Category Archives: Cards

Convention

Posted in A Rose is a Rose, Cards, On Your Birthday by

Yes, I have been missing in action for a few days now, but I do have an excuse! 🙂  I have been busily preparing for the Stampin’ Up! convention which was held here in Canberra on Friday and Saturday (1st and 2nd May), and wow, what an amazing couple of days it has been.  Now my head is just spinning with the ideas and information.  And one of the really fun parts of convention (and indeed many other papercrafting get togethers) is doing “swaps”, where all the participants prepare numerous cards which we then swap with one another.  It is a fantastic way to get new ideas and see stamp sets and accessories used in ways that we may not have thought of.  More ideas to keep my head spinning for weeks!  And it is, of course, a wonderful way to meet and get to know some of my fellow stampers. 

I just thought I would share with you the cards I made for my swaps.  I did three different designs based around the same idea, and in all made 100 of them to swap.

Stamp Sets: A Rose is a Rose, On Your Birthday.

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette.

Inks: Mellow Moss, Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke.

Accessories: Crimper

 

 

 

 

The details for the second card are pretty much the same, except for the addition of some of the gorgeous Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, and some paper piercing.

 

And for the third card I have used the spiral punch, Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon, and the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the two colours in the rose.

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

 

Some Watercolouring

Posted in A Kind Word, Cards, Eastern Influences, Pocket Silhouette by

Yet another new stamp set…… and yep, it was another one I just had to have 🙂 !  Watercolouring is one of my favourite past-times and this set is all about watercolouring.

I decided to do something completely different with this card, instead of using one of the patterned papers for the background paper, I have made my own using stamps and sponging to create a soft and pretty background, perfect for this cute little girl!

I am holding a class this Thursday evening where we will be doing some watercolouring using this stamp set, so if you wish to come along please email me asap.

Stamp Sets: A Kind Word, Eastern Influences, Pocket Silhouettes.

Cardstock: Watercolour Paper, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss.

Inks: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss, Creamy Caramel, Lavender Lace, Brocade Blue, Blush Blossom, Regal Rose.

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small circle punch, 6.35mm Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge Daubers, Blender Pen, Aqua Brush.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

Spring Song

Posted in Cards, Occasional Greetings, Spring Song, Weathered by

I have made a couple of cards recently using the new Spring Song stamp set, and thought it would be good to use it for a man’s card.  I was really pleased with the way this card turned out, that is, until I put the greeting on it, and now I am cranky because not only is it crooked but it is not centred either! 😦 must have had a bad day that day 🙂  But I thought I would post it anyway, just so that you can see that I have those days too.  He really is a cute little bird though, don’t you think?

Stamp Sets: Spring Song, Weathered Background, Occasional Greetings.

Cardstock: Basic Black, Kraft, Confetti White.

Inks: Basic Black, Versamark.

Accessories: Piercing Tool and Mat, 6.35mm Grosgrain Ribbon in Basic Black, Distressing Tool from the Cutter Kit.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Eastern Influences

Posted in Cards, Designer Series Paper, Eastern Influences by

One of the new stamp sets from the new Stampin’ Up! catalogue is called Eastern Influences, and it was another that I just couldn’t do without 🙂  It is just gorgeous and another one that I can see myself using quite a lot!  The original idea for this card came from here, but as always I have modified it and really like the end result.  The cardstock I have used for the main image was a bit of an experiment – I have used textured cardstock instead of Watercolour paper, even though I did some watercolouring.  I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but it seems to have worked well, it has that textured look which I like in this instance.  To make sure the paper didn’t buckle with the watercolouring, I used a blender pen and only a really light layer of ink, and used darker colours to get some depth and shading rather than blending over the same areas.   I really enjoyed making this card because I got to play with lots of my new, yummy stuff! 🙂  Hope you like it too.

Stamp Sets: Eastern Influences, On Your Birthday.

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Patterns Designer Series Papers in Pink Pirouettte.

Inks: Black Stazon, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Always Artichoke, Basic Brown.

Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Small and Large Oval Punches, Blender Pens, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat, 1.59cm Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose Marker, Colour Spritzer.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images Copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Happy Easter!

Posted in Cards, Designer Series Paper, Easter, Greetings Eight by

Just a quick post today, to wish you all a Happy Easter, and to get you into the spirit of Easter.  Below is the card I made for Jamie for Easter, and also a tiny Easter basket, which I made 20 of for Jamie’s pre-school class!  I will be back tomorrow with something completely different for you. 🙂

Stamp Set: A Good Egg

Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, and various retired Designer Series Papers.

Inks: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink

Accessories:  Lots of punches 🙂 , Markers, Paper snips, ribbon (non Stampin’ Up! – from my personal stash!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Stamp Set: Greetings Eight

Card from the new Catalogue

Posted in Cards, Spring Song, Weathered by

Well, I am unwell again!  I don’t think I actually got over my last bought of illness, and now have a full on ‘flu.  Jamie had it last week and seems to be picking up everything going around from preschool, and of course I always seem to get everything he has – nothing like sharing it around the family!!  I am really disappointed because I had so many things that I wanted to get done over the Easter break, and now find myself spending a large part of it in bed.  However, I can’t stay in bed for long without feeling the need to get into those new stamp sets 🙂 they are just calling out to me!  So I have tried to keep it simple by CASEing (or doing an exact copy) of a card from the New Catalogue.  But typically when I try to case something, it doesn’t turn out the same!

Anyway, this is from Page 79, using the Spring Song stamp set.  I just knew I had to get this set as soon as I saw it, but this is the first chance I have had to play with it.  And with so many beautiful new stamp sets I have to admit that I am having problems deciding which one to use on any given day. 🙂 

I hope all of you have a safe and enjoyable Easter, and it’s back to bed for me!

Stamp Sets: Spring Song, Weathered Background stamp, On Your Birthday.

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Kraft, Confetti White.

Inks: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive.

Accessories: Markers, Colour Spritzer, Distressing Tool from the Cutter Kit, Paper snips, Chocolate Chip 1.6cm Grosgrain Ribbon, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread, Latte Buttons.

 

 

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

More Fresh Cuts

Posted in Cards, Fresh Cuts by

Today’s post includes a few different cards that I have made using either, or both of the new Fresh Cuts Stamp Set and Fresh Cuts Notes, just to give you some ideas on how these can be used in different ways.

First is a card I made this afternoon using colours from a challenge – the colours are Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze.  I just love the way Stampin’ Up! introduce new colours which go so well together with their current colours.  This is a perfect example, and I just love the way these three colours go together.

Stamp Set: Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Whisper White.

Inks: Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze.

Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Oval Punches x 2, Scallop Circle punch (for the inverted corners), Vintage Brads, Whisper White Tafetta Ribbon.

 

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

The next two both use the Fresh Cuts Notes, but they are so very different.  The first uses the Poppin Pastels technique to get the changes in colour across the stamped image.  And the second uses white embossing to create a completely different look again.  I have also used some of the gorgeous new Flower Brads from the new catalogue. 

If you are interested in learning some of the techniques used in making these cards, please don’t hesitate to contact me, I run classes in my home on a regular basis.

Stamp Set:  Fresh Cut

Cardstock: Fresh Cuts Notes, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Inks: Versamark, Black Stazon

Accessories: Stampin’ Up! pastels, Large Oval Punch, Word Window Punch

 

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

 

Stamp Set: Fresh Cut

Cardstock: Fresh Cut Notes, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White.

Inks: Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst, Versamark.

Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Paper snips, Flower Brads

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

New Catalogue Launch

Posted in Cards, Designer Series Paper, Flower Fusion, Fresh Cuts, Greetings Eight by

This afternoon I had some lovely ladies here for my launch party for the new catalogue.  Stamping with other people is always so much more enjoyable, so thanks everyone, it was a lovely afternoon.

We started off making a nice, easy card using some of the new colours and papers.

