Jo Sonja's painted cabinets

Here are some lovely cupboards that have been decorated using Jo Sonja's paints and mediums by one of our customers Caroline Snowdon.

On the cabinet below Caroline has also used stencils instead of napkins to make a wonderful decorative effect.

Caroline, thank you so much for sending these photos into us, you have done a great job.

If anyone would like to learn how to use Jo Sonja's paints and mediums you could always book yourself onto one of our mid week or Saturday (monthly) workshops.

Furthermore, if you need any Jo Sonja suppliers and can't make it into the shop you can always order on-line here.

Stair Step Card

Here comes the spring......... I love the whole combination of this card, from the stair step technique Nicky has used, the gorgeous Wild Rose Studio stamp, to the bright papers and cardstock.

Nicky showed the girls in her workshop earlier in the week how to make this stair step card. They are great fun to make and definitely have the WOW factor! If you missed the workshop and you would like Nicky to demonstrate another stair step card just mention your interest in an e-mail to lynn@flutterbycrafts.co.uk and another workshop can be arranged subject to interest.

This stamp and a huge range of Wild Rose Studio stamps are available at Flutterby Crafts (contact details) or at our on-line shop here.

Here Nicky has used some adorable papers and bright cardstock for the greeting which she has cut out on a Cricut machine.

We have lots of cardmaking workshops to suit all levels of cardmaking so, please don't forget to collect your new SPRING brochure and take a look at the range of workshops we have on offer.

Efcolor Workshop - Saturday morning

On Saturday we had Fiona Jones come to the shop to run an Efcolor enamelling workshop. Now, I don’t want people to think I am a misery or anything but, while I was working away in the shops – yes, just me on my own – everybody else was having a whale of a time playing with the powders and shapes. Life isn’t very fair!

For those who are not aware, Efcolor is an cold enamelling system that is very user friendly and can be integrated into many different crafts.

Each participant was given 5 pieces to play with and they were shown a variety of techniques to embellish and decorate their pieces. These pieces can then be used to make jewellery or to use as embellishments on card and scrapbook pages.

It was a very full class and Fiona did a fantastic job. Thank you, Fiona. If you would like more inspiration, please go and pop over to Fiona's gallery here.

I did manage to slip away from the shops, for a few seconds, to take these photos of everybody having fun. Then I slunk back downstairs leaving everybody to continue playing, lucky souls.

We will be repeating the experience on the 26th March, if you missed out. Please contact me if you would like more information on lynn@flutterbycrafts.co.uk

See you all soon.

Lynn x

FIMO Workshop - Saturday afternoon

Fiona Jones moved into the bead shop for the duration of Saturday afternoon and demonstrated to us a selection of Fimo (polymer clay) techniques for making gorgeous gifts and jewellery items.

For more information on Fimo please click here.

This photo above shows Fiona having moulded and layered the Fimo ploymer clay to get the desired patterns. She then makes a hole for the beads to be later threaded.

This photo shows a threaded bracelet, top of a gift box which has been layered with Fimo, different pattern effects and a heart shape necklace design.

Here the beads have been moulded and are placed on rods ready to be baked in the oven.

A lovely butterfly key ring made using the Metallic Effect Fimo.

The Fimo pattern has been moulded into these clasps.

Here the intricate pattern of moulded and worked Fimo has made a stunning ring.


How cute is 'Ellie'! Here he is holding a 'Don't forget note holder' for those people who always forget!

This photo is for Nicky and Ruth who thought this cat was adorable which has also been moulded using Fimo.

Everyone was transfixed by Fiona's informative demonstration using Fimo.

For more information and ideas about Fiona's designs, click here.

Thanks go to Fiona for a wonderful demonstration. If you missed the demonstration and would like to know how to get started please talk to Lynn and she will show you the range of Fimo colours and accessories that are available.

I believe there may be a Fimo workshop in the near future, so for those of you interested, please e-mail Lynn at lynn@flutterbycrafts.co.uk

Shh...just hi-jacked the blog for a second.

I was meant to send out a new newsletter today, but the brain is not working properly - so it has not happened.

