The Scrap Jar

10/15/2026

We’d love to have more awesome, creative (or delicious!!) neighbors here in the River District! And the city has a new program that can help you make it happen!

SPACES TO PLACES PROGRAM: The City of Rockford’s Community and Economic Development Department announced the launch of the Spaces to Places Program. The application opened today, Thursday, October 15, 2026, and will remain open until October 15, 2027, or until funds are committed (whichever comes first).

The Spaces to Places Program is designed to reduce commercial vacancies and support small business growth by providing temporary rent assistance for new or expanding businesses locating in currently vacant storefronts in specific commercial areas within the City of Rockford. he Program will reimburse security deposits and 50% of monthly rent for up to 12 months, for a total funding level of up to $15,000 per business.

To promote increased foot traffic and vibrancy, only service businesses with customer-facing activities (retail, restaurants, cafes, and experiential uses) will be eligible for funding. Eligible businesses must lease and occupy a ground-floor commercial space that has been vacant for at least six months and is located within a commercial area with an existing business district association. Businesses will also be required to engage with a small business resource, such as Think Big!, Small Business Development Center, Rockford Local Development Corporation, or other organizations or consultants pre-approved by the City.

Eligible Business Association Areas:
• Downtown / River District Association
• N Main / Rockford North End Business Association
• S Main / SWIFTT
• 7th St-Midtown / Midtown District
• E State St - Miracle Mile / Miracle Mile Rockford

Important information to note:
• The application is open October 15, 2026 – October 15, 2027, or until the designated funds are fully committed (whichever comes first).
• A webinar to share additional information on the Program and the application process will be held on October 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. Visit the Program’s website (RockfordIL.gov/SpacestoPlacesProgram) to register.
• Interested businesses must submit a pre-application through the online form available on the City’s website.

For more information about the Program and requirements, visit Rockfordil.gov/SpacestoPlacesProgram, email [email protected] or call 779-348-7162.

10/15/2026

Hop on over and join us for our Faux Frog Dissection Class!! 🐸 Wednesday 10/28 from 5:30-7:00! Hosted by Created By Kenniy!

Only 13 TICKETS! 😱

$45 🎟️ includes: 8x10 Shadow box ( black or white), 1 frog ( 2 options), endless insides + a snack bar!

⭐ BONUS ⭐
Shop the store after hours once the workshop wraps up! 😍

Get your tickets at: tinyurl.com/SJfrogs (or at the link in bio!)

10/14/2026

What are you going to be for Halloween?? 🎃 Still need a Halloween costume? There’s just enough time to make one this year, and we’ve got so many spectacular costume patterns for you!! Plus the supplies to go with em! (Or if you’re the kind to plan ahead, grab a pattern for next year 😄)

Shop is open this week:
11-5 Wednesday and Thursday
11-3 on Saturday

Spook the Blocks downtown trick or treat is 10/24!

See you at the shop! 🫙💕
324 E State St, Rockford IL 61104

10/13/2026

We are closed again this Tuesday — apologies!! But we will be open til 5pm Wednesday and Thursday, and til 6pm on Friday, and open 11-3 Saturday!

To be completely transparent, I think the postpartum/new baby exhaustion has finally caught up with me! 😴 I’ve had some grand ambitions the past month or so, and that—combined with limited sleep—means my brain needs a chance to catch up! (Shoutout to all the parents out there because wow shop baby is the best, but whew my brain is frieeeeed! 🙃😅)

If you’ve reached out for something and I haven’t responded yet, I am working on catching up on all of those—thank you for your patience!

🎃 And we’ve got lots and lots of Halloween craft supplies perfect for your costume projects!! And we’re gearing up for Spook the Blocks on 10/24 so be sure to save the date! 👻

See you at the shop! 🫙💕

*DONATIONS 📦
Please keep walk-in donations to 1️⃣ box or bag of clean, usable supplies. For larger donations, please contact us and thank you for your patience as we work through donation requests! Thank you! ❤️

10/09/2026

We updated some shop pricing to make even better deals for you! 🥰

📚Books are now flat priced at $5 for hardcovers, $3 for paperbacks! Or get 3 hardcovers for $10, or 3 paperbacks for $5!

✂️ Scrapbook paper pricing is now simpler and cheaper! 12x12 sheets are $0.50 each or 10 for $2.50! 8.5x11 sheets are $0.25 each or 10 for $2!

See you at the shop! 🫙💕

10/06/2026

Thank you so much for a wonderful Fall ArtScene!! I am unfortunately wiped out so have decided to be closed today (Tuesday)—apologies for the late notice! The shop will be open later on Thursday to make up for it!

Rockford Stationery Club will be at the shop this Saturday with a fun postcard making craft! 📫

📦 And donations are back starting on Wednesday! Reminder that walk-in donations are limited to ONE box or bag, and any larger donations should be scheduled with us (new scheduling system coming super soon!) Thank you for your patience during our pause!

See you at the shop! 🫙💕

HOURS:
Monday closed
Tuesday closed
Wednesday 11-4
Thursday 11-5
Friday 11-5
Saturday 11-3
Sunday closed

10/03/2026

Come stop by the shop!! We’ve got 9 spectacular artists, live demonstrations, mystery print machine, bracelet bar, photobooth, snacks, and moreeeee!! See you at the shop! 🫙💕

Art Scene Day Two will be in full effect this afternoon, and it’s certainly going to be gorgeous outside. Weather-wise, there aren’t many more days like this in the forecast, so do what you’ve got to do this morning and get out there!

