Lighted Trick or Treat Buckets are Here!

Looking for something new and different for Trick-or-Treating this year? These lighted orange buckets are just the thing! Your kids will be the coolest kids in the neighborhood this year! And it's not too late to get one. If you're in the Marietta/Atlanta Metro area, I can get one of these fun buckets to you in time for Thursday night!

Choose one of the 5 designs pictured above: ghost, spider web, girly spider (she has cute little eyelashes!), jack face, or black cat. Each bucket is $20; personalization options available for $5 more.

Buckets have LED lights on the INSIDE, and turn on and off with a small switch on the bottom of the bucket. Requires 3 AA batteries, which are included.

If you'd like to order, contact me ASAP via email: sugarplumdelights@yahoo.com. Credit cards and Paypal are accepted. Don't miss out! Questions? Don't be shy!

Weekend Wrap-Up, May 2

As always, I didn't get as much finished this weekend as I had wanted to, but I did get a few things accomplished. I think I expect too much out of myself, since weekends are really the only time I have to seriously craft. I also have to remember that the weekends are the only time I can really spend quality time with my children, and, well, the crafting falls to the wayside most of the time, and that's okay.

Ever since I made my first Oreo-stuffed Brownies, I wanted to try it again with mint cookies. And I did! I followed the same basic recipe: brownie mix, marshmallow creme, cookies. Only this time I used the Mint Fudge Creme Oreos instead of the regular. They were SO yummy! I highly recommend trying these brownies if you haven't already. Of course I didn't get any pictures this time around, but they look basically the same as this:

So, if you like minty cookies and brownies, you won't regret trying this one. Go here for directions and more pictures.

I also completed an order for my Redneck Wine Glasses. I still chuckle at these whenever I see them. I think Vivian's going to love her glass!

My daughter and I went shopping on Saturday afternoon, and we found these fun water bottles for kids. Of course my first thought was, I can personalize these! My daughter's first thought was, I want one in every color! That's my girl. So we got a bunch of them, in every color, and I put her name on her favorite color, pink. I love this font I just discovered recently, too: Ziggy Zoe. So fun, and perfect on this bottle.

The available colors for the water bottles are: pink, green, purple, red, blue, turquoise, and orange. I think they look great with white personalization, but other colors are available too. These are now avaiable in the shop, check them out!

That was my crafting for the weekend. What did you do? I'd love to see it. :)

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Covered Button Badge Reels - A Tutorial!

A few years ago when I first got my embroidery machine, I discovered personalized badge reels. Having to wear an id badge at work all the time, I thought this was a great idea, and I created a tutorial to share with others. Well, not so much share, as sell. And sell it did. But now I'm older and wiser, and in more of a giving spirit, so I decided to share the whole tutorial, with pictures, here for you! Hope you enjoy!
Materials:
~ ID Badge Reel
~ Size 45 Ready-to-Cover button (1 1/8 inches)
~ Button covering tool (available in starter pack with buttons at most fabric/craft stores – 2 pieces, usually 1 blue, 1 white)
~ Small Piece of fabric with embroidered initial (embroidery is optional)
~ E6000 Adhesive, or other really strong glue (be careful, this stuff is powerful!)
~ Pliers
Covering the button:

• Embroider small initial or design onto fabric of choice. The size of the font/design should be 1” or less, ¾” is preferred


• Centering initial/design on fabric, cut according to template on back of button package, referring to the size of your button. The fabric should be roughly twice the size of the button when cut


• Again, making sure the design is centered, place fabric face down in button covering tool (mold)


• With pliers, remove shank from button back


• Place button face on top of the fabric in tool with rounded side down


• Tuck fabric into back of button face, then place back on top


• Press plunger (usually the blue piece) down on top of everything until you hear a pop


• Pop button out of mold, and


• Voila! You have a fabric covered button!