I need to apologise for the fact that the workshop brochure cannot be downloaded yet. I will get it sorted sometime in the next day or so (promise!!).

Anyway, this is just a quick reminder that we are having a busy day tomorrow. In the morning we are having an Efcolor Enamelling workshorp. Now, if you are not already booked on for this, then I am sorry but you are too late for the fun. But do not worry, Fiona will be back for another go later inthe spring.

After the workshop has finished Fiona is going to be demonstrating how to use Fimo for your beads and embellishments. She will be in the shop from 2 'til 4 for this one. So come and find out about Fimo. Good fun!

Have a good weekend and come to join in the fun tomorrow afternoon.

Lynn

Newsletter - January

~2011 is here~
The nights are getting
lighter
(so I am told)

Hello Everybody

Here we are nearly into the middle of January, spring must be coming soon. So I thought I would put a picture on here that gave the feel of spring and what gives more of a spring feel than a bunch of Snowdrops? I hope it cheers you all up.

I don't think for one moment that we are through all the bad weather yet, but we must be through the worst of it.

Thinking of bad weather, my thoughts are going out to all our friends in Queensland who have be caught up in the flooding. As awful as our floods were the other year, my goodness me at least the houses were not washed away. It must be dreadful and we wish them all the best.

Talking of Australia, the son has gone walkabout over there for a few months, landed in Sydney on Monday last week. He put a posting on Facebook today saying that he went skydiving yesterday. Luckily he did not tell me until it was over, otherwise I would not have slept last night!!

Anyway, on to other things. What a few week we have had!! Between the broadband service, internet sites, emails and the weather, I am really glad to get over the end of 2010 and I am hoping that 2011 will be better. My sister is trying to convince me that I am at the end of a 7 year cycle and that things will change soon. Cannot come soon enough!!

So, what has the New Year got for us?

Well, let me begin with the new SPRING workshop leaflet which is NOW out and should be available soon on the website or for you to pick up in the shop.

And then:


We still have a few places left on the Efcolor Enamelling workshop on the 22nd January. If any of you did not get to the shop for the demonstration that Fiona did shortly before Christmas, you missed out on something. And now she is coming back to teach you all she knows - well, all she knows about Enamelling anyway!!

The workshop will last from 10 am to 1pm (yes, a whole 3 hours of play!), you are guaranteed to go home with 5 completed pieces and the cost is £20. Give me a call if you want more information.

The most important thing to remember with this enamelling system is that you do not need an expensive kiln - those days have long gone! So join us to find out all about it.

And, if that is not enough, once she has finished the workshop Fiona is going to sit in the shop (from 2 'til 4pm) demonstrating the use of Fimo!

Also, while the demonstration is going down in the shop - upstairs in the workshop Nicky will be running the first of our Image Swap afternoons. If you are into your rubber stamping why not come and share your enthusiasm. Nicky will do a basic tutorial at the start, then it is play time! Bring along your rubber stamps and share ideas on how to use the images or swap images around.

What a day to look forward to. No kids, no hubby, no housework, just great fun and lots of play. What more could you want?

The other thing to look out for is the first of our Saturday crops with Catherine. This is another new workshop and all the details are on the workshop brochure (another reason for you to pop in and see us!)

It has taken me all day to write this little newsletter, how sad is that! I am trying to work my way around this new system and I am finding it hard going. Hopefully by the next newsletter I will have worked out how to do all sorts of twiddly things. So I am going to leave this here and now. I will catch up with you all in another week or so.

I am going to go, play a game with Buzz and give Bridie a quick brush.

Have a good week and see you at playtime.

With best wishes

Lynn and the Girls.

Chalkboards using Jo Sonja Paints

Take a look at these gorgeous chalkboards that were designed and painted by Liz Black using Jo Sonja's paints....aren't they FUN.

Now, why don't you pop over to her website Applejack Crafts and take a look at her wonderful gallery of decorative painted crafts.

Christmas Baubles

I know, I know, Christmas is over now, but I just had to show you these lovely baubles decorated by one of Flutterby Crafts customers Miriam Ward.

Maybe, some of you organised crafters might want some inspiration for when you start your Christmas decorations this year!!!!! (mentioning no names Lynn!).