I love Halloween and I have the first project to show you for this year. I finally used my Big Shot to make the cute little basket you may be seeing all around, using the Baskets and Blooms Bigz XL Die. There's no candy in the basket yet, but there will be closer to Halloween so I can give them to our neighborhood kids.

The card here was so fun to make! I love this tree image with this set. It's funny because I wanted the set because of the house and yet I have reached for the tree stamp several times now. Yes, I have some more Halloween projects ready to show you in the coming weeks. This week I will be busy designing cards to share for the month of September. I am having knee replacement surgery in a week and my husband has agreed to post (really copy and paste) projects that I want to share with you while I recuperate.

The paper used here is SU's new Halloween designer paper, Ghostly Greetings. The black paper in the basket was made with the crimper. First you crimp your paper and then cut it into thin strips. Then I wad it up a little bit so that it is not just straight strips of paper.

I hope you are enjoying your Labor Day weekend. It is so hard to believe that summer is almost over!

I've been a demo for one year and I just love it! With any online order of $50.00 you are getting a present! Choose any Ribbon up to $7.95 or our pretty new Designer Buttons. It is you choice, just tell me what you want when you contact me about your order. This offer is good until September 5, 2008.

If you have ever thought of joining Stampin Up! there has never been a better time to join. See our $99.00 Sign Up Special.

Today I am to Birmingham to go shopping for my new stamping room! I am so excited but it way past time that I have my own space just for stamping. A year ago it all fit in a 3 drawer roll-a-way plastic cart. Today it takes up more than half of my home office and it is time to reclaim that space so I can get ready for the Christmas season on my recipe web sites. If you have never been to them, I have 3 sites, That's My Home, Razzle Dazzle Recipes and Food Gifts From Your Kitchen. Enjoy!

When I get back I'll share a couple of Halloween projects I did yesterday for you.

I saw this card over at SCS yesterday done by Jodi and I had to CASE it. I have to send out a package to someone today with a shoe fetish and this card is perfect for her!

I love the sayings with this stamp set. The shoes on this card have embossed bows.

Quick Tip for Embossing: After stamping with an embossing or pigment pad, pour embossing powder liberally over design. Shake off the excess powder onto a Powder Pal tray, and pour it back into the bottle. Heat the stamped image with a heat tool, just until the powder changes to a shiny liquid and raises.

Be careful not to heat the powder too long, as it will actually melt into the paper and the paper may be scorched. Allow to cool for a short period of time before touching.

This is another cute card I made at Joann's without the hanger. My husband made that for me after we went to about 6 stores looking to buy a package of them.

You use the oval punch for the skirt, the square punch for the bodice and the word punch for the straps. A piece of ribbon is tied around the waist. I have also seen this card done with just flowers across the waist, punched of course! The designer paper used is from Bella Rose. The felt flower is from the Flower Fushion Kit.

I was looking thru some of my convention swaps last night, when I was supposed to be cleaning up my stamping space when I spotted this card by Ginnie Lane. I must say I got some great swaps!

I just love this card and the work is wonderful!!! It uses retired In Colors so the colors will have to be changed unless you still have some hanging around which I still do.

Ginnie used Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds and Embossing which makes this card just Pop. Don't you just love it?

The stamp set here is Time Well Spent which is retired also. I am sure if look thru the catalog you can find a current stamp set that you can substitute if you don't have Time Well Spent.

So I just finished my card to see what I could come up. I used Bella's Bloom as the stamp set and the new In Colors, Pink Pirouette, Red Riding Hood Red and White. This was the first time I had used Red Riding Hood Taffeta Ribbon and I really love the edging on it.

Here is a close up of the flowers, they are very pretty IRL. (in real life)

Thank you Ginnie for the Inspiration!

This is a gate fold card that my friend Karen showed me how to do. The middle scallop is the closure. You use 2 scallops for each snowflake and put an ice brad in the center. This is such a hard card to get a picture of! It is very pretty IRL. I have taken almost 20 pictures and still don't like it! The folds are at 1 inch and 3 1/4 from the bottom edge.

