Profile of the Scrapbook Lady

Beginning with term two and continuing throughout the remainder of 2006, Wednesday mornings in the VAD Room at the Penrith School of Arts in Castlereagh Street have seen some unusual practices.

After already joining U3A as a student, Joan Manna was encouraged to share her scrap booking skills and knowledge with others – as a tutor.

At the first lesson, Joan's class members were introduced to the contents of the many drawers in their tutor's magic tool box. Initial surprise at some items was quickly overtaken by amazement at how everyday objects in our lives can find additional uses. Items as diverse as a teaspoon, a toothbrush, a toothpick, a comb, latex makeup (foundation) wedges, cotton buds, a stapler, paper clips, string, sandpaper, hammer, paint edger replacement pads, beer bottle caps, aluminium foil, cling wrap, serviettes, paper doilies, baby wipes and more were revealed. All these are items that are normally found at home in kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, even garage workshops. They can save crafters from the need to purchase unnecessary specific-use machines or tools to effect simple, yet unusual techniques in their creations.

Students at Joan's scrap booking class are encouraged to think differently about the way they view objects in everyday life and to share those thoughts with class members in a regular "What on Earth….." segment:

Students who admitted to hoarding some garage sale "treasures", are now delighted to learn that their true value is much more than the $2 investment.

Joan openly admits, "I think many of us can put up our hand and claim ownership of such a trait, which I prefer to label as an investment in an active retirement."

Strange as all this may seem, there is a plan. That plan is to learn a range of techniques, develop ideas, and organise the family's memories so they can be shared now as well as in the future. And it's all in a fun and friendly hands on environment!

Scrap booking is as diverse as the contents of Joan's magic tool box. It is a creative activity to preserve photographs, images, memorabilia and ephemera, to tell it all as it was through journalling, and then, to enhance the story with embellishments.

As with many things in life, it is necessary to ascertain the five "W's": who, when, where, what and why. And so sometimes a little research is required before preserving a particular memory.

And this recording of a life lived is achieved through scrap booking, to create an everlasting record of which to be proud.

Joan explains, "Scrap booking is truly a consolidation of arts, crafts, management and imagination.

"The latter, is definitely a feature I vehemently claim to lack.

"But then, I am no artist either. Yet artists, I understand, employ a number of techniques that I have introduced into scrapping. So, art could be said to be a universal language.

"Having a management background, I guess I'm more methodical. Planning and organisation makes everything so much easier and this is what I try to impart to each class."

Joan's students are always eager to learn a number of new skills each week. Given identical materials, each class member creates their own "page" which ultimately is "exactly different" to all others.

More complex techniques are soon mastered under tutor guidance and supported by detailed written instructions. From time to time Joan introduces, by demonstration, an additional paper craft or challenge she has met.

Joan herself is in awe of the masterpieces produced by her students in preserving their families' memories for generations to follow as they go to work, armed with their new-found knowledge and the application of various techniques,

Although her personal A–Z index cards (listing techniques that can be employed) are almost full, this does not stop her from experimenting further, keeping her mind forever active – just as U3A recommends.

If you have any other questions about Scrapbooking you can get Joan's phone number from U3A's Penrith office by CLICKING HERE.