For months I have been searching for a new challenge, be it in the form of full time employment, an entrepreneurial start up business or a charity.
After a few twists and desperate turns and going down the odd dead-end street, I have finally arrived at a decision.
My newest adventure combines three things I love. Scrapbooking. Children. Sharing my knowledge and helping others.
It all started with my little 9 year old friend Kerin, taking an interest in my scrapbooking hobby. When she visits our home, she loves to look at my albums and is in awe of all my tools and what they can create using paper, some glue and a bit of imagination.
For her birthday last year I made up a starter pack for her and she sent me gorgeous photographs of her own layouts that she has created.
A few weeks ago, I had a chat with her Mommy and I realised that no-one is taking an active interest in teaching young people the wonderful art of Scrapbooking.
I set out to put a concept together, sourced the best suppliers and am now ready to start teaching Gruvy Kids how to capture their photographs and memories, to look differently at special occasions, memorising as much as they can, so that later it could all be captured with paper.
Scrapbooking enhances the fine motor skills - co-ordination of small muscle movements which occur in body parts such as the fingers, usually in co-ordination with the eyes.
Each layout requires a bit of journalling - short written description of the photographs being "scrapped". With this I hope to re-ignite poetry and short story writing in young minds, remembering everything that made that day, holiday or party great.
I teach small fingers to cut accurately with scissors and craft knives, they experience textures and colours, all of which stimulates the left brain functions. I teach them to plan and work in an orderly manner and we go as far as planning the photographs and editing before printing.
Once you are a scrapper you can use your craft to make your own special occasion cards, and sometimes the card means more than the gift if it's personalised and made with love.
My classes are based in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, I prefer to have a minimum of 10 students per session and can accommodate up to 40 students. A session can be customised to the age group, for example shorter classes for the younger groups and less detailed layouts.
Each student is provided with a kit at each lesson, and each lesson we incorporate a new technique. I also supply the starter kits - basic cutting mats, craft knives, glue - for those students starting from scratch.
For now I am flexible and will travel to schools offering my program as part of their extramural/after care activity.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am hoping to have news of the first classes published here soon.
Watch this space!