Happy Birthday to my brother, just in case you are checking in!

Wow! I have 2 cards to show you before 8 AM!!! Now anyone who knows me I know, is scratching their head. I am not a morning person but seems I am today and I have 2 cards to show you, same card with different colors. I used Haiku DSP, I have loved this paper since I first saw it at Convention. The colors are so rich and perfect for fall. Where did summer go? It seems to me it just started. I have traveled often this summer and really enjoyed it.

Wanna see the cards? Here you go. If you don't like them blame it on the morning sunshine, except there isn't any this morning!

There isn't much stamping to do at all. I used the Sizzix again to cut out the Scallop Note Card and used the Best Yet stamp set for the saying. The flowers are from Flowers Fushion which I have at my desk forever waiting to be used. I love the texture they bring to this card.

You're just a click away from choosing a beautiful gift for stamping friends or family. Stampin' Up! gift certificates are now available from Mary Ellen Scott at Stamping Crazy.

This card is perfect for thank you notes for your young children. They just fill in the blanks and send it off. This card does not open and is just 5 1/2 x 4 1/4. The frosting is cut out of Georgia Peach DSP, the holder is Pink Pirouette. The cherry is cute out of Real Red and covered with Crystal Effects. The dots on the icing are Tombrow Glue with White Chunky Glitter. I used Pretty in Pink ink to stamp the images.

This card is one I have been wanting to make ever since I saw this stamp set in the new catalog.

This set is called Simple Birthday Thanks and later today I will post a card to show you why it is called that. For this card I masked out the text in the center. I used the cupcakes wheel to do the background. I cut and pieced and the cupcake image. If you pick 2 coordinating background papers you will just reverse the other pieces and you will do 2 cards at once, having spares is good when it comes to birthdays.

This card is scored at 3 inches and at 8 1/4 inches. The cupcake frosting edge is cut into to create the edge. I am using a small Velcro tab to hold the card shut.

I used the crimper to make the band on the cupcake holder and attached my flowers with Pop Dots.

I used Tombrow glue for the dots and then added our Chunky Glitter.

The cherry was stamped on Real Red CS and then attached to the card. Apply a thin layer of Crystal Effects on top and let dry. I have 2 Crystal Effects bottles and one has Dazzling Diamonds in it for some extra bling, that is what I used on this card.

I first saw this the other day when a friend showed me this Seersucker Technique. Tonight while I was reading some blogs, another card made of seersucker technique popped up, so I just had to try it. You want to stamp your images on your paper before getting the crimper out. Trim the image after crimping.

The card even feels like a seersucker material. How cool is that?  The stamp set I used is a Level 2 Hostess set called Fall Flair. I used our In Colors for this card, I love how they all look great together and the ribbon I used is the new Kiwi Kiss ribbon. The clip holding the greeting is one of our new Library Clips from the Clip Assortment. I also used the new large oval punch on the greeting so you can see how they all look together.

I'll have a new cupcake card to share with you in the morning, I'm waiting for the Crystal Effects to dry so I can take a picture of it.

This is another card I made at Joann's class yesterday. It uses the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set, and a belt buckle design.

You do the slot for the belt with the Word Window Punch. The flower is done with the Scallop Punch and cut slits into it to create petals. The center is punched with the 3/4 inch center punch, top with Crystal Effects and sprinkle with the Micro Beads. Pop Dot the flower.
 

We took a quick mini vacation over to Bryson City, North Carolina this week. It is so beautiful there and only a short drive across the mountain to Gatlinburg. We went to Gatlinburg just long enough to stop in the Ole Smokey Country Kitchen for some candy including some of the prettiest peppermint sticks in a jar that I know I'll have a use for a little bit later.

Today was class time at Joann's Studio. This was a fantastic class. You get to do 12 cards and pick 6 of the designs you like the best. Joann has some of the best stamping classes in the Huntsville area and as one of her downline, I get to go when I can!

This is my favorite card I did today but they were all fun to do. I have been wanting to use this set since I first saw it. It is so stinking cute!!! The middle cupcake is popped up. We used a mask to do the candles. You can see some of the envelope under the card. We used the Cupcakes wheel to do the edge.

