In Snazzys Studio this week.......

Hello, just a quick update on what's on in the Studio this week.

Tuesday's Stop By & Stamp session is all about slider cards.....

 

...I have used Kaisercraft's new Subway Art stamps for this sample and kept it very crisp in black and white. Of course you might choose to use completely different stamps and colour combinations in yours but we have lots to choose from in the workshop. So, if you fancy a go at making slider cards then drop in (no need to book) between 10am and 1pm on Tuesday, kettle and coffee pot will be on - that's included in the £5 session price too!

 

Wednesday morning's workshop is fully booked and will be full of sparkle with the first of the new season Christmas cards to be made. If you missed out on this one there will be another with more new projects and ideas later in the month, and also on the October workshop timetable which will be out later this week. 

 

Thursday's Technique Tutorial is designed to help you perfect your embossing technique.

 

 

This sample is made with the fab WOW embossing powders and stamps from Hero Arts. Again this is just the 'for instance' and as this is a drop in session there is no need to book, just pop along between 10am and 1pm and join in, Again the session price is all inclusive at £5.

 

Hope to see you in the studio soon xx

 

 

 

Thursday Already

This week has fairly whizzed by and after a busy week, we are off to Newbury tomorrow to set up for Artstamps England this weekend.

On Tuesday we ran the first of our new weekly Stop By & Stamp sessions. A gentle start with a very simple no measure pop up card using JOFY 15 stamps by Jo Firth-Young for PaperArtsy.

Here is 'the bones'...

 

and here are the samples you could follow if you wished....

 

 

and here are the results.

 

 

Not a bad morning's play ahem work.

 

See you same time, same place next Tuesday with a different demo and samples for you to try your hand at. If you fancy joining us then you will find all the details on the main Snazzy's website. 

 

Before I go we are starting a new monthly challenge at Snazzys Studio.

 

Most months at Snazzys we offer around ten new workshops with original projects, the Design Team share new projects every week on Snazzys DT blog and we have even been known to remember to blog a project or two either on my own blog or here on the store blog too. Add to that all the new products that arrive in store each month, the store display boards, the in store and event demos we do plus Art Journal Sunday, Stop by & Stamp and Sampling Sunday we are hoping you will find something to inspire you.

 

Your challenge each month will be to share a little something you have made, inspired by something you have seen in store, on our blogs, in our workshop or you have bought at Snazzys in store or at an event. Tell us what inspired you in the comments area of this post and link to where you are showing your project. On the last day of the month we will ask Mr Random to select a project and send a little prize to the winner.

 

That's all for now as I need to get packing ready for loading - if you are going to Artstamps this weekend do drop by stand 6 and say hello - Mike has ordered good weather so a picnic might be in order.

 

Back soon xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Morning Monday....

... and a beautiful morning it is!

 

As we don't open until 11am on a Monday I had a quiet moment with my coffee in the garden area outside the store this morning - everyone else was already hard at work so really peaceful.

 

Not for long though as we have a very busy week ahead.

 

Tomorrow sees the launch of our new drop in session, Stop By & Stamp. It will initally run from 10am to 1pm every Tuesday morning right through Summer and into September - lots of people have told us how much they miss the old Thursday Tabletime sessions and, as we only stopped them because we felt that after nine years the format was becoming a little tired and unfocused, the new sessions will focus on a different product, technique or stamps each week with samples for you to follow if you wish. Full details can be found over at http://www.snazzystampingandscrapbooking.co.uk/page49.html so we hope you find time to join us.

 

We only have one workshop this week, Wednesday morning 10am to 1pm, a cardmaking one using the new JOFY Summer collection stamps which Snazzys DT are also using this month, I will try to blog the samples later. There is no Saturday workshop this week as it's Artstamp England at Newbury!

 

 

As we do each year, each day (Monday to Thursday) this week we will give away a ticket to this event, which can be used on either the Saturday or Sunday, keep an eye on our Twitter & Facebook each day for details.

 

The store will be closed this Friday & Saturday 5 & 6 July whilst we are at the show, if you are going to the show do drop by Stand 6 on the ground floor and say hello. It's a lovely little show with loads of free parking and areas to picnic in whether you enjoy sunshine or shade so well worth a visit - full details at www.artstampsexhibitions.org.uk

 

That's all for today. Thanks for visiting.

Back soon xx

 

 

 

 

Hello Sunday

I don't know where this week went but suddenly it's Sunday again. Not just any Sunday, it's the last Sunday of the month so Art Journal Sunday in Snazzys Studio.

