Super Circles!

The latest edition of Making Cards - February 2011 is in stock, so don't forget to come into the shop and collect your copy. Lynn was browsing through the magazine last week and started playing after reading this article......

Lynn has taken inspiration from cards as shown in the magazine, that have been designed by Dee Paramour on page 22 titled Super Circles. Here below, Lynn has made 3 quick, simple cards.

Lynn has used a similar design as highlighted in the magazine, but instead of using an embossing folder she has decided to stamp her design on the circles.

The chipboard circles have been punched, inked, stamped and attached using brads to this card.

This card uses the same theme of the Super Circles but Lynn has used Kaiser flowers to embellish this card with a simple peel-off sentiment on top of the layered papers.

Running with the same Super Circles theme Lynn has used decorative brads, papers and stickers from the Paper Company (Bordeaux collection).

Here are just a few ideas using Super Circles as your theme. Now it's your turn. Why don't you have a play and show your Super Circles themed cards to Lynn when you next pop into the shop.

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!).

Happy New Year

I would like to wish everybody a very Happy New Year. I wish you all good health and prosperity during this coming year. May 2011 bring us all good joy.

With best regards

Lynn xx

See You All Next Week

Have a very Merry Christmas, Everybody.

I am about to go off and play Santa Claus, before going and putting my feet up.

I will be back in here on Wednesday.

With love from Lynn x

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year
from
Lynn and The Girls

Hi Everybody

Well, this is different from our normal newsletter, isn't it? To say we have been having a problem, over the past few weeks, with our website and email, would probably be the understatement of the year!!

Thanks to the lovely Karen, though, things are now being sorted - but it does mean that I am having to get used to a different newsletter system, thats the bad news!, the good news is that more of you should be receiving this. More of you can sit and read my ramblings!!

Can you believe that the end of the year is coming around again, so fast? It seems like only yesterday I was sending out the last Christmas wish. And what a busy year it has been.

We had the birth of Freyja earlier in the year, which was wonderful - Ruth got a pink grandchild at last and Catherine got a daughter to dress up!! The on-line shop went live around this time (www.themulberry-bush.com), which gave added fun for Catherine. Between Freyja and the website, Catherine has been kept very busy with both her babies growing by the minute.

Tracy opened her shop, with Karen, down in Plymouth. We had the Retreat in early October (that was such fun!).

And then, of course, we had the birth of our baby - only this one is growing faster than anything I have ever seen and you cannot contain him in a playpen!! I am talking about Buzz, our new Labrador, who was 6 months old yesterday and makes a shire horse look small!!

I am not sure who is the most mischievious, Buzz or Bridie. He is certainly keeping us all on our toes. Poor Kip (our old Lab) is definately not impressed and we have had to change our Christmas decorations this year, the tree is up high on a unit so that Buzz does not pull it to pieces.

It will be fun on Boxing Day, when Jet and Helen arrive. Jet, presents and Buzz. Hmmm....I don't think any snoozing on the sofa will be going on in our house!!

What else has gone on this year? We have had workshop, demonstrations, shows - so much going on and all too much to mention. Our workshops this term fizzled out at the end, mainly due to the weather and everybody being busy, but we did finish it with a wonderful demonstration of the Efcolor Enamelling System with guest demonstrator, Fiona Jones.

And here we are again, back to another Christmas and it is going to be a white one!! How wonderful.

So onwards and upwards into 2011, but first I had better mention when we will be closed and open over the Christmas period:

24th December - 9.30 'til 1pm (closing early!)
25th until the 28th December closed - feet up, wine flowing!
29th December - open 11 'til 3pm (see SALE details)
30th December - open 11 'til 3pm (see SALE details)
31st December 'til 5thJanuary CLOSED for Stock Taking (yuk!!)
6th January all back to normal (hooray!!)

Did you see the mention of a SALE? Yes, we are having a two day sale!!!! There will be 25% off of all Christmas stock (get yourself sorted for next year!) and 10% off of all Jo Sonja's stock, 50% off of the decoupage sheets (including the Paper Nations), and an extra 10% discounts on the rubber mounted stamps.

Also I will be running a prize draw - if you come into the shop and let me know how many times I mentioned the word 'Christmas' in this email, your name will be put into a draw to win a Photo Storage Case, priced in the shop at £12.99!!

Now for next years workshops. The new brochure is available, Joanna has done another wonderful job on it. We have got copies in the shop and it will be available from the new website once we have learnt how to upload information!!

We have got some new classes starting in January and a new pricing set up for the beading classes, so read it very carefully.

There are two things that have not been mention in the brochure. One is the Parchment Club on a Thursday afternoon. There was a slight blip a few weeks ago when we thought it would be closing, but I am pleased to say that the Ladies are going to be keeping going with it. So Thursday afternoon, 1 'til 3, is still Parchment Club.

