Craft lover finds her niche with scrapbooks

Rosalind Jennings | Special to the Sentinel

LEESBURG — Cheri Renner-Kutch feels lucky these days.

Renner-Kutch, 46, bought Scrapbook USA in the Lake Square Mall, 10401 U.S. Highway 441, in June.

To make it more her own, she will change the store’s name to Scrappin Spot in a few weeks.

“I’ve loved crafts all my life,” Renner-Kutch said.

“This is the perfect job. I was made for this.

“I love going to work. How many people can say that?”

The 4,000-square-foot store has scrapbooking materials and a large seating area, where classes and parties take place and individuals or groups can work on their projects.

There’s also a 200-square-foot playroom where children can play while adults work.

“They love that little pink kitchen,” Renner-Kutch said.

Renner-Kutch’s daughter Rena Renner, 10, also loves making scrapbooks.

When Renner-Kutch bought the business, she tripled the inventory. She said there’s a constant need for new and innovative merchandise such as special papers and embellishments such as stickers and 3-D items of wood, clay and paper.

Wedding merchandise can be very detailed, with embellishments such as little paper figurines and tiny felt shoes.

Hobbyists crop and arrange their photos creatively, using the decorative additions.

Customer LaVaughn Foster of Leesburg said she likes the feeling of community when people work at the table together.

“I enjoy being here with the girls, and the fellowship. You can go around and see what other people are doing and get ideas.”

Renner-Kutch said her customers like the mall site because food vendors are nearby.

Foster said the hobby allows her to create memories for family members.

“I’m doing my grandchildren’s scrapbooks,” she said.

Foster needs plenty of materials because she doesn’t want her grandchildren to get the same scrapbook design.

“I can’t repeat anything,” she said.

Renner-Kutch keeps up-to-date with the latest supplies through popular scrapbooking magazines, and then she relegates older merchandise to clearance tables.

Renner-Kutch is gearing up for May 5, National Scrapbook Day. She plans to put tables out in the mall to handle the crowds.

Renner-Kutch and her husband and co-owner, Frank Kutch, 64, are Realtors. A broker-owner, Kutch manages Century 21 Arrow Realty in Leesburg, while Renner-Kutch mostly manages her store.

Scrapbooking is also a popular hobby for children, she said. Children are welcome to work at the store, as long as they have adult supervision.

“A long time from now, I’ll be able to look back on my childhood,” Rena said of making her scrapbooks. “It’s also a time I can be with my mom.”

“Scrapbooks tell a story,” Renner-Kutch said. “It makes your life come alive.”

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