 

I didn't read the newspaper, didn't chat all day and I did finish a journal page. If you want the lowdown on how this page came together pop over to my own blog tomorrow for the details.

 

Thank you ladies for your company and apologies all round for the lack of photos, must try harder next time which for anyone who'd like to join us is Sunday 28 July. No need to book just grab your journal and come along and join in. Don't have a journal? never done a page? no idea what it's all about? Pop along between 11am & 3pm on Sunday 28 July and have a go!

 

Now the other reason this Sunday is important is I can share what Snazzys DT will be wowing us with over the next five weeks over on the DT blog starting with Gillian tomoprrow. Ready.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer has landed at Snazzys - courtesy of JOFY for Paperartsy lol!

 

If you fancy trying out these stamps for yourself they are also featured in this Wednesday's workshop, details here and are available in store and in Snazzys online store.

 

Thanks for looking.

Back soon xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving on.....

Retirement comes along at some point for everyone and products are no different really.

We continually review all the products we have in store, and with the latest exciting releases always just on the horizon, we often have to make some tough decisions about which product lines need to move on over to make way for all the newest ranges.

We currently have 25% off all our Darkroom Door stamps as sadly we will no longer be stocking this brand. This was a real toughie as I love all the beautiful detail in these stamps but it is time for something new. We do still have one or two designs in the iconic tins which are no longer available, online over at http://snazzysstore.com/.

Replacing Darkroom Door on our walls (and in our online store) we are proud to hang stamps from a home grown UK designer and manufacturer, the wonderful Chocolate Baroque which we will be adding to our stand at all Artstamps shows in future too. Thank you Glenda and Adrian.

In our new entryway photo above you may also catch a glimpse of the amazing JOFY stamps both the 2013 Spring Collection and the new Summer release designed by Jo Firth Young for Paperartsy, again in the UK, and now gracing our walls and online store. Much more to come from them as we gradually introduce the PaperArtsy range of products!

You may remember earlier this year we introduced the new Ranger Distress Paints, which I didn't want to like but.....

Focus on Distress Paints Workshop Sample Wednesday 24 July



...with my addiction to backgrounds they are absolutely here to stay and we will be adding the remaining colours just as soon as Ranger release them.

 

The downside is that the Headmaster said to make room for them I had to agree to let another paint range go so... 

 

.....bargain!

 

The other lines of product which we will be retiring are from Cosmic Shimmer.

 

We have stocked the full range of Cosmic Shimmer Embossing Powders - Aurora, Blaze, Lustre, Precious Metal, Ultra Thick Embossing Crystals, Sparkles etc - since we first opened, adding new colours and finishes as they were released. Similarly the Cosmic Shimmer Misters have been a fixture on our shelves for more years than I want to think about and we simply feel it is time for something new. So, stock up on these now.....

 

...... they won't last long at these prices and when they are gone, they are gone!

 

We have all the new Dylusions Ink Spray colours in stock so that makes 18 amazing colours all together.

 

We have held the price of these at £4.35 since they were first released by Ranger but with the current exchange rate and increased shipping costs we have had to increase the price to £4.75. We are holding the price of the stamps at £19.95 however and have the new ones in stock.

 

Monster Mash is my favourite...

 

..and I couldn't resist a little play with them - more details of this project coming over on my blog (http://inkyexploits.blogspot.com/) at the weekend so do stop by there too! 

 

I think that covers things for today, more news on new lines in store, the launch of our Monthly Challenge and some other interesting developments in Snazzys Studio early next week so do stop by then and catch up with all the gossip.

 

Thanks for stopping by xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long time no blog....

Hello, just a quick catch up which I know is a bit of a cheek given how long we have been MIA lol!

Firstly, and most importantly, an enormous and heartfelt thank you for all your messages, prayers, cards, flowers and thoughtful condolances over the past few weeks. We have been very touched by how many of you have taken the time from your busy lives just to drop by with kind words - and even kinder offers of help. We are blessed with the very best of friends, you know who you are xx

Secondly, a little request. When we exhibit at events we get lots of lovely customers telling us how much they enjoy looking at our blogs and especially the fantastic inspiration they get from our wonderful DT blog. We always appreciate this, as we know just how much time and effort the DT put into creating amazing artwork for everyone to enjoy.

Sooo, as you browse the blogs it would be great if you could take a moment to leave a comment for our teamies to let them know you have been by and to show your appreciation of their work directly, you can even win a little something if your comment is picked by Mr Random - and it would save us feeling like old frauds as we gather the plaudits and have done none of the work lol!

