Valentines and Love!

For quick and easy cards/layouts Nicky has used one sheet of Around The Block, Love Sentiments and has made at least 6 cards and scrapbook layouts using one sheet of sentiments! Here are some samples but why not come and check out the display boards in the shop for more ideas.

Around The Block - Love Sentiments

If know what love is, it is because of you.

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.



Scrapbook page and 2 more cards!

The sheet is 75p and is great value for lots of love sentiments for those men in your life that need sweetening up!

Newsletter - 10th February 2010

Hi Everybody

I hope you all survived the last lot of bad weather. Apparently it is due to come back at the end of this week, but I am told that it will not be as bad as before. Mind you, if we were in Toronto wanting to take part in the Winter Olympics, we would be glad to see the snow!!

I have been a bit lax on the information updates lately, I am sorry. Grant and I have been busy with the decorating and it was a big job. We did a job on the hallway and landing that we have been meaning to do since we moved into the house. Well, when I say 'WE' I really mean 'HE'. It needed the walls stripping right back (all those years of painting over the wallpaper was very hard to get off), coving & dado rails put up - the works. But it does look gorgeous. Just needs a few bits of nicky nacks to finish it off. He is a wonderful husband - but don't let him know I said that.

Anyway, back to getting mind onto work now.

Thank you to everybody that returned their questionaires. There is one more week left for anybody that still wants to return it. All returns, received so far, should have received their 10% voucher and the draw for the Craft Lamp will take place on the 18th February. I am going to ask one of the children from the Half-term Kids Klub to pull out the winning name.

Once the draw has taken place we will be going through all the answers and, hopefully, it will help us to sort out things that you ladies (and gents) would like.

The workshop programme is now well underway and things are livening up. Nicky's Tuesday afternoon Cardmaking Club has got a lovely group of ladies coming to it and the club was selected as Craft Club of the month in last months Quick Cards magazine. How cool is that? They have won a Big Shot, so I am looking forward to seeing what they make of that. There is still room for more, so come an join them and make some gorgeous cards.

The Tuesday evening Beading Class is getting back into a swing after the New Year break. Ruth has got some beautiful designs for us all to stitch. This class is my personal relaxation time. I sit and make with the rest of the Ladies. Great fun!

The Ladies that came to last Saturdays Promarker Club had great fun learning how to get the fur/texture effect with their Promarker pens and a new challenge was set. The winner of the last challenge, set on the December meeting, was Kirsty Cook and she won a Crafters Companion craft bag. Well done Kirsty. Her card will be put on the blog over the next day or so.

The rest of the classes are building well and we are having a good laugh while making something to cherish or give to someone special.

Remember that it is half-term next week and we will have the Kids Kraft Klub. Ruth is going to get the Kids making some jewellery on the Tuesday and a mini-scrap book on the Thursday. Fantastic way of keeping the kids occupied while you have a bit of peace!!

Please note that we have changed the days from Tuesday/Friday to Tuesday/Thursday. This will become the standard for school holidays. Every Tuesday and Thursday during the holidays.

The weekend at the end of half term is our traditional weekend away meeting all the Trade Suppliers and seeing all the new crafting bits & pieces that are coming out this year. Nicky is going to find out about all the new papercrafting bits and Ruth is going to check out the bead suppliers. And Me, well I am going to play Lady Muck and swan around 'networking'. My job is to find some nice suppliers who will help sponsor our new project.

Would you like to know what our new project is???

Well, I am going to tell you. Hopefully you will find this exciting.

We are going to be having a Craft Retreat in October. A whole weekend of staying in a 5* hotel, being waited on while having a great time crafting, do more crafting and THEN doing even MORE crafting. How does that sound?

Nicky, Tracy and I will be running it, Joanna will be organising it and the rest of the girls will be taking care of the shops while we have fun.

The Retreat will take place on the weekend of the 8th - 10th October and we will be starting with a dinner on Friday followed by crafting playtime before bedtime. Saturday will be full of workshops (with a bit of SPA time in the afternoon) followed by a Gala Dinner and Craft Quiz evening. Sunday will have much of the same (yes, even MORE crafting) before heading back home to reality. But, you will take away a goody bag with loads of great pressies.

