HAPPY NEW YEAR review...

Good morning everyone and wow how fast has this year flown past...instead of a card for today I have decided to do a review of some of the stunning images I have used this year and to start off with this is the stunning Amber, isn't she beautiful...those eyes just bring her to life

http://pinkpuds.blogspot.co.uk/

 my next one is from one of my favourite ranges...the Simply Adorable and is called Thomas I love this range so much I always reuse them

http://pinkpuds.blogspot.co.uk/

my next is another favourite I reuse time and again, she is one of those stamps that can be used for any occasion and is called Believe

http://pinkpuds.blogspot.co.uk/

the next is so so cute and girlie she had to be included in my review choice...this beauty is from the Winter Wonder digis and is called Princess

http://pinkpuds.blogspot.co.uk/

my last choice for my review of 2013 just has to be another Simply adorable...this is the handsome Nathan, I love colouring him so much and he always seems to turn out ok too...

http://pinkpuds.blogspot.co.uk/

well that's it for this year, I hope you liked my Sugar Nellie choices...all the detail are on my blog as always...the only thing left for me to do is wish you all a
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014
whatever your up to tonight be careful and have fun
Mina xxx

Aqua Marina....and a Happy New Year too....

Morning all....
 
Vicky here today to share with you my card using one of Under the Sea stamps which was released back in August 2012 {wow...doesn't time fly...LOL...} and this sweetie is called "Aqua Marina"..
 

I have teamed her up with some pretty LOTV papers...


Coloured her with my Copics, Chalks for cheeks...and Prisma Pencil for more shading...

 
and the dies are by MFT...
 
For more details please pop over to my blog here...
 
So thanks so much for stopping by....
and I would also like to take this opportunity to wishing you all a Happy and Peaceful New Year too...
 
Biggest of crafty hugs Vicky xx


Best Day Ever

Hello everyone... Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!

I've used the gorgeous Best Day Ever stamp for today's make - love this stamp... yes, I know, I love them all!


I got that fab Spellbinders curved border die for Christmas, and just had to use it straight away!

You can find Best Day Ever here at Funky Kits.

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely day :o)

A Christmas Ornament

Good morning sweeties!  I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas.  I spent the last couple of days enjoying my family, including my new little granddaughter who is only 3 weeks old :)  Of course I ate way too much food and sweets and I'm sure my clothes will be a little more tight than they were a few days ago.  Even though Christmas has now come and gone I have one more Christmas project to share with you.


This lovely image is Princess and she's available at Funky Kits.  I picked up this little wood frame at a local craft shop and painted it a cream color.  I colored this adorable little girl with copics and colored pencils and added just a bit of Glamour Dust to her dress and crown.  I glued the image to the back of the frame and then added a bow with a little flower.  So now I have a new ornament to hang on my Christmas tree each year.  I love this little project and hope to pick up more frames to make a few of these for next year!

I also have some sad news to share today.  This is my last post as a member of the design team.  I want to thank Karen for letting me be a part of the Sugar Nellie family for the last few years.  I have loved every minute of coloring and designing with her beautiful stamps.  I've also enjoyed working with the rest of this amazing team.  These ladies are so talented and just the sweetest group of people to work with.  And last but certainly not the least, I want to thank all of you that stopped by to leave me such lovely comments.  Your kind words were always very much appreciated :) 

Hugs, Anita
 

Merry Christmas Everyone

I hope today brings you joy.
That many photos are taken.
Memories are made.
And good times are had by all.

A Merry Christmas day 
from all Sugar Nellie

Ballet Student...

http://pinkpuds.blogspot.co.uk/

Good morning everyone and I hope your having a wonderful Christmas Eve and not having to dash round making last minuet purchases...take a bit of time to relax and have yourself some festive spirit...now onto my card for today which is using this stunning Simply Adorable...isn't she beautiful and like all the Adorable's shes a dream to colour...this one is called Ballet Student and all the details are on my blog if you would like to pop by...thanks for stopping by today and I want to wish you a wonderfully happy and festive time over the next few days and

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Mina xxx 

On the wings of love....

