A Frugal Journey Through January Day 4

Hello again and welcome to Day 4 of my Frugal Journey where I have something a little different for you.

I am a huge fan of the work of France Papillon, the author of 'Journal on Mondays' where she creates the most amazing journal pages which are published each Monday on her YouTube channel. Over the past year she has been journaling in an altered book which inspired me to try something similar myself. All you need is an old hard backed book that you can bear to part with. Today, I will show you how I altered the cover, and later in the month I will share how I prepared the pages by thinning them out and creating some flaps and pockets, followed by a couple of finished pages.

I gathered some scraps of black card, stencils,black texture paste, homemade, but more of that another day, some embossing folders and Treasure Gold in a sliver finish.

 

I stencilled onto the cover and spine of the book with texture paste then painted over them with black acrylic paint by Eco Green Crafts - great coverage and a lovely creamy texture which dries beautifully matte. I then embossed all my scraps of black card with various embossing folders, mostly from Tim Holtz, but a couple of others that had no manufacturer's name on too.

I then tore up the embossed images, glued them to the front cover and then highlighted the texture with Treasure Gold. I worked in two layers which I think helps with the illusion of depth. As you can see I created a sort of steampunk look, without any dimensional embellishments as I wouldn't want them to be damaged when I pop this in and out of my bag, but you could use any paper or card stock, in any colour, on any theme you like.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out but normally I wouldn't risk altering the cover of journal before I had finished all the pages as I can be a bit of a messy journaler with lots of inks, stains and sprays - perhaps this will encourage me to work a little (or a lot) more carefully in future. I may also add some more dimensional embellishment when I have completed the journal, who knows!

Thank you so much for joining me today. I will be back, same time, same place tomorrow with an interesting idea for a scrapbook layout.

I hope you will join me x

 

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A Frugal Journey Through January Day 3

Hello again and welcome to Day 3 of A Frugal Journey through January.

I often doodle ideas for scrapbook layouts in a notebook for the day when Mr Mojo goes on strike. Ideas for cards tend to either get made at the time I had the thought, or lost with the sketch on a scrappy bit of paper headed for the waste paper basket when the urge to clear my desk hits me. So, why not be more organised with card layouts. Work out what you like on a specific size of card.

I started with a layout to fit a 13.5 cm square card but it can be turned,

 

resized, in full or part,

and the grid can be used as a stencil with inks or paints too for super easy one layer cards.

 

So, what would you sketch and how would you use it? Why not share your idea by leaving a link to your work in the comments to this post!

Thanks so much for stopping by. The stamps I used in these projects are Chocolate Baroque Wisteria Lane and the papers are from Prima.

See you again same time, same place tomorrow x

 

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A Frugal Journey Through January Day 2

Welcome back! If you missed Day 1 of this series just scroll down to find it.

Today's project uses paper piecing. I have used scraps from just one collection, a beautifully simple stamp of a very stylised flower, stamped on a craft card and the paper scraps with Versamark and WOW ultra fine bright white embossing powder. A tip I was given a long time ago to perfect your cutting out is to use really pointed, fine based scissors and move the paper, not the scissors. Whaaaat? Try it. When you are doing it right you will find yourself cutting out faster and more accurately.

A simple hand cut message tag tied with very fine twine, a few random pearls or gems, and you are done. If you are short of time or not keen on fussy cutting chose a very simple open image such as this one from Donna Downey Studios - back in stock later this month with many more from this inspiring artist - but almost any image will do. Really quick, simple and effective.

If you have a go at this then do leave a link in the comments below so I can drop by your blog to see your work.

That's all for today.

See you same time, same place tomorrow x

 

 

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A Frugal Journey Through January Day 1

If you saw my Happy New Year post earlier today then you have an idea what this series of blog posts is about, if not you can catch up with it here.

The plan is each day I will share a really simple idea for using up the stash we all hoard to a greater or lesser extent. There will be ideas for cards, scrapbook layouts, mixed media pieces, journal pages, books and more. So, I hope around 6pm GMT each evening throughout January you will pull up a chair, grab a cuppa and join me in my Frugal Journey Through January

I am pretty obsessed with making mini books and that often means a whole lot of leftover paper strips, I simply cut them down and use them to make really quick and simple cards. Great if you need one in a hurry or to have in you stash 'just in case'.

