Category Archives: Uncategorized

Freshly Made Sketches #55

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Uncategorized by

I took some time out this afternoon to do some creating just for the fun of it, and thought I would have a go at this week’s sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I also thought it was time I got on and made some Christmas cards, since it won’t  be long before Christmas is here.

I have used a few new goodies for this card, the patterned papers come from the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack, they are gorgeous and great for card making (Page 20 of the Holiday Catalogue). The embossing folder is also new and is called Northern Flurry (Page 189 Annual Catalogue).  The stamp set is For the Birds (Page 34 of the Annual catalogue) – a fabulously versatile set with something for just about every occasion.  And the Cotton Ribbon and Slide are from the Holiday Catalogue.
Here is the sketch that I have used:
If you have any questions about how I have made this card, or if you would like to place an or

Hope you had a crafty weekend.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Photo Inspiration Challenge

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My turn to set the challenge again this week at Our Creative Corner, and I have chosen a photo to inspire you!

What I would like you to do is, create a project of your choice which:

1. Uses something from the photo that inspires you, it can be colours, shapes, anything at all.
2. Use 2 or more buttons on your project, they can be real buttons, fabric buttons, covered buttons, die cut buttons, any sort of buttons!
3. And, use polka dots somewhere.

And here is my card.

I have taken the colours from the photo and also the cake stand, as inspiration.

I have used the polka dot papers from the Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper packs in Soft Subtles, punched them out using the Blossom Punch and Boho Blossoms Punch, and then done some free-hand paper piercing around each one, and then markers to create the stitched look. (For those of you who are regular visitors to my blog or my classes, you will know that I love my faux stitching!!)
The “vase” is from A Cherry on Top stamp set, which is a cute new hostess set (Page 197 of the Annual Catalogue) and the leaves from Betsy’s Blossom have been stamped in Gumball Green and hand cut.  And just to make sure it was really “polka dotty” 🙂 I have used the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder for the white background.
Have a look at what the fabulous Design Team have created for this challenge, and I do hope you will be inspired to create something and share it with us.
For those of you on Facebook, we now have a new Our Creative Corner Facebook page, so why not drop in and give us a “like”.  🙂

Please feel free to email if you have any questions.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Another Blog Hop!!

Posted in 3D, Big Shot, Boxes, Cards, Uncategorized by

Hope that you’ve all been enjoying the gorgeousness of the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue.  The Holiday Catalogue also went live on the 1st of September, but we thought we’d give you a couple of weeks to get into it before we bombarded you with the beautiful things the Holiday Catalogue brings!!!

So another Artful Stampers Hop ~ this time to celebrate the Holiday Catalogue Launch!

You may have hopped here from Melissa at Bee Devine Designs, but if you are just starting here, keep hopping on through.  I’m stop 4 on the Hop and I’m glad you’re here sharing in the fun!!There are lots of gorgeous Christmas goodies in the Holiday Catalogue, but I thought I would showcase something different.  So, my projects for today all use the Orchard Harvest suite on pages 28-30 of the Holiday

Catalogue.  I am making these for my sister, who has a property with heaps of apple trees.  Eventually they want to open a cidery, so I thought I should keep her inspired with these gifts.  She doesn’t spend much time on her computer, so here’s hoping she won’t check out my blog and see them before she gets them!!I have used the Orchard Harvest patterned papers and the Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set for the card and the cute little box.  The box also uses the Cannery Set Framelits Dies which match the Perfectly Preserved stamp set.  Love how Stampin’ Up! match everything up.  These also come as a bundle to save you even more money!  Love it!
And I have made a Lavender Bag and Coaster, both of which use the Orchard Harvest Designer Fabric. Unfortunately the fabrics didn’t have apples on them, so I had to use pears instead!
I have a few other things to make to add to this collection, but I have been away for the last few days so haven’t had a chance to get it all done.  But I’ll share them all with you before I send them off to my sister.

Now it’s time to visit Anna for the next stop on our Hop. I am sure you will find lots of wonderful ideas to inspire you. And in case you get lost or there are broken links just pop back here for the full list of stampers taking part in this hop.

Don’t forget to leave comment love as you trip along the hop from blog to blog. We like to know what you think about the things we’ve been doing!!  And if you have any questions please feel free to send me an email.

Happy stamping, and I hope you find lots to inspire you!
Chris

Blog Hop links:

Alisa Tilsner
Madonna Dunn
Melissa Davies
Christina Barnes (you’re here!)
Anna from My Little Creative Nook
Alison Barclay
Nicole Derendorf
Kay Koufalakis
Karlie from Stamping with Karlie
Tina Hewett
Michelle Bartholomaeus
Kathryn Carr

Kiss The Card Challenge & Twist

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Yep you have to kiss the card!  No not really…..  This week’s challenge from Our Creative Corner comes from Lisa Minckler from You Made Me Ink, she wants us to use the kissing technique (stamp to stamp) somewhere on a card or project.
And the twist is to use the letters X and O somewhere on your project.
My X and O are a little hard to see in this photo, but they are on the red heart that is on the tag that is hanging down.