We will be basing the crafts around the event for that time of the year (shhh, that means using the 'C' word!) and we will be using the latest products. This retreat will be based around gift making within the papercrafts with a bit of playing with beads and, maybe, some paints or something. I am not going to give too much away just yet! Joanna will be giving out snippets of ideas on the blogs nearer the time.

Interested? Want to know more? Fancy a weekend away having fun? Contact us now and we will send you out the details. Call me on 01635 860900 or email me at lynn@flutterbycrafts.co.uk and I will arrange for an information pack to come out to you.

If this retreat goes well then we have plans for future ones further afield and taking in other crafts. So come and join us.

So, what more have I got to say? Have you seen Pepper & Friends? Pepper & Friends are the latest designs from Dovecraft and they are gorgeous. We have had some great fun with them. There are loads of new card and scrapbook samples in the shop at the moment.

Ruth has got some new beads to play with in the Bead shop this week. Spring colours if I remember rightly. Large and small. Some beautiful feature beads. My imagination is flowing, I just need time to play.

And today we took stock of some new glass dishes, lovely and different. Loads of new serviettes are due in next week, so I will be having fun big time.

And watch out for new things once we have been to the trade show next week. I will keep you updated as the weeks go on.

Well that is it, time to stop talking and time to make someone I know (and love) a very special Valentine card (can't really go to Clintons can I?!?!?!).

Have a good week. Keep safe. Keep snug. Keep crafting.

With best wishes from

Lynn and the Girls

Remember to contact us and get your Craft Retreat info pack!!

Half Term - Kids Kraft Klub

Ruth is going to get the Kids making some jewellery on the Tuesday and a mini-scrap book on the Thursday. Fantastic way of keeping the kids occupied while you have a bit of peace!!

Click on Poster above to enlarge detail.

Watch out for updates

We are in the process of setting up a feed to twitter and facebook, where you can follow the going's on here at the shop...

Watch this space!

Spring Accessories

I have loads to show you on the blog at Flutterby Crafts because Lynn and the girls have been very busy whilst the ground was thick with snow. The first thing I noticed when I walked into the shop last week was that Lynn has been reorganising the shop!! You don't need to worry, everything is still there but MORE! Just visit the shop and you might see something you need that you haven't noticed before.

There are these lovely gift bags which include ribbons, flowers and gems which would be an ideal gift for your crafting friends.

So come on and take a visit, the snow is far from our thoughts and spring accessories and new stamps are beckoning you to the shop!

Saturday, 6th February - Workshops

Just to remind everyone that the Kids Kraft Club starts up again on Saturday, 6th February, 10.30-12.30. Just click here for further details.

Also, the ProMarker Challenge Club will be back in full swing, on Saturday, 6th February, 2.00-4.00pm click here for details. If you want to learn more about ProMarkers and colouring in your rubber stamped images why not come and join Nicky at the ProMarker Challenge Club. You will be in for a treat!!

What would you like to see!!!

Well the trade show is coming up soon, and we have pennies to spend.  What would you like us to stock.

Please tell us as we will buy the whole show at the rate were are going LOL!!!!

Tracy XXX

Pepper & Friends

When you walk into the shop you can't fail to notice on the wall the amazing display of the Pepper & Friends collection at Flutterby Crafts. They are a must have for all animal lovers!!

There are some most adorable wooden and clear stamps, paper packs, decoupage sheets, ribbon, chipboard and other embellishments to name but a few!

I am sure Nicky will be coming up with some beautiful designs for her workshops. Come and check out the blog during the next few weeks and I shall showcase some of her cards using the Pepper & Friends collection. Even better, why not treat yourself and book into a class, click here for workshop details.

Jewellery Workshop with Lynn

We have a great selection of Metallic beads and Puff Hearts which are new in the shop...aren't they gorgeous?

Lynn will be making this stunning Metallic bead necklace at her next Jewellery workshop. If you would like to book your place why not call us on 01635 860900, visit the shop or e-mail lynn@flutterbycrafts.co.uk.

Jewellery Making Workshop
Thursday, 4th February - 6.30 'til 8.30 pm

For more details of our Beading and Jewellery Making Workshops during the next few months click here.

