A word or three about ...... Layout Workshops in Snazzys Studio

A few words about ..... Layout Workshops in Snazzys Studio

How do you teach scrapbooking? A question I've struggled with ever since I first introduced scrapbooking workshops at Snazzys some 12 years ago.

Scrapbooking is such a personal thing, you are recording your memories through your photographs, it's your story. How then can you have a dozen students come along to a workshop and create the same page using the same products but still retain that individuality? I know you have come along to try out new ideas, tips and techniques but I also want you to take away a layout you have enjoyed making, are pleased with and which you add to your album because it is a meaningful addition to the story you are telling. I even stopped teaching scrapbooking for a time as it simply seemed too tall an order to fulfil.

After customers kept asking me why I didn't teach scrapbooking any more I promised to re-start the workshops in 2014 but I knew I had to find a way around this dilemma. In all the workshops I teach I have always encouraged everyone to regard my workshop sample as a 'for instance' of what can be created using the products and techniques covered in the class, I just needed to work out how to make that concept work for layouts.

Then it struck me - it had already been done!

When I first started scrapping, many moons ago, I subscribed to a great American magazine called Simple Scrapbooks (sadly no longer published) which actively encouraged the concept of 'scrap lifting'. Simply take the ideas, tricks and techniques which appeal to you and suit your story, from someone else's layout and make it yours. Use different papers to fit with your 'photos, use a block of 'photos instead of a single, turn the layout through, 90 or 180 degrees, embellish more or less, the list is as endless as you choose to make it.

Below is my 'for instance' for this month's layout workshop...

The focus is on making a little paper go a long way with hand stamped flowers, tickets, journaling cards, titles etc to suit my 'photo.

One of our daughters, who always tells me she doesn't do any of this, wanted to make something similar for her friend Josie's birthday, and this is the 'scrap lift' she came up with...

I though it was pretty cool with the custom pop art background papers she created, with more than a little help from her Dad, reflecting the sense of fun in the 'photos and, as wherever she and Josie's are to be found there will also be many practical jokes and much laughter, so very them! The title came courtesy of their boss who sometimes has the misfortune of having them both working at the same time lol!

Two very different layouts from the same basic idea.

If you fancy a go, to keep the workshops limited to 4 - 6 so I can help you to make the layout that works for your story and photographs, there are two session Tuesday 22 2pm to 5pm and Wednesday 23 10am to 1pm just drop me an email or call me on the new studio number and bring along your 'photos.

Hope to see you soon x

PS You can find the last six monthly layouts over on our Pinterest page

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Workshops and Workshop Timetables for July

Firstly a thank you for your patience, we still haven't got everything back up and running but we are making progress in the background.

We have also been having difficulty with our phone and answering service for some time with the message recording being a bit hit and miss. What we really wanted was a service which followed us around, and offered an effective answering service, but unfortunately we have had to change service provider to achieve this.

The new studio number for booking workshops etc is 01793 629062 and if there is no one in the studio available to take your call, it will automatically forward, at no additional cost to you, to the studio mobile number where you can leave a message too. You can also book your workshops by email at snazzy@snazzysstudio.co.uk - just tell us the date and time of the workshop you would like to book, the number of spaces you need, and for whom, together with a contact number should we have any queries.

Don't forget you can save 20% on your workshop if you pay with Snazzy Workshop Vouchers (SWV) which must be bought in advance of the workshop you want to use them for.

Now without further ado, if a little later than planned, here is a REVISED workshop timetable for July 2014 - I am returning to the old format for these timetables as I have had so many hitches with the new layout.

Thursday 10 July 11am to 3pmTechnique Thursday Fee £5

This month's session is all about layers of stamping to create beautiful backgrounds for your scrapbook layouts, cards, journal pages, mini books or mixed media pages. I will be sharing lots of tips, techniques and ideas to get you past that scary blank surface. Just drop by and join in, all tools, consumables and materials are included, kettle is on for tea/coffee and biscuits which are included too!

