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I am traveling to Phoenix and would like to know from the gals who live there....what is the best places to go, I am talking about small stores not the chain stores like Michael's. I am hoping to find some things I can't find locally here in Calgary, Canada....what are your favourites and why?
thanks for your help
Jeannine
Hello from a fellow "canuck" who spends winters in the Phoenix ( mesa) area. I am a cardmaker and as such get my supplies from Scrapbooking stores.
From my7 years here, I find they are all different and cater to different things.By that I mean some seem to be more into digital and others into more artsy types of scrapbooking and cardmaking. Some carry a lot of stamps and some hardly any. Maybe if you were more specific in your "wants" some of the girls might direct you to a store that has more of what you want.
I have lived in Calgary , and Phoenix is much larger and stores are much further apart. So you might also want to be more specific .
Good Point
I am looking for cardmaking supplies, I am not into scrapbooking. So what I am looking for is a store that has a good variety of embellishments, paper, ink. One that has a good mix of most supplies. I will be in the Sun City West area but we are willing to make a day of it to shop around. We are planning on going to Messa so I won't rule that area out. So where do you shop when you go.
Thanks
what style of paper do you like? vintage or cute doodle style?
Here are two of my favorite places in the west valley-
Occational Artist is located in downtown historic glendale. she has rubber stamps and supplies very neat store. copic marker, inks, embellishments, not a lot of scrapbook paper mostly card stock. this shop is perfect for the card maker and book binding crafting.
Phoenix Scrapbook Store is located at I-17 and Cactus inside an brass armadillo antique mall. its not very big but has lots of unique embellishments, vintage paper, cheap prices on scrapbook paper, collage sheets, german scrap, etc. items vary here and different each time I visit. not much stamps but stuff is super cheap. Mostlly vintage stuff. i just find out about the new bigger location opening in Goodyear 3/1/12.
In other areas - Frenzy Stampper in downtown Scottdale has alot of wm rubber stamp and lots of stamp supplies mostly artsy mixed media stuff.
Stamp Works in Chandler has a mix of wm rubber stamps and clear stamps and a lot of copic markers and supplies. Stampwork has a variety of cute images, tilda, Greeting Farm, vintage, Stampscapes, and every type of stamp for any theme. not lots of embellishments like charms or doodads for cards like Frenzy Stampper. This place has the biggest selection for stamps in Arizona. Sometimes hard to find it is behind buildings in an old house.
Thanks Dee
That was real informative and gives me some stores to look for. I went to Stamps Works last year and enjoyed my visit. So I am going to give the other two a try.... I hope to go to the new store in Goodyear.
Hello again. If you had specified cardmaking as your primary interest ,I would have suggest Scrapbooks Etc now called ETC at the corner of University and Lindsy in Mesa. It has been mentioned here a number of times ,and I think they have one of the best selections of paper. They also have a huge selection of die cuts which you can use for the mere price of $3 for 1/2 hour of $5 for ann hour. You can bring your own paper or buy theirs.
They also have a classroom which you can use and all the tools for free as long as there is not a class being held there.
The Stamp Barn on Val Vista used to be a fav, until they told me thery were going into digital stamps so they have few stamps there.
Last year I visited Stamp Works which was highly recomended ,and was very disappointed. Many stamps here but every time I asked for one of the stamps that were used on the examples she was sold out. I had quite a list of things that I could not get . She told me they had just had a class and sold out, but my wants were so varied I could not believe that she did not have one of the 10 things I wanted. I then found out that she has been trying to sell the store ,and can now apreciate that she does not want to carry a large inventory of new things. Having said this ,I am going to go back this year in the event that last years visit was an anomoly (sp). She does carry a variety of companies and I believe she now carries Memory Box dies which is what I hope to check out.
Like anywhere you live different stores carry different things and its a matter of finding the one that best suits your needs. Mind you that does not stop me from checking out the good advice from the gals here.
I am off to Maui next week ,where I hear there is also a new stamp store since last I visited .Enjoy your visit in Arizona.
Jeannine,
I live in Peoria which is not far from Sun City, there is a LSS called the Crop Girls on 97th Ave and Peoria. This store carries a variety of stamps and the ladies are nice. Another store in the west valley is Scrap Happy Sisters on 67th Ave and Happy Valley road, they carry a mixture of stuff. The Craft Retreat is on 59th Ave and Greenway, it is a smaller store but they do carry stamps. inks and other stuff. I went to the Occasional Artist the other day and was disappointed as she only had a few select stamps, when they were in the other building they carried alot more, I have also always thought that her prices were higher. I recently went to the LSS in Anthem which really isn't that far by way of the 101 and 1-17. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or want more specifics and I will find out what I can for you.
The Creative Quest is no longer there, it was turned into a boutique. Some of the owners bought the little house next door and it is now called the Occasional Artist.