ProMarker Challenge - Thank you

All the entries for the ProMarker Club Challenge have been submitted. Now all we need is for you to vote so we can have a winning card. The challenge was to use any stamp with your ProMarker pens but the theme was "Thank You". Please check out the lovely cards below and cast your vote leaving a comment below stating your favourite card. The winner will be announced at the next ProMarker Challenge Club, so hurry up and vote NOW.

If you don't know how to leave a comment below click here for instructions ....it's so easy!

Card #1

Card #2

Card #3

Card #4

Please click here for further details if you would like to book on the next ProMarker Challenge Club to be held on Saturday, 6th February between 2.00 and 4.00 pm at Flutterby Crafts.

Rubber Stamping for Beginners - Stazon

Just to let you newbies know that Nicky has a Rubber Stamping for Beginners Class on Saturday, 30th January followed by a Colouring for Adults Class on Saturday, 13 March at Flutterby Crafts.

Nicky will teach you how to get the best from your rubber stamps and then a few weeks later (once you have had time to practice) she will teach you how to colour in your images.

Rubber Stamping for Beginners
Saturday, 30th January - 2.00 'til 4.00pm

Colouring for Adults
Saturday, 13 March - 2.00 'til 4.00pm

Cost £12.50 per session and all materials are provided.

If you book into both workshops you will receive a free Stazon Ink Pad of your choice.

To book your place, give us a call on 01635 860900, pop into the shop or e-mail us on lynn@flutterbycrafts.co.uk

Snow or no snow

We are such a perverse lot!! When the winters have been warm, we have all moaned about the good old days when you knew the difference between the seasons. Summer was summer and winter was bloody cold!

So this year we have a VERY cold snap. The ice arrives. The snow comes. And then we all start longing for it to warm up and melt!!! Ho, hum, life cannot win.

Over the Christmas and New Year period it looked beautiful as we stood in the shop looking out over the Kennet Valley. The fields and hills were covered in pristine white snow, it was gorgeous - but dangerous to move around in.

Today the snow has been melted by the rain and winds that came over night. The temperature (out of the wind) has risen to a balmy 4 degrees. It is now safe to come out of our shells into the open air. The only down side is that it looks dull and grey out over those same hills.

Thank goodness spring is just around the corner - the eveenings will be getting lighter, the trees will be turning green and the daffodils will be turning their little yellow heads to the sun. There, that thought has just put a smile back on my face.

Have a good weekend and enjoy lots of crafting.

Lynn xx

Snow Family been down the pub!

You may remember I posted an entry of our snow family made by my children during the last snowfall. As the thaw is beginning to set in we all had a giggle as they opened their bedroom curtains this morning.......

......Thomas exclaimed "they look drunk"!

Newsletter - 8th January

Hi Everybody

Happy New Year to you all and what a start to the New Year.

Can I just say - Yea! We finished the stocktake this afternoon - at 2.55pm to be exact!! Considering the problems that we had with the snow this is quite an achievement and I want to thank all the girls very much for the hard work that they put in this week. They have all struggled to get in through the snow and the only day that we could not work was Wednesday, when we did not have any electricity or telephones at the shop.

I have a question for all the card makers amongst you: how many peel-offs do we have in the paper shop (to the nearest 100)?

And for the beaders - what is the total weight (in Kg) of seed beads in the sweet jars behind the counter?

Have a go at answering the questions - there is a prize on offer for the winning entry!!!!

Anyway, it means that the shops are now back open as normal. I have so missed you all. I hate the shops being empty. It's like cooking a dinner and finding that no one has come home to eat it!!

What a week it has been with all the snow. I expect a lot of you are becoming stir crazy with being stuck at home. I hope that you have all been making the most of the enforced home stay to catch up on some crafting. If you have and you are beginning to run out of supplies, do not worry - we are accessible. The A4 is pretty clear and we have a wonderful farm manager (we love you Nick!!) and he has done a great job of clearing the snow from the driveway & the farmyard. And, remember, it is due to snow (again!!) on Sunday so it might be an idea to get stocked up before the bad weather hits once more.

