Kewaunee woman introduces scrapbooking to lakeshore area Wendy Jo Van Den Plas stands by her Scrapin' Your Memories business sign in front of her home at E4849 County Road F, Kewaunee (photo by Barb Ludlow). By Barb Ludlow For The News-Chronicle Wendy Jo (Meyers) Van Den Plas, a 1986 Algoma High School graduate, began Scrapin' Your Memories, a small home-based business in Kewaunee, last April. "It is the art of taking shoe boxes of photos and making them into treasured memories," said Van Den Plas. "Scrapbooking is just that, working with scraps. "You would be surprised at what you can get on one sheet of paper," she added with a grin. Van Den Plas, an independent business owner in a $4.8 billion industry, specializes in teaching individuals how to preserve cherished memories. As a convenience, she will do clients' scrapbooks or special occasion pages at their request. She also offers a clients' wish list. "If someone sees something special they want, we can put it on a wish list of gift ideas," she said. "My main mission is to provide top-quality products and information pertaining to scrapbooking and card designing," said Van Den Plas, who serves Brown, Door and Kewaunee counties. Van Den Plas said she gives customers a discount or free products for referrals, which makes her business unique. "That's not something you get in Green Bay," she said, "and I will deliver products to my customers' door, in Green Bay, Two Rivers, anywhere in this area. My clients like that. I treat them like a person, not a number." Scrapin' Your Memories offers monthly workshops at a reasonable fee. And, if asked, Van Den Plas will gladly display her completed scrapbooks to illustrate the craft. "Gift certificates are available upon request and are great for family members, friends, co-workers, etc., who enjoy scrapbooking or making their own greeting cards," said Van Den Plas. The business offers a full line of products for creating and preserving scrapbooks and, if she doesn't have something on hand, she will order it. She also conducts home parties and offers free products to the host. Her interest in scrapbooking began in 1997. Last year, a friend in the Home and Community Education (HCE) organization was impressed with her scrapbooks and asked Van Den Plas to give a group demonstration on how she preserved precious memories. "We had a great turnout for the first demonstration and they asked me to return again in March," said Van Den Plas. After encouragement from her friends and HCE members, she approached her husband, Kurt, about the feasibility of starting her own business. "His support has enabled me to fulfill one of my dreams, Scrapin' Your Memories," she said. Six years after starting her first scrapbook, she turned a hobby she loves into a business and teaches others how to have fun and relax while preserving treasured memories. Scrapin' Your Memories is located at E4849 County Rd. F, north of Kewaunee, and west on F. Hours are Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and from 6 until 8 p.m. Call 388-0518, email at [email protected] for more information, or check out the website at http://consulting.cockadoodledesign.com/wjv.