I was going through some of my old DSP today, and thought I would share a quick and easy card with you. Yes the DSP is retired, but you could use any of the gorgeous papers that are available from Stampin’ Up! to make something similar.
Hope you had a crafty day.
Happy stamping!
Chris
Just thought I would share this with you. I made it to put a few choccies in for my son. I also thought I should use it for the Just Add Ink latest challenge, which is Fancy Packaging! Definitely time to start getting back into the challenges that I so love to take part in. It’s always good for getting the creative juices flowing!
This is made using the Big Shot with the Pillow Box Die, and I have used the yummy new sparkly silver cardstock which is available in the current Mini Catalogue, for the belt buckle.
I hope you will forgive me for being absent for a while, I have had some health issues but back on track now and I have quite a few things to share with you, as I have been doing some crafty stuff!
But in the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas tomorrow, and stay safe.
Merry Christmas, and happy stampin!
Chris
Um yeah…. as in, Santa’s reindeer Dasher! Of course, I mean the stamp Dasher, which just hasn’t had enough use in my house yet! And neither has the other stamp which I have used on this card, that gorgeous background stamp, Medallion.
I’m not sure what the weather’s like in the rest of Australia today, or for that matter, the rest of the world, but it is beautiful here in Adelaide today, warm and sunny with just a light breeze coming in off the ocean. Might have to go for a walk on the beach later! And maybe it is this warm summery weather that made me want to make a Christmas Card today! Did you know it is only just over three months until Christmas? Did any one else just start to feel a bit panicky? Where has the rest of the year gone?
Anyway, cards……. this card was meant to be a CASE of a card made by the incredibly talented Jenny Moors at Stamping Moments, whose work I always love and who inspires me so much.
But of course, it didn’t end up being the same as Jenny’s card, my CASE’s never end up being CASE’s! Not exactly, anyway. The colours are Cherry Cobbler, River Rock and Very Vanilla, and I have run the layer of River Rock cardstock through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.
Well, enjoy the warm weather, and happy stamping!
Chris
Another Christmas card today, for another challenge from Our Creative Corner. The challenge is to make a seasonal card, either for the 4th July if you are in the US, or Christmas in July, which is far more fitting for us here in Australia.
The stamp set is called “Welcome Christmas” and it has barely seen any ink up until now, but is a gorgeous Christmas set. And the DSP is Jolly Holiday, available in the current catalogue, but not for much longer I would imagine!
Lots of bling on this card, using the half-back Rhinestones, and perhaps a little less obvious in the photo, I have added some Dazzling Diamonds over the berries in the wreath. Then just a bit of tearing, the distressing tool around the edges, and lastly my favourite, faux stitching!
So, happy stamping, and don’t forget, Christmas is on it’s way! 🙂
Chris
and two challenges in one day! It’s another sketch challenge but this time from the ladies at Just Add Ink! This is a really simple sketch but one that you could do so much with. I decided to do a Christmas card – nothing like getting in early! And since most of my cards are going to the school that Jamie goes to for fundraising, I am sure one of the parents or children will be happy to start on their Christmas collection.
The stamp sets I have used are Tree Trimmings and Contempo Christmas, and the colour combination – nice and traditional, is Real Red, Garden Green and Sahara Sand.
Happy Stamping!
Chris
Saturday 9th October at 1.30pm – if you would like to come along and make this card, you must contact me asap, as places are limited.
Cherry Cobbler is such a gorgeous rich red, and looks fantastic combined with Old Olive. The photo doesn’t show just how gorgeous these colours look together.
This card also uses Perfect Punches Stamp Set, Scallop Circle punch, and the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder and the Big Shot.
Happy Stamping,
Chris
This week’s Just Add Ink Challenge is a sketch challenge, which you can have a look at if you click on the link. I had so many ideas for this sketch that I really didn’t know which one to start with. But, lots of new goodies arrived on my doorstep today, and I had to play with the beautiful new stamp set called “Elements of Style”. Too gorgeous for words! Not sure that I am happy with my watercolouring – had a few too many interruptions, but I think it ended up ok.
I also have to apologise for the photo, we had a very dull, overcast afternoon here in Canberra, which wasn’t very good for taking photos.
Stamp Sets: Elements of Style, Silhouette Sentiments (Level 1 Hostess ).
Inks: Black Stazon, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Perfect Plum, Early Espresso.
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Watercolour Paper, Lap of Luxury DSP.