I'll be sharing some of the other cards in the upcoming weeks.

It was funny because one of the cards used Inspired By Nature that I used below, so I showed Joann what I did to make the card below. A couple of girls were still there and watching as I did it. You should of seen the look and gasps of one of the girls when I picked up the tissue and wadded it up after I stamped it. She was more than just a little shocked at the turn of events until she realized I meant to do it. It made for a fun ending to a fun afternoon!

This is another new set, Inspired By Nature and it is terrific! I did this card with the Faux Silk technique that they demonstrated at Convention. This set is perfect for this technique and I love the soft look the tissue paper gives the card.

It is hard to see the tissue on the photo, so here is a close up so you can see the wrinkles in the tissue.

I was also playing with the new Big Shot Machine I got today and will be showing you some projects using it this week. In fact, you can see I used it for the card below, with the 20 year medallion below from Stampin Up! I have so many ideas to do with it. There just aren't enough hours in the day!

Are you a beginning stamper or just want to learn new techniques? I am starting a technique section that I hope will help you to become a better stamper. Our first technique is how to emboss. Embossing is a great way to give your image some dimension. Here is the card I made to highlight it. This is the Stampin Up! Statement of the Heart and I think so perfect for the start of this section, because I do love to share what I do.

The paper in one our new In Colors, Tangerine Tango and our new designer paper Haiku.

When I saw this stamp set I knew I had to have it. I grew up in a small Michigan town where you couldn't go anywhere without getting stopped by the train. My grandmother's house was 4 houses down from the tracks and that 2 PM train went by so fast everything on the walls would shake! This set is called Happiness Is A Journey.

I did it in one of our new designer papers called Maine Blueberry and it is oh so pretty. I am making a set of these for my mom and blue is her favorite color so I know she will love these. My mom is not a stamper but she is a sticker person. I am not sure I remember how it started but it was a couple of stickers on a card to over 50 stickers now on some. I mean she makes a whole scene with stickers. You know how stampers do Wow cards? She does Wow sticker cards!!!  I wish that I had one on my desk right now so I could show you, but the next time I get one in the mail, I'll show you what I mean.

This is a quick card to do and will make a great guy card, don't you think?

This card is made with a new stamp set from the new SU catalog called Upsy Daisy. It is $18.95 and comes with 3 sayings.

Finally we have a pink background paper called Pink Pirouette. I used the Ronald McDonald stamp set for the saying on this card and the new square scallop punch.

Today a friend of mine came over to discuss redecorating a bedroom I have into my craft room. I need more room and this bedroom gets little use so I decided to claim it. So we are sitting there discussing colors and what I want the room to look like when it's finished. I had already picked out some colors but they were just not working. So as we talked I said I think I know exactly what the colors should be and went and got my note card purse I did earlier this week. I know, you know where this is going but my room is now going to be designed with Bella Rose colors and a shabby chic design. I'll post some before and after pictures as we work on it. Why am I not surprised? Are you? It's a good thing I ordered some more of that paper! Oh and I already have the perfect apron to wear in it that I got at convention.

Do you want a sneak peak at the new Mini Catalog? It came out today!

Remember the Bella Rose little note card holder I did a couple of days ago? I finished the 3 x 3 note cards to go in it tonight. I was waiting for SU's new Scallop punch and it did not disappoint. I used the new Ronald McDonald stamp set, Say It With Scallops. For every set that is sold Stampin Up! donates $2.00 to Ronald McDonald House. This is also the stamp set UPS gave the demos at convention, so the Ronald McDonald House is off to a great start with almost 6,000 demos getting the stamp set that day.

Back to the subject at hand, the note cards.

The cards are 3 x 3 and the designer papers are both Bella Rose. The thank you is stamped with Red Riding Hood. On the envelope is also a new stamp set called what else? Bella's Bloom. It is a four piece stamp set for $12.95! Here is the notepad purse and the cards.

I did 6 note cards and there still is room for a few more.

Want to see a few more convention pictures? This is what happened when Shelli announced what UPS was doing for us.

