SCRAPBOOK HQ, which operated in Sutherland for five years, has shut shop and gone online.

Owners Jenny Willett and Kate Ramsey said it was a business decision resulting from economic conditions. But very few scrapbookers would be disadvantaged, because most were computer-savvy and already did much of their hobby online.

Ms Willett said there was a huge community of on-line scrapbookers accessing blogs and websites and doing their supplies shopping from home, which she said was usually a cheaper option.

Lots of people still prefer the old method of cutting and pasting to decorate their albums, but new methods (digital and hybrid scrapbooking, eg) are emerging.

In the digital process photos were scanned and decorated on the computer and stored in a disc rather than album.

The hybrid way involved computer scanning and manual embellishment.

Ms Willett and Ms Ramsey will sell the usual products such as papers, card stock, ribbons, flowers and embellishments online with free delivery in the Suthe rland Shire and St George areas with purchases over a certain sum.

For those who like the social aspect of scrapbooking, Ms Willett and Ms Ramsey will continue with their twice yearly trips away.

For more information and to sign up for a newsletter: www.scrapbookhq.com.au.