I have put some photos of the shop in the snow on the blog. Scroll down to older posts to see them!

Although the shop is accessible, I am worried about the stairs to the workshop and especially as the new term is due to start next week. It might be an idea to give us a call before the class just to check that we are able to use the stairs to the workshop.

So, here goes to this year and what it has to offer us. There is a copy of the new workshop listing on the website. Click for a copy.

Next week Nicky and I are going for some previews of the new Trimcraft products (hey, WE get to play!!), then in February we will be having our trip to our big trade show. Here come the girls, we are going to have fun!! Then we come back and let you all in on the secrets - hee, hee, hee.

The latest Promarker Challenge will be closing at the end of next week, 15th January. So there is still time to get your card in. Remember that the challenge was to make a 'Thank You' card using your Promarker pen. I did not give any further instruction other than that. So, make that card and get it sent in - thats an order!!

Deborah Foulkes won the last challenge with her card featuring the Indian Squaw stamp from the Ollifant set. Well done, Deborah!

What else? Well here is an idea that I am just throwing into the air. I did not run the coach to the NEC last November, mainly because of the lack of support that I had the previous year. But, I am willing to give it another go this year. If you would be interested in my running a coach for the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC in March and/or the one in November, can you let me know - depending on the response I will find out some details and see what can be done.

Next week I am hoping to get a questionaire out to you all. I need some input from you to enable me to make some decisions for the coming year. I am wanting to find out about which magazines you all read and where you look for your crafting inspirations (apart from your favourite craft shop). What type of classes would you like us to run and what time of the day/day of the week. Things like that.

I will send out the questionaire as soon as I have written it. Everybody that responds will receive a voucher and their names will be put into a prize draw to win a desk top magnifying lamp (worth £35). So get ready to answer those questions.

So there we go for now. Read it all over again and remember to send in your answer to the questions about the stock. You never know, you might be the winner. And watch out for next weeks prize draw questionaire.

Have a quiet weekend and take care in the snow. Happy crafting.

With best wishes

Lynn and the Star Girls.

Snow family!

I know the novelty of the snow may be wearing thin for some of you but the kids just love it.

My children have relished every day they have checked on-line to see if their schools were closed. So, this week they have had the best week ever. My three children aged 5yrs, 9yrs and 11yrs made our family out of snow!

They range from Daddy who is 6ft 6ins.....it took four kids and a teenager to put the head on the body to make him tall! Then me, whoops I didn't check, there was talk of them putting boobies on me! Then Thomas, Alice and the smallest snowman is Matthew. We were running out of carrots and had to substitute them for parsnips! It certainly kept them amused and quiet for several hours. Hopefully it has made you smile before our next snowfall!

I said it is beautiful

Here are some photos of the shop in the snow. How pretty it looks up here. Lucky for us, we have a wonderful farm manage (Nick, we love you!) and he has done a fantastic job of clearing the snow from the drive and the farm yard. So it is no problem getting up to us to have your fix of craft goodies.

xx

How beautiful it all looks!!

Hello, Everybody.

Well, it LOOKS lovely out there. I hope you are all safe. I managed to get to the shop, briefly, this morning - but there is no lighting, no phones and no computer. So I have come home and I am working from here. Joy.

I am sure nobody is trying to get to the shop. My advise is stay at home and do some crafting. We will be up in action asap.

Take it easy.

Lynn x

ProMarker Challenge Winner!

We have a winner for the ProMarker Challenge Club that was set by Nicky on 7th November.

The winner is Deborah Foulkes - Card #1

Deborah was in the shop last week to collect her prize of ProMarker pens.

Nicky had given the members of the ProMarker Challenge Club some stamped images which they coloured in using the colours BLUE and BROWN with their ProMarkers. Thank you for all the entries and well done Deborah!

For more details of the ProMarker Club click here. Another challenge will be set at the next :-

ProMarker Challenge Club
6 February , 2-4pm
£7.50 per person

If you would like to book your place at the next ProMarker Challenge Club call us on 01635 860900, pop into the shop or email us on lynn@flutterbycrafts.co.uk.

Promarker News

Hi Ladies,
Something good has come out of all the rubbish tv programmes I have had to endure, over the Christmas period, at the hands of my darling hubby and his possession of the tv controller!!!!

