Category Archives: Season of Joy

Two different cards…

Posted in Big Shot, Cards, Christmas, Seaside, Season of Joy by

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

Season of Joy

Posted in Cards, Season of Joy by

No, I am not posting a Christmas Card today, however the card I am going to show you does use the Season of Joy stamp set.  I love the challenge of trying to use stamp sets in different ways, doing something that’s not so obvious.  So here is what I have come up with today.

As well as Season of Joy, I have used the new Heard from the Heart greeting set, which is fast becoming another favourite, I love the long, flowing lines of the these greetings.
Of course, this card could be a Christmas card, just change the colours and use a christmas greeting.
I have used Cameo Coral and Certainly Celery cardstock and inks, with some Certainly Celery ribbon, and some flat back pearls from the pretties kit to add some flair.  The flowers have been stamped and then cut out to give them a dimensional look, and for a finishing touch, my all time favourite, some paper piercing in the corners.
I really feel that I am starting to get better now, as I am wanting to do more and more crafting and creating every day, not just stamping, but I have also found that I am having time to get back into some of the other crafts that I enjoy, such as knitting, sewing and needlecraft.  So I thought I would share one other thing with you today.  I have had a lot of comments from family and friends about this rug, which I made quite a few years ago now, but is Jamie’s favourite snuggle rug when he is unwell.  I did crochet the entire rug out of left over balls and bits and pieces of wool which my Mum and I had both collected over years of knitting, and crocheting.  The photo is not the best, as it is a bit hard to take a photo of something that size, when it is laid out flat.

This is just another of one of many things that I look forward to getting back into.  So you may well be seeing lots more different crafty stuff on here in the future 🙂

In the meantime, I think I will go and make a card!  And I hope you get some time today to do some crafting.  Happy stamping!
Chris

Flower Pots

Posted in Big Shot, Cards, Garden Whimsy, On Your Birthday, Season of Joy, Uncategorized by

Thank you to the lovely ladies who came over this morning to make Flower Pot cards, I had a really good time.  It is always good to be able to do some stamping with other people instead of just on my own.  And I thought I should share the two cards that we made this morning.
I have seen various versions of these flower pot cards around on blogs and websites, but I have no idea who to give the credit to for the original version, but thank you, who ever you are! 🙂 These are just sooooo cute and super easy to make.  I have used my Big Shot to create the spots on the pots but you could easily decorate the pots with a background stamp to give it a bit of “life”.

Stamp Sets: Garden Whimsy, On Your Birthday.

Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Regal Rose.

Inks: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip.

Accessories: Big Shot, Embossing Folder, Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon, Markers.
Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

And the second card is a slider card which goes inside the pot.  I just love this one!

Stamp Sets: On Your Birthday, Season of Joy.

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Really Rust, Haiku Designer Series Paper.

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust and Pumpkin Pie.

Accessories: Big Shot, Embossing Folder and Flower Cutting Die, Scallop Edge Punch, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Vintage Brads.

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

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!

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

Christmas Swaps

Posted in Cards, Season of Joy by

I have been very slack with my posts recently, but we are starting to get very busy with packing and getting organised to move house, which will be happening in three weeks time.  Yayyyyy….. 🙂 it is so exciting, I will have a big room to set up all my craft and stamping and won’t have to share the dining table any more 🙂

This card is one I whipped up last night for a swap.  Larisa is holding a meeting tonight with her downline (which includes me) and we are doing a Christmas swap.  I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare so thought I would keep it really simple, and I just love all of the Stamin’ Up! Designer Series Papers so I wanted to use some of those as well.

And don’t forget to send me an email if you would like to get together for a Christmas Stamp-a-Stack with your friends and family.  Christmas is sneaking up on us fast (as it always does) so why not have a stash of beautiful handmade Christmas cards ready for the silly season.

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Cardstock: Confetti White

Designer Series Papers: Holiday Harmony, Le Jardin, Outlaw

Inks: Encore Gold, Versamark

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Glue Dots, Red Gingham Ribbon

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images Copyright 1990 – 2008 Stampin’ Up!

Quick Christmas Cards

Posted in Cards, Season of Joy by

My last post showed you some fairly time consuming projects, so today I thought it would be nice to be able to make some fairly quick and easy cards.  And with Larisa and some of the other ladies having done a Christmas stamp camp on the weekend, I was feeling a bit inspired to do some myself 🙂   After all, it’s only three months until Christmas…… aaaahhhhh… help!!  🙂

These cards are made using stamps and papers out of the Spring Mini Catalogue, so please let me know if there is something you would like to order, or if you would like a catalogue to have a browse through.

Stamp Set:  Season of Joy

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate,  plus Designer Series Paper Holiday Harmony

Inks: Encore Gold, Purely Pomegranate, Mellow Moss

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, two different ribbons from Beachfront Ribbon Originals, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip.

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2008 Stampin’ Up!