 

Saturday 12 July 10am to 1pm

Layered and Distressed £15/1 SWV

We will make a selection of cards using distress inks, stamps, stencils and water to create beautiful backgrounds to showcase your stamping. I have used Lynne Perrella stamps by PaperArtsy in the workshop 'for instances' which stamps will you choose?

Saturday 12 July 2pm to 5pm and Wednesday 16 July 10am to 1pm

Take One Stamp £15/1 SWV

Using the pretty Wisteria Lane stamps from Chocolate Baroque we will use four very different techniques to create cards suitable for all occasions.

Wednesday 16 July 6pm to 9pmDylusions Divas £15/1 SWV

Create one of these quirky hangings using stamps inks and paper.

 

 

Tuesday 22 July 2pm to 5pm

July Layout Workshop £15/1SWV

In this month's layout I am using a paper blocking technique, shared by Hels Sheridan, as the base for the layout using a single photograph but which can easily be adapted to include multiple smaller photos.

Wednesday 23 July 10am to 1pm

July Layout Workshop £15/1 SWV

In this month's layout I am using a paper blocking technique shared by Hels Sheridan, as the base for the layout using a single photo but which can easily be adapted to include multiple smaller photos.

Saturday 26 July 10am to 1pmMini Wallet Book £15/1SWV

Here's a little wallet style book which you could use for all your leftover Project Life style bits which is an ideal mini scrapbook or journal to document your Summer with lots of space, pockets and tags to take your photos, memorabilia and journaling.

 

Sunday 27 July 11am to 3pmArt Journal Sunday Fee £5

Join us and have a dabble with Art Journaling. We supply all the inks, paints, stamps, masks and stencils, you just fetch your Art Journal - or if you are just starting out and are not sure it's for you then, we will provide the paper too!

 

 

I will add the missing photos of the layout workshop sample as soon as I have them and will be back with the August workshop schedule very soon. I will include a couple of longer workshops too for those who prefer the all day format.

PS I am struggling a bit with the photo placement so do bear with me until I get a bit of practice in xx

 

Join us again soon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

June 2014 Workshop Timetable

Finally, here is the workshop timetable for June.

I'm afraid that as a result of all our computer problems I am still not able to add 'photos to the blogs or to access the main website to update the information there. All the samples can be seen in the workshop and I will also try to add the 'photos for each week's workshops to our Facebook page as we go along.

I have listened to all your comments on the new timetable layout and as some of you travel quite a way to attend our workshops we will in future have at least one all day workshop each month, plus I have tried to timetable similar half day workshops together so you can combine them to make a day of it if you wish - hope that helps! I have also moved the Mixed Media slot from a Tuesday to a Wednesday evening each month (to suit our youngest son's rugby training!)

Outside of these timetabled slots I am happy to organise custom workshops at a time to suit you and your friends with project(s) designed just for you, or from previously timetabled workshops, do just ask!

Tuesday 3 June 11am to 3pm 

Stop by & Stamp Fee £5

This month's session is all about clean & co-ordinated cards featuring some of the great new mixed font greetings stamps from Hero Arts. Just drop by and join in, all tools and materials to make up to 6 cards are included, kettle on for tea/coffee & biccies too!

Wednesday 4 June 10am to 1pm 

Dylusions Divas £15 or 1 Snazzy Workshop Voucher

In this workshop we will be using Dylusions stamps and inks to create our own quirky diva hanging, with matching card and gift tag. 

Saturday 6 June 11am to 4pm 

Style Canvas Collage £30 or 2 Snazzy Workshop Vouchers

Make you own stunning wall art on a fashion theme using stamps, inks, paints, stencils, texture paste, papers and old dressmaking patterns.

