Calling all Scrapbookers…Yes, I'm one too!

Besides going to Creative Memories and Stampin’ Up parties, where do Raleigh scrapbookers get their fill? Where else but Archiver’s Scrapbooking Store at Triangle Town Center. It’s such a happenin’ place. I remembered when they first opened I was there as most die hard scrapbookers were. We’d been anticipating their opening day for months.

These days, you’ll still find that Raleigh store very busy, especially on weekends. They offer workshops and FREE …(the best word from a store!) classes in the back. When I went there today, you could make a free card. See what I made below…oh by the way, I cut too much off of the paper with the cupcake before I stuck it in the punch, so this is the second one I did (…nice, you’d never know that if I didn’t tell you):

Archiver’s hasd all kinds of 50% off and clearance sales. Uh-huh, that’s what I’m talking about! You just have to go digging in the bins.

I think I could easily write a book on scrapbooking and my many adventures with the hobby. I guess you could say I’m a scrap-aholic. I do have an entire area in my home sectioned off, to house all my scrapbooking supplies. I also have room to work on my albums. Finding time is the challenge.

But I love going through my stuff and designing each album page. I love my Making Memories supplies the most but I have a very eclectic collection including Jolee’s Boutique, K I Memories, American Crafts, Stampin’ Up, Creative Memories, etc. I don’t have to name them all. You scrapbookers know all the brands. It’s like a cult. But if I absolutely had to come up with one favorite scrapbook item, I think it would be ribbons. I just love them to death- the ribbon textures and colors. I like the cool look of brads too. What’s your favorite?

Archiver's Ribbons by the Yard...I couldn't resist!

Yeah, I even have a sticker machine. I’ve made my own flower stickers with felt and buttons. And I went through a phase of buying and using Quick Kutz die cuts. I must have hundreds of those die cut plates…what was I thinking? These days, I’m into my rubber stamp sets and embossing cards.

I can’t believe all the scrapbooking stuff that has come out, can you? I remember about 10 years ago, Creative Memories parties was the beginning for me. I hosted a few of those parties myself. Acid free and lignin free education was the big thing. And the CM cutting tools came out which made it very easy to cut a perfect circle and oval. Some of you may remember your childhood and high school photos turning yellow. That’s how it all started for me…

Then after awhile of these parties going on (like Tupperware parties), the idea caught on like wild fire. Michael’s started selling all kinds of scrapbook supplies, papers, pens, stickers and other embellishments. I remember Eric and I going out on dates (we weren’t married yet) and after dinner we’d stop off at Michael’s to check out their scrapbook supply section. This was around the time I couldn’t buy enough scrapbook supplies. I can only imagine what Eric used to tell his buddies on Monday morning about his hot date over the weekend. …Yeah, we went to Michael’s and tested out some pens.

And after Michael’s took off, you could buy the scrapbooking stuff everywhere and anywhere including the neighborhood grocery store and online. Me, I still only use Creative Memories albums though. I just like how their albums operate… how you can add pages and I like their very classic uniform covers. I’m a pretty loyal user. I don’t always think new is better. It can be, but now always. I do like the new Martha Stewart stuff though. She actually got into selling scrapbook supplies pretty late in the game, but hey, it’s Martha… she can sell anything anytime and it’ll sell. 

While I don’t think scrapbooking now has slowed down, I think that it has hit a peak and there’s a lot of competition. There are now dozens of scrapbooking magazines on the shelves versus just the original Creative Keepsakes and Memory Makers. You can buy the stuff literally everywhere. And, there’s all kinds of Scrapbooking Conventions on the latest and greatest. That’s where I learned how to use Photoshop Elements to create digital scrapbook pages. I’m on the computer way too much as it is so I discovered I actually like working with album pages in person much better.

Oh, and remember when scrapbook “crops” were big? Are they still big??? I guess I’m just too busy with other things these days to get in on those circles. They used to be (and maybe still are?) the big thing where women get together for a day or two at a time (sometimes weekends) , bring their scrapbook supplies, and work on their scrapbooks non-stop. It’s like a scrapbook marathon. For non-scrapbookers and men who don’t get it, it’s like this: lock those women in a room with scrapbook supplies (and their PJs) – they’ll know what to do!

Oh, and there used to be a great store on Atlantic Avenue that carried everything and all the big scrapbook brands. I miss that store. They closed and a small Leesville Road store closed too. I guess it just wasn’t profitable enough for either of them. I suppose they’d have to sell a lotta fifty cents paper to cover their business expenses.

But last year I was more into my rubber stamps and making cards. It’s a lot of fun and for me, it’s a good way to relax and use up some of my creative energies (besides writing)! I think I might be old school with scrapbooking. For you modern scrapbookers, what are you into?

Whatever it may be, for your paper crafts projects, Archiver’s is really the big supplier store in the Triangle. Even if you’re not a scrapbooker, it’s a neat store to visit. It’s in the outdoor section of Triangle Towne Center, in case you get lost…

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Category: Unique Raleigh Retailers