Yesterday we were sitting having a quiet cup of tea when his daily dose of Matt Hayes Total Fishing came on Quest TV. Imagine my surprise when I watched the resident Carp fishing expert (remind me to change Nicky's title to 'Resident Rubber Stamping Expert') and he recommended camoflaging the hook length and leader line (see, technical knowledge as well!!) with the trusty PROMARKER pens.

So now, Ladies, this is just the excuse we all need to go and buy masses of different colours. Explain to your darling man that he NEEDS them ALL to cope with varying conditions in British waters - in reallity he will, of course, only need black, brown and green - but you can look after the other colours until he finds a shallow swim that has pink, red and purple striped gravel on the bottom of it!!!

So work together, Ladies, it is our turn to play mind games with the Men.

The only downside to all of this is that I have been told that am obliged to watch this programme EVERY evening just in case they come up with another idea to help me. Oh well, you can't win them all!!!!

Love, Lynn xx

Newsletter

Hi Everybody

Can you believe that it has been 5 years since I wrote the very first New Year newsletter for Flutterby Crafts. Such a lot has happened in that time.

I hope you all had a good Christmas. It was very quiet here at Courteney Towers. Grant and I had the house all to ourselves until yesterday, then the parents, the son & the Katie all turned up. Vistitors are like buses, you wait ages for one then they all turn up at once. Still, we had a good game of cards last night - Philip tried to take the pensions off of his Grandparents, but they had the measure of him!!!

So, its all back to work tomorrow. Shop open at 10am and I will, hopefully, have remembered to take off my Christmas Cracker Hat!! Only a short week. Tuesday & Wednesday 10'til 4, Thursday 10 'til 1pm and then Saturday as normal.

Next week we have got to do a stocktake. Can you just imagine all the counting that we have got to do? None of us are looking forward to it. This is where we require your help. We need as much of the stock gone this week as is possible. So I am going to try and encourage you to come in and spend!!!

The type of things on offer include:

In the Paper Shop
25% off all Christmas Stock
Peel Offs (normally 85p each) 10 for £6.50
All 3D Decoupage 20% off
Buy 10 sheets of 12x12 or A4 paper/card and receive 15% discount
10% off of all Jo Sonja Acrylic Paints & Mediums
plus many more offers

In the Bead Shop
20% off of all loose beads no 1 to 8 in the Pick'n'Mix
20% off of all silver charms
30% off of all flatback Swarovski crystals
10% off all bead strings
plus many more offers

Small Print
All discounted items do not count towards loyalty points
during the sale, Promarker pen discount operate as separate scheme.

There, how does that sound? I know that a lot of you have this week for relaxing, so why not make a start on next years crafting - it is the perfect opportunity!!!

See you all tomorrow or Wednesday.

Happy New Year for 2010 and for New Year opening times click here.

Lynn and the Girls. x

Happy Birthday Anne!

I am sure everyone would like to join Lynn and the girls a special birthday wish to Anne who meets and greets our customers in the shop. We all wish you a wonderful day and lots more lovely pressies.....lucky girl!

Christmas is here at last!!

Well, the shop is now shut and will not be re-opening until Tuesday. Four days off. I must admit that I am looking forward to that. I hope all of you are home safely and not suffered too much in the bad weather. My thoughts are going out to Doreen, a dear customer and friend, who has fallen and broken a bone in this icy weather.

Grant and I had a lovely weekend with Helen and Jet. Jet loved the snow and we had a great snowball fight on Monday evening. Unfortunately it was dark so I did not get any photos. I understand that a VERY special Gentleman is visiting Jet tonight and we are going to be hearing all about it.

Anyway, we are now going to put our feet up (probably open a bottle of something) and take it easy.

I want to send you all my best wishes for Christmas & the New Year and I am sure you will all join me in thanking the Girls in the shop, for all the help that they have given us all during the year.

Have a great time, make some time for crafting. Remember the sale next week!!

Love from, Lynn x

Newsletter - 18th December

Good morning, Everybody

Wow, what a beautiful morning - if you have not got to go anywhere!! Such a shame that it did not wait one more week. How magical it would be to wake up to snow on Christmas Day. Anyway, I hope all of you are safe and take it easy in this weather.

