Each month my club meets to make one card and one 3-D item. I try to incorporate new techniques in the projects. This month we used the new Spider Web Textured Embossing Folder which we highlighted with Frost White Shimmer Paint. It made the web look really cool. The stamp set we used to create the card was Dark & Dreary. We used the Wicked Fun Specialty designer series paper and Rich Razzleberry Striped Grosgrain Ribbon which we cut in half. I love the effect of the threads on the ribbon; it really goes with the spooky idea of the Halloween card.

For our 3-D Item we decorated an empty Starbucks Frappucino bottle using the stamp set Wicked Cool. We used the 2 3/8" scallop circle punch to create the flower in the center that became the witches tummy. Again we used the Wicked Fun Specialty designer series paper. We highlighted the belly flower with the word "Spooky" and used the words "have a wicked cool Halloween" stamp on the top of the bottle, filled we candy and we were done.

Stampin' Up! has a wonderful house in the current mini catalog that can be decorated in a variety of ways. On Saturday, October 2nd I will hosting a workshop in my home in Thousand Oaks to create a "Haunted House". The cost is $25 and includes the house, a light for inside the house and all of the supplies needed to make this adorable little house, see the sneak peek below. Hope you can join us.

Each month I hold a card making class in my home. Each attendee makes a total of six cards, including envelopes; three designs two of each design. My next class is Tuesday, September 28th, below is a sneak peek of two of the three cards.

It's right around the corner - the Crazy Stamping Ladies stamping event of the year and you won't want to miss it!! Only a few weeks left til the Annual Fall "Stamp til you Cramp!" event - Sweet Celebrations! which will be held on Saturday, October 9th in Thousand Oaks, CA. So if you live anywhere in our area you'll want to check it out and sign up TODAY! The price goes up on September 26th - so be sure to register NOW!

Below is a sneak peek of my project - a set of three cards with envelopes in a nice box using our Just Believe stamp set and our Woodland Walk designer series paper.

But our projects won't be all you'll get - there will also be two mini classes, food, a candy bar, decorations, doorprizes, raffle baskets, displays and a LOT of FUN!! To continue on this Blog Hop and see snippets of all of the projects we'll be making, you'll want to go to Stampinista's blog next - (I've listed all the sites on the Blog Hop below) -

http://stampinista.blogspot.com/

http://stampinking.blogspot.com/

http://crazystampinglady.blogspot.com/

http://simistamper.blogspot.com/

I'm waiting to hear from you - just e-mail or call me and we'll get you signed up for this great day of STAMPING!!

BONUS purchase option for those of you out of our area or those who can't attend the event due to other commitments - purchase all of the preppred supplies to make ALL four of our projects and BOTH of our mini classes for a total cost of $35 plus $5 S&H (Checks for $40 payable to "Sandy Merritt") - we will include everything to make the projects except the inks, stamps, adhesives and jar. You will also receive by e-mail full color pictures of all of the projects, with a complete materials list and brief instructions and tips on making the projects. Order by October 13th and your project materials will ship out to you around October 20th. If you'd like to order this kit contact me today at sandycreates@verizon.net.

NOTE: Watch for another Blop Hop after our event showing the full projects - so you can see exactly what you'll be getting to make!

DON'T MISS IT!

Get ready for the Crazy Stamping Ladies Blog Hop.....

for a sneak peek at all of the great projects we will be making at our "Stamp til you Cramp!" event on October 9th; check back tomorrow.

I have never been a big fan of Halloween. I'm not a fan of ghosts and ghouls. I have a lot of customers that are huge Halloween fans and they have suddenly gotten me in the spirit. This is a picture of the projects we made in 2009 at my Halloween camp. I'm working on creating a Haunted House for at least one camp this year. I'll keep you posted when I have it scheduled. I would love to have you join me.

At least once a year my downline group the Crazy Stamping Ladies puts on an all day Stamp til you Cramp! event. This one day event includes breakfast, lunch and snacks and as they name says a lot of stamping. We hold four classes and two mini workshops. Each participant warms up the day at a mini workshop and rotates to two tables to complete two of their four projects. After lunch we begin with a mini workshop and everybody completes their last two projects. Each attendee receives a goodie bag from their demonstrator. We also give out door prizes all day and have raffle baskets that every participant can purchase tickets to win. It is a wonderful day; if you live the Conejo Valley area please try and join us on Saturday, October 9th. We begin with registration at 8:45 and go until about 4:30. The event is held at the Boys & Girls Club at Los Cerritos Middle School, 1980 Ave de las Flores, Thousand Oaks. The cost is $60 for the entire day if you register by 9/25. Send me an e-mail if you are interested at sandycreates@verizon.net.

Saturday was my monthly downline meeting with the Crazy Stamping Ladies. Last December at our holdiay luncheon we drew names for secret sisters for 2010. We exchange gifts for birthdays, Stampin' Up! anniversaries and any other special occasion we choose. On Saturday my secret sister gave me an adorable purse with four coordinating cards inside. The purse was made with the new Greenhouse Gala designer series paper. The leather trim was created in Pumpkin Pie cardstock embossed to create the faux leather look. The handles were also Pumpkin Pie trimmed with Summer Sun corduroy buttons. The set of four cards were all of the same in a different color. I love the stamp set my secret sis used. Thank you secret sis for your generosity and thoughtfulness.

I have been a lot in love with Sunflowers lately. You can probably see if you follow my blog; I taught a new box at my recent stamp club with a Sunflower on the front. On Sunday I went to a flower class taught by my upline and her daughter, my sideline and what was one of the flowers we made.....Sunflowers. The most adorable flower pot with a big happy Sunflower. I won't show that project quite yet I will let them have all of the fun. If you don't follow their blogs you should..... http://crazystampinglady.blogspot.com and http://stampinking.blogspot.com. Now on to what I did with the Sunflower; my co-worker was celebrating her birthday last weekend and I wanted to do something special for her; she recently lost her mother and as to be expected is still going through the grieving of such a huge loss. What better way to be cheered than by having flowers at your desk. Since I can't keep fresh flowers on her desk everyday what better way to cheer her than with paper flowers. I had this in mind and stepped it up a bit after the class I attended. I can say it turned out adorable because as ususal, yes usual, I cased the amazing Heidi King. Thanks Heidi. I used Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso & Garden Green. Everthing was punched or diecut using the daisy and leaves diecuts. The punches I used were the 1 3/4" circle punch and the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack four petal flower. I took a close up so you could see the details on the flower.