Accessories:Aquabrush, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die and Big Shot, Half-back Pearls, Word Window Punch, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint.
The second card today is a variation on the sketch, with a Christmas theme. Nothing like being prepared for Christmas in advance!
This card uses Contempo Christmas and the greeting is from Heard from the Heart. The colours are Old Olive and Riding Hood Red – I am a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas colours. 🙂
I have used the Big Shot with the Top Note Die, some retired DSP and Gold twine, and that’s pretty much it! Simple!
Happy stamping
Chris
from one design. I have used a very simple layout today, and made two completely different cards, just to show you how you can do it too. The first card uses some lovely male colours, including one of my new favourites Soft Suede. I have run the layer of Soft Suede cardstock through the Big Shot using a non-Stampin’ Up! embossing folder, but I thought this one really suited the image I wanted to use for it. The image is from the Seaside stamp set and is also stamped using Soft Suede ink.
The second card uses a retired DSP which I am trying to use up 🙂 and thought I would get a start on some Christmas cards. I have used the Season of Joy Stamp Set for this one.
So have a go, give this nice easy but effective layout a try using something you have at home. If you don’t have a Big Shot, use some patterned paper, or a stamped background. And just find an image from one of your stamp sets and a colour combination that you like, or even try something different.
And just a little hint, there will be some lovely new embossing folders available from Stampin’ Up! very soon! 🙂
Happy Stamping.
Chris
I hope the holiday season has been kind and enjoyable, and that you have all had plenty of time for some stamping!
Because I have been so busy with other things that I really haven’t had much time to stamp at all.
So today I am going to share two Christmas Easel cards that I made, and then I can move away from Christmas, at least for a few months 🙂
The first is the card I made for my gorgeous little boy, Jamie, who would have been just devasted if I hadn’t made him a card for Christmas. And of course, the card just had to have a train. He loves his card, and has to have it up on the coffee table so that he can look at it all the time.
Stamp Sets: Trendy Trees, Choo Choo (retired), Right on Track Stampin’ Around Wheel (retired), Occasional Greetings.
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White.
Inks: Basic Grey, Real Red, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Going Grey, Versamark.
Accessories: Markers, Stampin Around Handle, Paper Snips, Two-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Rhinestone Brad.
Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2010 Stampin’ Up!
The next card is again an Easel card, which I made for my sister and her husband. For the image in this card I have used the stained glass window technique on the vellum, only I have reversed the vellum and coloured the embossed side, instead of colour behind the embossing. This gave it a really nice subtle effect.
Stamp Sets: Snow Swirled, A Wish For Peace.
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Vellum Cardstock, Ski Slope Designer Series Paper (retired).
Inks: Versamark, Close to Cocoa, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, Garden Green, Baja Breeze.
Accessories: Markers, White Embossing Powder and Heat Tool, Rhinestone Brads.
Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2010 Stampin’ Up!
Well, I promise that I will bring you something other than Christmas cards very soon, and I look forward to catching up soon for some stamping time with all of you.
And don’t forget to check out my Upcoming Events page for classes starting in a few short weeks time, and send me an email if you would like to book in.
Chris
I am back after some “non-blogging” time, life has caught up with me over the past few weeks and unfortunately my blog has been the first thing to suffer!
As many of you know, my lovely Mum has been unwell for quite some time. She recently spent three weeks in hospital, and was then transferred to a lovely nursing home, where she is being well looked after, for four weeks of respite care. Things are certainly a lot easier for the rest of the family now that she is settled somewhere comfortable.
Stamping has continued though! 🙂 Stamping, cardmaking and scrapbooking are such a relaxing “therapy” for me, and is the time when I can sit quietly and digest and “work through” the difficult times, as well as the good ones. So I do have quite a lot that I have been making but haven’t shared with you.
Today’s card is another Christmas card, although one a little different, in that it uses mostly non-Stampin’ Up! stuff. I have a massive stash of ribbon which I want to start using, and this one is just a gorgeous colour and matches one of last years In Colours, Purely Pomegranate. The card also uses this week’s sketch from Our Creative Corner.
Stamp Sets: None!!
Cardstock: Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate (retired), Certainly Celery
Accessories: Christmas Tree embossing Folder, Big Shot, Ribbon and clear flat back Rhinestones from my own stash.
I hope the lead up to Christmas is not too stressful for all of you, and that you have time to enjoy some Stampin’!
Chris
Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Dot Dot Stamping Designs 