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Scrapbooking Craft Retreats.
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Scrapbooking Craft Retreats.
Every now and then, someone walks into Sensational Crafts with a project that reminds us why we love what we do. A few weeks ago, Tim stepped through the door with a quiet smile and a simple request.
“I want to make something special for my wife for our 10th anniversary.”
He didn’t want something store-bought or generic. He wanted something made with his own hands, something personal and meaningful. Yvonne showed him the basic structure of a handmade album, the foundation of how pages and flaps come together, and she explained that he had two options. She could make it for him, or he could make it himself.
Tim chose to make it himself.
For the next month and a half, every lunch break, Tim walked around the corner from his job at Council, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and then spent an hour at our craft tables. He began building his album from scratch, as if he had been crafting for years.
He brought a little notepad filled with dates, page ideas and themes. The first page would be their wedding, followed by special memories, family moments and little snapshots of the life they built together.
Some days he settled in quietly and got straight to work. On other days, he chatted with the ladies who popped in. They adored him, encouraged him, commented on his progress, and loved seeing what he had created since the day before. He quickly became one of our lunchtime regulars.
At the beginning he was learning everything from scratch, from cutters to scoring tools to how to measure properly. It didn’t take long for him to find his confidence. Within a short time he moved around the shop with ease, choosing papers, matching colours and working through each page with care and intention.
And the best part is that he did it all himself. Yvonne simply showed him the basics and supported him along the way. The rest came from Tim’s dedication.
Tim didn’t choose papers at random. He selected designs that matched memories, emotions and moments.
Some pages were soft and romantic, made with pastel marbles and gentle florals. Others were bright and vibrant, especially the hot air balloon page he created to match the anniversary adventure he and his wife had just taken. That weekend was special because Tim is scared of heights, yet he still went hot air ballooning with her.
When he reached that part of the album, he asked, “Do you have a paper that would work for a hot air balloon theme?” We didn’t, so Yvonne designed a custom 12 by 12 sheet for him on the spot. It was colourful and joyful, and it captured the spirit of that moment perfectly. Tim’s face lit up when he saw it printed. That page became one of his favourites.
When he reached that part of the album, he asked, “Do you have a paper that would work for a hot air balloon theme?” We didn’t, so Yvonne designed a custom 12 by 12 sheet for him on the spot. It was colourful and joyful, and it captured the spirit of that moment perfectly. Tim’s face lit up when he saw it printed. That page became one of his favourites.
The entire project stayed hidden in a dedicated box under the counter. Tim never took it home, so his wife had no idea what he was working on. Every day at lunchtime he returned, pulled out his project, and added another piece to the story.
As the anniversary approached, Tim realised he might not finish every decorative detail in time. He finished enough to give it to his wife, and planned to keep adding pages later. He laughed and said, “Maybe I should have made it smaller, but then it wouldn’t have been what I wanted.” He was right, because the size and effort were part of the gift.
She loved it. She was ecstatic. Tim created something heartfelt and personal, and she could see the time and care he put into every page.
And Tim is still coming in on his lunch breaks to keep working on it, because some stories deserve more pages.
Tim didn’t just build a mini album. He created a story, a surprise and a memory wrapped in cardstock and glue. Watching him learn, grow and create something so meaningful reminded all of us why handmade gifts matter. This project wasn’t only special for Tim and his wife. It became special for everyone who watched it grow.
Thank you, Tim, for letting us share your story, and happy 10th anniversary.