Secondly, on the 22nd January we will be having an Enamelling Workshop with the lovely Fiona Jones at the helm (check out Fiona's work at http://www.projects4crafters.co.uk/)

Fiona came to demonstrate the enamelling a few weeks ago and has agreed to come back to run a workshop. Again, the full details will be on the website in the next week or so, but basically it will be from 10am 'til 1pm. Fiona will teach you for the first hour or so and the next two hours will be play time. The guarantee is that you will go home with a minimum of 5 completed pieces of enamelling. The cost will be £20 and places are limited. So email or call me to book yourself in.

After the workshop has finshed, Fiona is going to sit in the Bead Shop and demonstrate the use of Fimo for making beads and embellishments.

So maybe it would be worth bringing your packed lunch on that day!!!

What else? Well I think I have written myself to pieces and bored you all for long enough. It is time I went and finished making the Christmas pressies for everybody. If you did not make yourself a drink before you started reading this, you probably are desperately in need now!!

So have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Come and see me next week. Remember to count the Christmas words!!!

With love and best wishes

Lynn and the Girls. x

Jo Sonja's paints and Napkins!

Look at this stunning bag made by Maria who runs our Jo Sonja Workshops each month. She has used Jo Sonja's paints and mediums together with napkins on what started as a plain canvas bag.

Maria has decorated the bag with a stamp from her craft room and some rhinestones for the bling effect!

If you would like to know how to decorate your household objects, bags etc. why not join our Jo Sonja Workshops run by Maria (on the 2nd Saturday of each month), starting again in the New Year.

Don't worry if you can't make a Saturday, there will be a mid week Jo Sonja Workshop run by Lynn, so check out the new workshop calender which should be out by the New Year.

Efcolor Enamelling System

Joanna asked me to write some words about our Efcolor enamelling demonstration that was held last Saturday, but I disappeared and had a few days off – so it has taken a little while to get it sorted out. I am sorry.

We had the lovely Fiona Jones come along and demonstrate the versatility of the Efcolor.


It is so simple to use and is fantastic for making jewellery, embellishments and all sorts. Fiona had a range of examples that she has made. They included the gorgeous Gecko, which she has used to decorate the front of a notebook.

Fiona showed the enamelling being done on mountboard and chippies as well as the copper blanks. She also showed how you could add pieces to the enamelling to give textures as well as patterns.

A great day was had and we managed to eat many mince pies as well as drinking much mulled wine.

So this weekend I am going to be making loads of last minute Christmas pressies all with an enamelled theme.

Have a great weekend. See you all soon.

Lynn x

Decorated Platter with Jo Sonja's paints

If you are stuck for last minute ideas for Chrismas gifts why not visit the shop and see what items you could decorate for your friends and family.

Lynn has decorated this lovely platter using Jo Sonja's acrylic paints and mediums together with napkins.

If you pop into the shop, we have a huge amount of napkins that you can purchase, together with lots of wooden shapes and articles.

If you need some advice and ideas to get you started, chat to Lynn who will be more that happy to advise you exactly what products you need to decorate your project.

Latest Newsletter

Hello Everyone

I hope you have all kept safe during this all this cold weather. Can you believe it? I know that we (technically) are in the Winter, but did we have to have the snow this soon? And, so I understand, we are only going to get a very quick respite of warm weather before the ice and snow comes back. Ho hum!! Still it will soon be Christmas and if we ask Rachel nicely, she will tell us EXACTLY how many minutes we have got to go.

This newsletter is going to be another quick one. For those of you that have been in the shop recently, you will know that we have been having issues with our website server. This has resulted in us nearly loosing our database. The site has just been re-instated, but we are not sure how long for. So I am trying to get this out before it dies again.

I am going to start with the important business, because I am running short of time to let you all know.
I should have got this information out to you last week but, when I tried originally writing this, the website was not working - so I am sorry that it is a bit late. Anyway, here goes: We are launching our new product range - The Efcolor Enamelling system. It is fantastic. I have had such fun with it. Because I think it is such great fun and I think you all will like it, I have arranged for Fiona Jones to come to the shop to demonstrate the system.

Fiona, the author of Papercraft Weekend Workbook, has just launched a new website http://www.projects4crafters.com and she is the UK demonstrator of Efcolor Enamelling System. Indeed, some of you might have met Fiona at the NEC last month or when she visited us couple of years ago.

Fiona will be with us this Saturday, the 11th December from 10am 'til 4pm. She will be demonstrating the Enamelling system and she will have details of the Enamelling workshop that she will be running, for us, later in January.

Enamelling is a great technique for all crafters. It is a good way to make very individual pendants for your jewellery making, it is great for making individual embellishments for the Cardmaking and for scrapbooking. If you are not sure, look at the projects Fiona has put on her website http://www.projects4crafters.com/userimages/Enamelling(2043211).htm

The other new thing that we have in the shop is Fimo – I know it probably is not new to you, but it is to us!! At the moment we just have the colour blocks in and, in time, we will be getting in the tools required for playing with it.