Wednesday 11 June 10am to 1pm 

Saturday 28 June 2pm to 5pm

A Little Bit JOFY £15 or 1 Snazzy Workshop Voucher

In this workshop we will make a selection of cards using the gorgeous new stamps by Jo Firth-Young for Paperartsy.

Thursday 12 June 11am to 3pm

Technique Thursday Fee £5

The focus of this month's session is Alcohol Inks and I will be sharing lots of ideas for making beautiful backgrounds and a really clever resist technique on glass. Just drop by and join in, all tools and materials are included, kettle on for tea/coffee & biccies too!

Saturday 14 June 10am to 1 pm 

Cards from Scraps £15 or 1 Snazzy Workshop Voucher

I seem to accumulate leftovers from 6x6 paper pads so often make cards simply to use them up, so in this workshop we will create 5 clean and simple cards that you can use for any occasion, rustle up quickly and have in your stash for when an unexpected birthday or other celebration appears.

Saturday 14 June 2pm to 5pm

Wednesday 18 June 10am to 1pm

Clean & Simple Cards £15 or 1 Snazzy Workshop Voucher

Come along and make 5 fresh, summery cards you can adapt for any occasion.

Wednesday 18 June 6pm to 9pm

Saturday 28 June 10am to 1pm

Dragonfly Collage Frame £15 or 1 Snazzy Workshop Voucher

This pretty mixed media piece uses a variety of materials and consumables in the colour way of your choice.

Tuesday 24 June 2pm to 5pm

Wednesday 25 June 10am to 1pm

June Layout Workshop £15 or 1 Snazzy Workshop Voucher

This month's layout has a very summery feel with bright colours and will use 1 6x4, 1 4x4 & 1 2x4 'photos.

Sunday  29 June 11am to 3pm

Art Journal Sunday Fee £5

Join us and have a dabble with Art Journaling. We provide all the inks, paints, stamps, masks and stencils and you just fetch your Art Journal - or if you are just starting out we will provide the paper too!

Workshops, workshops and more workshops!

Hello there, you might already have guessed today's post is all about workshops lol!

In recent months we have had a number of issues around classes in our little studio.

Firstly, we have been oversubscribed on too many classes, which is not good news for you or Snazzys. Secondly, we have seen a surge in custom workshop bookings so I need to free up more teaching slots for them and thirdly, I have been struggling to keep up with the sheer number of workshops I have been teaching each month - over 20 different workshops with 50+ individual project samples in March alone! - so I must also admit I am pretty frazzled just by the sheer volume of work and Mr Mojo is threatening to leave the country if I don't lighten up a bit on the workload.

We are therefore going change a few things going into the Spring 2014 schedule to see if we can improve the situation.

To address the oversubscription of workshops, each month we will repeat the most popular workshops such as Take One Stamp and the monthly layout workshop,but it does mean the overall number of different workshops scheduled each month will reduce from 8-12 to just 6.

In order to create more available slots for custom workshops we will only be running the Stop by & Stamp and Technique Thursday sessions monthly rather than weekly, which will also have the knock on effect of reducing the number of new projects/samples which will need to be created each month -we will however be reintroducing the Tuesday evening Mixed Media workshop as we are aware the daytime slots simply don't suit everyone. I have added some general information on the type and content of the workshops we teach on the Our Workshop page on the main website.

In future I will only be in the studio on workshop days, from approximately one hour before the workshop starts to approximately one hour after it finishes, but there will still always be someone available at other times to offer help and guidance should you require it. We are however asking you where possible to book your workshops either by email, or by leaving a message on the studio number, details here, as there won't necessarily be someone available to take your call.

I have revamped the workshop timetables to reflect these changes and you can now see the revised version of the March timetable complete with images, together with the April and May schedule with those images to be added early next week. I think however we may have to revert to the original chronological order of workshops on the timetables and create a monthly blogpost linked to this, with all the images, as often people are searching for information by date rather than by workshop but we'll see how it goes - as ever we would be interested in what you think so do let us know.