Now, along with a taste of Summer weather, the new JOFY Summer release stamps from PaperArtsy arrived this morning....

 

there are three A5 plates

 

 

 

 

and six Minis.

 

 

 

 

Great fun and they are already in Snazzy's Online Store too over at http://www.snazzysstore.com/

And on the JOFY theme, the Spring release is the focus of tomorrow (Wednesday) morning's workshop

Wednesday 5 June 10am to1pm

 

with Clean & Simple cards (above) as well as techniques with Dylusions Inks and Distress Paints.

 

Saturday 8 June 10am to 1pm

 

 

Distress Paints also feature in Saturday's workshop along with Prima masks & stencils, texture pastes from Maimeri, Treasure Gold from PaperArtsy and lots of new Kaisercraft background stamps.

 

We have some space on each, just give us a ring at the store on 01793 602470 - if it's out of hours just leave a message and we will book you in.

 

We will be back later this week with more news on both more new products in store, and ranges we are retiring, plus more sneak peeks of the rest of this month's workshops.

.

So, watch this space xx  

A little peek.....

Oh, isn't it wonderful that the sun has started to shine, even if it is still a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings. Cheers you up no end!

Over the last month we have had lots of new bits in store and I thought I'd give you a quick peek at some of the products I have been using.

Firstly we had the stylish new Couture range of clear stamps from Dylusions. There are four plates all together, three in a fab size ideal for featuring in your Art Journals but then they have cleverly combined all three of the large size images onto a Mini Couture plate which is ideal for cardmaking, and great value at just £12.95.

 (You will find them in our online store too over at http://www.snazzysstore.com/dylusions/ )

 

I used them to create a display board for the store combining the stamps with the very striking 6x6 patterned papers from Bazzill's Basics range which had also just arrived in store. These are beautifully co-ordinated in six colourways to a scale that is perfect for cardmaking.  These packs have 24 double sided sheets, four in each of six designs at just £6.35.

 

We also have all the new colours of the Dylusions Spray Inks (still just £4.35 each) in store which I used with the new JOFY stamps, designed by the very talented Jo Firth-Young for Paperartsy.

 

 

There are 4 A5 plates and 8 Minis in the range, ideal for your Spring projects and they too can be found in the online store at http://www.snazzysstore.com/jofy/

 

 We have also increased our range of stamps from Chocolate Baroque and I had some painty, inky, waxy fun on a canvas with the lovely A5 Honey Bee plate - makes you long for Summer!

 

 

And yep, you guessed, this plate together with all the new Chocolate Baroque plates are available from our online store over at http://www.snazzysstore.com/chocolate-baroque/ I also used a lovely 6x6 Honeycomb stencil and a dusting of Ranger's Perfect Pearls, which are wonderful with wax, on this project and although we have the entire range of Prima 6x6 stencils and all 32 Perfect Pearl colours individually in store at £2.95, I haven't yet found the time to get them into the online store, must try harder!

 

We also have all the latest stamps in from Tim Holtz (new Blueprints etc), Prima (Sunrise/Sunset and Engraver), Kaisercraft (over 50 designs delivered this very afternoon, so guess what I will be doing this evening!) and I will try very hard to pop back soon, share some more samples, and add the new stamps to the online store as soon as poss.

 

We are off to Artstamps Cornwall (Stand 4) this weekend so the store will be closed on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 May but open as usual from Monday 6 May, yes, even tho' it is a Bank Holiday. The following weekend we are off to HSNW at Port Sunlight (Stand 32) and the store will again be closed on the Friday (10th) and Saturday (11th), unfortunately due to family committments we will also be closed on  Monday/Tuesday 13/14 May too.

 

On the subject of shows, we have had a number of enquiries regarding our 'no show' at the Creative Crafts Shows at both Malvern and Shepton Mallett this year.

 

It is always a fine balance between keeping our store open and getting out to meet you all at shows and other events. This year we are reducing the number of shows we exhibit at from 16 to 12 and have reached the decision on which shows to miss on the basis of how good a fit we are to the show. As we are very much a specialist stamping store many of the general craft shows are not the best arena for us so in the main we will be sticking to the specialist stamping shows such as Artstamps (4), HSNW (2), BSSS Ally Pally & possibly Kettering (3), the Craft & Hobby Show (2) and no matter what, Gateshead Stadium in October!

 

That's it for now, have a great Bank Holiday weekend.

Back soon xx