About Me & My Work

Hi, My name is Lara and my lastname begins with K. That is why my online store is named KlaraCraft . I am 53 years old, living in Hamburg, have 2 adult children and one granddaughter. Born, raised and studied in Russia. In 2000 married to a Ukrainian and lived in Odessa till 2015. Then we moved Germany due to an interesting job offer. I speak Russian, Ukrainian, English and German.

I used to be curious about arts and crafts since I was born. For many years I have been creating all kinds of handmade gifts. I have learned bookbinding, glass painting, textile design, passepartout design, cartonnage, card making and more... I used to run an Etsy store “Dear Album”. And I am posting a lot on my Instagram page K_Lara_ Craft. But now my daughter decided to make a webstore for me, which I appreciate.

Here everyone can find and order a very special album. In the age of mass production, I decided to offer products that are REALLY handmade. Each album is unique. It is though possible to order a set of albums that will be identical for some reason. There are also other products that we test here. If they happen to be a success, then I will make more of them.

For those who would like to start scrapping, I will offer “starters' kits”, albums blocks and paper sets. Since I am the one and only who runs the store, my capacity to produce a large number of products is quite limited. I pay a lot of attention to the quality and it takes time. Anyway there will always be something new and interesting “on the shelves”. Later I will start posting articles in the BLOG, where you will learn more about my favorite crafts and lifestyle.

All my albums are 100% handmade. I bought high quality Italian heavy-weight cardstock to make the album block. I cut the paper using simple tools and bind pages into a block using a sewing machine. It is my own method of binding. The block is very flexible and robust.

I choose paper collection like a designer who chooses fabric for his dresses. Scrapbooking stores offer a huge variety of collections and it is not that easy to find the right one. I only use acid free, photo-friendly materials and glues.

If you decide to make your own album , you can buy my album block. In my store you will find very basic albums that are specially made for those who want to arrange the pages but lacks skills in bookbinding. In this case you will need some tools and a plan. In my store there will be a blog, where I will share ideas how to start and make an album being a complete beginner.

• Choose a theme or story – your wedding, a baby's first year, or a travel album.
• Collect materials – photos, keepsakes, and basic supplies.
• Plan your layout – decide on the design before gluing anything down.
• Add journaling – write a few words, a short story about the moments captured on the photos
• Decorate and personalize – use colors, stickers, or other embellishments that reflect your personality.

I make albums for my family too. I am sure those books will be treasured no matter how digital culture invades our lives.

You can also try scrapbooking. It is easy and captivating. It will make your memories tangible.