Don't miss out.

The girls over on the SASSY BLOG have been crafting their little socks off, don't miss out on loads of SASSY inspirations, tutorials and step by steps.

From yo yo's to book marks and let's not forget the AMAZING BAG that Tracy made, if you want to see pop over to the SIMPLY SASSY BLOG

Hey Guess what? I can name that book in one! ;)

*************

Internet problems at home again, I think the wireless router has had it, I told DD that if there is no Internet I am moving out, so she says shes coming with me because she can not live without Moshi Monster either!

{She's almost 9 and tonight she can say " I can ride on two wheels", yes its been a struggle trying to teach her how to ride a bike when you have no tar roads to learn on. But the cattle have been moved outside for the summer and the sheds have been power washed, leaving a nice concrete base on which to learn how to ride a bike.}

Today I went into the house of sugar as Kate came back to work but Mark was off because the post office is closed, bank holiday. Everyone I needed to talk to today was off because of the bank holiday! We have a demo on Saturday and still the stock is not here. It's going to be all very last minuet again. I wanted answers about some of our new artwork too but no one in the office, dam answering machines.

I had a bus mans holiday on Saturday and I great day it was too. I treated my friend to a day out  crafting  as its her birthday tomorrow and we took a 12 hour round trip to Aberdeen and joined in Girls Just want to Have fun day. A big thank you to Kath, Debbi and Ann for all their hard work in putting it all together. Another thank you for the dear friends who made cake for everyone,yummy, and to Mrs Concrete not only for getting me a McFlurry at half time but for doing all my sewing in Ann's class!

that's all for me tonight, its real late but I only just got a connection............

Karen

Sugar Addicts Showcase Sunday.

Good Morning Sugar Addicts.
The lovely lady in today's showcase is Andrea and in her own words:

Hi, my name is Andrea Reid. I am 36 and live in Fort William, Scotland. I am married and have 2 step kiddies (OK - so maybe not kiddies at 20 and 17). I have been dabbling in card making for the last 10 years, but only really got into it in the last 4 years. I finally plucked up the courage to start my wee Blog and enter some challenges. Since following other Blogs, my card making has really come on. I have a serious love of all things Sugar Nellie.

And here is the beautiful card that Andrea sent me...

I love the soft muted colours that Andrea has used on the Sassy image Missing You. Look at the sorrowful expression on her face...awww bless her.

I don't want to put just one card on here to show you so I always wander through the addicts blog to pick some more...

Yikes!! A Christmas card! Someone is considerably more organised that I am. Though it is getting to the time when a lot of crafters start to think about Christmas cards, and I'm sure I read Karen was going to be releasing Christmas images soon (I hope I'm right here Karen?)
A gorgeous card with non traditional colours of pink, red and pale blue (another of my fave colour combos) using the Sassy image Tammy.

I had to show this card as it's another of my favourite images - Do I sound like a broken record? They're all my favourites! - and Andrea has used my fave papers too. I love the vintage shades and the gentle ink distressing on this one, using the Sassy stamp Bad Hare Day which is currently out of stock over at Funky Kits
And finally...

I do have a soft spot for this Soft Centres pig Porridge. Pink and kraft is a match made in heaven and it suits Porridge very well indeed. This was Andrea's entry into one of the Sugar Bowl challenges, as were all the cards here except the first one.
A big Thank You to Andrea for allowing me to showcase her beautiful cards and please pop over to Andrea's blog and leave her some love...we all like to get comments.

Thanks for looking
Love Elaine xx

What's Your Favourite Technique?

There are so many very talented crafters around. Some have blogs, some don't. Some are very big fish in the craft pond whose names we all know, and some are smaller fish. Some make cards to sell and others make them for family and friends. There are beautiful cards everywhere, just go and look at all the Sugar Bowl entries and you will see a fabulous array of cards, it's like a tour of an art gallery but in the comfort of your own home.

I LOVE this card made by Helen. Quite a clean and simple style, muted colours, very clean lines and Helen has used the technique of paper piecing on the dress, which all go together to make a very striking card.

Lisa has made this stunning card using a different technique - masking - to place two perfectly coloured images on one card. Also quite a CAS card which really make the images pop.