Attaching Covered Button to Badge Reel:

• Make sure the shank (metal loopy piece) has been removed from back of button
  
• At this point, some crafters like to fill the indentation on the back of the button. If you choose to do this and save a little glue, one option is to glue craft foam to the back of the button. Let that dry completely, then proceed with the following steps.


• Glop some E6000 directly onto the badge reel/clip or the back of the button, spreading it around almost to edges of reel or button


• Center, and gently place button on top of glue, smooshing out the extra glue to make sure the edges of the button are covered


• Carefully wipe away excess glue, being sure not to dislodge button placement


• Let sit for 24 hours to allow glue to fully dry


• Enjoy your new supercute badge reel/clip, and be the envy of your coworkers!

Sources:
Retractable ID Badge Reels:

• Online at eID Badges - lots of options available! Multiple color choices, as well as shapes and types of clips. I've used these myself, and they're perfect for this project.
• Office Depot, in stores and online
• Office Max, in stores and online
• Staples, in stores and online
• Wal-Mart, in store in the Office Supply area (not all Wal-Marts carry them)
• Check Etsy.com as well

Buttons To Cover:

In Stores:

• Hancock Fabrics Store
• Joann Fabrics in stores
• Michaels
• Hobby Lobby
• Your local sewing store

Online:

• http://www.joann.com/
• http://www.jcarolinecreative.com/
• http://www.craftersvision.com/
• http://www.hancockfabrics.com/
• Your favorite online craft/sewing supply site

E6000:

• Available at hardware stores as well as craft stores, in the glue section
• For online availability and more information, check the manufacturer’s website.
• NOTE: This is an industrial adhesive, so please follow directions and make sure to read the “Caution” section!

Small Embroidery Fonts:

There are lots of places to get small embroidery fonts, but my favorite is Jolsons Designs at http://www.jolsonsdesigns.com/. The font pictured on the badge reels in the tutorial is the “Tiny Curlz” from Jolsons. They always stitch out great, and fit perfectly. Another favorite is from Reen at http://www.embroiderygarden.com/. She has lots of wonderful designs available, and even a set of templates and fonts specifically for Covered Button projects. Be sure to check it out!
Be careful, making badge reels can become addictive!

Crayon Rolls, Key Fobs, and Lunch Totes, Oh My!

Wow. It’s December. Christmas time. The most wonderful time of the year. I seriously don’t know what happened to the last 3 months! Well, I shouldn’t really say that; I do know what happened to the last 3 months. I have been super-duper busy! And that’s definitely a good thing.
So, what have I been working on, you ask? First, lunch totes. Moms are discovering that personalized lunch bags make excellent party favors. I had two large orders of them that were used as favor bags, with lots of goodies stuffed inside for the party guests. Ages have ranged from 1 to 10, and then some! I introduce more designs whenever I can, and of course I’m always open to suggestions. The most popular designs have been the train (new!) for boys, and daisies for girls. I’ve started using a new kind of bag as well. They’re the same size as the bags I offered before, only now I have more colors (yay!) and there’s a pocket on the front of the bag. So cute!

What else have I been working on? Key fobs, key fobs, and more key fobs. I’m still working to complete a very, very large order (for me) of personalized key fobs, both wristlet size with a full name, and a mini-size with one initial. Key fobs are one of my favorite things; I just think they’re so much fun. Everyone should have one (hint hint). I was also very excited to make a new discovery when I was searching for a new webbing supplier. Glitter! I’m now offering Glitter Key Fobs, in either size, in pink, blue, silver, and gold. I haven’t even had time to get these up in the shop yet, but look for them soon. If you just can’t wait for them to appear in the shop, shoot me an email!

And last, but certainly not least, crayon rolls! I had a special order for Christmas crayon rolls, and we decided to use Riley Blake’s ‘Be Merry’ Fabrics. They are so freaking adorable! With it now being so close to Christmas and with me being so swamped, I don’t think we’ll see these in the shop. But you never know…

So that’s what’s been going on. The shop is looking kind of bare at the moment, since I’ve been so busy, but if you’re looking for something, just let me know!

