Scrapbooking can be disheartening too
January 14, 2008 by Christine Gooding
Filed under Home & Living
Kristina Contes recently won a national scrapbooking contest but her title got taken away because of a scandal regarding the use of photographs she had not taken herself.
Whenever I think about scrapbooking, it makes me feel warm and tingly inside because of the pleasure I gained out of creating layouts myself and the friendships I’ve nurtured over the years through this wonderful hobby. However, sometime in 2007, a scrapbook scandal broke out that made me think that yes, scrapbooking can be disheartening too. Imagine, a simple mistake can destroy someone’s career? Wow!
Read on why, the full article can be found in The L.A. Times
They called her “labelwhore,” this 28-year-old rising star in the world of scrapbooking, with a silver stud in her lip and a tattoo in Latin on her left forearm: “Art is long, life is short.”
Before the Internet bullies bashed her and judges revoked her title in the scrapbooking Hall of Fame, Kristina Contes basked in a reputation built on making pages dedicated to her designer handbags, her Converse sneakers and the word “dude.” She showcased her avant-garde designs on websites like ScrapInStyleTV.com, traveled the country teaching classes, and turned down offers to go to Paris, London and Norway.
“It’s kind of like being a rock star,” Contes said. “It’s not what you think scrapbooking is.”
A growing legion of 20-something scrapbookers — with Contes as their pinup — discovered one another online and bonded over pages that immortalized Coldplay lyrics and honored the Heineken bottle.
The edgier scrapbookers thought of it as an outlet — much like keeping a diary — in which they expressed political views, decorated pages of their poetry or paid tribute to television shows like “Project Runway,” using torn and faded materials not guaranteed to last long enough for their grandchildren to see.
How petty! Can’t we just share in the joy of the craft (or art)?
I am astounded but not surprised that people can be so ugly. Scrapwork is personal expression.
I am heartened to know that in spite of it all she will contine
I don’t think we can categorize this as a simple mistake. While I agree that people went over the top, preparing for this contest is a huge ordeal. To “accidentally” include a layout that held a picture she didn’t take can not be considered a simple accident- hundreds of other entries did not make that mistake, they carefully checked and rechecked their layouts before sending them in. So, while again I agree that the name calling and vitriol were extreme (to say the least), in the end, she violated the rules of the contest and that’s all there is. What turned this into such a huge nightmare was that CK refused to accept their OWN mistake in not realizing their winner had disqualified herself, and piggishly digging in as if we would all overlook this as mere silliness. In support of all the women who worked very hard on all their layouts and did not accidentally disqualify themselves, the scrapbook community was offended by the CK attitude. The rules were there to give everyone a fair chance, and that’s why it was important to adhere to them, even when it hurt.
I agree. I read a bit about this long ago, and it’s just horrible the drama that goes on in the world and how people react and treat one another.
Hi, I read your post. I am also agree with you.This is horrible, how people react and treat one another.In support of all the women who worked very hard on all their layouts and did not accidentally disqualify themselves.