Where Are the Men?
Bringing More Guys Into the Scrapbooking World
Earlier this month, I wrote about the results of a scrapbooking survey I ran. Nearly every response came from a woman over the age of 55. That wasn’t surprising—but it did get me thinking.
Scrapbooking, for all its creativity, emotional depth, and personal storytelling, is still widely seen as a women’s hobby. And yet… as a guy who loves this craft, I can tell you firsthand—it doesn’t have to be.
So here’s a question worth asking out loud:
Why aren’t more men scrapbooking?
And maybe more importantly—how do we change that?
🧱 First, Let’s Name the Wall
Before we talk about solutions, let’s acknowledge the cultural baggage. A few things keep men from even considering scrapbooking:
- Stereotypes: It’s still largely seen as soft, sentimental, or “not masculine.”
- Lack of exposure: Most guys didn’t grow up seeing dads or uncles with a paper trimmer.
- Marketing: Walk into any craft store, and 90% of the imagery targets women.
- Fear of not fitting in: It’s hard to walk into a crop or join a Facebook group when you’re the only man in the room.
So it’s no wonder a lot of guys write off the idea before they’ve even tried it.
But that’s a loss—for them, and for the craft. Because if scrapbooking is really about preserving what matters, then everybody has a place in it.
🔍 What Scrapbooking Offers Men
Let’s flip the script. Here’s what scrapbooking can be for men, if we let it:
- A way to document a life well-lived—trips, milestones, families, passions.
- A creative outlet that doesn’t require fancy tools or an art degree.
- A way to process memories and stories—something many men don’t always have healthy space for.
- A chance to build something by hand—using tools, structure, layering, and design.
If a guy enjoys woodworking, journaling, graphic design, photography, storytelling, or even just making things look good—he might enjoy scrapbooking more than he expects.
👨👦 So How Do We Bring More Men In?
1. Start with content, not products
Invite guys into the story first. That road trip with your buddies? The time you built your first car? That fishing trip with Dad? That’s the story. The page is just the medium.
2. Introduce the tools like gear
Guys love gear—we just call it “equipment.” Show them paper trimmers, die cutters, layering techniques, and adhesive options, and it becomes less about “crafts” and more about “tools that make stuff look good.”
3. Ditch the pastels
Let’s be honest—most scrapbooking products lean heavily feminine. Start by building pages that feel comfortable: woodgrains, blacks and grays, travel themes, bold fonts, and clean lines. There’s room for a masculine design aesthetic in this hobby, and we need more of it.
4. Host a no-judgment intro
Whether it’s a casual group night, a father-son project, or a Zoom hangout, offer a low-pressure space for guys to try scrapbooking without the fear of standing out. One layout. One memory. One finished product.
5. Highlight male scrapbookers
Representation matters. The more we feature male voices and pages online, the easier it becomes for other guys to picture themselves doing it too. Start small: one blog, one Instagram post, one video. Let people know we’re here.
🗣 Why I Scrapbook
I scrapbook because it lets me preserve the things that matter—my travels, my family, the parts of life I don’t want to forget. It gives me a creative outlet that’s tactile, visual, and rooted in memory.
I do it because it slows me down. Because it reminds me to notice the good stuff. Because every once in a while, I flip through an old album and feel something solid, something earned.
There’s nothing feminine or masculine about that—it’s just human.
💡 A Challenge
If you’re a guy reading this, consider this your invitation.
If you’re someone who wants to invite a man into this craft, consider this your toolkit.
Start with one page.
One photo.
One story that deserves to be told.
You never know what might happen.
Have thoughts on how to bring more men into scrapbooking? Drop them in the comments. Let’s keep the conversation going—because this craft is better when everyone has a seat at the table.
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