This Maine Scrapbooking Store Is A Dream Come True For Anyone Who Loves Paper Crafts

I went to Bar Harbor expecting ocean views and a few good hikes. I certainly didn’t expect to come home with a stack of scrapbook paper covered in tiny lobsters.

But that’s exactly what happened. While wandering through this Maine town, I noticed an unusual round building that looked nothing like the shops around it.

Naturally, I had to investigate. Inside, I found shelves of colorful paper decorated with local designs, along with enough fabric and yarn to make me forget why I’d stopped in.

The best surprise? The building once housed a bank, and now it’s filled with supplies for preserving memories instead of storing money.

I spent far longer browsing than planned, imagining what I could do with all those vacation photos sitting on my phone. Anyone who enjoys crafting might want to leave a little extra room in their suitcase.

A Round Building With A Money-Minded Past

Banks usually guard cash, but this one now guards something far more valuable to crafters: patterned paper. Fabricate LLC sits at 64 Mt Desert St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, in the United States, inside a dome-shaped building that was first built as a bank in 1978.

The round shape catches your eye right away. It looks a bit like a yurt, and it stands out among the classic New England buildings along the street.

Once inside, the curved walls give the shop a cozy, wrap-around feeling that makes browsing feel like a small adventure.

The old bank layout also creates an interesting flow. Different crafts get their own areas, so you can wander from one section to the next without feeling lost.

Scrapbookers have a dedicated paper room, while quilters and knitters have their own spaces too.

Here is a tip for your visit. Take a moment to look at the building from the sidewalk before you head in, because it makes a fun photo for your scrapbook pages later.

A picture of the shop where you bought your supplies is a sweet detail to add to a travel album.

You could say this former bank still deals in deposits, only now they are memories.

Over 150 Choices In The 12×12 Paper Lineup

More than 150 different 12×12 papers fill the scrapbooking area, and my first thought was simple. How am I supposed to choose just a few?

The papers come from a range of leading scrapbooking brands, so you get variety in style, color, and theme. Some are bright and cheerful, while others feel calm and classic.

That mix makes it easy to match papers to almost any kind of photo, from a sunny beach day to a foggy harbor morning.

My advice is to bring a few printed photos or pull them up on your phone before you shop. Holding a picture next to a sheet of paper helps you see right away if the colors work together.

It saves time and keeps you from buying papers that end up sitting in a drawer.

Another smart move is to pick one or two main patterns and then grab a few solid colors to go with them. Solids give your eyes a place to rest on a busy page.

They also make your photos pop.

Planning a whole album? Make a quick list of the trips or events you want to cover, then shop with purpose and a little room for surprises.

Exclusive Maine-Themed Paper Collections

Blueberries, lobsters, pine trees, and lighthouses all show up on paper you will not find just anywhere. The shop creates its own exclusive lines of 12×12 papers, and each one celebrates the Pine Tree State in a playful way.

The collection names alone are fun to read. Among the shop’s documented designs are MAKE MINE MAINE!, NEW ENGLAND MEMORIES, and VACATIONLAND.

Some of the shop’s original papers feature double-sided designs, giving scrapbookers even more creative options.

These papers make perfect backgrounds for Acadia hiking pictures, harbor sunsets, or that photo of your family holding a giant lobster roll. Because they were made with this region in mind, the colors and images feel right at home next to your Maine snapshots.

I picked up a few sheets for my own trip album, and they did half the design work for me. I barely needed stickers because the paper already told the story.

A practical tip is to buy an extra sheet or two of your favorite design. You can cut out the small lobsters or lighthouses and use them as little decorations on other pages.

That way, one souvenir sheet stretches across your whole album, and your wallet stays a little happier too.

Notions, Embellishments, And Art Supplies Galore

Think of paper as the stage and embellishments as the actors. Without them, a page can look a little quiet, and that is where this shop really shines.

Fabricate carries a full collection of notions, embellishments, and art supplies for paper crafters. You will spot stamping items, decorative pieces, and plenty of small extras that add texture and color to a layout.

There is also a fun variety of buttons, which work great on scrapbook pages when you want something you can actually feel.

Here is a simple trick I learned. Use odd numbers when you place decorations, like three buttons or five stickers.

Groups of odd numbers tend to look more natural and balanced on a page.