Jeannine,
I live in Peoria which is not far from Sun City, there is a LSS called the Crop Girls on 97th Ave and Peoria. This store carries a variety of stamps and the ladies are nice. Another store in the west valley is Scrap Happy Sisters on 67th Ave and Happy Valley road, they carry a mixture of stuff. The Craft Retreat is on 59th Ave and Greenway, it is a smaller store but they do carry stamps. inks and other stuff. I went to the Occasional Artist the other day and was disappointed as she only had a few select stamps, when they were in the other building they carried alot more, I have also always thought that her prices were higher. I recently went to the LSS in Anthem which really isn't that far by way of the 101 and 1-17. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or want more specifics and I will find out what I can for you.
Luci - I haven't been to the LSS in Anthem, I need to check it out. I know it's been around for several years. How is the overall selection and prices?
Its really cute! It looks shabby and vintage and inside a huge antique mall. Not far from where you will be visiting in the west side valley of PHOENIX. (I live in souther az noting in Tucson any more)
I am glad I found this thread. I have been to Scrapbooks Etc. in Mesa, and it is pretty cool. I am a die-hard stamper and I was really liking this store, they also have fabric which is kind of cool. We usually go down to the Rubber Stamp trade show at the Mesa Convention Center when it's there (twice a year). We had been to Creative Quest one time, and we've been to one in Glendale a few times, maybe it's The Craft Retreat but it wasn't called that when we were there. Another thing I have been wondering is if Sandy's Corner is still in Prescott. They had a lot of really cool Artsy stuff. Does anyone know?
Sandy's Corner is no longer in Prescott. As far as I know all the small scrapbook stores we had are gone. We have Michael's & Joann's in Prescott, and Hobby Lobby in Prescott Valley. A friend & I went to the Mesa rubber stamp show a few weeks ago. I felt like a kid in a candy store! I love to see new products and techniques and apparently (sadly) the only way to find that anymore is to travel to Phoenix or shop online.
Does any one know if any of the north/northwest stores have die cut machines available? I need several sizes of stars, and my poor little sizzix won't do it.
Does any one know if any of the north/northwest stores have die cut machines available? I need several sizes of stars, and my poor little sizzix won't do it.
I have been told that the Joann's in Prescott has a Cricut that can be used.
Any updates to this list? I know Etc. and Occasional Artist still exist. Planning a short trip to Phoenix and dh actually offered to take me to at least one store.
Any updates to this list? I know Etc. and Occasional Artist still exist. Planning a short trip to Phoenix and dh actually offered to take me to at least one store.
Sadly, four stores closed last year. There are seven that remain in the Valley. Each and every one is unique and worth visiting.
We're staying in Scottsdale. I don't want to push my luck too much so I'm trying for a couple...thanks for the info. At home all the local stores have closed so I have to drive an hour to the closest store.
We're staying in Scottsdale. I don't want to push my luck too much so I'm trying for a couple...thanks for the info. At home all the local stores have closed so I have to drive an hour to the closest store.
The stamp store (Frenzy Stamper) in Scottsdale CLOSED last year. It might be about 45 minutes in either direction to visit the closest stores, just depends on traffic.
Many years ago, there were over 25 scrapbook and stamp stores in Arizona and in the Phoenix area. Now there are seven stores that remain in the Phoenix Metro area. We hope they stick around for the years to come.
The three stores (Etc. and Scrapbook Barn) in the East Valley are geared a bit more towards scrapbooking style, with Etc. offering more fabrics and part scrapbook supplies. (Etc. used to own Bazzill, which is now part of American Crafts). CraftFusion is more mixed media style. East Valley stores are located in Chandler, Mesa, and Gilbert.
The three stores in the West Valley offer more items for card makers (The Paper Collage and Scrap of Love). Occasional Artist offers more wood mount stamp selection and book binding. West Valley stores are located in Sun City West, Glendale, and Peoria.
There is Melrose Vintage in Central Phoenix. Part vintage Shabby Chic furniture store and part scrapbook store.
All are fabulous stores with each one having very individual style and merchandise. Check out each store's website and/or Facebook pages to get a better idea of which ones you'll want to visit. Would love to hear about your store visits!
I would say that Scraps of Love in Peoria is my favorite. They have tons of different stamps, papers and accessories. I live about 45 minutes away, but it is totally worth the trip.
My favorite retail store is the Paper Collage in Sun City West. Its very charming and cute. I visit everytime I visit from Tucson my friends and I travel for the day. I like their selection for cardmaking stuff. The owner girl is very nice and friendly. They open 4 days a week I visit when they open. Worth the drive. Not too much stores still around.
I also visit Occational Art Quest in downtown Glendale too. I like there stamp selection not big store. Located in old house. They have nice sample card ideas.
I like AZ Scrapbooking in Green Valley. That is closer to me in Tucson, not in the Phoenix area. Good for card maker selection.
I not like the big craft stores have boring and not good selection. Good luck on you visit to Arizona.
What are the best scrapbooking stores in Phoenix