Stampin Up! Demo's love the men in brown especially when the bring free rubber! As soon as it was announced... there was yellow everywhere

I heard there was a UPS truck behind that yellow fury but even from 15 rows away, I never saw it!

After the confetti settled and the stamps had been passed out Shelli ends the convention - the room was charged with excitement - it was awesome!

I know by now you have to love the Bella Rose Designer Paper as much as I do, so I am going to have a special that you can get only thru me until the Sept. 1, 2008.

Red Riding Hood Stamp Pad $5.25 or stamp pad of your choice FREE when you buy:
1 package of Bella Rose Designer Paper $9.95
Scallop Punch $15.95
Say It With Scallops Stamp Set $17.95 or and other stamp set $17.95 or less

Total is 43.85 plus taxes and shipping, direct to your home

In addition, if you order anything else with the special above, I will give you 10% off of those items, not including those items in the special. (you're getting a free stamp pad)

These little purse note card holders will make perfect Christmas gifts! You will get 2 out each piece of designer paper. I already have a card ready to share tomorrow and it is not made with Bella Rose DP!

So my order came today and right after it came, before I had stamped a thing, I decided to run over to my upline Joanne's house because she was doing a new catalog open house and selling all of her retired stuff. I'm not sure what possessed me because look at this table from the boxes I had just unpacked and it is all mine!

I just wasn't sure where to start!!! That's not a bad problem to have and if are a Stampin Up! demo then you have to totally understand where I am coming from.

So while over at Joann's I did a couple of make and takes including this cute Wow Flower card.

This little Wow Flowers set is only $12.95! I love it and what a quick card it is and uses all of our new In Colors and the new scallop edge punch!

This set is on the dormat list and can still be ordered. I made a card with this set a few months ago and gave it to my mom and one of my aunts wanted it so she could frame it. I told her I would make her one only I just never found the time. I decided to buy a frame and do it for her today. Now if I just get it to the post office she will get it next week.

The paper is my beloved retired River Rock, but it goes so well with stamp set I am showing you my project, it was also used for the original card. I embossed with Black and layered everything on Black CS. I used our star punch to do the stars. They match perfectly! I hope my aunt enjoys it.

Note: You can substitute Creamy Caramel for the River Rock.

I have a whole box full of 3D swaps but I keep coming back to my stamping friends swaps. My friend Kathi did the next 2 projects I am going to share with you. The first is a little tea bag holder that holds 2 bags of tea.

This is what it looks like open. The cover is 11 x 2 3/4, scored at 3 3/4 and 4 and 8 and 8 1/4. The envelopes are 2 1/2 x 3 1/2. The stamp set used is Voila.

The next project is a matchbook holder with a 2009 calendar, notepad and pencil also designed by Kathi.

I'll be back later with some cards for you! Whoo Hoo, my new stuff comes tomorrow! I plan to stamp all weekend.....

Mine is sitting here ready to go to start some exciting projects to show you. We will be carrying exclusive new dies that you can only get thru Stampin Up! Wanna see?

Big Shot PDF File

Here are a couple of pictures I took at convention of some project SU had done. I am so excited to have the Big Shot! You can cut paper, material, vinyl and leather with it.

Birthday Banner

These are the Thank You notes from Shelli's daughter baby shower. Aren't they adorable?

I am going to be doing a newsletter with a new project and card every month that you will only get if you are sign up to receive it. The newsletter will also let you know about any new Stampin Up! specials that are going on that month. So stay informed and stay creative with my newsletter! To sign up contact me at recipehelp@thatsmyhome.com The newsletter will come out by the 15th of each month.

I saw this over at SCS and cased it from Diane who said it was quick and easy and she was right! I love this card. This is a new stamp set called Flight of the Butterflies that we got in our convention bag.

Okay, so I used more Bella Rose, it is so hard not to when it is the only current designer paper I have. Thursday can't come soon enough for me! I'm hoping that is when the new Stampin Up! stuff I ordered will get here.

I used the Dazzling Diamonds on the butterflies using the 2 Way Glue to give it some sparkle. Girls gotta have bling!

