Category Archives: Christmas

Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Christmas Classics, Designer Series Paper, Season of Joy, Tree Trimmings by

Wow, two posts in two days!!  I have been in need of some inspiration of late, so I thought it would be good to use a challenge to get the creative juices flowing.  So I have used this week’s Sketch challenge from Our Creative Corner. It is worth having a look at some of the gorgeous ideas, inspiration and work that is on their blog, so why not head on over there and have a look.
Here is this weeks sketch:

I thought I would continue to get into the Christmas Spirit, and to use some of the products from the current Spring Mini Catalogue which finishes in a few short weeks, at the end of November.
I have used my crimper on the piece of Riding Hood Red cardstock to give it some height and texture but it is a little hard to see it in the photo.  I tried to make it more obvious by taking the photo on an angle but don’t think that has worked well either. So you will just have to take my word for it 🙂  And I just had to add some of my favourite paper piercing, of course 🙂

Stamp Sets: Tree Trimmings, Season of Joy, Christmas Classics.

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Ski Slopes Designer Series Paper (only available until end of Nov)

Inks: Riding Hood Red, Versamark.

Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Small Star Punch, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, Crimper, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Oval Punch (also only available until end of November 😦 )

Artwork Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Top Note Christmas Card

Posted in Big Shot, Cards, Christmas, I Wish, Simply Scrappin' Kit by

Is it me? Or does any one else just love the Top Note Die from Stampin’ Up!?  I think this has to be one of the most versatile and useful dies that I could possibly own for my now most beloved Big Shot 🙂  This card was so easy to make.  I used the “I Wish” Simply Scrappin’ Kit, which includes these gorgeous Designer Series Papers, which are only available in the kit.  The green paper was run through the Big Shot using the Top Note Die and then the Bauble is also a sticker out of the kit.  The only stamping is the greeting, which has been embossed with white embossing powder.

Stamp Set: Christmas Classics

Cardstock: Real Red, I Wish Simply Scrappin’ Kit

Ink: Versamark, Chocolate Chip Marker

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool.

And that’s it!  Pretty easy, huh?

Artywork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Big Shot!

Posted in Big Shot, Cards, Christmas, Christmas Classics, Snow Swirled by

Yes, I did!  I bought a Big Shot!  I just couldn’t hold out any longer! 🙂

So far I only have a couple of dies and some embossing folders, but I am already loving it.  I will be taking a few days off from classes and workshops over the next ten days or so, and hope that I will get lots of time to try out some new ideas, and of course, play with my new toy 🙂

So, for this card I have gone completely away from my usual traditional Christmas colours, and it is growing on me.  I have used the Big Shot with an embossing folder to create a lovely textured cardstock for my background, I just love this look, and am half way through another card using the same idea, so I will try to get that finished this evening.  I do think you will be seeing rather a lot of this in the near future 🙂

Stamp Sets: Snow Swirled, Christmas Classics.

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Taken with Teal, Whisper White.

Inks: Taken with Teal, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red.

Accessories: Big Shot with Embossing Folder, Ribbon from my own stash, markers.

Hope this inspires you to do something a little different with your Christmas cards this year.  And stay tuned for some more cards soon.

Keep stampin!

Chris

Masked Baubles

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Christmas Classics, Snow Swirled, Tree Trimmings by

Here is the last in the series of reverse masked cards from the class on Thursday evening, and yes it is another Christmas Card.  But at least I will be well prepared for Christmas in advance this year! 🙂  We didn’t end up finishing this card in the class, just did the masked bauble part, (too much chit chat again!) so I finished it off last night.  I am usually a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas colours, I just love my red and green for Christmas, but have to admit that this one is growing on me quite quickly.

Stamp Sets: Tree Trimmings, Snow Swirled, Christmas Classics.

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Ski Slope Designer Series Paper.

Inks: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Real Red.

Accessories: Circle Punches and Large Oval Punch (to make the mask for the baubles), Sponge Daubers, Two-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone, and Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s out there.