Donalda is on the Sugar Nellie Design Team and she regularly plays in the Sugar Bowl Challenge. I love her use of embellishments: pearls, flowers, ribbon and a charm, very pretty and detailed and something I really cannot do myself. A technique I need lessons in!

I always like to try a new technique and some have been more successful than others but it's always fun to try something new.

Do you have a favoured technique, a tried and tested one? You still have almost a week left to enter the Sugar Bowl challenge, why not try a new technique for your entry? As always, Karen has a fabulous prize for the lucky winner but one thing's for sure..if you ain't in it then you can't win it.

Thanks for looking.

Love Elaine xx

Simply Sarah

 Visit Sarah's Sugar Nellie Gallery HERE

Sarah has a very clear style, its colourful and clean, I have no trouble picking out her cards from my files but I do have a problem when it come to taking a copy from her blog, some time it does not work.

At a time when crafters and stamp companies are trying very hard to protect their work, water marks are essential but the ability to disable, right click and save is something we all need to talk about. I know I have said this before by I am just no that good at computer stuff, but I know a man who is!

I kneed to remember to ask him next time I see him, I am sure its a two minuet job for someone who know what they are doing.

So I have penciled in 1st of July for our BIG summer release, OK sometime things don't go to plan but I need to work to a deadline or else it would never happen.

So I have a few ideas knocking about and will ask the girls on Facebook to brain storm with me, you know Listen to what you the customers always tell me.

I must also say thank you to all those who comment and give me their support, whether I publish your comment or keep it to myself, I do listen, a lot of what you say is right, I just sometimes need someone who is not so involved to point out things. You know who you are.Hugs to you.

Karen

I need a man!

Sassy card by Dena

**********

"don't we all darling!" I hear one woman (who remains anonymous) shout back at me.

As much as some of you don't like men/boys there is a need for them, they balance life, without men what would women have to complain about? Men are put on earth for many reasons, but clearly one of those reasons is to make woman work harder, which in turn makes us stronger.

But crafters like feminine, pretty cute things most of all and it hard going finding a cute boy. But we have three SASSY boys and with the girls gaining a strong following of stampers that luv Krista's style we know all those girls need a man.

I have NUMBER ONE FAN to give away to a woman in need of a man!
Give your sassy girls some one to moan at.

candy give away

Playing catch up with my job's today. Mark was busy sending out the candy from the Simply Sassy Blog hop so I was reminded to choose a winner from here too..........

Victoria said...
Hi Karen hope you ar ehaving a lovely weekend. I have just completed the hop and the standard is amazing, they are beautiful stamps and the dt have done wonders a fantastic release.
Hugs
Victoria xxx
May 14, 2011 9:55 AM

Congratulations Victoria, you win a print of PISSED OFF PRINCES and a stamp to match. Email Mark
info@funkykits.co.uk within the next 7 days to claim your prize.

**********
A couple of picture from Tiets to show you, I just wonder how often sugar addicts visit the DT. guests and Sassy blog? Maybe I need to feature more picture on this blog just so you see the wonderful cards the team make.

Two wonderful cards Tiets, thank you :)

I think all the DT are now up to date with their rubber commitments and its just as well because if all goes to plan there is going to be a sugar rush in the next couple of months!

Our GDT Juls. Fi and Gemma all did a great job with their sweet stamps

 and altho it is fact that life gets in the way and is never as predictable as we think,

I hope that they have enjoyed spending time as part of the DT. Thank you girls you were fantastic.xox

I meet so many wonderful creative stampers in this business that its a great boost to me to put the spotlight on a crafter and see what they do. I would hate the spotlight on me but there you go, that's life!

We had Julie B visit the HOS while on holiday in Scotland, Julie is a sugar addict and took a day trip from her family holiday in Ellon, Aberdeenshire just to visit us, I am so glad she introduced herself before leaving as she had come a long long way to visit.

It's so windy here that the roof may blow off, not a nice day and not gardening weather at all, so stick on the heating and gather your pens, join in a challenge or two and have some crafty fun today.

take care

Karen

Karen

Sugar Addicts Showcase Sunday.

