Category Archives: Lovely as a Tree

Lovely As A Tree

Posted in Cards, Lovely as a Tree, Masculine, Uncategorized by

I just can’t believe that this wonderful, versatile stamp set is still in the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue.  It was one of the first stamp sets I got when I first joined back in 2008, and it’s still there now.
Well, I had this stamped image, from Lovely As A Tree, and some really, really old papers and cardstock, so I have put something together, just because I am frustrated that I don’t have my new goodies yet.

Lovely As A Tree 1

Such a gorgeous stamp set.
I may have to reinvest in that one.
Yes, I got rid of pretty much all of my stamps and heaps of my tools, so I am starting almost from scratch again.
So I have no idea which set this DSP paper came from.
And in the true spirit of getting back into stamping and cardmaking, I am going to add my card to some challenges.
Firstly, Cardz 4 Guyz has a Clean and Simple Challenge happening.
And also The Male Room is going Green.  My card only has a little bit of green but never mind.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

I am still here…

Posted in Cards, Heartfelt Thanks, Lovely as a Tree, On Your Birthday, Seeing Spots by

… but phew, what a week… or two!
Some of those dreaded “change of season” bugs hit our household full force over the last couple of weeks.  My poor husband had a week off work (totally unheard of) and my son was sick with it as well – at the same time, of course.  And then just when they were starting to get over it, I got sick with a very nasty tummy bug that saw me visiting the emergency unit of the local hospital.  Fortunately it was only a short stay, and I managed to escape the hospital the same day that went in.  But recovery has been a bit of a slow process, and I am now on some medication which seems to be helping, although not quick enough for my liking.  Being unwell is just soooo not me, especially when my mind is willing but my body just isn’t.
So, needless to say, I have a million more ideas running around in my head, but have only had the energy to make a few of them.

I did promise to share some more of the cards I made using the Seeing Spots Stamp Set, which I will do shortly.  And I also have to share some of the excitement of the amazing new Autumn /Winter Mini Catalogue which goes live on the 1st of April, but as a demonstrator, I have been lucky enough to see.  Actually, I have spent quite a few hours with it firmly adhered to my forehead!  It is gorgeous!!!!!  I desperately need the lotto gods to bless me with very large amounts of cash that I can spend on all of the mini catalogue, because to honest, I think I could buy every single thing in it.
I will come back with another post with some details on the new clear mount stamp sets, but in the meantime, some cards.

As well as Seeing Spots, this one uses the lovely Nature’s Nest Stamp Set which is only available until the end of this month.  And the greeting is from the Sale-a-Bration set Vintage Labels, again only available until the end of the month.
Cardstock is Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip and Whispers White.

This second card uses the Heartfelt Thanks Stamp Set, in the colours of  Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip.

And this last card using an all time favourite of mine, Lovely as a Tree, along with On Your Birthday for the greeting.  The colours are Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White.

Hope you are getting lots of stampin done, and for those of you in Canberra, enjoy your long weekend!
Chris

More Reverse Masking

Posted in A Wish for Peace, Cards, Lovely as a Tree, Snow Swirled by

I have had a couple of comments regarding the reverse masking so here are two of the cards that we made in the class on Thursday night.

The first is a card inspired by the incredibly talented Claire Daly, who I find so much inspiration from, I just love her work and I am sure you will too, so check out her website, and you will find the original of this card if you click on her Christmas Cards area.  I have made mine a little more simple, left off ribbon and brads but I just love the combination of the two stamp sets used here, and the way it looks like snow on the spire of the church and on the trees.  I am starting to get in the mood for Christmas already! 🙂  It is hard to see in the photo, but the tree which is outside the oval masked area is glittery.

Stamp Sets: A Wish For Peace, Lovely as a Tree, Snow Swirled.

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip.

Inks: Baja Breeze, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Silver Encore.

Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Markers, Oval Reverse Mask, Scallop Circle punch for the corners, Two-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds.

Ok and for the second card….

I got a little carried away with sponging the chocolate chip around the top (my three year old says it is a storm cloud!) and then when I tried to fix it I made it worse (of course!) – a lesson to be learnt, which I should know by know – never try to fix things up, it only makes them look worse.  Anyway, you all need to know that I am only human 🙂  Truth is, I was too busy chatting!

Stamp Set: Lovely as a Tree

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Kraft, Chocolate Chip.

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke

Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Oval Reverse Mask, ribbon from my own stash.

I do hope these inspire you to try something a little different.

Chris

Father’s Day

Posted in Cards, Lovely as a Tree, Weathered by

Just a very short post today, but I thought I would share a card I made today for Father’s Day.  For those of you in different countries, we celebrate Father’s Day this coming weekend, the first Sunday in September.

I really like these colours for a male card, they are nice and earthy and masculine. It is a little hard to see in the photo, but I have used the Weathered Background stamp over the main card base to give it a little more texture and interest.

Hope you like it, and I will try to be back tomorrow with another card.

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree, Weathered, Occasional Greetings.

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip.

Inks: Always Artichoke, Close to Cocoa, Versamark.

Accessories: Linen Thread, Spiral Punch, Scallop Circle Punch (to make the inverted corners), Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, Markers

Scrapbook Sketches

Posted in Designer Series Paper, Eastern Influences, Lovely as a Tree, Scrap Pages, Trendy Trees by

I often use sketches to begin the design process of my scrapbook pages, and this is one I particularly like.  In fact, I like it so much that I have made two pages using the same sketch.  It is interesting to see just how differently the two pages have turned out, considering that the layout is pretty much the same.

On this first page, I have done some watercolouring straight on to the Designer Series Paper.  First, I stamped the images in Stazon and then  watercoloured using a blender pen, just using a small amount of ink and as little blending as possible to make sure that paper wasn’t damaged by the watercolouring process.

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree, Eastern Influences.

Cardstock: Old Olive, Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper, Baja Breeze Carousel Note.

Inks: Black Stazon, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Brown, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red.

Accessories: Blender Pens, Scallop Edge Punch.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 -2009 Stampin’ Up! 

 

 

This second page uses one of the Stampin Around Wheels, which I have rolled across the patterned paper before adding the photos. I then stamped the small trees using the rock and roll technique, and two step stamping, onto Confetti White cardstock and cut them out.

Stamp Sets: Trendy Trees, Funky Forest Wheel.

Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Confetti White, Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Papers, Kiwi Kiss Carousel Note.

Inks: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red.

Accessories: Stampin Around Wheel, Handle and cartridge, sponge daubers, piercing tool and mat pack, white gel pen, scallop edge punch, paper snips, rub ons (retired).

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

Thump and Bump Technique

Posted in Cards, Lovely as a Tree, On Your Birthday by

… at least I think that is what it’s called!

This is a card I made a few weeks ago for my brother-in-law, Greg’s birthday.  I really like Lovely as a Tree stamp set for all sorts of things, but I do think it is particularly suitable for male cards.  I also like using the retired Hodgepodge hardware on male cards, but I guess I will have to be careful just how often I use it otherwise I will run out.  The “thump and bump” technique I referred to is on the left hand side of the base card.  Basically, all you need to do is to take your ink pad or stampin spot and “thump and bump” it straight down onto the cardstock, turning the ink pad at different angles to get the imprint crossing over.  It’s a really easy technique for a quick but effective background.  But if you would like any more details please feel free to contact me.

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree, On Your Birthday.

Cardstock: Confetti White, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke.

Inks: Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip.

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Marker, Retired Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware, Word Window Punch.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!