Morning all....
 
Vicky here today to share with you my card I made using one of the adorable Return to Winter Wonderland digi stamps....and this sweetie is called "On the wings of love"..
 

I have teamed her up with some pretty LOTV papers...


Coloured her with my Copics, Chalks for her cheeks and Prisma Pencils for added shading...

 
and the layout was done using various MFT die {including MFT Blueprints dies}...some stickles and a sentiment too...
 
For more details please pop over to my blog here...
 
So thanks for stopping by and I would also like to take this opportunity  to wish you all a very Merry Christmas too..
 
biggest of crafty hugs Vicky xx

SOS making plans

Hello and a calm and peacefull Sunday to you all. It's crazy to think that work is finished for the year and I need to have a good think and plan out stuff before we go back in January. For now I am happy to have school finished and Katie home. That's my house full for the holidays.

(My dream place to chill, read and enjoy coffee with some yummy cake)

Now it's all about getting the house ready and thinking about the food. With six for Christmas diner , it's no bigger a meal that I would have cooked any night of the week when the children were younger. They eat more but it's the extras that makes Christmas dinner stand out. The table is set, napkins and crackers. Three courses, extra side dishes and a very indulgent sweet.

( traditional dinner always tastes better when some one else cooks)

Once ridiculously stuffed we spend the day in the lounge  ( the good room ) and continue to laze about, play games and eat sweeties. The mountain for wrapping paper will no bout fill the recycling bin in one go but in the past we have almost put the chimney on fire burning it in the house.

I will need to take a trip to town later to see my Mum as Granny has been house bound for the last few years and chooses not to come out even for Christmas. M & S meals for one are on her menu this season, she eats like a wee bird so no point in boxing up the left overs.


What ever your plans, enjoy. 
Take some time out for yourself after all I don't doubt that most of the preparations are left to you! 

I'll catch you again, when it's all over and I might just bring in 2014 @ the House of Sugar with a few new Elf's to help us out. Not the kind that sit on the shelf, but the kind that like to colour.

Have a Merry Christmas

Karen

A wee minding




"wee minding" is how you would describe a gift given for no particular reason. One use of the word "mind" is to remember something or someone, or to call them to memory.

A "minding", then, can be a keepsake, or something given which may not be particularly valuable in itself, but is an indication that the recipient has been in the giver's thoughts, *or* to bring the giver to the thoughts of the recipient - a memento, maybe is one way to think about it.


With those work I hope that you now understand what a wee minding is. For me this year there a few people on my list...
Neighbours, special customers, friends, work colleges, teachers, bus drivers.....

I am also embracing these wise works.
It's all in the packaging.
It's the thought that counts
You first taste with you eyes.

I am heading in the direction of the supermarkets to buy food goodies, 
The cheap pound shop for tin trays to use as a base.

The cello, ribbon, bakers twin,tissue, tags and stamps I have.

I hope to re create some of the following.




I am not a lover of mince pies myself but one would not hurt me, if I were a pie maker I would do things like apple and cinommon, pear and peacan , still seasonal but tastier than sweet mince meat.


Saving all those jars has been worth it, I knew I would need them!




Gingerbread are amongst my favourite things, Marks and Spencer's have tiny ones. So dam qute, I can eat a box at a time!


Asda sell small individual loafs, add a little extra icing and decorate!


Here is a cheat.... Buy cookies from the supermarket and sandwich together with butter cream. Try shortbread thins with buttercream and lemon curd. Yummy.


Here is another quick cheat.... Melt chocolate in a silicon mould and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Also try melting toffee's and sprinkle on salted pea nuts. Both work well.

So I don't bake, does not mean I ain't crafty, I can still do it with a little cheat here and there. Better than not doing it at all.

I give you permission to cheat, don't stress out trying to be perfect. It's the thought that counts after all. It's just a wee minding.

Merry Christmas
Karen 


5th Avenue

Hello everyone :o) I'm having a little break from Christmas with today's card - fancied making something girlie and I don't need any more girlie Christmas cards!


I've used the gorgeous 5th Avenue - you can find her here at Funky Kits.