DEADLINES: For custom/personalized items, the last day to order for guranteed Christmas delivery is this Friday, December 11. For non-personalized items, the last day to order for guaranteed Christmas delivery is Wednesday December 16. If you don’t have a deadline, order away!

CURRENT TURNAROUND TIME is 7-10 business days. Please be patient! I appreciate your business, and thanks for reading.

Trick or Treat!

October is almost here, and that means it's time for Halloween! Autumn is my favorite season, and I love Halloween: the candy, the costumes, the smell of candy apples.. Halloween wouldn't be the same if it wasn't in the fall, in my opinion. I'm still trying to decide what costumes my kids should wear this year. This is the first year I'll have two little ones to dress up, so I want it to be good! I don't know yet if I'll be making something or not. Last year my daughter was Little Red Riding Hood in an outfit made by me, and the year before that she was a bumblee, also constructed by me. Do I have to keep making her costumes now that I've done it two years in a row? We'll see what we come up with...

I do know one thing, my daughter is set for a Trick or Treating bag! Every kid needs an awesome bag/bucket/receptacle for all of the goodies and treats they'll be getting! I personally think that all kids should have something with at least their initial on it, especially if they have siblings. I remember many fights with my brother when I was a kid over whose plastic pumpkin was whose. Of course I have a solution!

Avoid the fights, the bickering, the whining with these emboidered treat bags! Available with either just an initial, or the initial and name of your child as well as the super-cute ghost, and topped off with ribbon! These bags are really sturdy (think reusable grocery bags) so they'll last for Halloweens to come, and hold lots of loot. For more information, check them out in my shop.

October also means that my coworkers will be spending more time hanging out at my desk; every October I keep a treat basket on my desk stocked to the brim. Candy = happy workers.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Mini Market Totes!

Get them while they're hot! I'm taking orders for the mini version of the hugely popular Market Totes! They do not have lids so it's incredibly handy to just toss stuff in there. My daughter used one as an Easter basket this year, and she loved it. She still carries it around with toys and who knows what else in there. I'm sure there are goldfish crackers stuffed in the inside zipper pocket.

For Halloween this year, I'm going to personalize a black one for her to use while trick-or-treating. How cute would that be? I'll have to play with designs, but I'm thinking of adding a pumpkin or a witch along with her name.

This is a slightly different style than what's pictured above, but still basically the same. They collapse flat for easy storage when not in use.

Colors available are: Black, brown, light pink, hot pink, royal blue, red, yellow, Kelly green, purple, royal purple (think LSU purple), orange, turquoise, lime, and navy

Please let me know as soon as possible if you're interested! They're going fast!

The price on the mini's is $15. Personalization included! Larger totes are also available; just email me for more info!

They're Back!

When I first started making things, I made fun crayon rolls. A few of them anyway...I never really made very many, but I had planned to make at least a million. Funny how plans change and never really come to fruition! But, at long last, Crayon Rolls are back at Sugar Plum Delights!

I'm making them a little smaller now, because do you really need more than 8 crayons when you're on the go? The process has also been streamlined a bit, so I can crank them out a little quicker, and I love that. They're available with or without personalization, but why not go for it and add a name? These would be excellent party favors for your kids' birthday parties. Each child can have their very own, with their name on it! Have a party theme? Rolls can be made to match! If you have a special request, please email me, and I'll see what I can do.

These three rolls are available now in the shop! I also have another super-cool crayon keeper up my sleeve, but for girls only (sorry guys). I should have that one available within a week or so.

I've been very happily busy with Monogrammed Badge Reels lately, so I haven't had a chance to work on some other new stuff I'm planning, but don't worry, it'll be here soon!

Happy crafting!

Catching Up...

