Stamp With Belinda

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Already??? Well, if you're like me and usually procrastinate making your Christmas cards until they're more like New Year's... er, Valentine's... er, Easter?... Um, how about happy 4th of July cards? ;) Anyway, I'm starting to think of Christmas a little earlier this year-- in hope that I'll actually be able to get some cards done! Um, do you think it'd be too tacky to put last year's family picture in this year's cards? *blush*

Here's a card I made for a swap last month. I love using Kraft card stock as a card base-- especially with bright colors! The neutral background makes even just a bit of color really POP!

Christmas in July card

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Supplies...

Stamps: Christmas Punch
Ink: Melon Mambo Classic Stampin Pad
Paper: Kraft, Melon Mambo, Whisper White card stock, Bermuda Bay textured card stock
Accessories: Scallop Oval punch, Scallop Edge punch, Bermuda Bay polka dot ribbon, Paper-Piercing tool, Mat Pack, Stampin' Dimensionals

Did you see that we have a separate Paper-Piercing Tool in the new catalog?!? I'm so excited about this! I've been using a cheap-y substitute for far too long (my tool from my Crafter's Tool Kit unfortunately bent a couple years ago). I keep forgetting to put it on an order... but really, I WILL be putting it on my next order! lol!

To order any of the products used to make this project, click HERE!

Fun with In Colors

Happy Birthday card (4" x 4")

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Don't you just love this card? It's bright and cheery and uses something I tend to neglect in my supply drawer-- metal edge tags. I'm never quite sure what to do with them, but this stamp from Circle Circus works perfectly!

Supplies:

Stamps:
Teeny Tiny Wishes
Circle Circus

Paper:
Crushed Curry Card Stock
Whisper White Card Stock
Bermuda Bay Textured Card Stock

Ink:
Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad
Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories:
Punch Handheld 1/16 Inch Circle
Metal Edge Tags Aluminum White Circle
Snail Adhesive Permanent
Stampin' Dimensionals
Punch 1 Inch Circle
Pumpkin Pie 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
Punch 1 3/4 Inch Circle
Brads Rhinestone Circles Clear

Created by Stampin' Up!

Email me today at belindaking@stampwithbelinda.com if you'd like to book a workshop and make this card with your friends! To order any of the products used to make this project, click HERE!

Final Deal of the Week

Haven't you loved all these great deals? I know I have! Today starts the final Deal of the Week-- the Heart to Heart punch, regularly $15.95, is only $10.99 through July 31st. So hurry, you have until Friday to place your order for this fun punch!

Check out this sample using the Heart to Heart punch from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog!

Hello Card

 

 

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Supplies:

Hello Again set; Bella Toile, En Français, and Pretty Petals background stamps; Chocolate Chip, Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, and Very Vanilla card stock; Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry, and So Saffron Classic Stampin’ Pads; VersaMark pad; Clear Stampin’ Emboss powder; Elementary Ribbon Originals; Button Latte Designer buttons; Stampin’ Dimensionals; Heart to Heart punch

To order any of the products used to make this project, click HERE!

Convention is coming!

One of the many reasons I love being a demonstrator is the opportunity I have to attend Stampin' Up!'s annual Convention. Yes, there are sneak peeks, free stamps, make & takes, product demonstrations, and free stamps (oops, did I say that already?), but I think the biggest reason I try to attend every year is to see and hear the leaders of this great company.

It amazes me to see how much Stampin' Up! does for its demonstrators. While convention is costly, Stampin' Up! subsidizes a large portion of the bill, just so we can have this annual training and recognition event. I am in awe of all the little details that are included... The water bottles and chocolate bars that have had the Convention logo printed on the wrappers... the instant photo studio to get a picture that will coordinate perfectly with a make & take... all the effort that goes into making sure each presentation goes just right.

I love to hear Shelli Gardner, CEO and cofounder, speak about the present and future of the company. I love to hear her passion as she describes her vision! I enjoy hearing the president (now Dale Filmore) talk of the business side of things. I adore product demonstrations (don't we all?) and think it's amazing that the people who spend so much time on the business side of things also spend time coming up with creative projects to share.

I'll be heading to Salt Lake City next week for Convention 2009. I'll be blogging as much as I can, sharing what I love with all of you!

For today, please enjoy these photos from some past conventions...

Another Congratulatory Post...

This one, to my dear husband and eternal companion. He's had a busy year... It started back in February when he was nominated for the Western Region Cadet Command NCO of the Year. He had very little notice, and thought that it was not likely that he would do well (in fact, he didn't have all his paperwork that he needed, so he almost backed out). But he was told he wasn't allowed to back out, and he won that competition! From there he went on to the Cadet Command competition, then Accessions Command, and this week he competed in the TRADOC NCO of the Year competition. Well, once again he outdid the competition and won the award! From here he goes on to the Department of the Army NCO of the Year competition where he will compete against the winners of the rest of the Army's Major Command winners. Here is my NCO of the Year pictured with the Soldier of the Year.

