Retired list and a sketch challenge

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It's been a very busy month and I fell like I'm playing catch up all the time. When you never have enough time to do everything you want to get done and it seems like the more you try to do the less there is that actually gets done.

First things first, the retired list has come so get your favourite stamp sets before they're gone.

I had a few minutes "free" time and I did a quick sketch challenge over at hand stamped sentiments.

I had to make it a really simple, quick card cause that was all I had time for and I liked how it turned out. It's the first time I've used stitching on a card and even doing it by hand didn't take long.

I glued the pennant down first but I glued only the top edge to give the impression the stitching was holding it.

Please remember you can purchase all of your stampin' Up! supplies, directly from me, through my Stampin' Up! store.

Supplies Used:

Perfect Pennants Clear-Mount Bundle 134816
Card Stock A4 Baked Brown Sugar   131301
Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad 131176
Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad 131175
Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad    131178
Pistachio Pudding Classic Stampin' Pad 131177

Here are some more projects you may like:

 

Bendi Card Using Stampin' Up! The Open Sea

The Open Sea is a great set and is incredibly versatile, I like it so  much I think I have used it for every Fathers day and every birthday my Dad has has since it was released.

Fathers day again soon and I've been thinking I need to get a new set cause my poor old Dad must be getting sick of the sight of this but he loves boats and I love using this set so much that I've used it again and I think my Dad will love this.

This is a bendi fold card, which I have never done before and I got some inspiration for the card shape while looking through my pinterest boards Tips and Tutorials. There was a video tutorial pinned there, I used my own measurements as I like to work in cm's.

Follow Maria Nardone's board Tips and tutorials on Pinterest.

The background was done using the world map background stamp, to colour the image I used a watercolouring technique using a clear block and Stampin' Up! markers.

I used a brayer and island indigo to give the graduated colour tone on the flaps. For the foreground I stamped the first layer of images in island indigo and the top layer in night of navy.

Supplies Used:

The Open Sea - Clear-Mount Stamp 123032

World Map 130345

Many Marvelous Markers  131264

Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad 126986

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad 126970

Brayer And Rubber Attachment 102395

Get your Stampin' Up! Supplies

You may also like to look at some of my other projects:

 

Wedding Cards

For this weeks post I had planned on another video tutorial but the week has been a bit hectic so I haven't had a chance to do the video yet. Instead I will be sharing what I have been busy making this week.

We are off to a family wedding at the weekend so this is my theme for the week.

This one is on shimmery white card, which is very lush, I've kept the design very simple and fresh. I masked a section on the front and stamped some hearts, from the hearts a flutter set, in silver ink. The "congratulations" was cut on my cricut and the sentiment is from teeny tiny wishes.

I really love how this one turned out! It's with the Hearts a Flutter set and some gold ink. I used very vanilla and basic vanilla card. I also added in a few hearts which i punched with the heart punch and then embossed.

I think I saved the best for last. I had originally planned on doing a small heart shaped wreath, rather than a card but decided instead to make it an easel card. I used the hearts framelits to make the card base, whisper white for the front, as well as the flowers, and i reinforced the front with a piece of chipboard (up-cycled from a weetabix box). The flowers were made using the new spiral flower die from the spring/summer catalogue.

Hopefully the bride will enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

To purchase your supplies to make this or any other project, Stampin' Up! UK

Spiral Flower Originals Die 129379

Hearts Collection Framelits Dies 125599

Hearts A Flutter Clear-Mount Stamp Set 129252

Hearts A Flutter Framelits Dies 130159

Other projects you may like:

   

Lovely As A Tree Water Reflection In Spring

Brayered Scene of Trees Reflected In the Water

Supplies Needed:

• Lovely As A Tree Stamp Set, item# 128655
• Brayer, item# 102395
• Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, item# 109130
• Chocolate Chip Stampin' Pad, item# 126979
• Marina Mist Stampin' Pad, item# 126962
• Old Olive Stampin' Pad, item# 126953
• Stampin' Sponges, item# 101610
• Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers, item# 131261
• Brights Stampin' Write Markers, item# 131259
• Subtles Stampin' Write Markers, item# 131263
• Blender Pens, item# 102845
• Whisper White Card trimmed to 143mm*100mm, item# 106549

The stampin' Write Markers can be bought in the full colour family (8 or 10 markers per pack depending upon family), you can buy the full set Many Marvellous Markers (131264) or certain colours are available individually. If you are getting them individually then you could use Real Red (item# 100052), Early Espresso (item# 119680) and Blushing Bride (item# 131265) as an alternative to the colours stated above.