Different widths sometimes inked, sometimes not.

When I have used a paper collection for a project I always bag all the leftovers to keep them together so I can just grab a handful of already co-ordinating scraps when needed.

Any occasion, and even more satisfying...

....... when you manage to recycle the signature sheet from the packaging too!

When I feel I have exhausted all scraps from a collection I add them to my colour co-ordinated boxes of bits so I can always mix and match scraps from different collections by colour. Ideal for some fast and funky cards at any time of the year.

Well, that's all for today I hope you feel inspired to have a sort out of all your paper leftovers so you can make some very simple cards really quickly. If you do I'd love to see what you make, so do leave a link in the comments below so I can drop by and visit your blog.

Thank you for stopping by.

See you same time, same place tomorrow x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Happy New Year

Just dropping by with our best wishes for 2015, I hope you will join us in raising a glass to a happy and prosperous New Year for all.

In January lots of crafters resolve not to add to their stash until they have used up what they already have. Realistically, I don't think there will ever be that many Sunday's in a month or piggies on a fly past, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't have a go at making the best of what we already have, and space for the wonderful products that are sure to be just around the corner waiting for their release at CHA too.

Although I love to collect new products just as much as the rest of you, I am actually a very frugal crafter and hate to waste anything, or pay for something I can make myself - leaves more £££s for the more exciting stash! I thought that over the next month I'd share with you some of the ways I use up my leftovers and recycle my stash. So, I hope you will join me here each day on my Frugal Journey Through January.

See you soon x

 

 

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Snazzys Annual Winter Sale Event - a little reminder!

This Saturday Snazzys are celebrating Small Business Saturday, the annual event promoting small independent businesses throughout the UK. Now, as part of this we wanted to offer our customers a little thank you for all your support but, as we normally only have one sale a year where we clear the shelves ready for new stock (and avoid having to use too many fingers and toes to manage the annual stock count lol!) what to do?

Our answer, bring the start of our Annual Winter Sale Event forward to Saturday 6 December and make it the biggest and best one yet!

As ever all sale stock will have at least 50% off the original selling price and will include all wood block stamps, all Kaisercaft wooden embellishments, all Dylusions Couture stencils and stamps, all Snazzy Steampunk embellishments, all Walnut Hollow products, all Ranger Adirondack and Crackle Paints, all Prima and Pronty masks and stencils, all Artistic Stamper stamps and lots more.

But even better we will also have 25% off a huge range of other items including all full size ink pads, all PaperArtsy A5 stamps, all Dylusions cling stamps and sprays, all Tim Holtz Ideaology, all Hero Arts stamps, all Ranger Stickles, Distress Stickles and Liquid Pearls, all 12x12 patterned papers not already reduced by more, all Pan Pastels including the new Pearls and mediums, a huge range of blanks, an extra 25% of all Cosmic Shimmer colour co-ordinated Mixed Media packs, and too much more to list here. Whew!

The bonus for us will be for the first time ever we will have the sale and the annual stock count done before Christmas so allowing us to take a proper break over The holidays to spend with the family rather than just Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and for you....... a chance to grab your sale bargains early, allowing a little Christmas gift for you perhaps!

The sale starts at 11am on Saturday 6 December and we will be open from 11am to 3pm on Sunday 7 December too. Don is working in San Francisco next week so I will be a bit short of cover and will have to close at 4pm on Tuesday and Thursday rather than the normal 5pm - still plenty of time to shop though so I look forward to seeing you.

On a serious note, when the much missed Simple Scrapbooks magazine folded some years ago, the then editor urged her subscribers to spend $20 a month in their local scrapbook store keeping scrapbooking alive and their local store in business. I think this sentiment applies to customers of all small independent businesses whether they be your local butcher, baker or craft store. Show your support by spending a share of your normal spend with them and tell your friends about them so when you drop by next year, they will still be there adding variety and individuality to your shopping. Lastly we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the customers, in the studio, at events and shows and online who have done just that and supported us through the years, we would not be here without you and for that we are sincerely grateful.

So, as the hanging says, with our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Enjoy xx

P.S Ohh almost forgot the card machine is finally working again and we have a temporary email address (snazzysstudio@gmail.com) until all the new stuff kicks in in the New Year. Thank you all for your patience.