I am waiting to find out if the trains will be running ok because Helen and Jet are due to come here today and stay for the weekend. The snow has given me very mixed feelings. I want it to disappear so that all the travelling can be done safely, but I want the snow so that we can have fun playing in it!! Need to make my mind up.

If they get here safely our Christmas will start. The tree will go up tonight and one very excited little girl will help her happy nanny decorate it. Wonderful!

Talking of Christmas - we have got the Kids Christmas Gift making day tomorrow. We will be help the Kids to make a gift for their favourite Him and Her - cannot tell you what will be made, its a secret shhhhhhh! For more details check out the website. Remember it will give you a peaceful few hours to get jobs done or put up you feet, while we take care of the little darlings.

Hopefully you are all organised and ready to relax, take a break, spend a wonderful time with your families. You never know, you might find time to do some restful crafting - I certainly am hoping to get some making time, mind you Grant and I (stupidly!) decided to decorate our hall and stairway - idiots that we are.

Then we will be into the New Year and a new start. The workshops re-start in earnest on the second week in January. We have got the new brochures in the shop or you can download it from the website.

Between Christmas and New Year I will be opening the shop for a few days and we will be having a bit of a sale - 25% off of Christmas stock and a few other bits & pieces - Ruth is going to have some fun in the bead shop putting a sale price on some of the beads!!

If you are still looking for something for your dearly beloveds to buy for you, we have some wonderful magnifying craft lamps in the shop and some lovely BIG metallic coloured beads - perfect Christmas present and we have a gift voucher system if you do not want something specific.

What else? Ah, remember that we will be closed for stock taking on the first week in January - I have to keep reminding the girls that although we are closed this doesn't mean that they don't have to come in!! I don't think they are looking forward to it.

If any of you receive the Trimcraft inspiration newsletter, you will have seen that Dovecraft have a new range coming out in the new year - Pepper and Friends. It is a gorgeous range and we will be having it in as soon as it is released!! Something to look forward to.

Watch out for some exciting news towards the end of January, next year is going to be a good year. Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

With love, hugs and all best wishes from

Lynn, Nicky, Anne, Ruth, Joanna, Catherine and Caitlin.

Christmas Opening Dates
24 December, OPEN 10.00am-1.00pm
25 December, CLOSED
26 December, CLOSED
27 December, CLOSED
28 December, CLOSED
29 December, 10.00am-4.00pm
30 December, 10.00am-4.00pm
31 December, 10.00am-1.00pm
1 January, CLOSED
2 January OPEN 9.30-5.00pm
3 January 'til 8 January, CLOSED for stocktaking
9 January OPEN 9.30am-5.00pm as usual

Slider Cards

Nicky will be making a version of these slider cards soon......aren't they lovely? Please leave a comment for Nicky on the blog below if you are interested in making slider cards and she will arrange a workshop shortly.

Lynn has told me that she will be making a Valentine themed slider card at her workshop on the 14th January, 2010 "Card Crafting with Lynn", 6.30-8.30.

To avoid disappointment why not book yourself now onto Lynn's popular Card Crafting workshop by calling her on 01635 86099, e-mailing lynn@flutterbycrafts.co.uk or visit the shop.

Childrens workshops

Hi Everybody

I know that I said I would not be sending another newsletter before Christmas, but this one is a special one.

There has been a lot being said at the moment about the new regulations for the safety of children and we got caught up in the hysteria surrounding it. I spent too much time reading the press and listening to heresay about the situation, went into a spin and decided that we would not be able to continue with the Kids Klubs.

At the beginning of the week Grant went on the hunt through the new regulations and discussed the matter with those that know and the conclusion is that we are ok - certainly for the next 8 to 10 months - to continue with the programme that we have been running. Ruth, Catherine and myself have all been CRB through work that we have previously carried out with children.

So, to this end we will be re-instating the Kids Klub for the new year and it will start on the first Saturday morning in February. Details of the school holiday workshops will be added shortly into the new year and we are able to continue offering Birthday Parties. How's that? All we need now is for enough kids to keep it going.

