The Best of British Scrapbooking & Cardmaking

Don't get me started on the competitive nature that has developed in scrapbooking. What began as your family hobby became your talent and your passion -- it's natural to want to share that with the world. So you enter a few of your favourite pages in contests and wait by the phone. And wait. And wait.

I can't count how many times I've heard this story and it gets to me each time. Why exactly has a contest altered your world? Scrappers tell me how they couldn't make a page for months from the frustration they experienced. Yet somehow at the very same time, those who sponsor contests are hoping the challenge will inspire you and bring out all those good ideas you were saving for a special page. Where, exactly, did it all go horrible wrong?

Before entering a contest, check your philosophy. Are you entering to win? Or are you entering to challenge yourself? Maybe to share a piece of work that already makes you proud. Think of it this way: you decide to buy a lottery ticket. When the numbers are called, you don't win. Will you call in sick to work the next day, beside yourself in the tragedy? Of course not. In fact, sooner or later, you'll probably try again. That's the contest attitude. Develop it, or face the dangers of becoming emotionally controlled by a dozen factors that remain out of your control. Then do everything you can with what's in your control.

Follow the rules.
Read the fine print and follow it to the letter. Post your entry in plenty of time as to not worry needlessly that all your hard work could arrive too late. Include any information requested in the rules -- you're certainly not going to win if you're disqualified for not listing a daytime phone number or your full name. Even if it's not in the rules, don't enter the same layout in more than one contest. Win both and you'll regret it.

Color copy with a pro.
You've already double checked and triple checked the rules, so you know how many pages to submit and what size to make the required entry copies. Before shelling out for those full-color reproductions, take the time to make sure everything on your page is securely positioned exactly where you want it. Describe your photocopy requirements clearly and make sure you get the colour as true as possible. Specialist copy stores often have large bed scanners that will eliminate many of your 12x12 headaches. Above all, work with your photocopy expert. The end result will be a copy that gives the judges an accurate representation -- you certainly won't score points for making the judging panel squint at a pixilated image or a shadowed, poorly stitched scan. Clarity should always be your priority.

Treat your entry like a layout.
Remember the 4th grade science fair? Hypothesis, procedure and findings presented on a tri-fold piece of foam-core board that Mum had to buy just for the occasion. Did the blue ribbon go to a kid who managed to scrawl a few notes on an old cardboard box? I didn't think so. No matter how innovative your layouts, poor presentation makes a poor impression. Compile your entry on cardstock. Mat your colour copies and attach supply lists in a tidy, streamlined fashion. If your entry fills multiple pages, add a simple binding so there's no chance your pages could be accidentally separated. There's no need to decorate your entry (as it could take the focus away from those pages!), but consider adding a cover to your entry with the name of the contest and the requested personal details. When the judges open to the first page of layouts, they'll be hoping for the wow factor. Give it to them! Place your strongest layouts at the beginning and end of your entry to ensure the judges remember your work.

Mind the details.
Most contests require supply lists with each layout. And most judges can correctly identify the manufacturer of nearly every scrapbook supply in existence. Need I say how silly you could look if you rush your supply list and, as a result, get it wrong? And it gets worse: entering a product-specific contest means you need to feature that product. Make sure you have indeed used the correct product! There is nothing worse than mislabeling a product that was actually made by the competition. In addition to accuracy, make sure your supply list is complete and typed. Use this space to point out your innovative new technique or any detail that looks fabulous "in real life". Consider zoomed detail shots to show some small spectaculars, like subtle stitching, in all their glory. Finally, be sure to type your contact details. Sign your signature as your finishing touch.

Once you have done your best with your entry and posted it (in a sturdy envelope, of course) there is no point in waiting around in anticipation. Step away from the photocopies. Get back to your real life, your real family, even your real scrapping. Work with some photos that mean more to you than they ever will to some silly judging panel. Get back to the real you. You never know, the phone might ring. It might be your daughter needing to be picked up at school. Your mother inviting you over for Sunday dinner. An old friend just wanting to catch up.

Then if you do get that call from a judge or an editor it will be that much sweeter. Your energy will surge and you'll spend all afternoon calling your nearest and dearest to give them the news.

Beyond all this, there is only one thing I can suggest if you're determined to master the competition conundrum. Develop a thick skin. You will not always win. It's that simple. Sometimes you will. That part is great. Get used to criticism by showing your work to a few honest friends you can trust. Ask non-scrapbookers to look at your work, then consider working on improvements in future layouts rather than revising your current pages. That way you'll continue to scrapbook for yourself while keeping your competitive edge on the back burner.

Above all, remember why you scrapbook in the first place. When you first started your search for the acid-free label it had nothing to do with any contest. If you create pages that showcase your family's story, you don't need validation from a judging panel. You're already a winner.

Don't let yourself down by letting your efforts slip once you're a winner. Continuing that good impression could be the key to continuing publication or design team work. You need to act promptly. Make your work a breeze to publish with this checklist:

1. Label your pages clearly -- type your supply lists, your personal contact details and the title of the layout and affix to the back of each page. Make 'left' and 'right' clear on the back of any two page spreads.
2. Back your layout on sturdy cardstock. Never send in a page on thin paper -- it will crease easily and doesn't photograph well. Would you believe some layouts have to be ironed in the publishing process? Make sure your page stands up for itself.
3. Make everything extra secure. Your layout needs to survive travelling by post and being handled by photographers and publishing assistants. Make sure your handcrafted details are well and truly stuck!
4. Make sure your layout is protected but practical -- if you had difficulty putting that lumpy-bumpy page in the page protector, how do you think it will hold up after that process has been repeated a few times? If your page doesn't fit easily in the protector, opt for a thick zip-lock bag. Always make sure each page has its own page protector. Sometimes your layouts will need to be in more than one place -- if they all have their own page protector, this is considerably less of a worry.
5. Pack your layouts with care. Always send layouts in a box - never an envelope. Make sure your box is sturdy and a bit oversized to handle your layouts without pressure. Packing peanuts will minimise any postal fall out.
6. Address clearly. Make sure your parcel is correctly addressed and labelled with your return address. Accurate postage is the final step.

Remember, communication goes a long way. Questions and stumbling blocks should be addressed to your editor or sponsor as soon as they occur.