Sugar Addicts Showcase Sunday.

Good Morning Sugar Addicts.

It's Sunday morning so that can mean only one thing...it's my pleasure to shine the Sugar Spotlight on another talented crafter, and the lovely lady on the stage today is Paula.

A little background information first:

Hi, I’m Paula.

I’m 33 years old, and I live in Derbyshire UK, with my very understanding, but slightly bewildered Hubby (he just doesn’t get the excitement of papers, stamps and colouring! I swear he thinks there’s something wrong with me!)

I have a 12 year old Son, who is now a good 2 inches taller than me and thinks its hilarious to stand next to me and pat me on the head!

I’ve been card making for about 4 years now, and still loving every minute! The appeal for me is being able to colour as an adult! My favourite thing in the world to receive at Christmas as a kid was a HUGE colouring book and some felt tips! Nothing’s changed really except my colouring book is now stamps, and my felt tips are Promarkers!

I love to try out new techniques and ideas, so I struggle to find my ‘style’ but I’m not too worried about it, Its all about having fun, right?

I’ve been a big Sugar Nellie fan for a while now... My Favourites are the more arty stamps, like the Leanne Elliss’, and the Gorjuss Girls... but I’ve just discovered the Simply Sassys and have well and truly caught the Sassy bug!! They are so fun!

I’d like to say the BIGGEST thank you to Elaine for showcasing me, its a big confidence boost, and I am truly honoured!

And here is the fabulous card that Paula sent for me to show you, using the Sassy image Artistic Goddess from the very first set of Sassy stamps. I love Paula's style...you may say you don't have a 'style' but I can always tell a card made by you.

As always, I had a good old nosey through Paula's blog to show you some more cards. This beautiful card is made with the Sassy image Fit and Flirty. As you can see, stamps are versatile, you need not use the whole image but can just stamp a portion of it as Paula has done.

Paula has used another Sassy stamp Skater Girl for this lovely card which reminds me of summer days.

I HAD to show this card because Elise is one of my favourite Country Cousins stamps..I just love her! And these colours are fabulous.

An older image again, one of the Gorgeous Girls called A Little Birdie Told Me. I adore Paula's colouring, the richness of the colours and the perfect shading.

Ok...I just had to sneak in Hippie Chick.  Again from the very first set of Sassy stamps and the start of my own Sassy addiction!

I love all Paula's cards. Her colouring is perfect, fab layouts, beautiful bright colours and papers, and a pretty array of embellies. 

Many thanks Paula for letting me showcase your cards. Please go and pay her blog a visit, you won't be disappointed, there are so many Sugar Nellie cards there that it was really hard to pick out just a few!

Enjoy your Sunday, and I hope you all have time to get a little inky today.

Love Elaine xx

Sweet for my Sweet

Sugar for my Honey.........

yes that's me singing again, cant carry a tune in a bucket but its better that it stays in my head.

I have just had Cass drop in again, there is a reason she took her holidays in the NE just a little bit from the HOUSE OF SUGAR. She's off to Aberdeen to surprise a very talented lady that we all know very well.:)

Cass came in with a box of cup cakes, yummy yummy. AND knowing she has a thing for cup cakes I had to show her this site HERE and these pic's of these pieces of art

 WOW Just look at them! They are AMAZING and so beautiful, if a cake can be called beautiful.

If I could I would be at the next

Cupcake Class on Sunday 14th August at the beautiful Farncombe Estate in the Cotswolds.

10/10 for the CREATIVE CAKE ACADEMY for their amazing creations

off now to put the kettle on and eat one of the lovely cup cakes that Cass took in.

anyone want to join me?

Karen

many hands make light work...

Kiki has been in the spotlight over on the Sassy Blog, I just love this image by Krista.

I have a soft spot for all things geeky. Kiki has done many cards for the Sassy blog, all are equally as

beautiful and we are lucky to have so much talent in our DT's

The Sassy girls do an amazing job, I know that some of you visit their blog but please don't miss out, they truly do put a lot of work into bringing you beautiful creations

Remember crafts that Maria has  DT shout out on the Simply Sassy HERE

*****

I have five girls on the Sugar Nellie DT, which are going to be blown away with the new images for our 1st September release. I ain't spilling too many beans for now as there are lots of changes happening and all will be revealed very soon.