Wow, has it been a week since I've posted? Goodness gracious, sorry to leave you all hanging out there! I've been fairly busy with some custom orders and requests, and have finally finished up most all of it. I think I only have one more thing to complete, then I can take a breather. Whew! And did I take pictures of any of these things to show off to the masses? Of course not! Aside from orders, I've been working on Fall and Holiday craft shows, and figuring out what we might want to consider. I've never been good at planning, and have a tendency to forget things (who me?), so I figure if I get a jump on it and keep the list in the back of my mind, I might be okay.


Imagine this keychain multiplied by 20. That's what's been keeping me (happily) busy! RLAG stands for "Run Like A Girl", a book by Kathy Vick, to be released in 2009.


While I was in the middle of my pile of custom keychains (Thanks Kathy!), my sister-in-law/partner-in-crime Katie has opened up an Etsy shop of her very own, Happy 2 Knit. She's been knitting up a storm, and is really creating some super-cute knitted goodness! You'll find it hard to resist the things in her shop, but make sure you stop by. She will be more than happy to accept custom orders, too.

I think the finger puppets may be my favorite. They're just adorable.

I have a 3-day weekend this weekend, and that is making me very happy. I will, hopefully, finally be able to work on some things I've wanted to do for a while, but just haven't gotten around to yet. Or, I may just stay in my jammies all day and watch silly movies. You just never know what may happen at Sugar Plum Central...

Summer Mode

I guess I've been in "Summer Mode" lately...I just haven't been doing too much, it seems! June flew by in an instant, and now here it is, July. I'm sure this month will go just as quickly. I am looking forward to this long July 4th weekend, however. I'm hoping to get caught up with my goodies. My long awaited shipment of fun stuff has still not arrived, but I'm expecting it any day now! In the meantime, I can introduce something new and fun:

Button Bracelets! Isn't it superbly adorable? I just received the supplies yesterday, so I sat right down last night after Pookie's bedtime and made one up. When I ordered the supplies, I didn't realize the buttons were so tiny! But it worked out, and I think it turned out great. What do you think? I'm going to get some more made up as soon as I can, and get them listed in the shop asap. The bracelet measures 7 inches long, and the little buttons are about 1/2 inch in diameter. I'll have to get a pic of it on my wrist, it lays quite nicely!

Who loves Dollar Tree? I know I do..I love to go in there and poke around. I always come out with something. Thanks to a recent tip from my friends at sewforum.com, I found some little cooler lunch bags for, you guessed it, only $1! They're great for embroidering, and perfect for kids..if they get messed up, no biggy, it's only $1 to get another one! So I bought a few of each of the different colors they had - red, green, pink and blue. I finally got around to embroidering one for Pookie, and I think it turned out very nice.

It puckered a little bit, but I can't really expect too much for a buck. Pookie LOVES carrying this thing around. We put her sippy cup in it and took it to Grammy and Pops' this past weekend. I should have jumped on these a bit sooner, as they would have been perfect for kids to take to day camps and VBS and so on. They still might make an appearance in the shop, I haven't fully decided yet.

And last, but certainly not least, I finally produced something I've been wanting to do for a while:

A Fabric Pony-O! The pic here isn't the best, as I did it myself, obviously, but you can still get the idea. It's cute brown and white polka dot fabric with a little white daisy in the middle. These also will be popping up in the shop once I get a few more made (when that elusive shipment comes in). And of course there will be some available that are monogrammed. You knew that one was coming!

Okay, I guess I have been doing a few things here and there, I just feel like I should have more to update! But, as always, stay tuned for more to come! I still have more fun stuff in the works!

Badge Reels, and More Badge Reels

I'm having fun with these, and they seem to be popular! I haven't even put them (aside from the PBR one) in the shop yet because I'm waiting on a large order of blanks. Here are a few I've done recently:

The bottle cap idea came while I was trying to figure out what to do with the TON of beer bottle caps my husband has saved for the past...oh I don't know, at least 5 years. I was working on embroidered badge reels at the time, and kind of had a lightbulb pop up over my head. So, I don't know if there will be much interest, but I think it's fun! It's currently listed in my alter-ego Etsy shop, MooreCrafty. Look for magnets to be making an appearance very soon!


