What’s the latest craze to sweep the Capital?
This week we hit the streets of Abu Dhabi to find out about the scrapbooking phenomenon
Jing’s treasure trove
Abu Dhabi resident and professional scrapbooker Jing van Opstal invites us into her home to see her craft room (pictured above) and our jaw drops in amazement; literally every wall and available surface is filled with scrapbooking materials. Multicoloured ribbon spools, rubber stamps, gemstones, glitter paint, paper flowers, decorative punches, embellishments, embossing, digital cutting machines; you name it and Jing has it.
A large filing cabinet covers one entire wall. “That’s where I keep my scrap paper which I file according to colour,” she says before removing one of many folders lining the bottom shelf. “The files contain different types of stamps. Just colour in the design with paints, colouring pencils or Copic Markers.” The folders are bulging with images of cute cartoon-like children, butterflies, animals, flowers and hundreds of different shapes and patterns.
It goes without saying that Jing is passionate about scrapbooking, so much so that she has turned her hobby into a part-time career. She is the regional instructor for Copic Markers Middle East (high quality markers). Jing attends the twice-yearly Scrapbooking Convention in America so she is always up-to-date on current paper trends and new techniques. She also teaches throughout the GCC. “I teach mixed media and traditional scrapbooking – I prefer to show people how to use the products more than how to actually scrapbook, because people have their own individual style and taste when it comes to design,” she says.
Before we met Jing we thought scrapbooking involved sticking photos, concert tickets or menus into a book. “There’s no right or wrong way to do it – some people like to glue things into a book, personally I enjoy creating 3D framed pictures and models,” she says as she hands us a handmade 3D hot pink stiletto that can be used as a party invite.
Jing runs scrapbooking classes at L’Atelier des Arts, for more information contact: 02 639 7145. To see a sample
of Jing’s creations visit: www.jingvanopstal.com/blog
A hive of activity
Abu Dhabi Paper Crafts online is a, ‘Virtual meeting place for the paper crafting community in Abu Dhabi and the UAE’. Susan Kaiser, who also runs a weekly meetup group for the Capital’s creative types, set it up.
“There’s quite a few of us scrapbookers in Abu Dhabi who meet regularly, it reminds me a bit of the quilting bees that took place years ago; we get together, chat and bounce ideas off each other while we work,” she says.
Susan was first introduced to scrapbooking by a neighbour in 2005 and was immediately hooked. “So far I have scrapbooked my wedding, my family life and I’m currently working on one that chronicles my husband’s career. I also enjoy making greeting cards,” she says.
And the advantages of scrapbooking? “One component is journaling or adding a short written description. When you look at a picture you need a narrator to explain the photo, a scrapbook tells more of a story than a photo album.”
To join Susan’s meetup group, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.abudhabipapercrafts.com
Catriona Doherty