I have listened to all of you who comment, especially those PRIVATE comments and emails.

 It is good to get a view of things from the outside looking in

and many of the point you raise I am well aware of.

But with only one pair of hands these things have never been done,

 but soon, very soon there will be another pair of hands to help me out :)

take care for now, enjoy your weekend

Karen

There Are Sugar Addicts And Then There's.....

....Cathy.
I know Cathy loves her Sugar and frequently enters more than one card into the Sugar Bowl challenge. Cathy do you eat, sleep and breathe Sugar? I imagine that if the magician did his magic and sawed Cathy in half, a gasp would rise from the audience as he turned her around to reveal 'Sugar Nellie' written through her like a stick of rock! Don't worry Cathy..we'll not be chopping you in half to check whether it's true (not this week anyway!)

A beautiful card following the sketch and also using the option of lace, using the Sassy image Romantic Dreamer. 

Cathy's second entry is this fabulous steampunk themed tag made with another Sassy image Vintage Boutique.
And Cathy is not the only one...

Yes, I know I showed one of Fi's cards last week ( the Number 1 Fan boys card) no favouritism intended but this is Fi's second entry into the challenge using the Sassy image OH La La.

So this would be Fi's third entry!! Another sweet card using a Sassy image from last weekends blog hop called City Girl. I'm looking forward to seeing lots more cards made with new Sassy's in blogland soon.
Come on Cathy..Fi's beating you!!
Cathy and Fi are not the only ones with more than one entry, so come on, what are you waiting for?
Because the Sweeties are having their Summer break there is almost a fortnight left to get your card (or cards) made and entered into the challenge.
I DARE YOU!

Love Elaine xx

Oh Baby

These are just adorable cards my Mina and Donalda.

I just love this image, its so sweet and cuddly,

can you just smell the baby powder?

It's a beautiful day here in NE Scotland and we have had a few lovely holiday visitors call in my Papercrafts to see what really goes on in the House Of Sugar.

There is a little "soire" tomorrow, a gathering of craft obsessed girls, what would you call that?

So I think it has to be fresh cream with jam on yummy scones for coffee time :)

We are going to have a little play with Copic under the watchful eye of Cass.

Other things we are up to, new art work, OMG these just get better, top secret :)

Classes for the up coming and very busy season.

Sample's are not even made and some classes are full!

Need to crack the whip and make everyone work harder LOL

So while we sit back and take stock of all the things we have to do,

let's just take it outside and sit in the sun.

So whip crack-away, whip crack-away, whip crack-away.

Calamity Karen

We go together like...

We go together like

rama lama lama

ke ding a de dinga a dong

remembered for ever like

shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom

Chang chang chang-it-ty chang

shoo-bop

That's the way it should be

Wha oooh yeah!

******

So now that you will be singing that all day, I hear you ask where is this going.....

I have so many stamps of figures and  Happy Birthday and Thank you does most, I am always on the look out for saying and accents that complements my stamps.

When you see them you just know "Oh I could use that with....." so well are they matched that your sold there and then without a second thought.

goes perfect with Luv a Latte

and this new Steampunk set goes well with

any of the Sassy Steampunk girls especially Amelia

these new stamps from Inkadinkado can be found HERE

and once you have them I bet you cant wait to get inking and play with your stamps again.

Mark has been trying to keep up with the demand for STEAMPUNK CHARMS,

some of you may remember my little obsession with anything Steampunk back in the New Year.

 I was pretty successful in my search for new things but they have been secretly stashed away where no one can find them.

 But with me not being into work much during the school holidays, Mark has found my stash and has been slowly adding it to the web site.............just mean I will have to go out and find something else to hoard.

yours truly

 a hoarder of all things pretty

Mollie Makes

Its not often that I buy a magazine these days, but while in Asda I picked up Mollie Makes.