 

 

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December Workshops Timetable for Snazzys Studio

Hello again, and to our USA friends a very Happy Thanksgiving, I hope you are all having a wonderful time with your family and friends. I am known for being a bit 'bah humbug' about Christmas, and I have to say I was unimpressed with the supermarkets attempt to market the trappings of Thanksgiving to us here in the UK this week.

But and a very BIG but at that, just as I love Christmas, in December, (not July!) I also think we should steal the best bits of Thanksgiving and take a moment to ponder all we have to be grateful for. It is no secret that with illness, bereavement and the consequences of both on almost every aspect of our lives, the past few years have certainly had their challenges. The flip side of that is how our family pulled together, how our friends, (the real ones, not the fair weather types,) were so quietly there for us to share our tears, and a whole lot of laughter too. Most of all I am grateful to a very fine friend (you know who you are) who, when I was so stressed out with everything that was happening and worrying about all the wrong things, suggested I stop (very unsuccessfully) trying to be everything to everyone, and instead 'spend time with those who soothe your soul' and let the rest take care of itself - those who were my friends would understand my need to do this and those who didn't weren't truly my friends. So, today I count my many blessings and for the first time in a long while I am looking forward to a peaceful festive season with my wonderful family. I hope you are too x

To business and some great workshops if you fancy stepping off the merry-go-round and take a little time out for yourself and perhaps try something new?

I have been working this past month with one of my favourite collections this Winter, Jolly Holly from Basic Grey with co-ordinating stamps from Hero Arts. I have always adored Basic Grey papers, they seem at first glance to contain a pretty eclectic collection of somewhat disparite ideas, yet when you really look through them they are actually beautifully co-ordinated just not in an obvious 'matchy, matchy' way.

The stamps are a really good mix of the elements from the papers but again varied in scale etc so not completely matched.

All of the projects for December were made with these papers and stamps except for the monthly layout workshop. I made these quick cards just from some leftovers from the other projects to illustrate how versatile these papers are whether used by colour.....

....or all mixed up in workshop projects.

Wednesday 3 December 10am to 1pm

Last Minute Christmas Cards £15 or 1SWV

Join me and make five really Clean and Simple Christmas Cards using New Seasons stamps from Hero Arts with Distress Inks, Pan Pastels, masks and stencils.

Saturday 6 December 11am to 4pm

Christmas Block Book £30 or 1 SWVS

We all tend to gather with our family and friends over the Festive season and with lots of photos taken we need somewhere to put them all, not hidden in a box, but in a chunky little book with lots of flaps, slides, flips and pockets to keep them in order, together with any other memorabilia, ready to share and reminisce over.

Sunday 7 December 11am to 3pm

Art Journal Sunday £5

Join me in the Studio for a play with inks, powders, paints, stamps, stencils, masks and the odd idea or two. No need to book this one just drop in, grab a coffee and have a go.

Wednesday 10 December 11am to 3pm

Mini Star Book £20 or 1SWV + £4

Many years ago I designed this project after being very disappointed with a 'kit' I bought to make a book in the shape of a star which turned out to be nothing more than strips of poor quality sugar paper and not very clear instructions. I decided I could do better myself here is a mini version of my original.

Saturday 13 December 11am to 4pm

Exploding Box Book £30 or 1SWV

Ok then is it a book or an exploding box, both really as this is box which opens in the manner of a traditional exploding box but it incorporates a book into the structure. A great way to pass photos etc on at Christmas with a pocket to hold a gift card if you need it to be a gift too.

Wednesday 17 December 10am to 1pm

December Monthly Layout Workshop £15 or 1SWV

This layout uses an acetate layer to add interest, mine is on a festive theme in shades of turquoise and red. Book your space, bring along your photos and have a go.

The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed no 'Stop by and Stamp' or 'Technique Thursday' sessions in December, partly as everyone tends to be busy preparing for their Christmas celebrations and so we tend to offer fewer sessions in December, but mainly as these sessions have unfortunately not proved popular enough for us to continue with them. We are having a rethink and the New Year will see new ideas, new sessions and lots of fresh ways for us to share our tips and ideas with you. I hope you will join me on my journey through 2015.

Thank you for dropping by, I will be back very soon with some news on our annual Winter sale event which is also having a makeover this time around. Hope to see you in class soon xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

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