Another tip is to choose embellishments that match a theme instead of grabbing random cute things. If your page is about a boat ride, look for items in ocean blues and sandy tans.

Keeping a theme makes your pages look polished without much extra effort.

Do not forget the basics, either. Good adhesive and sharp scissors make every project easier and neater.

Fancy decorations are exciting, but strong glue is the quiet hero that keeps your memories from sliding right off the page.

Photo Services That Help Albums Shine

Raise your hand if you have hundreds of vacation photos stuck on your phone. Mine was so full it practically begged for mercy.

Fabricate offers scrapbooking supplies designed to help crafters turn their favorite photographs into memorable albums. That is a big help when you are traveling and do not have your usual printer or computer nearby.

Instead of waiting until you get home, you can start thinking about real prints while the memories still feel fresh.

Printed photos change the whole scrapbooking experience. You can hold them, move them around, and test how they look with different papers.

It turns a list of digital files into something your family can actually flip through on the couch.

Before you visit, sort your favorite photos into a small folder on your phone. Choosing your best shots ahead of time makes everything faster and less stressful.

Aim for a mix of wide scenic views, close-up details, and pictures with people smiling.

A friendly reminder: ask about the photo options when you arrive so you understand what fits your project. Every album is different, and a quick chat can save you time.

Your future self, flipping through a finished book of Maine memories, will be very glad you took this step.

Family Tree Help And Heritage Art

Old photos of great-grandparents have a special kind of magic. Their faces, clothes, and backgrounds tell stories that no textbook can match.

Fabricate welcomes family history enthusiasts interested in preserving old photographs and creating heritage art projects that celebrate their roots. Genealogy is the study of family history, like figuring out who your ancestors were and where they lived.

Turning that research into art is a beautiful way to keep those stories alive.

Heritage scrapbooks can include old photos, copies of letters, recipes, or even maps of where relatives came from. Pairing these items with thoughtful papers and simple decorations helps the history feel warm and personal.

It also gives younger family members a fun way to learn about their roots.

If you want to try this, start small. Pick one grandparent or one branch of the family and gather a few photos and facts.

Interview an older relative if you can, and write down their stories in their own words.

One important tip is to use copies of very old or fragile photos instead of the originals. That way, the real treasures stay safe.

A heritage album can become a gift that gets passed down, making you part of the family story too.

Fabric, Yarn, And More

Paper might be the star of this list, but the supporting cast is huge. The shop stocks more than 700 bolts of 100% cotton fabrics, along with yarns and sewing notions.

Quilters, knitters, crocheters, and embroiderers all have something to explore here. The quilting side gets plenty of attention, with fabrics in all sorts of colors and prints.

Some designs carry a local touch, which makes them perfect for a souvenir quilt that reminds you of the coast.

Store samples and displays add extra inspiration. Seeing a finished quilt hanging on the wall can spark ideas for your own project.

You may even find yourself planning a new hobby before you reach the register.

This mix of crafts makes the shop a great stop for families or friend groups with different interests. One person can flip through 12×12 papers while another checks out yarn or thread.

Everyone leaves with something that fits their style.

Here is a smart idea for scrapbookers. Small fabric scraps or bits of ribbon can add texture to paper pages.

Mixing materials makes a layout feel cozy and handmade. Sewing and scrapbooking turn out to be great teammates, so why not let them share a page?

Handy Visiting Hours

Behind every great craft shop is someone who truly loves making things. At Fabricate, that someone is actually two people, Nessa Reifsnyder and Erin Cough.

The owners bring their passion for what they call memory art into everything about the business. Their goal is to nurture family, community, and heritage through creative expression.

You can sense that care in the thoughtful paper lines, the heritage projects, and the way each craft area is set up.

Memory art is a lovely idea. It means using your hands to save moments that matter, whether that is a summer trip, a family reunion, or a grandparent’s story.

A scrapbook made with care becomes much more than paper and glue.

Now for the practical part, so you do not show up to a locked door. The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5:30 pm, and on Sunday from noon to 5 pm.

It is closed on Mondays.

Plan your stop for a weekday morning if you like a calmer pace for browsing. Give yourself at least an hour, because the paper room alone can easily make time disappear.

Bring a list, but leave space for happy little surprises too.