Well we just have to have a UGA badge reel, right? This was a request not only from my friend Sara, but from another coworker as well.

This was a special order from yet another coworker. These girls are loving these things! And I love them. :-)

I know the badge reels don't really fit into the Babies and Kids theme of Sugar Plum Delights, but we're here for mommies and daddies, too. Plus I think they're a lot of fun!

I also had a special order for "Future (insert occupation) " bibs, and I really liked the way they turned out! These will be making an appearance in the shop very soon, just in case anyone else needs them!

So, these things should keep you happy for now. But just know that there are many many more fun things coming soon! I'm just waiting for some shipments to come in...and I can't wait!

Oh wait! I can't believe I almost forgot to mention this! Are you interested in making Embroidered Badge Reels on your own! I've recently published a How-To! "Make Your Own Embroidered Badge Reels", the tutorial, is now available in the shop! The instructions are very simple, there are lots of pictures, and even a source list! And it's cheap! I'll be putting together a "Starter Kit" to go with the tutorial very soon!

Update! Finally!

I decided earlier today that I really needed to update my blog, so this afternoon I started typing. All of a sudden I had written over 800 words, and decided that it was WAY too long to post here, when basically all I was trying to say was that I bought myself a Cuttlebug. It ended up sounding like a column in a magazine, so I thought, what the hay? I'll submit to a magazine or two, and see what happens. You never know.

So, I bought a Cuttlebug! Isn't it cute?

I was looking for a quick and easy way to make nice, professional-looking hangtags for my products when I spotted this little dealie. It can do a lot of things, so I'm very excited about it. I might even try my hand at making cards, I haven't fully decided yet.

Anyway, June has been busy at Sugar Plum Central! I had a lovely vacation that was much needed, and now am back to work. I've been working on a few new things that will be unveiled later this month, hopefully. I'm very excited about them! Orders are coming in left and right for my Monogrammed Initial Key Fobs, and I introduced a new color, Lime Green. Love this one! I think it looks great with the blue thread, but I can do whatever color thread a customer may want.

I've also had orders for my badge reels from people at work. I'm waiting on a shipment of them, so I haven't posted them in the Etsy Shop just yet. But if you're interested, just let me know! Here's a batch I did last week:

They turned out great, even though the picture didn't, and I was told that the recipients loved them! I love hearing that my things make people happy.. :-) In case you can't tell, the pink and blue letters are on a brown background, on black clips.

So that's all for now. I'll try to post a little more regularly, and try to keep things interesting!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Monday! Thankfully, mine is almost over. I wanted to post a little earlier today, but was distracted by flickr, sewforum, various Yahoo groups...oh yeah, and I did do a little work, too.

The Kirkwood Spring Fling on Saturday was fabulous! The weather was beautiful, although a little windy, but not too hot, and not chilly. It was comfortable! Of course I completely forgot to take pictures of the booth setup, and I'm now kicking myself, as it looked really good! Thanks to all those who came out to see us, we appreciate you!

I debuted a couple of new products on Saturday. One, as was mentioned previously, was the Market Tote. I'm taking orders! Here is the example:

For more information, check it out in the shop. Like I said before, these are so cool! There has been lots of interest. I'm working on getting more colors and a collapsible tote that's easy to store! They'll be a little different, but it's the same principle.

I also made up some UGA Bibs and Burp Cloths. I didn't get a pic of the bib, but here's the burp:

If you're interested in products made with licensed fabric, email me. You won't see these in the Shop.

Sunday was very relaxing at Sugar Plum Central. Just did a little surfing and promotion while Pookie napped, and not much else. It was great! Now if Friday would only come faster.. I'll be on vacation next week, and I can't wait!