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A Scrapbooking Tea
It is so much fun to get together with friends and share scrapbooking ideas. So I thought, why not get together for a Scrapbooking Tea Party! Scrap booking is not a new phenomenon. Once called the “Common Place Book”, it was used to store personal information. It usually boasted a prominent place next to the family Bible in the drawing-room.
The Victorians were in the mind set that nothing went to waste. Scrapes of decorative papers, pictures, lithographs, old greeting cards, tickets, calling cards, die-cuts, foils, news articles, recipes, feathers, tinsel, and the like were preserved and used in scrapping. Some made sketches, water colors, poems and quotations to embellish their pages.
Women were encouraged to make scrap-books and to incorporate this activity as a family project. Some ladies magazines in the 1800’s supported this idea, even to suggest a list of items they might keep on hand for such an activity. These treasures were used as illustrations to teach children at home and in Sunday school lessons. There were also friendship albums, many times assembled to give as a gift.
Early albums were compiled mainly by young ladies of some social standing. Children’s scrap books were seen as milestones in their growth and educational progress, as they matured and took on new interests and their education increased, it was reflected in their scrapping, therefore reflected their progress.
Adults enjoyed scrapping as a craft project, a hobby, a way to preserve photos and letters, to document family history, holidays or a special occasion or event.
Some arranged their scrap books under separate categories or composed a small library of scrap books with specific topics, such as: history, social, child, holidays, science, etc. But for the most part, the average Victorian woman was not so particular. She simply arranged her “memories” and “milestone” with love, attention and preservation in a lovely adorned album for her family to share and treasure.
Decorative albums were used to collect these treasures. The album covering was an elaborate embossed binding. In the 1800’s some albums were of high quality, crafted with elaborate tooled leather covers with engraved brass locks and clasps. Some contained pages embossed with prints of florals and birds. The paper used was of high quality for mounting prints, lithographs and thicker paper used for drawings and water colors.
Other pages had blank spaces in different shapes of ovals, circles, triangles or squares where pictures or scraps could be mounted. Today this craft is outrageously popular. Walk into any craft store and you will find several isles packed with everything you can think of to create a beautiful album. I still like to use old cards, memorabilia of events or places I’ve been to do my scrap booking. What we have learned, is to make sure what you use is ‘acid free’ so it will not destroy the pictures you use.
To get ready for your Scrapbooking Tea Party collect all your scrapping papers, cutters, pictures, etc. You may want to catagorize them. When you send your invitations let everyone know that this will be a Scrapbooking tea party and to bring all their scrapbooking items they want to use with them.
"What Shall I Serve?"
Scrapbooking is a busy and time consuming project so keep the Tea Menu simple. Why not a Dessert Tea? Bake a special cake and display it on a pedestal cake plate. Cookies and desserts in individual stemmed glass ware or on dessert plates with paper doilies would make a lovely display.
Limit your choices of teas to one or two and serve them in a tea pot with a tea cozy so it will stay warm longer and you will have more time to enjoy scrapping too. Or supply hot water and offer a variety of teas in teabag form. The pyramid tea bags offer good quality. Setting the Table: Serve Buffet Style so you may use your table as the work area for your scrapbooking. Place a table runner on the buffet. Place the tea service at one end with tea cups, saucers, and spoons. On the other end place dessert plates, forks, napkins and desserts in the center. If space is limited use three tiered servers. Also using pedestal cake plates/servers frees up space so you can place a tray or plate close under it.
Enjoy and have fun!
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Collecting mementos was popular before the 18th century. And scrap-booking has been a popular pastime since the 19th century, especially for women and children. The word “scrap book” was first used and printed in 1854.
History reveals that even Mark Twain was a serious scrapper. He sold his books through Montgomery Ward.
Or Just Tea & Scones? Display several types of scones on a three tiered server. Don't forget the Devonshire cream and several flavors of preserves.