Also, remember that it is the final Jo Sonjas Saturday workshop for this year. 1pm until sometime hours later up in the workshop. Ideal place for making the last few Christmas pressies.

For those of you that are waiting for the new workshop list, it will be out soon. Joanna has been working on it, but she now needs some input from me before she can finish it. I will try to get it sorted over the weekend.

Also, watch the blog for the Christmas closure times. Basically, I will be closing up shop at lunchtime on Christmas Eve. I will open the shop from 11am ‘til 3pm on the 29th & 30th December (Wednesday and Thursday), then we will be closed until the 6th January. Watch out for some special offers occurring on the 29th and 30th. Further details will be on the blog. http://www.flutterbycraftsberkshire.blogspot.com/

There is probably a lot more that I can say, but I need to get this out while the website is still viable.
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to come to eat a mincepie with us on Saturday (oh, and watch Fiona!!)

With regards

Lynn and the Girls

Website Problems

Hi Everybody

Just a quick hi-jack of the blog.

We are experiencing a problem with the server that runs our website, as a result our website is not working at the moment. The lovely Karen is trying to rectify this as we speak. Whatever happens we will be having a new website sometime in the near future.

In the meantime, if you keep in touch with the blog you will be kept up to date with things that are going on at the shop.

Tallking of which, remember that it is Mince Pies and Punch this Saturday (11th December) and while you are partaking of said tasty treat you can watch Fiona demonstrating the new enamelling system. How wonderful is that!?!

See you all on Saturday.

Lynn x

Napkins and Jo Sonja paints

We have some lovely wooden monograms in the shop at the moment and they are perfect for decorating using your Jo Sonja paints and napkins. With the addition of embellishments such as pearls, flowers and ribbons they would make a gorgeous Christmas gift.

Catherine has decorated this lovely wooden HOME monogram with napkins, of which we have a huge selection available in the shop.

Here above, is a close up photo of the crackle she has created using Jo Sonja paints and mediums.

The wooden monograms we currently have in our shop are BABY, HOME, LOVE and our latest delivery, NOEL.

We would love to see your NOEL creations, so why not drop them into the shop and we will showcase them here on the blog.

If you would like to order through our on-line shop take a look here.

Mince Pies & Punch with some Cold Enamelling

What more could you want?

Hi Everybody,

I am hi-jacking the blog because I cannot get onto the website to get a newsletter sent out. I think Karen (the web Lady) is trying to force me to make a decision about the new website and she has stopped the old website from working. Ok, but it means that I cannot send out newsletters.

Karen - I promise I will pull my finger out.

Anyway, I wanted to let you all know about next weekend.

We are launching our new product range - The Efcolor Enamelling system. It is fantastic. I have had such fun with it. Because I think it is such great fun and I think you all will like it I have arranged for Fiona Jones to come to the shop to demonstrate the system.

Fiona, the author of Papercraft Weekend Workbook, has just launched a new website http://www.projects4crafters.com and she is the UK demonstrator of Efcolor Enamelling System. Indeed, some of you might have met Fiona at the NEC last month or when she visited us couple of years ago.

Fiona will be with us next Saturday, the 11th December from 10am 'til 4pm. She will be demonstrating the Enamelling system and she will have details of the Enamelling workshop that she will be running, for us, later in January.

Enamelling is a great technique for all crafters. It is a good way to make very individual pendants for your jewellery making, it is great for making individual embellishments for the Cardmaking and for scrapbooking. If you are not sure, look at the projects Fiona has put on her website http://www.projects4crafters.com/userimages/Enamelling(2043211).htm

So, come and have a look. Be prepared to love it. Enjoy a Mince Pie and a glass of hot punch (non-alcoholic, because if I cannot partake in the hard stuf, neither can you!!!)

See you there, next Saturday.

Lynn x

ps We, also, now stock Fimo!!! Does your fun never end?!?!?

Beaded Christmas Bauble

Here is the Beaded Christmas Bauble that Ruth designed for last Tuesday's class. It's beautiful and quite easy to make.

Sorry, the photo doesn't do it justice because I couldn't avoid getting my reflection on the bauble whilst I was photographing it! However, if you pop into the bead shop you will see how stunning it really is.

Scraps of ribbon

You may remember an earlier post here, when Lynn made a card decoupaging ribbon. Well, she pondered over what to do with the left over bits of ribbon.

Now, Lynn like most crafters does not like to waste anything so, she came up with these quick cards using some of her scraps.

If you still need some Christmas embellishments such as these Die Cut Banners in silver and gold, and don't want to venture out in the car please take a look and make the most of our on-line shop.