One of the new style of home magazines that has a tag line of

Living & Loving Handmade

Making, Collecting and Thrifty Finds

Well if that is not me to a T. I love shabby chic, revamping old finds and have collection of all sort that drive my family crazy. SO with a cuppa at the ready I sat down to have a good read and I loved it, pretty pictures and loads of idea, granted I don't sew but that does not stop me drooling over projects.

I am loving felt makes and have introduced a few to our store along with a range of in house designs.

 Button ribbons and charms galore, there is no end to my magpie tendencies.

As a young girl my great aunts taught me how to crochet and these "stinking cute" apple cosies just make me want to dig out those old hooks and get going again. The are total adorable and not so practical, but hey who cares, if it inspires you to learn the basics of crochet then that is a good thing as its is a dieing hobby.

Want to join me and make one of these supper cute cosies HERE

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

Nice bright but not too busy cover with free felt flower ring with my issue.

 Something that can easily be done with your sizzix dies.

Pop over to their site and read all about it Mollie Makes, tell them I sent you,

 they might decide to feature card making as a one of?

Karen

Sugar Addicts Showcase Sunday.

Good Morning Sugar Addicts.
It's the lovely day of the week when I get the pleasure of showcasing the talents of a crafter with an addiction to all things Sugary, and the lovely lady in today's spotlight is Cass.
A little background information first:

Hi my name is Cass. I live in Glasgow with my hubby of 19 years and 7 year old son Louis who has special needs. We also have a hamster called Cookie and a guinea pig called Candy.
I've always loved crafting of some sort but really got into it about 5 years ago in a big way.It was mainly scrapbooking and that progressed to cardmaking. I also love to bake and make cupcakes which I went on a course to learn all the lovely ways to decorate them. I've also been lucky enough to teach scrapbooking classes and hold crops in my local Craft store and also get the chance to demo Copic markers which are my favourite colouring medium. I'm no expert but just a very enthusiastic amateur. Needless to say I've got a huge collection of them and still growing.
I don't have a craft room as yet,but will be getting a log cabin which will be my new crafty space.To say I'm a little excited is an understatement as all my craft stash is slowly creeping everywhere in the house.
I've been a huge Sugar Nellie fan since they started and wouldn't like to say how many I've got. I remember stalking the Sugar Nellie stand when they were at the SECC for the first time. Poor Karen was still trying to get organised and I'm lurking waiting to get my hands on the lovely new rubber. I've also been lucky to visit the House of Sugar on 3 occasions when I've been on holiday. All I'll say is make sure you take plenty money...lol.
I'm so honoured to be showcased on the Sugar Nellie blog as I've been an addict for so long,and can only thank Elaine so much for allowing me the chance.

And this is the gorgeous card that Cass sent for me to show you, made using the Sassy image Butterflies and Pigtails, all in pretty shades of pink, lilac and purple.

This is a really stunning card, using the image Hippie Chick, I love Cass's choice of colours and her fabulous colouring. The flowers frame the image beautifully.

This card uses the stamp Manga Princess and my favourite pad of papers, Ella Blue.

Fabulous bright colours on this card using the Sassy image Party Frills, love those red shoes, every little girls dream is to have a pair of ruby slippers!

And finally a Christmas card using the Country Cousins image Angel Wishes. This is a much older card off Cass's blog but I love it and wanted to show this one too. The colours are perfect for a cool, crisp Christmas card.
Cass's cards are all wonderful and her colouring with Copics is perfect. Now I'm pretty sure that Cass visited the HOS yesterday so I hope to see more Sugar Nellies on her blog very soon. I wonder which images she bought...any new Sassys fell into your basket Cass??

Many thanks Cass for letting me showcase your gorgeous cards here today, and I shall be watching your blog to see what you make with your new purchases. Please stop by her blog and leave some inky love with a comment.
Thanks for looking.
Love Elaine xx

DT shout & lets get this pary started

Want to put on some lippy and challenge your inner Sass, turn up the volume on the ipod and load all your  Beyoncé tracks ready to shake that bootie and sing along.( remember to close the curtains if you have neighbours)

 How long is it since you had a girly night out with your girlfriends, let your hair down, enjoyed the wit and wisdom of your friends, flirted a bit and danced until you feet ached in heals that you are far too old to be seen in, drank sweetly sick cocktails which are sure to be loaded with as much alcohol as sugar?