To celebrate this good news we are going to be holding a His'n'Hers Christmas Gift Making Day next Saturday, the 19th December, from 10am 'til 3pm. The idea will be that they will make a pressie for Mum (Nan, Aunt, Sister etc) or Dad (Granddad, Uncle, Brother etc). There will be one workshop in the morning 10 'til 12, then afternoon workshop 1'til 3. The cost will be £15 per session or £25 for the whole day (remember to bring a lunchbox). Click here for full details on the website.

So that is all for the time being and the next one really will not be until I send out the Christmas wishes just before the main event. Oh, except for one thing - take a look at this http://www.flutterbycraftsberkshire.blogspot.com/ - I know I am biased, but what a little poppet!! My favourite little angel this Christmas and what a wonderful job her Mummy did with her first Nativity outfit. Fantastic what a pillow case and a bit of tinsel can turn into!

See you all soon and remember to get the kids booked in for next weekend - have a break yourself.

With best wishes

Lynn and the Girls

My Little Angel

Hello Everybody.

I have hi-jacked the blog from Joanna (shhh, don't tell her). I want to show off my Granddaughter Jet. Isn't she just gorgeous. I think she must be just about the cutest angel this Christmas - not that I am biased or anything!!!

Anyway, I will let Joanna have this back now. I am going to go and drool over the rest of the photos of her.

Lynn x

Flutterby Craft Gift Vouchers

Don't forget that if you want to buy a gift for your partner, relative or friend why not give them a gift voucher to spend in the shop after Christmas!

Just speak to one of the girls in the shop who will prepare a gift voucher and decorated wallet for the perfect present for any crafter or jewellery designer!

I only wish my husband would read this blog entry and get the hint!

ProMarker Challenge Entries - November

These are the entries from the November ProMarker Challenge Club. We apologise for the delay in getting the entries photographed for the blog, but voting will be open until Christmas week. If you attend the ProMarker Challenge Club today the next challenge entries will be open for voting from the first week of the New Year until late January.

Card entry #1

Card entry #2

The November ProMarker Club challenge was set by Nicky on 7th November.

Nicky gave the members of the ProMarker Challenge Club some stamped images which they coloured in using the colours BLUE and BROWN with their ProMarkers.

Card entry#1 has used the Ollyfant stamps of Indian Girl and card entry #2 has used the Whiff of Joy stamp called Henry Mouse with large tea cup. A large selection of Whiff of Joy stamps are now in stock at Flutterby Crafts and they are gorgeous to use with your ProMarkers.

"Time to vote now"

Vote online by leaving a comment below, or post your vote next time you go into the shop for your favorite card.

Next ProMarker Challenge Club
6 February , 2-4pm
£7.50 per person

If you would like to book your place at the next ProMarker Challenge Club call us on 01635 860900, pop into the shop, email us on lynn@flutterbycrafts.co.uk or for further details click here.

Newsletter - 4th December

Hi Everybody

What a beautiful morning!! When we walked the dogs, at some unearthly hour, the moon was full and the sun was just coming up, the sky clear and the air was crisp. It was freezing cold with a hard frost and a mist across the fields. Absolutely charming and beautiful. I love mornings like that!

And why should it not be like that? It is December after all!! Can you believe how fast this year has gone. What an eventful year it has been. Between my little sister emigrating, Dad having his accident with the kettle, my other sister moving, Katie getting her job in London, Philip moving back in, us adopting Bridie and loosing Kes, Nicky having her operation and Gavin with his back operations - it has been a complete year of ups and downs.

From what I hear, it has been the same for so many people this year. Goodness knows which star sign planets are clashing with which, but I wish they would move on and give us all a break.

I did hear some good news yesterday, though. Some dear friends of Grant and mine became Grandparents for the first time. Their daughter had a little pair of blue bootees. Tony had desperately wanted a son but was blessed with 3 daughters, but now he had a Grandson - how wonderful.

And another friend, who is a distance away, became a Grandma to a pink pair of bootees. All is well in the world. Both babies are good and the Mums are well. Bless!

So, what is happening in the world of Flutterbys?