Good Morning Sugar Addicts. I'm back today for showcase Sunday. I love to look through blog land to see who I can ask to be in the spotlight, and this week I have a lovely lady called Janette.
In her own words:

Hi I'm Janette. I'm a fifty something Mum to three now grown up children, Lee 35 this time, Carla 32 and Graham 31,and Nanna to three gorgeous,yummy Grandkids, Mia 8 next month, Lucas 5 and Kaleb also five, and I adore them all, family matters most for me.I am very happily on my own now and you can slap me if I ever say the words...'I met someone'...lol...

I have been interested in all forms of crafting since my Grandmother taught me to crochet as a child, but had never done anything to do with card making, thought because I couldn't draw or paint what was the point......

After my Mum died, I  was very lost, I remember seeing a card kit of some kind and buying it, not sure if it was something to do with Carla now...anyway,on the back was the name of a forum and I had a look, that's how I got hooked, and how I made a lot of friends too.. I have to say a lot of my cards were shocking looking back, I seriously hope they have improved and I'm not kidding myself...lol...It was one of these friends,(Aunty Sue) that encouraged me to have a Blog,and I just love it so much, I can't believe how brilliant everyone is, so helpful and friendly, if I can't get online for a day I have withdrawals..lol..

I am also now on a Design Team for CraftyCatz which I am enjoying very much, they're a lovely bunch of girls..I can't think of anything nicer, than retreating to my little craft room and colouring an image, choosing papers, and creating something, I love making boxes too, I'll have ago at anything I suppose, and Mia is also card making mad, she just loves it. I don't have that much stash really, lots of it comes from friends, they are so very kind to me,and I have been lucky enough to win the odd Candy, all in all, crafting has given me so much, and to be spotlighted on here is the icing on the cake.

And here is the beautiful card that Janette made for me to show:

Made with the Simply Adorable image Verity. I love this layout and the colour combo.
As always I had a  good old nosey around Janette's blog to show you some more cards/projects...

This is a beautiful box that Janette made, and here's another photo of the box from a different angle...

Isn't this simply stunning? Using the image Melissa.

I adore this card too, quite clean and simple but very, very beautiful, using the image Connie.

And finally this gorgeous easel card using the image Grace. Yep, Janette has an addiction and it looks like she really loves Simply Adorable images all of which are sold as instantly downloadable digi's so no waiting for the mail man to arrive!
Please pop on over to Janette's blog and have a look for yourself, you won't be disappointed, there's a beautiful selection of cards on display.
*Thank you Janette for letting me showcase you and your beautiful cards today*

Thanks for looking.
Love Elaine xx

Did you miss this class.....

May has been a busy month in the HOS for classes, this class by Erika Gunter from Personal Impression was a sell out, not even standing room available as Erika shared her designs with those lucky enough to live local to our corner of Scotland.

Stunning cards which everyone in the class were delighted with and keen to keep on making as the effect were really classy but simple at the same time, just what we love.

These layered flowers are an essential in any stampers box, not only do they stand alone but as an accent. Remember that making your own flowers not only ensures they match perfectly but are far more cost effective in the long run, an important fact these days ;)

Erika highlighted the inside of the flower with glossy accent, which does not show too well in the photo.

Papers were My Minds Eye, love them all. Deep edge punch by Marth Stewart used on the second one.

Cute wee houses stamped and windows fitted

was the last of the three cards in the two hour class.

If you fancy taking this class at home you will find these stamps HERE

Time to Celebrate!

Today sees a new challenge posted over on the Sugar Bowl. Another fabulous sketch from Maria Therese with an easy theme of 'Birthdays'.

My first reason to celebrate is the return to the Sugar Bowl of the lovely Pat. 

Pat has a very demanding job as a neonatal nurse and unfortunately needed to devote more time to her work, but I'm pleased to say that things have settled down somewhat leaving Pat with enough time to return to her Sweetie position. If you don't know Pat let me tell you a couple of other things about her. She is the sweetest lady ever, and a funny lady too with a great sense of humour. But don't be fooled.... she does have a dark side....she makes me spend money! Pat leads me astray and into temptation and I just HAVE to buy one of this and one of that because Pat has one! I tell you no lies, it's all true, but I am so pleased to see her back on the Sugar Bowl though my purse did cringe a little.