Equipment Needed:

• Heat Tool , item# 129054
• Masks made from copy paper

To make the masks, stamp the image on a sheet of copy paper and cut along the line of the landscape.

You can watch me making this card on my You-Tube video.

The supplies for this project can be purchased online, Maria Kitching online store.

Christmas Cards, so easy a four year old could do them!!

These cards were super simple to do and my little boy just LOVES to craft!!

The background is stamped in silver with the gorgeous grunge set.

A piece of red tape was used to make the glittered line (I positioned the tape for him, this stuff is so sticky there's no room for error, when it's down it's down).

Take the plastic off the tape and cover with glitter use a scrap of paper to rub the glitter and make sure it sticks.

A few scrap pieces of silver paper (I cut these for him and he stuck them down).

Paper flower decoration

My poor Nan is in hospital and my little boy and I made this to cheer her up a bit.

The flowers are made with the blossom punch and the bottle is stuffed with some brown packing paper (which we all have loads of) shredded.

I'm not very good at flower arranging so I was very pleased with how this turned out.

Home Decor Item

I loved this top hat but I had no idea what to do with it so I have turned it into a home decor item.

A few months ago I was inspired by an article in Craft Stamper magazine and I made the top hat which you can see in the picture.

I thought about putting a piece of ribbon through it and using it as a Christmas Tree Decoration but the way I had decorated it didn't really say "Christmas" to me.

It did make me think about Alice in Wonderland (and I happened to have a beautiful tea leaf tin) so I took some inspiration from that and this is where it led me.

I hope you enjoy! The pattern for the hat was one which came from craft stamper magazine, I had to alter it a bit but I love how this all turned out.

Please let me know what you think.



Oh Hello

I love this set!! It's become one of my favourite's and I've been using it quite a bit lately.

This card is using summer starfruit, midnight muse and calypso coral. The itty bitty buttons and some bakers twine.

Hope you like it.

Waterfall cards

I had lots of fun making these waterfall cards and they were surprising simple to do.

I first saw these being made at a Stampin' Up! training event but there lots of videos and tutorials out on the net that are easy to follow.

This is the first time I've used Calypso Coral with Raspberry Ripple but I like how they work together. It's nice and vibrant and a change from the usual subtle pink for a new baby.

I also wanted something different since baby Ella is nearly 6 months now and I 've just got round to getting her a gift. My bad!

This is my husbands valentine card which was actually the first one I did and I was so pleased I did some more.

I also find with a new technique or idea that if I try it a few times all at once then the procedure tends to stick a bit more in my little blond brain. 

This one is using the fresh vintage designer series paper which was on offer last year for sale-a-bration. I loved these paper and I still turn to this stamp set often as it is a favourite.

More Direct to Paper Scenic Stamping

Summer Silhouettes

This was some more direct to paper and sponging which was done with the summer silhouettes set.

Colours are pumpkin pie, old olive, pool party and island indigo. The images were stamped using basic black.

The vintage wallpaper embossing folder was used for the background with island indigo card, and naturals white for the card base. The main image is mounted with old olive and there's a touch of pretty in pink in there too.

I really enjoyed making this card and this is a lovely stamp set.

Scenic stamping

Scenic stamping with direct to paper

I've been trying out the direct to paper technique this week. I think I need a bit more practise but I really enjoyed using this technique.

This is something I will definitely try again.



This one I tried using a bit more colour to create a scene. 

This one is done using the stampin sponges, rather than direct to paper. It was really quick and I think it was very affective.

Emboss Resist with Shimmer Paint

Emboss Resist Wedding Card

I'm back to the wedding theme again and this time I've used the shimmer paint for an emboss resist technique.

I stamped with the mixed bunch set in versamark and embossed with white embossing powder onto the bottom half of naturals white card stock.

I used a sponge dauber with the champaigne shimmer paint, applying using small circular motions.