Right, better go and get on with the Christmas makes... yes, I still need to make some family cards... I really WILL be more organised next year!!

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely day :o)

Lisa x

On The Wings Of Love

Good morning sweeties!  I don't know about you but I'm still busy making Christmas cards.  Today I've used one of the lovely fairies from the Return to Winter Wonderland release.  


This little beauty is called On the Wings Of Love.  You can find her and the other beautiful Sugar Nellie images at Funky Kits.  I colored her with copics and colored pencils.  I have added lots of Glamour Dust as I do love for my fairies to sparkle!  I also used some of the Frantage embossing powder but I believe I need to practice more in order to get the lovely results that I see on other cards.  My sentiment is stamped on the tag that's in the little kraft sack.  I added a small poinsettia cut with a Memory Box die.  
 
Thank you so much for stopping by.
 
Hugs, Anita
   

Preparing for a Cracking Christmas!

Good morning everyone!

Over the weekend I did far to much buying and wrapping but I finally think I'm there. With all my Christmas shopping done and dusted I'm turning my attention the things that normally get missed if you aren't organised enough. One year in our house their were a lot of little unhappy faces when we sat down for lunch. We had forgot the crackers!

So today my day will be filled with scoring, measuring and punching! Yes I am making Christmas crackers. I am using the envelope maker by "We R memory keepers" and the hougie board ( both of which we stock in Oldmeldrum and Elgin). I spent last night figuring out the measurements and the one below is what I came up with. Today I'm going to try and make a bigger one and then churn them all out. I am using them for the Christmas table and I have bought small gifts to suit each person inside. They will also act as a name place. I am also going to use them to give as gifts to some special ladies who craft. I think it's nice to give a crafter a crafty gift as they understand the work that's gone into it.

I better get cracking!
Katie



More Hands Make Light Work...

http://pinkpuds.blogspot.co.uk/

Good morning everyone, its so scarily close to the big day now isn't it...are you all ready for it?...for my card for today I'm using another of the beautiful brand new Return to Winter Wonderland release...this one is the beautiful More Hands Make light Work...I'm loving this new release they are a dream to colour...which ones did you buy, I would love to know...all the details of my card are on my blog as always I would love you to pop by...thanks for stopping by and whatever your up to today I hope its a relaxing one for you
Mina xxx

No Shell Like Home...

Morning all....
 
Vicky here today to share with you my card using the uber cute "No Shell Like Home"...Oooh I so love this wee image...
 
 
I have teamed her up with some gorgeous LOTV papers...
 
 
Coloured her with my Copics, Chalks & Prisma Pencils....
 
 
and these are the Copics I used...
 
 
and finished my card with some pretty flourishes and corners...and some pearls too...
 
for more details please pop over to my blog here...
 
So thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day too...
 
biggest of crafty hugs Vicky xx


SOS - online virus

Hello Sugar Addicts how are you all this Sunday.

I can actually say I have has a lazy week with a couple of days sitting at home.
Christmas may be right around the corner but very little decorations or pressies have been put up or wrapped. Maybe dealing with Christmas in my day job, since Easter, takes away from the magic. Maybe if I had some small believers to spoil, it would mean so much more to enjoy Christmas through their eyes.
Lucky you if there are children in your life for they are Christmas.

But the few pressies I have will require extra special wrapping. Over to pinterest I go, now to decide on a theme. I have a slap of air drying clay. I have lots of Kraft wrap and tags, string and ribbon, maybe a little glitter card.

Too much choices, pinterest lulls you into to a false sense of ability, I must be one of the worst believers.
I see it.......great idea
I gather up all supplies.....it sits there, in the corner, still in the bag.
My , must have it now,bag of supplies to do that oh so easy, fun and trendy project I pinned.

There will be a diagnosis soon, it's a virus that is effecting millions!

(No the sewing machine is not threaded up yet but I have cut out some felt shapes)

That's all  my nonsense for today.

Next week.....watch out for flashes!
Karen


More New Digital Stamps

Hello and a warm winters morning to you all.

A wee bit of news to share with you and a surprise release of digital images to complemnt that news.