Pat's stunning card uses the Sassy image Delicious, perfect for a birthday girl. Doesn't everybody need cake on their birthday?

The second reason to celebrate is that today is my good friend (and my Sugar Mama) Gayle's birthday.

*Happy Birthday Babe, I hope you get lots of yummy presents and goodies to play with and are treated like a Princess*

Gayle's gorgeous card uses a much older image, Dress Up Maggie. I love this stamp because don't all little girls love to play dress up in Mama's clothes?

And finally Maria Therese's sweet card using the Sassy image Butterflies and Pigtails. I know everyone is loving this image and it's become a firm favourite already, not surprisingly.

The prize for the winner of this challenge is a set of 6 pick 'n' pick Sugar Nellie stamps, a fabulous prize and so easy to enter. You can see the sketch and rules of entry over on the Sugar Bowl with the remainder of the gorgeous cards from the other Sweeties.

Thanks for looking

Love Elaine xx

Overload

Good Morning Blogger

Middle of the week already, and I am still chasing my tail!

 I did not get far with the paperwork mountain yesterday and no doubt it will still be there this time next week.

But with my brain about to combust with the thought of new artwork and all that comes with it, I wonder how much easier it would be to work as part of a big team within a large company. So I get the job of picking the new art work and signing all the papers and then someone else takes over and I sit back and watch what the customer, you, make of it when you eventually get to see it.

By which time its no longer new to me and I am away working on the next releases. Crazy how I sit here with Christmas design and its only MAY for goodness sake, no wonder I have had enough of the season by the time my children want to decorate the house.

So once we have the art work what next?
Ideally I would then hand it over to another department of employee s ( oppps there is only me ) who would be trained in promotions and desk top publishing ( no it cant be me ) and have some nice new packaging designed with our company logo ( yes I know I have not go around to that one yet) and them there is the pre release campaign. Oh lord that sound political !

With so much of our marketing done on the Internet it is essential that tags, blinkies,banners and peeks be right on target, which department does that again?
Magazine work has to be done so far in advance it throws the whole release date into the air, I do not have patience to wait, if I have it here in my hand I want you to see it, that's only fair right? Sitting on new stamps for 3 months while a mag goes to print etc kills me, its like sitting in front of the Christmas tree without being allowed to open the presents.

So check list
arkwork
product manufactured
new packaging
press release
magazines features and adverts
promotional Internet pic's, banners etc
and that leaves us with the actual release itself.

Competition's, candy, blog hops, shop demo.........can you tell by now that I really am not the person for this job!
Can you understand that while Sugar Nellie has no employee's sitting in an office block, working on this list in different departments, but amazingly, some how up until now I have manage to do a little of those things in a very put together blue peter style with double sided sticky tape and a photo copier, that is how I have done it for over 3 years.

It's time for change.............




but I don't know if I can hand my babies over to someone else! :(

boys will be boys

As I was plugged into a older lap top today I thought I would look at the Sugar Nellie samples saved in pictures. I chose to remind the newer followers that we do have a range for boys in our HOME GROWN range. Over on facebook the new challenge is a card for men, oh that one is going to be hard as we do not have a lot of suitable stamps, maybe Fiona will allow a card for a little man ?
Karen

Steampunked

KATHRIN has taken steampunk and made it sassy, don't you just love it.

My crafty companions have had to listen to me go on and on about steampunk since the New Year

 and at the trade show tha'st all I looked for.

 On opening a magazine lately I noticed it cropped up a bit so I know I was right in thinking

 that this is a hot new trend.

So hot that I took a gamble and filled the store with lots of STEAMPUNK supplies :)

And its a goody bag with STEAMPUNK embossing folder by Tim Holtz, some STEAMPUNK brass charms to compliment your cards and some other secret goodies that one winner of the

SUGAR BOWL CHALLENGE will win this time around.

WARNING: Be careful how you say it, you would not want to mix up your S's and P's !

Poor Gavin choked on his bottled water because of my little split up LOL

So take note, Sugar Nellie brings you what hot and Simply Sassy girls are most defiantly that.

KRISTA is great at coming back with sketches once I give her an idea, we have so much more Sassy girls to offer you , we even have Christmas in the bag ssshhhhhhh.