 Oh those were the days..................I am making that happen with a trip to see Bridesmaids!

Who wants to join me?

But this weekend we will have to make do with a super sassy girls only BLOG HOP starting on Saturday.

Join Maria and her Sassy Girls as they take you around the dance floor of blog land and show you their moves HAHAHA, no handbags in the middle girls that is so not done anymore.

Remember that Maria also has a DT call out for the Simply Sassy blog HERE

enjoy your weekend

Karen

Boys And Girls Come Out To Play...

I've been a-wandering around the Sugar Bowl again, looking at the gorgeous cards that have been entered into the challenge. Don't forget that this challenge lasts for 4 weeks, as the Sweeties are having their Summer holidays, so there's still plenty of time to get a card or project entered.

Now I know we all have males in our lives to make cards for..sons, brothers, boyfriends, husbands, fathers, grandfathers etc but I really struggle to make cards for men and tend to avoid them like the plague. So I admire those who do excel at this...

Fiona has used the Sassy image Number 1 Fan to make this fabulous guys card. Great colours and the star, button and birthday sentiment makes the perfect embellishment.

Jenny has made her card using the Manga image Fore. I love the fresh colours and the circle embossing. 

These are both excellent examples of male cards and I'm hanging my head in shame at my own inability.

But...I LOVE girly cards, cute images, pretty colours, lace, flowers, pearls and glitter and I'm in heaven.

Such a sweet and pretty card made by Gabi using the image Candy Pip. I love the Pips! 

And lastly...

A card using the same Sherbet Pip from our very own Sassy DT member Tracy. Amazing colouring from Tracy, just look at the folds she has created on the dress, very clever!

Four fabulous cards, thank you ladies for your entries into the Sugar Bowl challenge.

Don't forget to mark your diaries for this Saturday when there will be a blog hop over on the Simply Sassy blog to showcase 6 new stamps..and they are all gorgeous and you will love them!

Thanks for looking.

Love Elaine xx

Digi Delights

As I contemplate rubber V digital, I have now learnt that these are two completely different markets, there are only a few crafters that dabble with both.

 We have added several new images to our digi range available HERE

I can see the advantage of an instant fix, you buy it and use it right away, you can re size and flip making your choices as you go. No postal charges and no storage problems. SO there are a few positive points with digital, the negative points are knowing how to use them and desk top publishing, if you do not possess basic knowledge its best to learn first rather than buy and become frustrated with your own lack of ability. I know that spending some time learning photo shop is something that I have to do and do it soon but I am not looking forward to it at all. It also depends on which colouring medium you prefer to work with and that is why stamping will always have the edge, giving you far more choice in which pens and inks you can work with rather that what works with your printer ink.

First and foremost Sugar Nellie is a rubber stamp company but with so much artwork backing up we have released some designs as digital stamps. Have a look HERE

I know have some new designs which we could also release are either or maybe even both, I am unsure about this, let me your thoughts, I need a little guidance here. I have a couple more Sherbet Pips that I may try out on digi just to confirm that the markets are in fact different

let me know your thoughts, you know how good you all are at helping me out :)

Karen

I'm back!

Yes I am back in the House of Sugar but only for the afternoon to pay bills and answer emails. We still have no Internet at home but I also have done nothing about getting it fixed. After giving the house good tidy for my visitor from the USA and now that they have gone back to Glasgow, I find that the hours that I don't sit on the computer I can do other things ! Surprise surprise I CAN live without Internet.:P



Do remember that all of July will see the DT, Sweeties and Guests play with sweet rubber and show you more, yes more fantastic cards and creations with the last release. Find all their links HERE

Sherbet Pips are back in stock and a few other re stocks.

The girls over on the  Simply Sassy Blog are getting ready for a blog hop with SIX new Simply Sassy stamps this coming weekend. There are also a few peeks of the new stamps to be found if you look close enough.

That's enough blethering for today, take care and stay safe. Keep those pens out of direct sun light and enjoy the weather and school holidays where ever you are.

Karen

Sugar Addicts Showcase Sunday.