Our lovely and talented Vicky recently helped out with a deadline to fill a magazine feature for
Complete Cardmaking issue 47




Five wonderful project using Sugar Nellie images. All of these sweet stamps are now available as digital. Great news for all our overseas customer and those that want to avoid the Christmas postal system. 
Watch out for more digital stamps, I am getting them loaded slowly.

In the same magazine you also see Krista Smiths characters, remember her Simply Sassy range is also available over at www.funkykits.co.uk.

Take care
Karen


Warm Winter Wishes

Morning all :o)  I've used those adorable penguins for today's cards - one of the sweetest Christmas images around, I think!


Anyone who follows my blog will be very bored with these white on white easel cards, but I've really enjoyed making them... they're quite simple, but still look special.

This image is called Warm Winter Wishes, and although the rubber stamp is out of stock, you can get it as a digi stamp here at Funky Kits.

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely day :o)

Gingerbread Cookies

Hello sweeties!  I have a Christmas card I'm sharing with you today. 
 
 
This sweet image is called Christmas Cookies and she's available in the Funky Kits shop as a digi image.  I colored her with copics and then used my colored pencils to add some more shading.  The star and ground are coated with Glamour Dust for some sparkle.  I really wanted to focus on the stamp so I simply added some ribbon, a bow, pearls, and a little gingerbread button ... a very clean and simple design.  
 
Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you have some time to get inky today!
 
Hugs, Anita
 

Challenge 111

Join us for a new challenge over on the 

http://sugarbowlblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Can you guess what it is yet?
 The challenge will be up soon but if you guess correctly, you can get a head start.

Please join in our challenges, it's a case of use it or loose it, it's been running for five years, lets not let card making become a spectator sport.
 We all spend too much thinking about it, surfing pinterest, blog hoppin, time to get those pens out and use up that paper stash, go on, you know you want too!

Karen

Christmas gift buying

Hello everyone!

Can you believe it's two weeks today until Christmas?? How is everyone getting on with their shopping? It's been busy in the shop. This time last year I had gotten a lot quieter as everyone had finished their crafting for Christmas and moved onto to food and Santa shopping. However this year we have a big range of gifts available so I'm still kept busy.

We try to source our gifts locally and handmade and we do have something lovely things! We have some beautiful staves made out of old whiskey barrels and made into candle holders and bottle racks ( a perfect gift for a male). My favourite line at the moment has to be voyage. They are a very popular home furnishing company. We have quite a range of their cushions, foot stools and door stoppers in at the moment and we are expecting a few more things very soon. I just love their enchanted forest design!

Katie x

Gift Wrapping again...

http://pinkpuds.blogspot.co.uk/

Good morning everyone...well are you all ready for Christmas yet?, I'm not quite there yet but working on it...this bit of gorgeousness is from the new Winter Wonderland release...shes called Gift Wrapping and I know the amazing Vicky used her yesterday but I couldn't resist using her myself shes so pretty isn't she all the details are on my blog if you would like to pop by...btw did you know there's a huge 50% SALE on at Funky Kits theres hundreds of stamps on sale...why not pop on by and see what bargain or two you can pick up...enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by
Mina xxx

Gift Wrapping....

Morning all....
 
Vicky here today to share with you another wall plaque I made to match last weeks one....and this adorable image is called "Gift Wrapping" from the Return Winter Wonderland Collection..
 

I have used again some gorgeous LOTV papers...


Coloured her with my Copics, Chalks for her cheeks...and added some shading with my Prisma Pencils...

 
and added some die-cut leaves and a Poinsettia flower...
 
For more details pleases pop over to my blog here
 
So thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day too...
 
biggest of crafty hugs Vicky xx


Saturday Shenanigans!


Happy Saturday Everyone!

We, here, in the Sugar Mines, are still recovering from the launch of our beautiful, Return to Winter Wonderland fairies!

But, the one thing that makes it all worthwhile, is seeing you all bring them to life on our travels around the internet.

So today, I thought I would share, just a sample of the amazing creations we've seen!