The blog hop over on  the SIMPLY SASSY BLOG was once again

fantastic and inspirational, a huge thank you to all the girls on the DT, you are brilliant !

{candy will follow for those who were nice enough to comment on the girls blogs

 and someone over here will get a prize too :)}

**************

So I usually work in the HOS on a Monday but its all changed this next two weeks as Kate takes some time off in search of the sun. I am at home today, not nice and cozy as you would expect, its turned wet and cold here in Scotland. Emails and artwork, that's my job for today, over on the facebook page for SUGAR NELLIES, fan already know that I have a lot of artwork to shuffle about just now, decisions decision's, I just hope you luv what I choose :)

take care and stay warm

Karen

Sugar Addicts Showcase Sunday.

It's the lovely day of the week when I get to showcase a Sugar Addict and in the spotlight today is a lady that I met over on Facebook on the Sugar Nellie group - the very talented Sandie.
A little background information first:

My name is Sandie Dunne and I live in Ireland with my hubby. I am a SAHM to our 4 kidlets who range in age between 5 and 19. I have been crafting just over 5yrs, starting out with scrapbooking, and was then lured over to the world of stamping and card making by all the talent in blogland. I enjoy all types of papercrafting from mini books to templates. My favourite colouring mediums are Copic markers and distress inks but I mostly use Copics. I am honoured to be spotlighted for the Sugar Addicts Showcase Sunday.


And here is the fabulous card that Sandie sent for me to show...

Sandie's colouring is amazing as is her use of embellies. The image is called Little Star and you can buy her at a special price HERE.

And this is the second card that Sandie sent for me to share with you. I do love Leanne Ellis Annie images and this one is called Fly Free and you can get her HERE. I adore the soft and pretty colours.

As always I picked some cards off Sandie's blog to show you...

Look at all the pretty detail on this card! Of course you all know this image is a Simply Sassy and she's called Star Dust and available to buy HERE.

And another beautiful card using a Diane Duda image. I love the use of paper piecing on her dress.

And finally a stunning red head! I LOVE red hair, I wonder if Sandie could come and colour in my grey hairs and make them red instead?

Sandie has a stunning collection of cards on her blog so please grab a cuppa and pop over there for a lovely wander. *Thank you Sandie, your cards are truly inspirational and I loved my journey through your blog*

Thanks for looking.
Love Elaine xx

Welcome Back

Well I think by now you all noticed that its Friday 13th and gremlins got into blogger, post have gone,I am still struggling to get photos to load and time will only tell what other knock on effects today has had.

There are a good few of you waiting for the SIMPLY SASSY BLOG HOP tomorrow, these dt girls are great, did you see the step by step box, I love those, made loads, give it a go its easy and so useful.

I think Mark not only has his release weekend deal of the set of sassy's but three new digi images for you this weekend.

Sassy have made a splash in two magazines lately, thanks to Tiets and Judy, but I can not get the picture to load :( I'll come back to those later.

I also have a print from Krista to give away, PISSED OF PRINCESS, do you know that one? A print and a stamp to give away to one commenter on this post, there is candy hidden along the blog hop so don't miss any of that sweet give away either. Sorry for the lack of pictures but I have no idea if this post will even work and for how long, after all Sony PSP site has been down for weeks!

have a sassy weekend sugar addicts and I will catch you soon, take care.
Karen

Old is Good.....

....And that stands for me AND rubber!

We all look forward to a new release of stamps, and this weekend you'll be able to buy set 7 of the Simply Sassy stamps over at Funky Kits. I LOVE Sassy stamps the bestest in the world but I also love all my Sugar Nellie's, and I do own the odd one or two (or 150 something) stamps myself.
So this week I turn my attentions back to the oldie but goodie stamps. I've been looking at all the fabulous cards that have been entered into the Sugar Bowl challenge and found these beauties:

Isn't this a real stunner? The talented Michele entered this card using the Gorgeous Flower Girl image available to buy HERE I love Michele's perfect colouring and her handmade flowers.

This beautiful card is Angelique's entry. I adore Leanne Ellis Annie stamps and this is one of my favourites called Fizz which you can buy HERE. I've used this stamp many times for many different occasions. Such a sweet and pretty card.