This is another convention swap I got. The lady who made it did not attach a name so I can not give credit. I think it is a darling idea.

The one in the pink is the one I did this morning. Aren't they just stinking cute? I filled mine with Hershey's Kisses, the other is filled with M&M's. Mine is done with one the new In Colors, Pink Pirouette and stamped with the retired stamp set - Little Pieces, I grabbed it by mistake instead of Little Flowers. I need to mark my retired stamps with a Big R! The stamp set used for the giraffe is from Zoofari. It is cut out with the 1 1/4 inch punch. The bottom is just stapled together. The ribbon is our pretty Pink Gingham. I didn't buy this ribbon for a long time because I was afraid it would look too country but it doesn't at all.

Baby Shower Favor Pattern Please link to this page if you want to share this pattern. Copyright StampingCrazy.com

Boy oh boy, am I am in trouble! The new catalog is fantastic and I have my order ready to go at 11:50 mountain time. I was scheduled for surgery next week and it has been canceled so I will be able to stamp all of next week so I will have new cards soon for you with the new stamps. There are the cutest cupcake stamps, a wonderful train and I love a set called Upsy Daisy and so many more! The good news is I came home with 5 new stamp sets from convention so I will have some new cards starting tomorrow to share with you. I am going to share a 3D swap I got at convention, I finally sat down and looked at some of them today.

This one was made by a very talented friend, Charity Wright. I find it funny that I have to go to Salt Lake to swap with members in my uplines group. This darling little purse will hold 3 x 3 note cards, since she used retiring paper she included the instructions and an extra bag so I could make my own with our new paper.

The original note card purse is 6 inches around. The one I redid is 5 1/2 inches around, only because my favorite circle cutter only goes to that size. It worked just fine and still will hold the 3 x 3 cards. I will show you those on Friday after I get a punch I am waiting for out of the new catalog to decorate the card fronts.

Yep, it is more Bella Rose Designer paper! I will be so glad when my order gets here with all of the new designer papers I ordered and I am sure you will be also. I do love the look of this little purse though. The circles are 5 1/2 inches. The band going across in 5 1/2 x 1 1/8 inches, trim after adhering to main piece. The ovals at the top are made with our large oval punch. Decorate the front as desired. The bags used in the middle 3 1/2 inches wide x 6 3/4 and I cut them at 3 1/2 inches. I cut out the rose and small flowers from a piece of Bella Rose DP also. I used the pearls from our Pretties Kit in the center of the rose and at the side. The one thing you might not be able to see well in the picture is that I mounted the rose on a circle of Kiwi Kiss for contrast so it would show up better.

Here is a side view of the bag so you can see how it goes together.

I had a question on how to make the candy container below so I have done a few pictures to show you how. The flowers are simple to do and require no stamping.

Here are the pieces you need - 1 scallop, 1 5 pointed flower, 3/4 inch circle and a build a brad

To make the flower with the scallops you need a 3 1/2 x 6 piece of designer paper, I used Stampin Up's! new Bella Rose which we can order tomorrow! Using the new scallop punch which is also available tomorrow you do both of the long sides with the scallop punch. Then you score at 1/2 inch intervals. (If you want to do the flower like the picture without scallops you would cut a 3 x 6 inch piece of designer paper.) Fold the paper like an accordion. Fold paper in half and bring the 2 sides together. I used sticky tape to hold it together buy Tombrow glue will also work. Do the other side when you finish the first side.

Punch a small hole in the scallop and 5 petal flower. Attach with the Build A Brad the 2 pieces. Add the 3/4 inch small circle to the top of the Build A Brad. Using a pop dot attach to the flower. Attach entire flower to the top of the candy container using another pop dot.

For the tin cut a 1 1/2 x 11 inch inch piece of designer paper. Attach with red sticky tape to the container. Tie a ribbon on the lid and you are done!

What a great time we had at convention in Salt Lake City! There were over 6,000 demonstrators there.

How would you of liked to be in this line for lunch? And this is only about half of it in this hall. Despite the line we got our lunch box within about 15 minutes. The Stampin Up staff did an excellent job running this convention!