The very talented, Linda has made this gorgeous, pink creation using, Hey Little Birdie!


Another stunner, using the same stamp, shared on our Facebook page by Lynsey, I can't tell you how much I love mint green!


Lovely Shirley has used On the Wings of Love for this gorgeous festive card!


Thank you ladies, your work has been a delight to see!

Will you be getting inky this weekend?

If you are we would love to see your creations on our Facebook page or in The Sugar Bowl

I am braving the hoardes, to go Christmas shopping....

I fear for my life! 

Enjoy your weekend...

Luv'n'Hugs

Gayle x


Holly Fairy...

Morning all :o)

Sugar Nellie's Gorgeous Girl range were my first stamping loves... it's going back a while, but I think they were the first stamps I ever bought, and I still love them now.  So I thought I'd dress one of my favourites, the sweet little Bumble Bee, as a little holly fairy for Christmas!


What do you think - did it work?

I love this stamp as she's so perfect for paper piecing... and she's very pretty too!  You can find Bumble Bee here at Funky Kits.

Thanks for popping in, hope you all have a lovely day :o)

Christmas Blessings

Good morning sweet friends.  Today I have used one of our new releases from the Return To Winter Wonderland collection. 
 
 
This sweet fairy image is Hey Little Birdie and she was so much fun to color!  I used my copics and then some colored pencils for extra shading.  I added some Glamour Dust to her wings.  You can find this fairy and all her friends over at Funky Kits.  
 
Thank you so much for stopping by!
 
Hugs, Anita   

SOS - sew much fun

Hello sugar addicts, I hope your weekend has been stress free.
Christmas is upon us and it can be exactly what you make it.
There is no house as perfectly decorated as in the magazines.
There are so many tasty rich food ideas, but remember its only one meal and is your fridge big enough or the left overs?
Gifts are all too much of nothing important.
I think as I get older, and wiser , I understand not to let this season stress me out trying to be perfect. 


 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/115229793/maybe-christmas-doesnt-come-from-a-store?ref=br_feed_7&br_feed_tlp=holidays


This year more than any before, we have trimmed Christmas down. There are no small believers. No one needs anything. The gift I have chosen have been smaller but more thought has been put into them. I have not done it just for the sake of it. If I don't think it's something that will be appreciated, I have not bothered.
I love crafts, I love hand made and have had lots of pleasure looking for special gifts. Many are stranded in USA as Debbie does not come home until after Christmas, but it will be exciting to see her and open her suit case!

I have things coming from all over the world, inc Russia ( just got a dispatch email from etsy) :) happy happy happy

I have recieved a new sewing machine, FREE with the compliments of club card points from Tesco.
Will I be brave enough to get it out the box? Those drawers of fabric are breading. Best grab the bull by the horns and get on with it. That's my goal before the holidays start.

I have  also had great pleasure in sharing the Elf on the Shelf, I had several which I have given away, leaving me with Megan's one. Shame it's 3 years too late. I have not given it to her, because all that an elf stands for would go out our the window within the first half hour. He would be traumatised!
But I look forward to hearing about the other Elfs which have settled into houses that believe.

Take are and enjoy your day of rest.
Karen

Hey Little Birdie...

http://pinkpuds.blogspot.co.uk/

Good morning everyone hows your week going?...wow can you believe how close its getting to Christmas, time is just flying by isn't it...for my bit of sugary sweetness today I used one of the brand new Return to Winter Wonderland release...she is the beautiful Hey Little Birdie, I coloured her with my usual distress inks and all the details are on my blog as always...thanks for popping by today and I hope whatever your up to today its fun for you
Mina xxx

More hands make light work....

Morning all....
 
Vicky here today to share with you my wall hanging made with one of my new Return to Winter Wonderland images "More hands make light work"...
 

I have mounted her on a MDF wall hanging plaque...


Coloured her with my Copics, Chalks for her cheeks...and added some Prisma Pencils for added shading...


and these are the colours I used...

 
and I added some die-cut leaves and a Poinsettia...
 
for more information please pop over to my blog here...
 
So thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a lovey day too...
 
biggest of crafty hugs Vicky xx