Scrap It!

by Jaclyn Venter (Metz Press, R158)

I have to confess to being a little envious of my friend who has already staked her claim on this book once it’s been reviewed.

At any rate, if I’m desperate for a couple of bright ideas on home decor bits ’n’ bobs or gift ideas, I know she lives close enough for me to able to pop over and have a gander at it.

Author Jaclyn Venter teaches Fiskars (scrapping tool brand) scrapbooking classes and has been featured on DStv’s Home channel. She is a scrapbooking fundi who’s possibly a little too obsessive about her hobby.

Judging from the photographs in her book, it appears her home is a “scrapheap” filled to bursting with personalised items made from anything from recycled tins and jars to frames, clipboards, envelopes, keyholders and coat-hangers, bags, printer’s trays, magnets, lamps and baking tins and trays.

Apparently scrapbooking techniques can be applied to virtually any everyday item, and while I may not be totally sold on the “trendsetting” idea of a photo necklace or a coffee mug personalised with photographs of my beloved and me sipping from the same cup, the idea is to use Venter’s ideas not as a template, but as inspiration for your own crafty projects.

Spending hours on scrapbook pages only to have to unearth them from albums to show them off strikes me as a waste of energy, so being able to display your skills and embellishments on handy items is an appealing concept.

While the art of scrapbooking may seem a little too sentimental for some, your practical take on these projects needn’t look like throwbacks from the ’80s Biggie Best era. From vintage to whimsical and sophisticated, there are many ideas on how to show off your favourite photographs – and in this age of cellphone cameras, who doesn’t have plenty of those lying about?

Scrap It! has clear step-by- step instructions and photographs to show you some of the tricks, and there is even a handy guide which introduces you to some of the supplies and tools of the trade. – Janine Magree