Scrapbooking

Hello everyone!
 Entry 1 scrap-booking

We are back on campus this semester for more challenges, which will lead to a greater understanding of the world and its occupations.

I will be talking about an activity that I enjoy and the occupational implications of it, mindfulness, ergonomic, affordance and other such aspects.

I first discovered scrapbooking in July 2011. I was visiting one of my colleagues in Tauranga. She invited me to a party where the main attraction was a lady who presented scrapbooking as a business opportunity as well as a relaxing activity. She explained that the purpose of this activity is for people to document their meaningful memories. As described by Slagle (2006), the activity comes under the “big three” (p. 629), as an activity of leisure along with work and self-maintenance. Scrapbooking can be therapeutic and can develop positive thoughts and feelings. It can create ambience in itself. While participating “… we acquire skills,  … competencies, connect with others and our communities, and find purpose… and meaning in life” (Law, 2002, p. 640).

I was really enthusiastic about this activity. However, I did not want commit myself to it for financial purposes, all I wanted was a relaxing way for me to interact with my family and my loved ones and materialise the fun time that we had together.

The first time I tried scrapbooking was at that party. We shared the provided tools (puncher, corner rounder, stickers). Our work was contained in an album, the first page of which was provided to me. I really enjoyed it so I decided to continue. Therefore, I ordered two albums and started scrapbooking. The most precious moment for me was creating a double page scrapbook for my daughter’s birthday.  I had about 500 photos to choose from. It was so hard to choose from the beautiful photographs marking precious moments in my family’s history. It means so much to me going over the fun times we had together and sharing those experiences with my friend and her acquaintances.

I feel that scrapbooking can be used successfully in an OT setting, as it is a fun and (inter)active way of exploring memories. It requires motor skills, process skills and a positive mind. It can be performed by people of a variety of ages, and it provides the person who engages with this activity with the feeling of accomplishment and gives the opportunity to disconnect from the daily routine. It is also a great socialising opportunity and can gradually build people’s skills and competences.