Stamp Sets: Greetings Eight

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Confetti White, DSP Good Morning Sunshine

Inks: Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: 2.5cm Chocolate Chip Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Square Punch.

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

 

 

 

 

The second card we made was using the gorgeous new Fresh-Cut Notes and Fresh Cuts stamp set.

Stamp Set: Fresh Cuts

Cardstock: Fresh Cut Notes, Pink Pirouette.

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose

Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, White Half Pearl from the Pretties Kit, Pink Felt Flower from Flower Fusion, Scallop Edge Punch.

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

I have been doing quite a lot of stamping recently, so I will be getting those up for you over the next couple of days.  In the meantime I hope you get lots of stamping done too 🙂

Chris

Saturday Cinema Creative Challenge #25

Posted in Cards, One of a Kind, Seeing Spots by

I have been so busy over the past few weeks that I have missed out on making something for the Saturday Cinema Creative challenge, (it is worth checking their site out, there are some truly beautiful cards there, great for some inspiration, and this week are offering some blog candy 🙂 a delightful stamp set called Branching Out from Taylored Expressions). It is a lot of fun, and I find it a good way to do some things that I wouldn’t normally, and my card for this challenge is certainly totally different from my usual style.   This week’s movie is the James Bond movie, Goldfinger.  I am not a James Bond fan, and this is another movie I haven’t seen, so once again I had to use my limited knowledge and interrogate 🙂 my ever supportive and helpful husband. 

The Martini Glass is a clip art image which has been printed onto vellum and then cut out.  I have then used a Versamark pen to go around the edging and emboss with gold powder.  I have then adhered the bottom of the glass to the cardstock, and used glue dots on the top part of the glass which I have pushed out to make it rounded like a real glass.  The second photo will show you what I mean.

Stamp Sets: Seeing Spots, One of a Kind.

Cardstock: Basic Black, Vellum Cardstock.

Ink: Versamark, Versamark pen (not Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Gold and Black embossing powders, Heat gun, Gold Brads, Paper snips, computer and printer 🙂

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

 

 

 

 

The old and the new

Posted in Cards, Echoes of Kindness, Wonderful Favourites by

I have been a very slack blogger recently, but have had a very busy few weeks and something had to give.  But I’m back, and enjoying some personal stamping time 🙂

Yesterday was my Mum’s birthday, and I thought I would post some of the things I made for her.  I have combined some of the retiring Designer Series Papers, with some of the colours and stamp sets about to be released in the new catalogue on April 1st.

Firstly, the card I made for her:

Stamp Sets: Wonderful Favourites, Short Order Alphabet, Echoes of Kindness (New Hostess set available 1st April).

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou (retiring), Soft Sky (retiring), DSP Spring Silhouettes (retiring), Watercolour Paper.

Inks: Black Stazon, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss.

Accessories: Double stitched ribbon in Soft Sky (retiring), Blender pen.

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

 

 

 

 

I also made Mum a file box with the birthdays, addresses etc of everyone in our family.  Our family is getting so big and spread out around Australia that Mum is finding it hard to keep up with when birthdays are, so thought this would help her out.  

Stamp set: Short Order Alphabet

Cardstock: Whisper White Textured, Blue Bayou (retiring), Soft Sky (retiring), DSP Spring Silhouette (retiring).

Inks: Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Double stitched ribbon in Blue Bayou and Soft Sky (both retiring).

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

 

And thirdly, I made her a matching photo board.  For those of you who are interested in learning how to make the photo boards, I have a class this coming Wed – 1st April @ 7.30pm, all the details are on the Upcoming Events page.  But you will need to get in quick if you would like to come along as places are limited.

The photo was taken in February on Jamie’s first day at 3 year old pre-school. 🙂

Cardstock: Whisper White Textured, Soft Sky (retiring), DSP Spring Silhouettes (retiring).

Accessories: Double Stitched ribbon in Soft Sky (retiring), Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Magnetic clip from Big W, Chipboard sheet from local craft store, dimensional adhesive.