It was quite the achievement just to have won at Western Region... but to have gotten this far has just blown him away! (I, of course, always knew he could do it. *wink*) Click HERE to read the news story.

Now, of course there's stamping involved! I had to make my husband a card telling him how proud I am. He's not too fond of things that are too frou-frou or fussy, so I kept it very simple for him. I was inspired by a card by Nichole Heady... she often has very clean and simple designs.

you are awesome card

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Supplies:

FYI stamp set; Kraft card stock, Taken With Teal textured card stock, Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper; Taken With Teal Classic Stampin' Pad, White Signo Gel Pen; Large Star punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, ruler.

A very CAS (clean & simple) card. No ribbon (aaaahhh! how it killed me not to add just a touch of ribbon!), no brads, no glitter, very little stamping... just a very basic design. And it works well!

To order any of the products used to make this project, click HERE!

Blog Candy Winner!

I'm excited to announce that Jennifer won my blog candy from my post last week! Jennifer, I'll be emailing you later today to get your mailing address. :) Congratulations!

If you'd like to take a look at Jennifer's fireworks photos, click HERE. She did a much better job than I did! lol!

CASEing the Catalog... Part 3!

This time I did have the stamp set... but wanted some brighter colors. So once again, I changed up my CASE. You can find the original on page 108 of the Idea Book & Catalog.

 

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Can you recognize the layout here? I used ribbon instead of the Olive cardstock-- the knot in the ribbon gives the eye the same focal point as the button, so no replacement was needed for that. I added a scallop strip instead of the circles on the card, and used textured Basic Black cardstock instead of crumpling it.

One Person card

 

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Supplies:

Flight of the Butterfly set; Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White card stock; Basic Black, Melon Mambo textured card stock; Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pads; Bermuda Bay polka dot grosgrain ribbon; Scallop Edge punch, Butterfly punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder punch, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Stampin' Dimensionals.

To order any of the products used to make this project, click HERE!

Hope you've enjoyed my series on CASEing the Catalog! Again, I'd love to see what you come up with-- comment here with a link to your card!

CASEing the Catalog... Part 2!

I decided to do another card from the catalog... this one is changed up a little more. I loved this Lovely as a Tree card on page 110... but once again, I don't have the set.

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up! 

And here's my version... I switched up the embelishments, and went with Soft Suede and Crushed Curry instead of the original Chocolate Chip and So Saffron. I also wanted to use some vellum, and needed a way to cover up the adhesive, so I put the greeting on the seperate oval piece instead. And I only pull out my sewing machine on rare occasions (usually when I make Halloween costumes!) so I did away with the sewing bit.

Happiness card

 

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Supplies:

Thoughts & Prayers, Warm Words sets; Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Radient White Vellum card stock; Soft Suede Classic stampin' Pad; Tearing Edge, Scallop Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Mini Library Clips, Stampin' Dimensionals.

To order any of the products used to make this project, click HERE!

CASEing the Catalog...

I love copying ideas, though I usually tweak things a bit according to what supplies I have available. And while there are a TON of blogs, galleries, and magazines out there with a gazillion ideas, I find myself often going back to what inspired me when I first joined Stampin' Up!-- the Idea Book & Catalog.

If you'll turn with me to page 63 of the catalog, we find this cute card:

 

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Adorable, isn't it? Well, I don't have that particular set... but I wanted to make something similar. So I came up with this:

 

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Supplies:

Crazy for Cupcakes set; Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery, Kraft, Whisper White card stock; Stampin' Write Markers, Jet Black Staz-On ink, Blender Pen; Bermuda Bay polka dot grosgrain ribbon, Tearing Edge, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.

Hope you enjoyed my nearly-exact CASE! Do you CASE from the catalog? I'd love to see your projects-- post here with a link!

To order any of the products used to make this project, click HERE!

Deal of the Week #4

I'm really excited about this week's deal... It's something I've wanted to splurge on for quite some time... Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware! Regularly $29.95, you can purchase it July 20-26th for only $18.99! WOW, what a deal! I may purchase TWO sets at that price... one to hoard and one to use! ;)

 

And now for a project from the catalog using this pretty hardware...

Here for You card

 

 

Images © 1990–2009 Stampin’ Up!

Supplies:

Friends 24-7 and Together Forever sets; Soft Suede and Very Vanilla card stock; More Mustard and Ruby Red textured card stock; Thoroughly Modern Designer Series paper; Ruby Red and Soft Suede Stampin’ Write markers; Very Vanilla 3/8" taffeta ribbon; Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware; Pretties Kit; Stampin’ Dimensionals; Curly Label punch

To order any of the products used to make this project (including the Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware at more than 30% off!), click HERE!

Don't forget about my blog candy! Click here to read more...