The idea of throwing a party might leave you with a bad taste in your mouth if last time included 15 screaming 8-year-olds, a pony more stubborn than a donkey, and a clown that showed up two hours late. Don't be discouraged-make your next fiesta-throwing venture a scrapbook party, and you'll soon forget about the mess you had to clean up when your kid stuck his face into the cake you spent all morning baking and decorating. Unless, of course, you took pictures and it is now time to make a scrapbook page! In all seriousness, scrapbooking parties can be a fun way to network with people in your area who enjoy the hobby as much as you do, while learning some new techniques and maybe even winning some cool prizes. It's a great way to relax for a day with friends.

You can plan and throw your own party, but there are many companies that specialize in throwing scrapbook parties. These companies send a representative to your house to do a demonstration and take orders on tools and supplies from the company's catalogue. It works the same way a Mary Kay party works. For a small fee, guests are given all the supplies they need to complete a layout during the day, which they get to take home. The representative will also supply a number of cutting-edge tools, although scrapbookers are invited to bring their own to share as well. At the end of the workshop, you and your guest will have the chance to buy any of the tools or supplies you used, and because you are the person hosting the party, you'll get your order at a discounted price and probably earn free items depending on the sales the representative makes at your party.

Planning one of these scrapbooking events is easy. All you need is a workspace for your guests and a table that your representative can use for demonstrations. Most people hosting the event also provide drinks and finger foods, but remember to keep these items in a separate area to prevent accidents around the crafting space. If you find that your party was so much fun that you want to throw many more, you might consider becoming a representative yourself. It's a great way to earn some extra cash and meet other scrapbookers. Scrapbooking parties are easy to have, and the end of the day will leave you with a sense of accomplishment about the page you completed instead of a messy house and crying birthday child.