This Peoria, Arizona Craft Store Comes With Its Own Scrapbooking Outlet Next Door

My therapist told me I need to find a relaxing hobby, so I figured spending my entire paycheck on scrapbooking supplies counts as self-care.

But my wallet got a much-needed break when I tracked down a legendary craft store out here in Arizona that comes with its very own bargain outlet next door.

Walking in, I felt like a kid in a candy store, except the candy is cardstock, embellishments, and ribbons, and the discount room next door is practically giving the stuff away.

Whether you are a hardcore memory-keeper or just someone who owns a glue gun for emergency fashion fixes, this place is an absolute trip. Let me take you on a little tour of my new favorite obsession!

The Story Behind Scraps Of Love

Every great store has an origin story worth telling, and Scraps Of Love is no exception. Founder Christina Widemark launched the business in 1997 as an online venture and independent consulting service for papercrafting products and classes.

Back then, the idea of building a creative community around paper, stamps, and scissors was a passion project more than a business plan.

Over time, that passion found a physical home. Christina expanded into a co-op retail space in Peoria in 2009, then moved to a larger location in 2010 to meet growing demand. By July 2012, she became the sole owner, steering the shop with a clear creative vision.

Today, Scraps Of Love celebrates over 20 years in operation and nearly a decade as a fully independent retail store. That kind of staying power in a competitive market says a lot about the loyalty Christina has earned from the crafting community in and around Peoria, Arizona.

A Space That Feels Like A Creative Playground

Walking into the main store at Scraps Of Love feels a little like stepping into a crafters dream closet, only much larger and far better organized. The space spans nearly 5,000 square feet, giving shoppers plenty of room to browse without feeling rushed or crowded.

High shelves, wide aisles, and thoughtful layouts make the whole experience comfortable and easy to navigate. The store carries supplies for scrapbooking, card making, mixed media projects, and rubber art stamps.

What sets it apart from a generic craft chain is the attention to detail in how everything is arranged. Products are grouped by theme, so you might find birthday supplies in one section and Arizona-local interest items in another.

That kind of intentional organization saves shoppers real time and helps spark new project ideas along the way. A trip through this store rarely ends with just the items you came for, because around every corner there is something new and inspiring waiting to catch your eye.

The Outlet Next Door That Bargain Hunters Love

Right next door to the main store, tucked into Suite 16, is a dedicated outlet space that has earned a devoted following among budget-conscious crafters.

This is where older inventory and discontinued products find new homes at significantly reduced prices. If you enjoy the thrill of hunting for a great deal, this little room will become your favorite stop on any visit.

The pricing system here is refreshingly simple. A color-coded dot system is used on products, with different dot colors indicating varying levels of price reduction. The deeper the discount, the more exciting the find, and regulars know to check back often because the selection changes regularly.

For newer crafters who want to experiment without spending a lot, the outlet is a low-pressure way to stock up on supplies and try new techniques.

Even experienced papercrafters who visit the main store will often pop next door just to see what surprises are waiting on the outlet shelves that day.

Scrapbooking Supplies Organized With Real Thought

One of the first things you notice when browsing the main store is how deliberately the inventory is organized. Rather than grouping items by brand or product type alone, Scraps Of Love arranges supplies by theme.

Birthday, Christmas, and Arizona-local interests are just a few of the categories that guide shoppers through the store in a logical and enjoyable way.

This approach makes shopping feel less like a chore and more like browsing a well-curated collection. If you are working on a holiday card set, you can head straight to the Christmas section and find coordinating papers, stamps, and embellishments all in one spot.

That kind of convenience is something you rarely find at bigger box stores. The Arizona-local section is a particularly fun touch.

It celebrates the regional identity of the store and gives visitors a chance to find supplies that reflect desert landscapes, local landmarks, and the unique character of the Southwest. For anyone making memory books about life in Arizona, that section alone is worth the trip.

