Category Archives: Christmas

Life IS Beautiful

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Life is Beautiful Christmas Tree Stampin' Up! Card 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
I have had some time over the past few days to play with some of my new Stampin’ Up! goodies, including the stamp set called Life is Beautiful.
It feels quite appropriate right now, to be loving using a stamp set with this name.
It’s all a choice, the way we see life.  Things might be very different right now, from what we have been used to, but life can still be beautiful if we choose to make it that way.

I have made three different cards using this set, Father’s Day is coming up in a few weeks here in Australia, so I am making some cards to sell at my local markets.
Life is Beautiful Father's Day Card 2020 Plaid Tidings Stampin' Up! Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

These cards are inspired by a card on Page 50 of the new August – December 2020 Mini Catalogue.

Life is Beautiful Father's Day Card 2020 Stampin' Up! Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

The cards use the Plaid Tidings Designer Series Paper, also from the Mini Catalogue.
And here is a Christmas card, using the same stamp set and papers, but with a completely different look.

Life Is Beautiful Christmas Card Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

It feels too early to be making Christmas cards, but I know it will creep up on us, as it always does!

If you haven’t had a chance to have a look at the new Mini Catalogue, with all it’s gorgeous Christmas inspiration, stamp sets and so much more, you can view thePDF here.  Alternatively, if you are in Australia and would like a hard copy, please reach out to me, I am happy to send one. If you have a demonstrator who you normally order through, please reach out to them for a copy.

I hope you can find some way to make life beautiful today.

Happy Stamping!
Chris
xx

Heart of Christmas Week 13

Posted in blog hop, Cards, Christmas, Uncategorized by

Heart of Christmas 2019
Welcome back to the Heart of Christmas Blog Hop.

Copper Detailed Bells Dies Christmas 2019 Holiday Catalogue Stampin' UP! Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

This week I have combined the Detailed Bells Dies with the Brightly Gleaming Designer Series Paper.  I love this paper, and it is so versatile, it doesn’t have to be used just for Christmas.  But I have, I’ve made two Christmas cards with this combination.

Brightly Gleaming Designer Series Paper DSP Detailed Bells Dies 2019 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping (1)

Brightly Gleaming Designer Series Paper DSP Detailed Bells Dies 2019 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

Did you notice, there’s no stamping on these cards?
I have used the gorgeous Classic Weave Ribbon, instead of stamping.

To see all of the other Christmas inspiration, make sure you hop over the Judy’s blog where you can find links to everyone who is taking part.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

Heart of Christmas Week 11

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Heart of Christmas 2019
You may have noticed that I have been missing in action for the past month.
I have been rather unwell and finding it difficult to craft and blog along with everything else I need to do in my life.
Today has been a pretty good day, although I am starting to feel like it’s time to rest, so I will keep my post short and sweet.

My card today features the Let it Snow Designer Series Paper, and all of the cute Christmas trees on my card have been cut from the DSP.

Let it Snow Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping Stylish Scroll Embossing Folder Ornate Frames Dies 1

For the background I have used the Stylish Scroll embossing folder which was inked up before putting it through the Big Shot.  And I have also used the versatile Ornate Frames Dies for the sentiment panel.
Let it Snow Christmas Trees Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 2019 Holiday Catalogue Stampin' Up!

I hope to be back soon with some more creations but in the meantime, you can see all of the inspiration from today’s Heart of Christmas blog hop here.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Heart of Christmas Week 6

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Heart of Christmas 2019
Welcome to another Heart of Christmas Blog Hop, I do hope you have been enjoying all the wonderful inspiration from the Art of Heart team.
Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper Card 2 Stampin' up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
I had a massively busy weekend, last weekend, and in amongst everything else, I ran a Launch party for the 2019 Holiday Catalogue at my home, with some lovely ladies, who wanted some ideas on making cards on a budget, and using up left over bits and pieces.
And what an awesome challenge that is, don’t we all have those left over bits and pieces?
And don’t we all want to find ways to craft on a budget?  Well, I know I have to.

The ladies made two cards at the Catalogue Launch party, but we looked at different ideas and combined different things, depending on what they liked.
I started off showing them just how simple a card can be when it’s made with some gorgeous Designer Series Papers, and some left over scraps of cardstock to stamp a sentiment on.
Night Before Christmas DSP Perfectly Plaid Stamp Set Stampin' Up! Simple Stamping Beginners Card 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
Ok yes, I did add a couple of red rhinestones to the card, just because I like a little something shiny on my Christmas Cards.
A very simple card, great for a beginner cardmaker or stamper.

Next we added some of those pesky leftover strips of cardstock – you know the ones!!

Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper Card Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

This one is a CASE (Copy and Share Everything) of a card on page 24 of the 2019 Stampin’ Up! Holiday catalogue, but using some of the bits and pieces from my stash.

