of.
- Lack of visibility: Walk through most craft stores and you’ll see cardmaking, resin, and Cricut vinyl projects—but not much traditional scrapbooking.
- Speed of life: Between work, side gigs, and nonstop social media, younger adults may not feel like they can sit down for a three-hour crafting session.
But here’s the thing—none of those are deal-breakers. They’re just clues for how we might reintroduce scrapbooking in a way that works for them.
🔥 How Do We Inspire a New Generation?
If we want this craft to keep going, we need to treat it not just as a hobby, but as a tradition worth passing on. Here are a few practical ideas:
1. Meet them where they are—online
YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels are where younger people learn and discover hobbies. We need more scrapbooking content in those spaces. Short-form process videos. “Before and after” spreads. Mini-album walkthroughs. Quick journaling tips. Scrapbooking doesn’t need to compete with trends—it can be one.
2. Focus on storytelling, not just supplies
Younger scrapbookers may not be impressed by a closet full of embellishments—but they might connect with the emotional power of preserving a story. Emphasize why we scrapbook, not just how. Talk about documenting breakups, travel, first jobs, pet adoptions. Make it personal and real.
3. Promote compact formats
Big albums can feel intimidating. But what about 6×8 albums? Traveler’s notebooks? Pocket pages? Zines? These smaller formats are more approachable, less expensive, and easier to finish.
4. Host cross-generational challenges
Invite your kids, nieces, nephews—or even local teens—to join a one-page challenge. Keep it simple: one story, one photo, one hour. Let them experience the satisfaction of completing a page. That’s often all it takes to catch the bug.
5. Teach the value of unplugged creativity
There’s something powerful about stepping away from screens and working with your hands. Scrapbooking can be a form of self-care, mindfulness, even therapy. That message resonates—especially with people dealing with burnout, anxiety, or decision fatigue.
💬 A Personal Take
I didn’t grow up scrapbooking. I came into it later, and most of the time I am the only guy in the room. But once I started, I saw how meaningful it could be—not just to create something cool, but to honor the moments that make up a life.
That’s what I want to pass on—not just the pages, but the perspective.
So yes, the survey told me scrapbookers are aging. But it also reminded me how much wisdom and heart this community holds. It’s not too late to invite new people in. In fact, it might be the most important thing we can do.
Let’s Keep It Going
If you’re reading this and you’ve got a younger person in your life—consider giving them a blank album and a glue stick. Or send them a TikTok of someone layering a page with moody music in the background. Invite them to one layout. One memory.
It could be the start of something bigger than you think.
Let’s not just preserve our memories. Let’s preserve the craft itself.
What do you think? What’s worked for you in bringing younger scrapbookers into the fold? Let’s start that conversation below.
Categories: Articles
MASCrapping 