Now I can share with you all of the swap cards I made and my 3D project which will be the project of the month. I will get it posted later today. It is so hard to say what I loved the best because the experience was so incredible!!! We flew out on Tuesday so we could settle in. We stayed at the Little America and it was fantastic! The restaurants in the hotel were excellent and way better than most of the hotel food I have had in other hotels. They even stayed open for us one night so we could celebrate after rewards night. My upline is Joann Wiemers and we are all so proud of her! She was number 9 in sales and is on the new Stampin Up advisory board. I was also lucky enough that Joann was my room mate for convention. We laughed the entire week and had the best time!

Kathi Jenkins, Joann Wiemers and Thelma Collins

So do you want to see some of my projects? It will take all month I am sure to share everything with you from convention. I do want to say the new catalog is AWESOME!!!!  I think I NEED something from almost every page! To top it off we got a the Big Shot Die Cut Machine from Sizzlits! Wait until you see the incredible exclusive dies Stampin Up has.

Oh I was going to share a card! The paper is the new Bella Rose designer paper.

and another card using more Bella Rose. I just love this paper!!!

Back to convention for a minute. I have so much to tell you. I'll post the details below for the cards I share today. But first I want to share this album I did for my secret sister, Phyllis Shepherd. I really wanted to put some shoes on the monkey but could not figure out how to now that we have the cutest new shoe stamp set in the new catalog. I can't wait to order it! Maybe one of those will fit the monkey. The Salt Lake City was cut out with a Cricut.

This is the same album as July's project of the month. When I get the inside done I will share it with you. I am waiting for new accessories to finish it. This is the new sock monkey stamp set, isn't he adorable? I used Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip textured card stock and then stamped with our Twill background stamp before cutting and piecing the monkey. I used Red Riding Hood for the mouth and Bella Rose DP for the hat.

Want to see the matching card? I used fishing line for the balloon strings.

Can you tell I am so excited after returning from convention? We toured the Riverton office on Wednesday. In one of the rooms, I spotted this on a display. It is one of the new stamp sets coming out in the new mini catalog. When I guessed it the SU host in that area said I was the second person to guess all day what it was. I took some pictures of some their projects using it and I will share those later this week. There is just so much to share!

Here are just part of my swaps just before I packed everything up. The tins were filled with hard candies. I'll show you how to make the flower on top later this week or later today if I have time. I still haven't unpacked my bags or watched my new WOW CD Stampin Up did!

On the side you can see a card using the Morning Soft stamp set, my best friend Becki (more like a sister) painted the flowers.

This was my favorite swap I did. It used 3 stamp sets! The pot for the flowers is the cupcake base from Big Bold Birthday. Have I shared with you yet that we are getting 2 new cupcake sets? They are my can't live without stamp sets in the new catalog with about 25 others!

I also did some scissor charms to swap. I am always loosing something while at camp or retreat. These are just darling and hopefully I will always come home with my scissors!

If you would like to order one, contact me using the link at the bottom of this page. The charms are $8.00 each and I can make a smaller one for our cutting scissors for $6.00.

Finally from the Stampin Up! website - There's a new big shot in town--the Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin' Up! The Big Shot is a sturdy manual die cutting machine used to die cut materials for use on crafts, home décor projects, and even clothing--it's a big deal! You'll love what the Big Shot machine, a 6-time winner of Creating Keepsakes Reader's Choice Award for best die cutting equipment and dies, can do for you.

Design your own custom pillow appliqués using the Tulipe Bigz die or make custom fabric flowers to embellish a quilt. From sewing to quilting to home décor, the Big Shot is the perfect tool for many types of crafting. The wide appeal to various types of crafters will help you expand your business in new circles. The Big Shot makes incorporating paper crafting into these customers' hobby an easy progression. Use our Stampin' Up! exclusive dies to create die cuts and stencils with our artwork and designs for all your craft needs.

Mine comes tomorrow and I am so excited. I have to go on another trip Thursday but will post some projects next week using it.

If I get time today, I'll post more later! I have so much to share including our new Spanish Stamp Set Catalog.