Good Morning Sugar Addicts.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin....where did that come from? It just popped in my head! I've suddenly gone back 20 years (OK that maybe should've read 40+ years) to my childhood. After lunch I would sit by the radio waiting for 'Listen with Mother' and I'm quite sure that there was a tv programme called 'Watch with Mother'. It was the highlight of my day when me and Mum would sit together and listen to the radio.

I digress, you've not come here to read about the silly strange things that pop in my head but to see who is in today's Sunday Showcase so without any more of my blether, let me introduce the very talented and lovely Sue...

Hi, my name is Sue, I live in S.E. London with my partner Steve & 2 cats Max & Sam.

I started crafting about 16 years ago, thanks to my sister Linda & never looked back.I now have a craft room stacked with stash & rubber stamps. I just love the stamps from Sugar Nellie, I'm amazed at the fab designs being added all the time and you could say I'm a Sugar addict. Thank you so much Elaine for asking me.

And Sue sent me two cards to show you:

Firstly is this beautiful card made with one of the new Sherbet Pips stamps, this one is called Candy Pip.

The second of Sue's cards is made with Dolly Pip. I love both of these cards, they are CAS in style and show off the images perfectly.
I made myself a cuppa and wandered through Sue's blog to pick some more cards to show you...

Gosh! This is simply gorgeous. I may be just a little bit biased, I do have a big soft spot for Sassy's and in particular for Hippie Chick from the very first set of Sassy's.

Sue also has the knack for making fabulous cards for the men in our lives, this is the Manga image Sporty. I love the softer colours on this card and the texture from the embossing.

Another fab male card using the Manga image Scooter Boy. I really like the way Sue has used the stripey paper both vertically and horizontally, and the photo corners which lead your eye inwards to the image.

And finally we have the Manga image Woodland Fairy for this ever so pretty card.

I think Sue's cards are all fantastic. Beautifully coloured images, clean and simple layouts, soft colour palettes and delicate embellishments.

Many thanks Sue for letting me show your cards here today, please go and pay Sue a visit, there are so many beautiful cards for you to see on her blog.

Thanks for looking.

Love Elaine xx

Something for the weekend?

You will all be pleased to know that Furry Friends is in stock HERE.

Funkykits also stock many other brands of cute stamps

CC Designs

Darcies

Do Crafts

Dovecraft - Smirk

Fizzy Moon

Hampton Art

Hero Arts

Inkadinkado

Kanban crafts

Kars

Magnolia

Penny Black

Personal Impressions

Stampavie

Stamping Bella

Sugar Nellie

The Greeting Farm - Anya

Will 'n Way Stamps

Woodware

Bargain hunters need to check  this out.

And did you notice the new addition of STAMPAVIE

and they have their own FREE magazine to inspire HERE

full of work from their talented DT

Orders placed before 2pm will be in the post tonight

 and possibly with you tomorrow if you are in the UK,

something sweet for the weekend maybe?

Sugar and Snowmen...

There's a new challenge posted over on the Sugar Bowl this morning, with a sketch from Sweetie Kiki and the option of using lace. I know lots of crafters use lace on their cards so it's a nice 'n' easy theme again.

As always, the talented Sweeties have come up trumps and made some fabulous cards to give you inspiration and get your mojo flowing.

Kiki has used the Sassy image Call Me to create her beautiful card in shades of pink and chocolate.

Tiets has created her fabulously detailed card with an image from the new release Snow Buddies. I love the wide strip of gathered lace, so pretty.

Gayle also used the Snow Buddies stamp to create her perfectly pretty pink card. 

This is why I love rubber stamps, they are so versatile. One image takes on a totally different look simply by a change of colour and embellishments and can be used again and again to produce a multitude of different cards.

For those of you waiting to get your inky mitts on this stamp...

Furry Friends is now in at Funky Kits, but they are selling fast so you'd better get on over there quickly!

The Sugar Bowl Sweeties are taking a little Summer holiday break so this challenge will run for 4 weeks instead of the usual 2, so you all have plenty of time to get your entries in.

Please visit the Sugar Bowl for the details and rules of entry and to view all the Sweeties cards.

Thanks for looking.

Love Elaine xx