One of my favorite places to drive to in the greater Tempe area is downtown Mesa, or what I like to call the artist Mecca. This area is home to so many creative havens, including the Mesa Arts Center, a typewriter store, an old bookstore, and my personal favorite, Mystic Paper, an antique scrapbook store.
Mystic Paper was formed in 2004 when two friends, Jennifer and Kim, combined their love for scrapbooking and antiques into a one-stop paper superstore. Their goal was to create a domain for all crafters to shop, create, and play, building a friendly environment that made all artists and paper-lovers alike to keep coming back for more.
The first time I perused the inventory of Mystic Paper I was amazed. I literally could have walked around for hours picking and choosing all the cool products I wanted to buy. Some of the items included different types of glues and paints, as well as typical scrapbooking paper, tissue paper tape, and antique items like old keys, scrabble pieces, old stamps and flyers, and other one-of-a-kind items that give your work that “little something extra.”
In the back of the shop, Mystic Paper has a workshop area where they sometimes hold classes and events. Some classes are strictly technique classes; for example learning how to create stamps, basic sodering skills, and introduction to embellishments. Other classes are based on specific projects, such as creating vintage tote bags and charm bracelets. Depending on how long the class is, what you make, and what types of skills are covered, prices for the classes range from $15 to $85. There a multiple teachers that teach classes at Mystic Paper and sometimes guest speakers and teachers are brought in who are experts in a certain technique.
If you’re interested in more information about Mystic Paper, check out their blog or take a short drive down to their store, located on Main Street in downtown Mesa.