I will be back with some more news on the workshop front during the week but don't forget to check out the DT blog on Monday where Diana finishes off this cycle with a wowwzer of a project.

Thanks for stopping by.

Val xx

Art of Life Workshop Projects

Hello and welcome.

This cycle the Snazzy DT are working with the beautiful Art of Life collection from Kaisercraft and all the DT projects can be seen over on the DT blog. I have also been using the collection in some workshop projects, (apologies for the very poor photo - I am thrilled to say we have been blinded by sunshine in the studio today) .....

 

The Art of Life book was on the DT blog earlier in the cycle and was today's workshop, the cards are for the workshop on Saturday 22 March. The set of drawers is a workshop piece only in that I really needed something to store all my Prima and Tim Holtz metal bits in, and the notebook is so I can write down things as I go along - we'll see how long that lasts lol!

 

Back early next week with some news on the future shape of workshops at Snazzys, and some more March workshop samples.

 

Thanks for stopping by xx

A bit of Hero....

.......Arts that is!

Here's a peek at some of the new Hero Arts stamps in store this month.

First the Polyclears...

 

.... and I've had a little play with some of them....

 

 

 

 

 

Next the Clings, my favourites are the newest stamps from the Stamp Your Story range....

 

 

and last, but certainly not least, the woodblock stamps.

 

 

Like most people I don't tend to buy too many wood mounted stamps these days, but hang the expense and the storage issues, some designs just sing to you and you have to have them.

 

 

I just loved the beautiful detail in these stamps, which are so striking I felt I had to use them very simply. The black and white is very typically 'me' but wouldn't they look beautiful in sepia on cream too.

 

I'll drop by again on Thursday with the newest designs in from Chocolate Baroque, hope you can join me then xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.....and about time too!

Has it really been that long? Mmm, yes I do believe it has.

Never mind, back at last and lots of news so hang on in there!

Firstly, a non Snazzy bit of news - Basepoint has a new cafe at No 74 (by the entry gate, right next door to the hair salon) run by the lovely Jolka. She will be open six days a week, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and from 8.30am to 2.30pm on a Saturday. She will be providing freshly prepared and cooked food from breakfasts to salad and pasta pots, paninis and baguettes accompanied by a full range of teas, coffees, shakes and smoothies to help you wash down her delicious cakes.....

 

....all in the name of essential product testing you understand lol!

 

So, if you are coming along to shop, or to a class, you will be able to sample her delish food for yourself and she will be happy to take food orders on your arrival for collection at the end of your visit too. Do give it a try and support a new, local, independent business.

 

Next up, you can now find us over on Pinterest where we have 12 boards of inspiration with everything from cards, layouts, art journal pages, mini books and mixed media which we will be adding to each week. Pop over there, click 'follow' on the boards that most interest you and you can have regular inspiration delivered to your Inbox. Still very much a 'work in progress' but do let us know what you think.

 

Also, following lots of requests, we have reintroduced our monthly scrapbooking workshop with a new idea for a 12x12 layout each time in a three hour workshop costing £15, and the only thing you need to provide are the photos.

 

With the first layout, the focus was on creating your own background with stamps, sprays, inks and embossing powders....

 

 

and making simple, custom embellishments....

 

 

 

and in the second workshop it was all about layers, in paper, ribbon and lace.....

 

 

and with the embellishments...

 

 

These first two workshops were fully booked and if this continues I will be happy to add a second slot each month either on the timetable, or as a privately booked session for a group of 4 or more. Is this something that would appeal to you?

 

Finally, I am currently working on the April workshop timetable and the February and March schedules are available over on the main website where you will find something else new too - each month we will be featuring our favourite product together with a project made with it. This was February's....

 

 

 Again, do let us know what you think.

 

 

That's enough for now, but I will be back on Tuesday with a roundup of some of the new lines in store and a peek at some of the latest workshop projects in the pipeline.

 

Thanks for dropping by xx