Well, I am going to start by congratulating Gavin (Nicky's Hubby). He is retraining as an electrician and he passed his first exams with a credit. Well done!

We are organised!! The new year workshop listing has been done and the brochure has been printed!! Never been known that we are that advanced. Joanna has worked hard on it this week and there will be a printable version on the website by the end of the weekend. Click here for the place to watch.

The brochure shows all of the regular workshops. As yet we have not sorted any specials, mainly because we have a few ideas up our sleeve which we have still to finalise. As we sort out the specials I will send a newsletter with the information and it will be posted on the website/blog.

We have been asked recently about the Christmas Wish List, so these are now available in the shop.

Joanna has been doing a wonderful job on the blog, keep it updated with news about the workshops and the projects that have been done. Nicky has made some wonderful things for the Christmas workshops. If you cannot get into the shop to look at them in person, make sure you check them out on the blog. Please leave comments, it does our hearts good to hear what you think (provided it is complimentary!!).

So, that brings me nearly to the end of this letter. I know, I know it is only a dozen pages long. I hope you have all noticed that I am not writing so many in the middle of the night these days. Grant has noticed, I am not leaving him to snore in peace!!

There will probably be only one more newsletter before the year ends and that will be Christmas week. Our Christmas opening times have been posted on the website on the 'contact us' page. But in brief, we are basically closing on Christmas Eve at lunchtime and re-opening on the Tuesday, then closing at lunchtime on New Years Eve and then we are closed until the first Saturday of the New Year (9th January) - we have got to do a stock take!!!!!!

Have a wonderful run up to Christmas. Don't work to hard and don't spend too much (unless its in here, of course!).

With best wishes

Lynn and the Girls.

Christmas Gift Weekend Samples

Look at some of the lovely gifts you missed making if you couldn't get to the Christmas Gift weekend!

All these samples and more are on display around the shop for you to view.

Pillow Box by Nicky

Desk Calendar by Nicky

Notelet Set by Tracy

Flower pot bell by Lynn

If you would like to make any of the above gifts feel free to speak to Lynn or Nicky in the shop and they will see if they can arrange a 1 to 1 workshop for you.

Newsletter

Hi Everybody

Have you noticed the sun shining over the past few days? Wonderful, isn't it - mind you it has come with a major drop in temperature, the wind up at the shop was cutting straight through us. Still, the sun was shining!

Yesterday morning when Grant and I were out walking the dogs - at some unearthly hour of the morning! - the sun was just rising and it was beautiful. The dogs were running around getting up to all sorts of mischief, even they were pleased the rain had stopped.

And to add to the pleasure this week, we have won the lottery!! How wonderful is that? But before you go thinking we are moving the shop into the big barn, let me burst your bubble of excitement and explain that it was only £29. Never mind, it gave us a giggle and it is easier to spend £29 than £2.9 million!!

Anyway this is a VERY, VERY quick letter. I just wanted to remind you all that Tracy arrives tomorrow and that Nicky, Tracy and I are going to be running a Christmas Gift making weekend this Saturday and Sunday.

There are lots of photos of the things we will be making (see earlier blog entries below) and on the website - they look gorgeous. (Thanks, Joanna). So if you are interested in attending any of the workshops to making any of these items, give us a call - there are still some spaces left (and I understand that the rain is coming back, but we will be enjoying ourselves!!).

Talking of Joanna, she will be coming into the shop on Tuesday and we are going to be putting our heads together to sorting out the calendar for next year - so the next newsletter will contain details of the new workshop brochure.

The new year workshops will probably start on the second week of January, mainly because we will be closed on the first week of January for stock taking - how boring is that?

Remember that next Saturday 5th December is Kids Kraft in the morning and ProMarker Challenge Club in the afternoon (is there no end to fun!!).

Right, I promised this would be very short so I am going to end it now!! Just one quick update of toys that are coming into the shop in the next few days - we are expecting our first delivery of Whiff of Joy rubber stamps hopefully tomorrow and the next delivery of Toho beads are due into the Bead shop on Monday (together with some Czech crystals and flower beads).

Have a great weekend and remember to look at the bits we are making this weekend, then come and have a play with us.

Bye.

Lynn and the girls.