Bleeeaaahhh Such a disappointing trip to HobbyCraft store (Cambridge)

I do not visit HobbyCraft stote often and usually find craft-y things I need on-line, but I thought after Easter holiday the store is bound to be full of discounts and special offers.


Well, I was naive, even Easter chicks were still marked at full price. Ooo?  I went to the Cambridge store to get some clay, paints, liquid latex, varnish and just for general atmosphere of "hobbiness". I was disillusioned almost immediately. The shelves were bare, I had to fight for black block of clay, I have only managed to get my hand on translucent red Sculpey and 2 blocks of "brakemyfingers" hobbycraft own brand polymer clay (I reviewed this clay previously, you can click here to check it out).


At the checkout I spent 10 minutes (I am not joking), 10 minutes waiting for cashier find a bar code for Sculpey clay and packs of wool! Really? When I asked what's happened to the store, she asked me "what do you mean?" I said that the shelves are all empty, especially clay section, where nothing left apart from a lonely pack of mix quick from Fimo and overpriced acrylic rollers. I would have given her an Oscar for the answer: "Ahhh, it is a high theft section". I wanted to say that it seems like the whole store is a big theft section, but restrained myself, of course :)

Anyway, I am so disappointed, I wanted this trip to make my day and make my crazy busy life a little bit relaxed, but NO...Life is cruel :)

Well, anyway, the rant is over. Here are my bits and bobs I managed to retrieve from the store.

Not much, I know :((

But the good news were: I got my 10% student discount and that pack of acrylic stamps (bird and owl) was only 25p!! And it is their regular price. So, bear this in mind!

Happy crafting, folks and check my youtube videos out for some clay related topics :)

Make and bake hobbycraft shop own polymer clay brand. Review

At last! Hobbycraft shop has opened its doors to the crafters in Norwich! I was there couple of days after of official opening to avoid the crowd. I was delighted at first and taken aback slightly, as some products were not really 'fresh'. I mean, for example, puff paint was dry. At first i thought that the shop was pricy, but when i  came back home and googled each product from my receipt - everything was cheaper in the shop than on-line, apart from POLYMER CLAY and TOOLS!! How unfair!
Anyway, i try refrain myself from complaining at this point and quickly tell you about newly found 'Make and bake' Hobbycraft own polymer clay brand.

When I have opened the package and "broke" the block of clay my first impression was: 'Its "Creall-therm' polymer clay texture and feeling.

For those who is not familiar with old “Creall-therm” I will go into details. ‘Make and bake’ clay is hard to knead, very crumbly, lumpy, colors are terrible, plus original price was £1.99 for 58 gramms, whilst for that price you can buy smooth and firm Premo Sculpey. And by looking at the package i assumed it was designed for children. I am not sure whether a child will be able to knead "that".


After curing the piece of clay is loosing its brightness and look like it has got some ‘bumps’ on the surface. Brrrrr….

Therefore - there is plenty of room for improvement. But I do not think that this will happen though in regards to 'Make and bake' polymer clay.