Visit one venue or 20 venues. Share this post—or any of the others. Everything helps! Meet your friends for coffee, lunch, or drinks, and experience all the wonderful art this city has to offer!!!

ALL VENUES

DOWNTOWN WEST
District Bar and Grill
Kortman Gallery at J.R. Kortman Center for Design
27 Aluna
Palace W**e Bar
The Terrace at RPL
Emmanuel Episcopal Church

DOWNTOWN EAST & MIDTOWN
Disco Chicken
The Music Box
The Scrap Jar
The Eight One Five Collective
Rockford Art Deli
Wired Cafe
The Underground Art Gallery and Speakeasy
Lucette Holistic Salon + Boutique
Kith and Kin Art Collective
Social
Abreo
Harvey Wallbangers
American Legion Jefferson Horton Post 340
Rockford Barbell
The Pop Up Shop
Scavenged Parts Antiques & Oddities


RIVER, MADISON & MARKET
Inferno ClayStudio NFP
Rockford United Labor
Misty Lane Ceramics
Bennie’s Cleaners / The Clean Gallery
Union Lounge
Centro Hair Studio
317 Art Collaborative
Trinity Lutheran Gym
Test Site Art Foundation
NORTHEND TO BELOIT
Nature At The Confluence
RevHaus
The Olympic Tavern
Mulligans
Norwegian Artist Lofts

CENTRAL ROCKFORD
ArtDeTriumph
Lucha Cantina
Art of Recovery
Womanspace

EAST ROCKFORD
Crave Kitchen & Cocktails
Salt. Rockford
Tad More Tailoring
Ameriprise Financial – Studio Wealth Advisory Group

10/02/2026

NADJA SCHUTT • Fall ArtScene at The Scrap Jar !🫙💕

Escape to your happy place with the happiest hauses in town! Original one of a kind paintings and gifts from Nadja Schutt of NASchuttDesign can be found at The Scrap Jar during Fall Artscene, October 2nd and 3rd! Come get your happy on!!

📍The Scrap Jar @ 324 E State St, Rockford IL
⏰ Friday 5-9pm / Saturday 4-9pm

KATE MAJOR • Fall ArtScene at The Scrap Jar !🫙💕

Part costume designer, part creature fabricator, and full-time soft-sculpture nerd, Kate Major has spent over twelve years turning bizarre ideas into tangible, touchable reality. Based in Illinois, she builds everything from oversized mascots to avant-garde wearable art—usually out of upcycled textiles and whatever weird materials catch her eye. When she isn’t managing production for custom character builds, you can find her orchestrating trashion shows or slinging wardrobe backstage for giant productions like Cirque du Soleil. Basically, if it’s fluffy, fantastical, or involves making art out of actual rubbish, she’s already on it.

📍The Scrap Jar @ 324 E State St, Rockford IL
⏰ Friday 5-9pm / Saturday 4-9pm

CAITLIN YARBRO • Fall ArtScene at The Scrap Jar !🫙💕

“I make collage! I create nostalgic and whimsical collage scenes using found objects from books and magazines. If I can cut it and glue it, I may end up creating a collage with it.

I’ve had a recent obsession with all things mini and began a collection of mini collage done on the perfect textured paper, shaped like a postage stamp (about 2.5in x 3.5in); these have been fun and popular with my snail mail/stationery lovers.

I make one of a kind collage stationery cards (perfect for gifting or hoarding for yourself), stickers (images of my original work), original collage art on both paper and wood.”

📍The Scrap Jar @ 324 E State St, Rockford IL
⏰ Friday 5-9pm / Saturday 4-9pm

ANA IVEET • Fall ArtScene at The Scrap Jar !🫙💕

Ana creates whimsical mixed media illustrations using watercolor, inks, and colored pencils. Through playful characters, vibrant colors, and imaginative storytelling Ana invites viewers into curious, joyful little worlds.

📍The Scrap Jar @ 324 E State St, Rockford IL

10/01/2026

It’s National Postcard Day! Did you know we have a whole section for postcards?? 📫 We’ve got some spectacular vintage (and some modern) postcards! And we’re constantly refilling the cubbies so you’ll always find something new. And new for today we also have mystery postcard packs perfect for Postcrossing, junk journal, and collage!

See you at the shop! 🫙💕

09/29/2026

It’s Fall ArtScene at The Scrap Jar this Friday & Saturday!!

If you’re looking for a fun spot this weekend, look no further! We’ve got 9 wonderful artists of all different mediums, plus interactive activities and live demonstrations! 😍

FEATURED ARTISTS:
Nadja Schutt NASchuttDesign
Ana Iveet AnaIveet
Caitlin Yarbro Caitlin M Yarbro- stationery & paper goods
Knotmaille
Blythe Sargent
Kate Major
ADHD in Colors ADHD in Colors
Liz Schutt Elizabeth Schutt
Kenniy Auth Krowned By Kenniy

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES / ART DEMONSTRATIONS:
❤️ Mini Art Print Vending Machine (4 quarters)
😊 Live Portrait Drawings by Liz Schutt ($20/person)
💕 DIY Bracelet Bar by ADHD in Colors($3)
🥚 Pysanky egg demonstration by Blythe Sargent
📷 Photobooth w/ printed photo strips ($4)
⛓️‍💥 Chainmaille demonstration by Knotmaille
🖍️ Scrap Jar coloring table (free!)

HOURS:
Friday 5-9
Saturday 4-9
(Shop side open 3-9 both days!)

See you at the shop! 🫙💕