Chris

Good Cheer

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Good Cheer by

Another card to have a look at today, using another new stamp set from the Spring Mini Catalogue.  Only a couple more days to wait until you can order these.  Sorry for the very short post, but I have rather a lot on my plate at the moment, with the Snow Swirled Christmas Stamp Extravaganza happening this coming Saturday, and my mini catalogue launch party the following weekend.  Don’t forget to contact me if you would like to come along and see more of the mini catalogue products or if you would like me to send one of the catalogues out to you.

Stamp Set: Good Cheer (available 1st August 2009).

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Glorious Green.

Inks: Real Red, Glorious Green, Basic Black, Close to Cocoa.

Accessories: Markers, Colour Spritzer Tool, Cutter Kit, Bold Brights Brads, Real Red 1.27cm Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Christmas Cards…already!

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Designer Series Paper, Snow Swirled by

I received this card sketch from the Utah Divas   earlier in the week, and it screamed “christmas card” to me for some reason.  I know it is only June but I guess it is never too early to be getting ready and starting that Christmas preparation.  So I now plan to make something for Christmas each week, whether that’s a card or gift, that way Christmas won’t have as much chance to sneak up on me like it did last year 🙂  Why don’t you join me?  If you are interested, leave a note in the comments section and we can all keep each other on track for Christmas.  I will try to post my Christmas projects each week for your inspiration and ideas.

I have made two Christmas cards using the same sketch and just changed the background paper. 

Stamp Set: Snow Swirled

Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White, Ruby Red, Designer Series Paper Holiday Treasures.

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Ruby Red.

Accessories: Gold Brad, Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, Sponge Dauber.

 

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

 

Christmas Scrap Page

Posted in Christmas, Scrap Pages by

Last night I had a “no stamp night”.  It was not planned that way, but everything I did was without stamping, just using cardstock, papers and punches plus a couple of extras for that finishing touch.

The first project was to make a Christmas page with some of my photos.  I had lots of fun with this one!  Hope you like it.

Cardstock:  Real Red, Holiday Harmony and Summer Picnic Designer Series Papers.

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Square Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punch.

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images Copyright Stampin’ Up! 1990 – 2009

Surprise…!

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Season of Joy by

Bet you didn’t think I would get another card posted before we moved…. well, neither did I, but stamping and make cards is such a good way for me to unwind after a hard day of packing and organising that I just can’t help myself 🙂  So here is another Christmas Card using that yummy Dashing paper again 🙂  This time I have used the Simple Delights stamp sets from the Simply Sent Card Kit, and I am really pleased with the way it has turned out.  I have also used the same paper to line the envelope for a really elegant look.

Stamp Sets: Simple Delights, Season of Joy

Cardstock: River Rock, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Dashing Designer Series Paper

Inks: River Rock, Real Red

Accessories: Twill Tape, Gold Brad, Dimensionals

 

 

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2008 Stampin’ Up!

Dashing!

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Season of Joy by

Another shortish post today, as there is only a week to go until we move house so things are starting to get a little out of hand, to say the least. And I am pretty sure that I won’t be able to find the space to do some stamping until we move.  I thought I would just post a couple of Christmas cards that were inspired by a lovely CD holder on the blog of my very talented upline, Larisa O’Donnell.  For those of you who haven’t seen her work, check out her blog, I’m sure it will inspire you, as it does me.

This layout is really simple but effective and makes the most of another of Stampin’ Up!s Designer Series Papers, making it a quick and easy card.  I also thought this would be good to make at my next Stamp-a-Stack, so those of you who are thinking of coming, this is just one of the projects we will make.  Notice I say one, when there are two cards in the photo.  All I have done is turn the paper over (the Stampin’ Up! papers are all double sided) to make a completely different look, changed the layout very slightly and the rest is the same; same colours, same stamp set, same cardstock etc.

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Cardstock:River Rock, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Dashing Designer Series Paper

Inks: Real Red, Always Artichoke

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punch, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Red Gingham Ribbon.

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2008 Stampin’ Up!

PS.  I have just been having a bit of a browse around some of my favourite blogs and came across some one else who obviously has very similar taste to me LOL 🙂  Hi Lin Mei, I really didn’t copy yours either 🙂  Here is another blog that you should definitely check out, Lin Mei Yap is a huge inspiration to me and also does gorgeous work.

Hope you all get to do lots of stamping while I am moving and packing boxes….. do some for me too!

Chris