And Marion entered with this fabulous card. I love Marion's vintage style using Rory from the Home Grown Soft Centres range and you can buy him HERE. Such a lot of detail on this one.

If you've not entered the challenge yet you have until next Wednesday evening before the link closes. As always you can find all the details over on the Sugar Bowl blog.

I'll be back on Sunday with another Sugar Addicts Showcase, so hope to see you then.
Thanks for looking.
Love Elaine xx

Keep watching

Did you see the great creations over on the Sassy Blog?

*****

Morning girls, well it took me all of Sunday to recover from a manic weekend, I might just be getting too old of all these capers.

Did my shift in the HOS yesterday, did not get much done as the shop was a wee bit busy and I did not even get my computer switched on all day.

I am just off to town to get my eyes checked, blind as a bat in real life, so its time for a check up and a new pair of specks no doubt.

Before I go just a reminder that the SIMPLY SASSY BLOG are having peeks all week of the new Simply Sassy stamps which will be available from FUNKY KITS this weekend.

I also have some special gifts to give away, keep watching, both eyes!

I have a load of photos to show you but I cant get them to load onto blogger, so once I figure that out you can see some more of what went off at the weekend and a few magazines that the Sassy Girls have been in recently.

be back soon, take care

Karen

Sugar Addicts Showcase Sunday.

Good morning Sugar Addicts. As it's a Sunday I'm sure by now you will all know what I'm going to say?

The lovely lady who's in the spotlight today is the very talented Fiona and in her own words:

Well here's a wee bit about me...You know my name is Fiona but my friends called me Fi.  I am 40...ahem years old. I am married and have 2 kiddos, one blue and one pink.  Michael is 19 years old and Holly is 13 years old.  I work in an HR department of a very, very large company..if you look up to the stars what do you see??  I have worked there for 11 years and I do really enjoy it but I also love when I am on holiday from work cos I do work very hard...I like to give 110%!!  Previously in an earlier life...I used to be a gymnast/trampolinist...you may have seen my Facebook photo?? I also used to be super fit as I only stopped gymnastics when I became pregnant with Michael although I did continue to coach trampolining.  I had a break from this when the kids were little but went back to coaching trampoline about 10 years ago but then the age thing set in and I got a back injury which meant I eventually had to give in about 4 years ago...my body was just getting too old....I can still do the splits, a cartwheel and a somersault on the trampoline in the garden although beware ladies... if you are going to try this you may need a tena lady when using those garden trampolines, oh and don't drink wine before hand either!! !! I have been cardmaking for about 4 years when a friend introduced me to it when we were both involved with childrens clubs and playschemes...I have been hooked ever since.  I started up my blog when my friend Bev introduced me to the world of blogging last year and I have met so many friends through blogging...it's fab and addictive!! My favourite crafting tools are my Big Shot(don't have a big Brucie), my stamps, my copics and my papers.

And this is the gorgeous card that Fiona sent me..

I told you it was gorgeous! I do love this image Oh La La from the latest release of Sassy stamps and you can buy her HERE. 

I always have a good old wander around the Addicts blog and pick some more cards to show you....

Ahhh the beautiful Bella Bunting which you can buy HERE. These papers are so pretty and I love the additional bunting!

Little Light Of Mine...yes another of my favourites which is available to buy HERE I love Fiona's colouring and the papers are my favourite colours too.

The beautiful and much adored Hippie Chick ( I always wanted green eyes myself! )

And finally there is...

the delightful Flower Girl which you can buy HERE and they are at a special price too if you're missing any!

Fiona's colouring is so beautiful and I adore her paper choices (as well as her image choices) 

Now because I was picking the cards I picked the ones with all my favourite images on and there were lots to choose from but Fiona has plenty of other stunning cards on her BLOG so please pop on over there and enjoy them yourself. 

*Thank you Fiona, I thoroughly enjoyed my wanderings through your blog, you're a star*

Before I go I would like to mention that Maria and her DT over on the Simply Sassy Blog will be have a blog hop on Saturday 14th May to coincide with the release of the new set 7 Sassy stamps - and I've seen them and they are fabulous!!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Thanks for looking

Love Elaine xx