Some Paper Crafting Club members display their work.
Jaine Toth
We’ve started a new year. Did you make resolutions? Most people make ones for improving their physical health, with great intentions to exercise and eat a healthier diet. But how many of you think about your inner health? Hobbies, especially ones where you tap into your creativity, are excellent ways to enhance your emotional well-being.
At the Creative Arts Center, there are a variety of opportunities. The Paper Crafting Club invites you to come check out our activities. Whether it is finding beautiful ways to display your photos and other memorabilia in a scrapbook that you can turn to again and again to relive special events, or card making where you can delight others with handmade greeting cards that they will treasure in a way that just can’t happen with store-bought cards, this is a fun and fulfilling hobby. In addition to scrapbooks and cards, we’ve crafted gift boxes, desk calendars, and notepads that all make wonderful gifts.
If you don’t have a lot of people to send cards to, you can still have fun making them for our charitable projects. We’ve given cards of appreciation to first responders, nurses in the COVID units, veterans, and food bank volunteers. We’ve donated cards to senior living facilities that the staff can give to residents and for residents to use to send to their loved ones. We’ve even made cards for the local animal shelter to give to folks adopting their “furever” pets.
Classes are held at least once a month to teach different techniques, such as embossing, stenciling, making cards out of fancy napkins, and different folding styles. There are occasional classes for those new to scrapbooking. We also hold an annual Crop ‘til You Drop event where for two full days (this year, March 17 and 18) you reserve a table, bring all your materials, and from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. you can work on your projects and leave everything set out as you come and go as needed. It’s a great opportunity to get a lot of work accomplished.
On top of all the creative work, the camaraderie among the members makes the time all the more special. It’s a rare day that there isn’t a lot of laughter, and we all know that laughter is good for the soul! Members are always ready to help out when someone is trying something new or has questions about design, color, or other aspects of the project at hand.
Dues are $20 for the year, which includes use of all the equipment and supplies in the cabinet. Your first visit is free. Then you can decide if this is the right group for you to join. We meet Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. Come check us out! You’ll be welcomed with smiles—even if you can’t see them through our masks, you’ll see it in our eyes!