Category Archives: Designer Series Paper

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!

 

The Rose

Posted in Baroque Motifs, Cards, Designer Series Paper, Fifth Avenue Floral by

I was lucky enough to win the Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set at the recent Stampin’ Up! Convention at the start of May, and have to admit that I have hardly used any of my other sets since I got it.  I have used it for bleach stamping, embossing and also in this card, watercolouring.  I used a fairly tradition approach to watercolouring for this particular card, but if you are interested in seeing some done in a different way using the same stamp set, why not have a look at Larisa’s blog, she has made an absolutely stunning card and I am sure it will inspire you to try out something different.

The colours for my card today, were from a colour challenge set by Alisa Tilsner, a fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.  Once again, these colours are not ones I would think to put together myself, and took me a little while to get used to, but they look stunning together.  The colours are Rose Red, Perfect Plum, Old Olive and Whisper White.  So why don’t you have a go and make a card with these colours, it is a great way of seeing things in a different way and creating something you might not have done otherwise.  I’m not entirely sure that I have ever seen a rose in these colours, but I think it worked out ok.  And yes, the rose has been coloured using Rose Red ink with an aqua brush, and because I have used quite a lot of water in places, it has made quite a pale pink.  And then I have used Perfect Plum (again, washed down quite a lot to blend it in) in the centre.

Stamp Sets: Fifth Avenue Floral, Baroque Motifs.

Cardstock: Whisper White, Rose Red, Perfect Plum textured, Watercolour paper, Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper.

Inks: Rose Red, Perfect Plum, Versamark, Black Stazon.

Accessories: Clear Rhinestone Brads, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Embossing buddy, Powder Pal, White Taffeta Ribbon, Paper snips, Dimensionals.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Fiji Sunset Scrapbook Page

Posted in Designer Series Paper, Rub-ons, Scrap Pages by

I have been a bit slack recently with both my blog posts and doing more scrapbooking, so I thought I had better do both in one hit! 🙂

This scrapbook page is the result of a sketch which I received as part of a “challenge”, and while I really liked the sketch, it wasn’t a really straight forward, simple one (well, not for me anyway!) so I was a little apprehensive about completing it and entering my work.  However, once I got started, it all fell into place very easily.  I think it helps that Stampin’ Up! have so many gorgeous patterned papers, they make scrapbooking just so easy.  Anyway, to cut a long story short, I won that particular challenge, to my complete surprise.  There were many other gorgeous entries.

And yes, I did cut all those little flowers out by hand 🙂

The photos were all taken when my husband and I were in Fiji for a holiday in 2004.  The sunsets over there were just magnificent and very memorable, I really don’t think these photos do them justice, but they serve as a reminder of all the times we sat drinking cocktails in the pool, or sat in the open air restaurant eating our dinner, and watched the sun set over the sea.  Hmmmmmm might be time to go back for another holiday 🙂

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Whisper White  and Real Red (for the Title), Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper.

Ink: Summer Sun, Pumkin Pie.

Accessories: Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, Rub Ons, Sponge Daubers, Computer and printer for the Title, circle punches, paper snips.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Holiday Treasures 6 x 6 page

Posted in Designer Series Paper, Scrap Pages by

With the new Stampin’ Up! catalogue, comes a whole new range of Designer Series Papers, which are all absolutely beautiful.  Don’t ask me to choose a favourite, I couldn’t choose just one!  However, the one I have used for this next scrap page is definitely one of my favourites, it’s called Holiday Treasures, and I love the gorgeous, rich colours and beautiful flowers. 

So if you would like to see these new papers, and have a play with them, maybe make a scrap page or a card using them, why not sign up for some of my upcoming classes.  Just contact me for more information, email me  dotdotstamping@myacn.net.au

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White Textured, Holiday Treasures DSP

Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Paper Snips, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon.

Artwork copyrigh Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Happy, wonderful You – Scrap Page

Posted in Cheery Chat, Designer Series Paper, Scrap Pages by

I am finally starting to recover from this very nasty ‘flu, although I have to admit today that the windy weather and dust clouds over Canberra are probably not helping my cough.  But at least I am feeling well enough to sit and do some scrapping 🙂  So, I have two posts for you today, both of them scrap pages!

The first are some photos of my gorgeous smiley little boy, Jamie.  These photos were taken in Nov 2008.  This page came together really easily, and I like the simplicity of it.

Stamp Set: Cheery Chat (retired).

Cardstock: Brocade Blue 12 x 12, Whisper White, Jersey Shore Designer Series Paper (retired).

Inks: Brilliant Blue

Accessories: 3.5cm circle punch.

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

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

Echoes of Kindness

Posted in Cards, Designer Series Paper, Echoes of Kindness by

I have been really sick over the past few days with a very nasty throat infection which has been going around.  But I still just had to get out those new colours and stamp sets and have a play.  This card took me all day to complete yesterday, and I kept it nice and simple since I just didn’t have the energy to do too much.  But I am quite pleased with the end result, and have decided that I really do like the new In Colours, I like them a lot! 🙂  I wasn’t too sure about Kiwi Kiss but now that I have started using it I am hooked.  The In Colour Cardstock and Inks will be available on the 1st April, along with all the other new goodies from the 2009/10 Catalogue, but feel free to put your order in with me for the In Colours and the new stamp sets that I have been able to show you, and I will get your order in as soon as the orders open on the 1st April.  Or why not come along on the 4th April to have a look at the new catalogue and make something using the new colours etc.  You do need to book in though and places are limited!  You can get all the details on my Upcoming Events page.

Stamp Set: Echoes of Kindness (Hostess Set available 1st April)

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, DSP Good Morning Sunshine (available 1st April).

Inks: Black Stazon, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Aqua Brush, Piercing Tool and Mat Pack

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Patchwork Card

Posted in Cards, Designer Series Paper, Simple Delights by

I am really thrilled to be able to tell you that this card was chosen as the winner of Mel Hanlon’s weekly challenge last week.  Thanks heaps Mel, this means so much to me, especially since I know that you get some beautiful work submitted for your challenges.  And thanks also for putting up a challenge every week. 

Yesterday was my sister, Lesley’s birthday, and I made her a stationery box with the gorgeous Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper (unfortunately no longer available) from the 2008 Spring Mini Catalogue.  I had lots of little bits and pieces of the paper left over and wondered how I could use some of them up, so decided to make a patchwork card for her.  And here is the result.   Making this card was lots of fun, I think I will have to try some more patchwork cards, as I do have rather a lot of those little pieces of paper in my stash! 🙂

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Stamp Sets: Simple Delights (retiring 😦   )

Cardstock: Whisper White, Brocade Blue, Summer Picnic DSP.

Inks: Real Red, Versamark, Night of Navy marker

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Piercing Tool & Mat Pack, markers, Scallop Edge Punch

The photo is not the best, having been taken on the picnic rug under the shade of some trees during our family picnic lunch yesterday!!

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!