Scrapbook shop more than news clippings

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Kim Drako, of Spotswood, tears a piece of mulberry paper for a scrapbook page layout one morning last week at Mommy’s Memories in Sayreville.

For Kim Drako, opening a store is not just a way to make a living, but a way to help others.

Drako, the owner of Mommy’s Memories, Washington Road in Sayreville, is a member of the Monroe Township First Aid Squad and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Spotswood Volunteer Fire Department, for which her husband is chief engineer. Up until last year, she was a familiar face at the Old Bridge post office, where she worked for 14 years.

"I know the importance of helping one’s community," Drako said.

Drako is also an avid scrapbooker who enjoys preserving photos of loved ones in albums that she decorates by hand. It is only natural that she would combine her desire to help others with her love of crafting and open up a scrapbook store.

Kim Drako applies cutout letters to a page for a scrapbook.

Mommy’s Memories opened in March. The store sells a wide variety of scrapbooking supplies, including scrapbooks, decorative paper, templates, stickers, paper cutters, adhesives and other embellishments. It also has a "make and take" area where customers can use die-cutting machines, templates, punches and a laminator to create embellishments for their scrapbook pages.

Drako puts a special emphasis on scrapbooking education. She is currently putting together a rental library of instructional books and videos about scrapbooking. She also offers beginning scrapbooking workshops for adults and children. In the coming months, she plans to offer additional workshops on specialized topics such as journal writing, organizing one’s scrapbook workspace, and using scrapbooking as a teaching tool.

Drako believes it is especially important to expose children to scrapbooking. This week, for example, she is helping a "class mom" make personalized scrapbooks for her daughter’s graduating eighth-grade class at the Corpus Christi School in South River.

"Kids love crafts," Drako said. "Scrapbooking teaches them the importance of preserving their memories."

In addition, Mommy’s Memories helps support various community groups. Drako recently donated scrapbooking goody bags and raffle prizes to the Sayreville Main Street Theater Company’s tricky tray. She is also donating tricky tray prizes to be used at the Union County Scrappers’ "Spectacular Summer Crop Event" on June 19; proceeds from the tricky tray will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Above all, Drako’s goal is to help foster a sense of unity among scrapbookers.

"I am trying to make this a store for New Jersey scrapbookers," she said. "I want them to say that this is their scrapbook store. People can come here to have fun and make friendships."