For the blue background, I have put ink directly onto a clear block, then I have used the Music Notes wheel with Raspberry Ripple ink over the top, and stamped it straight onto Whisper White card stock.  Be careful if you are using this technique that you stamp straight up and straight down, it is very easy for it to slide around and smudge everything (speaking from experience!!).  Those pretty flowers from Field Flowers stamp set have been inked in Pretty in Pink and then stamped again using the word stamp from French Foliage in Raspberry Ripple stamp to stamp.  Add some twine and one of the new Bushed Bronze Designer Buttons and of course some of my favourite…. faux stitching! 🙂
Check out what the rest of the Design Team have done for this challenge, and make sure you join us with your own creation this week – we love to see what you have come up with.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Resist Techniques

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In this post here, I shared with you this week’s challenge at Our Creative Corner, which is to create a project using a Resist Technique, so today I am going to share with you a YouTube link, which will show you some different Resist Techniques and how to do them.

 

I have used the Emboss Resist technique for my card, and you can see some other techniques used in the fabulous creations from the rest of the Design Team.  So check out the YouTube, and lets see your creations too 🙂

Happy Stamping!
Chris

 

My news…..

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Finally, I am going to share with you my very exciting news!  🙂

I have been asked to be a member of the Design Team with Our Creative Corner!  I have been taking part in their challenges for many years now, on and off, so I am thrilled to be part of this very talented bunch of lovely ladies.

I will be back later today with my card for this week’s challenge, so stay tuned for that, and I hope you will join in too.

Simply Scored Boxes

Posted in Boxes, Uncategorized by

I whipped up these boxes this afternoon to go with the card from my previous post.  The boxes will be part of a gift for someone special whose birthday is coming up soon.
Boxes are so quick and easy with the new Simply Scored Scoring Tool.
If you would like to buy one of the Simply Scored Scoring Tools, just get in touch, as long as you live in Australia, I can get one to you.  I will also include instructions on how to make boxes with lids that fit, some hints and tips and also a pre cut and scored box for you to make so that you see how it all fits together and make yourself a box.  So just drop me a line at dotdotstamping@gmail.com
Alternatively, if you live in the Adelaide area and would like to attend a class and be taught how to make boxes and lots more as well as how to use the Simply Scored and other tools, also send me an email.
Hope you are having a crafty Sunday.  Happy Stamping!
Chris

Because I Care

Posted in Big Shot, Cards, Designer Series Paper, Uncategorized by

I think “Because I Care”  would have to be one of the most beautiful stamps available in the current Stampin’ Up! catalogue (Level 1 Hostess Set),and I have used it often, it seems to be one I keep coming back to.   This set of cards is one I made for another challenge, this time from Our Creative Corner, who want to see a card which shows off my particular style of cardmaking.  Hmmmmmm well, I love colouring – watercolouring, pastels, pencils….. I love patterned paper and ribbon, sponging and paper piercing or stitching.  I guess what I am saying is that is was hard to narrow that down, and I love trying out new things.  Then after I had made one card, I couldn’t stop, and ended up making a set of three cards.

Again I went with watercolouring the main images in each card using inks and aquabrush – I think this is probably my favourite way of doing watercolouring.  I have used the fabulous Newsprint Designer Series Paper, which I adore, and which you are going to see over and over again…..  And, I have used the Distressing Essentials Kit, to create that old fashioned, worn look, which I think works really well on these cards.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

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I’m sitting here wondering what to say, since it has been such a long time since the last time I posted anything on here, and so much has happened in the meantime, including an amazing 2 week holiday in Thailand (of which I may share some photos if you ask very nicely).  But I guess I will just tell you that I have done some stamping for the first time in well over four months.  I have to admit that I found it quite difficult to get myself motivated enough to complete the card, but perhaps it will start to get easier from here on in.  I hope so, because I do enjoy the creative process, and know that it is a good outlet for me.  Anyway, enough rambling from me, here it is:

I do apologise for the photo, I will have to find a better place to take photos, but for now I am sure you can see it well enough to get the idea.
I have used the Hostess Stamp Set “Silhouette Sentiments” and my favourite marker technique to ink up the stamps.  The colours I have used are Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose and Rose Red.  The ribbon was supposed to be in Pumpkin Pie but I didn’t have any so used some of the Peach Parfait Stitched Poly Ribbon instead.  And if you look closely you will see a little of my favourite paper piercing just along the top.

I would also like to say a very quick thank you to the lovely Kerri Donsky.  Your message made me realise that there are some people out there who are thinking of me, so thank you.  It was you who inspired to do some stamping again.

If any of you are trying to contact me, the best way is by email at chrisjparkerbarnes@gmail.com  I am still currently a demonstrator for Stampin’ Up! so am able to take your orders from anywhere in Australia, so feel free to contact me.

Thanks for stopping by, and hopefully I will be inspired to do some more stamping to share with you soon.
Chris

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990 -2011 Stampin’ Up!