A Classroom Built For Creative Community

Some stores sell supplies and send you home to figure things out on your own. Scraps Of Love takes a different approach by maintaining a dedicated classroom space capable of accommodating up to 22 people, depending on the event format.

This room is the heartbeat of the store’s community-building mission. Classes run the full range of skill levels, from beginner sessions designed to introduce newcomers to the basics of scrapbooking and card making, to more advanced workshops that push experienced crafters toward new techniques.

Guest artist workshops bring outside talent into the space and add variety to the regular class calendar.

Beyond structured classes, the classroom also hosts open studio times and crop events, which are essentially dedicated crafting sessions where you bring your own projects and work alongside other creative people.

That social element is something that keeps regulars coming back week after week, because crafting with a community feels entirely different from crafting alone at your kitchen table.

Crop Events And Open Studio

If you have never attended a crop event before, Scraps Of Love is a wonderful place to experience one for the first time. A crop is essentially a gathering where crafters bring their own projects and supplies and spend several hours working side by side in a shared space.

The energy in the room during these events is warm, focused, and genuinely fun. Open studio times serve a similar purpose but tend to be more relaxed and drop-in friendly.

These sessions give crafters access to workspace and a creative atmosphere without the structure of a formal class. For people who work from home or craft in small apartments, having a dedicated space to spread out and create is a real luxury.

Both crop events and open studio times also double as social occasions. You end up meeting other crafters who share your interests, trading tips and product recommendations, and sometimes discovering new techniques just by watching what the person next to you is working on.

Community is genuinely part of the product here.

Make-And-Take Days That Spark New Ideas

Make-and-take days are one of those store events that sound simple but end up being surprisingly memorable.

The concept is straightforward: you come in, follow along with a guided project, and leave with a finished creation in hand. No experience required, no supplies needed, and no pressure to be perfect.

For people who have been curious about papercrafting but felt intimidated by the learning curve, make-and-take events lower the barrier to entry in the best possible way. You get to try a new technique, use quality supplies, and complete something tangible in just an hour or two.

That feeling of finishing a project quickly is genuinely satisfying. These events also serve as a soft introduction to the broader class calendar at Scraps Of Love.

Many first-time visitors who attend a make-and-take day end up signing up for a full class afterward because they discover that papercrafting is more enjoyable and more accessible than they expected. A small event can turn into a lasting creative hobby just like that.

Exclusive Products You Cannot Find Anywhere Else

One of the most compelling reasons to visit Scraps Of Love in person is the selection of exclusive products that you simply cannot find anywhere else.

The store carries custom 3D printed crafting tools, unique papers, and dies that were designed specifically for Scraps Of Love. These are not generic items you can pick up at a big box craft chain.

Having store-exclusive tools and supplies gives the shop a distinct identity and gives customers a reason to keep coming back.

When you find a die or a set of papers that works perfectly for your style and you know it is only available here, the store becomes a destination rather than just a convenient stop.

The team at Scraps Of Love clearly puts thought into developing these exclusive items based on what their customers actually use and request.

That kind of responsiveness to the community is rare in retail, and it shows a level of care for the craft that goes well beyond simply stocking shelves with whatever is trending at the moment.

Supporting Small And Local Crafting Brands

Big craft chains tend to stock the same national brands you can find anywhere, but Scraps Of Love makes a point of supporting local and smaller crafting companies.

That commitment gives the store a personality and a product mix that feels genuinely distinctive. Shopping here means your money is more likely to reach independent makers and small business owners rather than large corporations.

For crafters who care about where their supplies come from, that matters. There is something satisfying about buying a set of stamps or a specialty paper from a small company that a passionate individual created.

Those products often come with more character, more creativity, and more interesting backstories than mass-produced alternatives. The store’s support for smaller brands also keeps the inventory fresh and varied.

Because these companies tend to release smaller runs of products and update their lines more frequently, the shelves at Scraps Of Love reflect a constantly evolving selection.

Returning customers often find new brands and new products that were not there on their last visit, which keeps the browsing experience feeling fresh.