Then I gave it a whisper white mount, a piece of whisper white satin ribbon (sadly that's been discontinued) and a naturals white card base.



The photo's don't really catch the sparkle.

Hope you enjoy.

Butterfly Wedding Invitation

Nice Invitation Ideas

A cute card that I made as some samples for possible wedding invitations.

I did a stepped up version of it too, with some texture on the background and a brad.

The background was done using the simply scored, scoring board so would be a great low budget idea for diy invitations for non crafters. The lovely antique brad makes it a bit more sophisticated.

Make your own wedding invitations

Wedding Invitations

Summer time is the preferred season, here in Scotland, to get married. Most of us Scots much prefer the warmer weather.

If you are having a summer wedding then now is a good time to start thinking about your invitations.

Have you considered making them yourself? It may be easier than you think.

Stamping is a great way to get a very good result with, dare I say it, very little skill. Stampin' Up! range of products make getting a professional finish very easy to achieve just by matching or co-ordinating your ink, paper and accessories your wedding invitations will look and feel professional and luxurious.



You could even hold a stampin' Up! event at home and use your hostess benefits toward the cost of your supplies.

Contact me today for more information marianardone@hotmail.com

Anniversary Card

Papaya Collage Anniversary Card

This was an emergency anniversary card!

Does that happen to anyone else you realise you need a card and has to be posted today! Or is it just me.

So this was very simple, just a single layer most of the elements have been hand cut so that takes a bit more time but it's worth the effort.

Small Chest with Drawers

Decorated Chest of Drawers

I have finaly finished decorating this chest of drawers and now I'm really kicking myself for not taking some before and during photographs.

The chest came from ikea and was plain wood and a little rough in areas so I sanded it down, lightly.

The next thing was to colour the wood. I used a pool party ink refill and applied it with a paint pad (the ones used for decorating), I just put a few drops of ink on the pad and rubbed it over the wood, for the curved areas where the pad wouldn't fit i found a dry baby wipe worked well. Concentrating on the areas that would be visible.

To decorate the drawers I used the everyday enchantment designer paper that I got during sale-a-braition period. These papers have now been released for sale, while stocks last.

 I inked the edges of the paper with crumb cake ink and made some faux stitches round the edges, also in crumb cake. I used a pva glue to stick the papers down and gave the whole thing a good coat of pva glue, using a paint brush, to seal it.

I'm very pleased with the results but I think maybe I should have done some stamping on the papers too.

Supplies used:
- Pool party ink refill, Idea Book and Catalogue p90, £2.75.
-Everyday enchamntment, designer series paper, (limited time only) £9.95.
- Crumb cake ink pad, Idea Book and Catalogue p94, £4.95.
- Crumb cake stampin' marker, Idea Book and Catalogue p94, £2.75.

Non-Stampin' Up Supplies
-Moppe chest of drawers, ikea.
- Paint pad, diy store.
- Paint brush, diy store.

To purchase and of the supplies used, please contact me on marianardone.mn@gmail.com.

Happy Birthday Banner

I've been so lazy with my blog recently I still have some makes from Cameron's birthday that I haven't even posted yet.

Personalised Happy Birthday Banner

The banner was really fun to make using the Big Top Birthday designer series paper, some co-ordinating card stock real red, daffodil delight and old olive. The Letter it alphabet, 1-3/4 circle and scallop square punch. I hand cut the pennants and strung it all on some twine.

Wedding Card

This card is for my cousin who gets married on April 13th. The wedding season has arrived! The colours are rich razzleberry on very vanilla and I've added some interest to the background with some paper piercing.

I used a doily stencil I had as a guide for the paper piercing but a paper doily would also work.

Paper Sunflower Photo

This little sunflower was made for my little boy to give to his Gran on her Birthday.

I used photo editing software to print the photo out in sepia tones. I drew round a lid from a brad container and cut out the circle. I inked the edges a little using a sponge dabber and mahogany ink from the stampin' up distressing essential kit. The stampin up petal builder punch was used to cut petals from daffodile delight cardstock. Once the petals were glued to the back of the photo I glued the flower onto a green drinkling straw. I then glued a cardstock circle to the back of the flower to neaten it up.

I think it looks great.