On any day, a group of people can be found on the island with paper shapers in hand creating a work of heart. Many people would assume that scrapbooking is a waste of time, money and perfectly good trees; so what’s all the scrap about?

“When we die, our kids will not fight over the house or the car. They will fight over the scrapbooks,” said Wendy Kinley, a passionate scrapbooker in Oak Harbor. “It’s the who, when, where, why, and how of our family history. It’s like creative journalism,” her husband Scott Kinley said.

According to the Hobby Industry Association, the craft of placing photos in an album with a decorative twist has been around since the late 1970s. In 30-plus years, scrapbooking has changed. No longer are scrapbooks simply photos on pages of colored paper.

Lisa Edwards, a navy wife originally from Austin, Texas, has been scrapbooking for more than nine years. “When I started scrapbooking, ‘Close to My Heart’ stamp company sold decorative papers and good photo tapes to hold my photos in place on the page. The pages were boring. There was no such thing as embellishments. It also wasn’t a concern to make sure the paper was acid-free,” said Edwards. Later, scrapbook supply manufacturers realized that acid-free paper, stickers and pens would preserve photos for many years.

Scrapbookers now use many items to form the perfect page. Eyelets — colored metal circles — and nailheads can surround photos. Words or shapes can be formed from colored wire. Fibers, charms, beads, paper tags with metal rims, chalks, pens with acid-free ink and stickers can add finishing touches to a project.

Along with photos and embellishments, journaling boxes with text can be placed on the page to tell the story.

“Scrapbooking is the modern version of traditional journaling. People from the olden times kept a journal and sent them to one another documenting the events of the day. When I put journaling in my scrapbook, someone else looking at the pages will get an inside perception of what I was thinking and feeling about the photos,” said Kim Martin, an avid scrapper on Whidby Island.

Computers can also be used in many ways on any scrapbooking project. Kinley has been using her computer to scrapbook. “If you don’t like to journal because of your handwriting, there are many free typefaces on the Internet that can be downloaded,” said Kinley.

Kinley selects a suitable typeface to create titles which she places on the page. Kinley said her digital camera saves money on photo processing. She edits photos on her computer and prints copies on acid-free paper.

After she finishes a page, Kinley scans the page into her computer.

“In case of a major natural disaster, I still have my pages on a disc,” said Kinley.

For newcomers to scrapping, many techniques may seem difficult. Scrapbooking magazines offer simple page design ideas. Creative Memories representative Connie Punch holds a scrapbooking class twice a month in Oak Harbor. “Many of the ladies share ideas. People learn different techniques when they get together in groups,” said Punch.

People often get together socially to scrapbook and share ideas and supplies. This allows beginners to get ideas and learn techniques from more experienced scrappers. “It’s good clean fun. It’s a relaxing social event, and we are leaving a legacy to our children at the same time,” said Lisa Edwards.

Many scrappers become the family historian. “My husband likes my scrapbooking habit, because it gets the pictures out of boxes and into something the children will cherish after we are gone,” Jen Sweet, Stampin’ Up consultant. “I scrapbook as a way of relaxing; and at the same time, I create keepsakes for the children,” said Beth Koeller, of Oak Harbor.

“A friend once told me that there is a fine line between a hobby and a mental illness. I have an entire walk-in closet that stores strictly my scrapbooking supplies. The best advice anyone ever gave me about scrapbooking was to start out slow to built my supplies,” said Edwards. Even though there are negative aspects, there are those that still support the hobby while not being scrapbookers themselves.

“I support Beth’s interest in scrapbooking, because I know she enjoys the activity as well as the camaraderie,” said Bryon Koeller.