And this next one started out as a CASE from the same page, but we decided to fussy cut some of the Christmas stockings from the papers to add to our card, as well as some strips of leftovers.
Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper Card 3 Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
And last of all, we used some of the Brightly Gleaming Foil Elements over the Designer Series Paper for a different look, and they are another product that makes it so easy to create quick and easy Christmas cards this year.
Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper Card 4 Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
All four of these cards uses just a card base, in this case some of the Thick Very Vanilla Cardstock, then one layer of the Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper, and we used a star from the Brightly Gleaming Foil Elements.  All of the sentiments on my cards are from the Perfectly Plaid stamp set, although you could use whatever stamps you have on hand.  And, I have only used a Real Red ink pad.

If you would like to see some more Christmas inspiration from the Art with Heart team, you can find all of the participants here.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!
Chris

Heart of Christmas Week 5

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Heart of Christmas 2019

Another week of Christmas inspiration with Week 5 of the Heart of Christmas Blog Hop.
Eventually, I will surpise you with a non-traditional coloured Christmas card, but not this week…..
I have used some of the Toile Tidings Designer Series Paper for my card, and have coloured part of it using a Blender pen.
Toile Tidings Designer Series Paper with Heirloom Frames Christmas Card 2019 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

I have only coloured the part that is inside the frame, made using the Heirloom Frames Dies and Embossing Folders, using the same colours as the DSP, Garden Green and Real Red, with a touch of Soft Suede for the branches.
Toile Tidings Designer Series Paper Coloured Blender Pens Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
I have also used Stampin’ Write markers to colour the finer areas rather than the Blender Pen, which I have used on the larger areas.

The sentiment comes from the #Elfie stamp set which has been die cut using the Ornate Frames Dies….. perfect fit!!
#Elfie stamp set sentiment Christmas Card 2019 Holiday Catalogue Stampin' Up! Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
And a very small piece of the Real Red Curly Ribbon to finish off, which has been knotted in the centre and the ends frayed.

Real Red Curly Ribbon Christmas Card Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

Toile Tidings Christmas Card 2019 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

Tammy is joining us again this week with another of her gorgeous cards, this time a great fancy fold card featuring the Jolly Seasons Dies.
Tammy Prince Jolly Season Dies Fancy Fold Card

I love Santa with his reindeer, such a great die.

Tammy Prince Fancy Fold Card
Did you notice Rudolf, with his red nose?

Tammy Prince Fancy Fold Card Jolly Season

Thanks for sharing again, Tammy. Gorgeous card!!

If you would like to see what the rest of the Heart of Christmas team did for this week’s hop, you can find all the names on Claire’s blog here.

Thanks for dropping in, and happy stamping!
Chris

Heart of Christmas Week 4

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Heart of Christmas 2019

Heart of Christmas 2019 – Week 4

I can’t believe it is already the 4th week we have shared Christmas inspiration from the 2019 Holiday Catalogue.  Christmas is coming!
Wrapped in Plaid Suite Pine Tree Punch Perfectly Plaid Stampin Up Embossed Christmas Tree 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 2

My cards this week were inspired by my lovely friend and fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrator in the US, Anne-Marie Hile.  Anne-Marie has been inspiring me for many, many years and makes such beautiful cards.
And while my intention was to CASE Anne-Marie’s card, which you can see here, my card ended up a little different.
Wrapped in Plaid Suite Pine Tree Punch Perfectly Plaid Stampin Up Embossed Christmas Tree 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 1

And I decided to make a second card, but keeping it quite clean and simple, but still with some of the Christmas colours from the original.
Wrapped in Plaid Suite 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

I have die cut some Gold Foil using one of the Detailed Bands Dies to highlight the words on my card.
Wrapped in Plaid Card Gold Detailed Bands Dies Stampin Up 2019 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

Have you started making your Christmas cards yet?
If not, there’s sure to be something to inspire you from all the projects from the blog hop, which you can find links here on Claire’s blog.

Happy hopping, hope you find some inspiration,
Chris

 

Heart of Christmas Week 3

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Heart of Christmas 2019

Heart of Christmas 2019 Blog Hop – Week 3.

This week I have used some of the stunning Brightly Gleaming Specialty Designer Series Paper, combined with Copper Foil to create my card.
Bells Are Ringing Bundle Stampin Up 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christmas Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
In the background, I have embossed the white cardstock with the Stylish Scroll Embossing Folder (Page 53 of the 2019 of the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalogue).
The frame is made from the Copper Foil Sheets which I have die cut with the Rectangle Stitched Frames Dies, and the gorgeous Bell is also die cut from the Copper Foil using the new Detailed Bells Dies (Page 17).
Detailed Bells Dies Stampin Up 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
The little swirl that’s at the bottom of the frame….. it’s one of the pieces that came out of bell after it was die cut.  It seemed such a shame to waste it.
Detailed Bells Dies Stampin Up 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping (1)
And my sentiment has also been die cut, using the Ornate Frame Dies, also on Page 53.

And now…..

Tammy Prince is joining us again this week with another of her lovely snowy cards.
Tammy Prince Christmas Card Let It Snow DSP Stampin' Up!
Tammy has used the Let It Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper and created some very clever snowflakes using the Magnolia Memory Dies from the Annual Catalogue.
This DSP makes it so easy to create gorgeous Christmas Cards.
Thanks for sharing with us again, Tammy.

Judy May is our host this week for the Blog Hop, so make sure you click here to see all the rest of the gorgeous inspiration this week.

Happy Stamping
Chris

PS The new Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalogue is now live, and so all the products you see on the blog hop are available for you to order through your demonstrator.

Heart of Christmas Week 2

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Uncategorized by

Pine Tree Punch Perfectly Plaid Christmas Trees Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
Week 2 of the Heart of Christmas weekly Blog Hops.

Heart of Christmas 2019

I have gone with very traditional Christmas colours for this week’s Heart of Christmas Blog Hop, using some of the products from the Wrapped in Plaid Suite on Pages 12-14 of the 2019 Holiday Catalogue.

Christmas Card Wrapped in Plaid by Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 2019 Holiday Catalogue

I’ve started with a Very Vanilla base this time, I really like the more vintage look that it gives, and a strip of the gorgeous Wrapped in Plaid Designer Series Paper which has the lovely gold stripe through it.
So gorgeous for Christmas projects.
Wrapped in Plaid DSP Christmas Card Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
The ribbon is from the current Annual Catalogue, the Metallic-Edge Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon edged wtih gold.  To make the bow, I have doubled up a length of ribbon, tied it in the middle with a piece of twine and then popped one of the Designer Elements from page 178 of the Annual Catalogue, over the twine to hide it.
The rhinestones have been coloured with a Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Blend.  I’ve added these to the centre of the Designer Elements.
“Merry Christmas” was stamped in Cherry Cobbler, and then I have run the Wink of Stella over the top to give it some shimmer but unfortunately I wasn’t careful enough and it has just smudged the ink in a couple of places.  The sentiment has been die cut using one of the Ornate Frames Dies from Page 53 of the 2019 Holiday Catalogue.
The Christmas Trees have been punched out using the Pine Tree punch, which makes Christmas cards a breeze!
Pine Tree Punch Perfectly Plaid Christmas Trees Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

I have guest stamper and cardmaker, Tammy Prince joining me again this week, with another of her fabulous designs.
Tammy Prince Christmas Card 2019 Holiday Catalogue Let it Snow

Tammy has used the Let it Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper for her card today, and combined that with the Frosted Frames Dies, Stitched Seasons Framelits Dies and So Many Stars stamp set, the gorgeous Cherry cobbler 1cm Diagonal Stripe Ribbon, and add some sparkle with Shimmery Crystal Effects and Ice Stampin Glitter.

So gorgeous!  Thanks for sharing with us again, Tammy.

If you would like to see what the rest of the Blog Hoppers made this week, you can find the list of participants on Claire’s blog.
Happy hopping, and happy stamping!
Chris

Heart of Christmas 2019

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Heart of Christmas 2019
The Art with Heart Stampin’ Up! Team will be running a weekly Blog Hop to share with you, all the gorgeous products from the 2019 Holiday Catalogue, which is available on the 4th September 2019.

#Elfie
#Elfie
I couldn’t resist this gorgeous stamp set, and am having so much fun colouring the images and making cards with it.
This time I have combined it with the Night Before Christmas Designer Series Papers.

Elfie Night Before Christmas DSP

Elfie has been fussy cut after I coloured him using Stampin’ Blends.
I have also added heaps of sparkle over the white areas and the yellow, using some Wink of Stella.
68678226_1637740963025416_291564439004512256_n
And did you see that “Merry Christmas” ribbon in the catalogue?
Don’t have a catalogue yet?
Let me know if you are in Australia, I am happy to send one to you.

Now I have a special treat for you.
Recently a very talented lady joined my Stampin’ Up! team.  Tammy Prince is fairly new to cardmaking and stamping, but she is so very creative. And I thought I would let her share some of her work with you.  Here is her gorgeous card for this blog hop.
Tammy Christmas 1

Thanks for agreeing to share your creativity with us Tammy, and welcome to the team.
Tammy has used some of the gorgeous Feels Like Frost Designer Series Paper, along with the Frosted Frames dies, and heaps of sparkle using Shimmery Crystal Effects and Ice Stampin’ Glitter.

Be sure to head to Claire’s blog, where you can find a list of all the participants in the Blog Hop.

If you are in Australia and are interested in joining my small but growing team of friendly crafters, then please reach out to me via email, or you can join online here.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Merry Christmas from The Male Room

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Of course we had to have a Christmas challenge at The Male Room, although there are other options for your project this time, too, such as Winter Wishes or a different December Celebration.  

I chose a Christmas card though, since it’s the middle of summer here in Australia, and our main celebration is Christmas, so I have plenty of people I can give a Christmas card to.


I’ve kept this one fairly simple, using a printed music patterned paper for the background, and some gold stars over the black strip of cardstock.  I think this design would work well with all sorts of different colours and background papers.  I might have a play with some more like this one!
We love to see your creations, so please share your masculine Christmas, winter or December celebration projects with us at The Male Room.
Happy Stamping!
Chris