Valentine’s Card for Men

Posted in Boxes, Cards, Designer Series Paper by

I recently had a request to design a male Valentine’s Card for a group of ladies.  I struggled with this at first, my husband and I do usually exchange cards on Valentine’s Day but we don’t place much significance on it.  I also don’t have many stamp sets which have hearts or “happy valentine’s” greetings on them, so I had to come up with something using what I currently do have.  I hope you like the end result.  I also made a small matching box.  We made a similar box at last year’s Stampin’ Up! training night here in Canberra, but I altered it slightly and made it from one piece of cardstock instead of two.  Much easier for my class of beginner stampers and box makers.  And it is just the right size for a couple of chocolates or a small gift.

Stamp Sets: Hello Again (Summer Mini Catalogue), Best Yet (Level 1 Hostess Set), Boho Backgrounds.

Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip Patterns DSP.

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze.

Accessories: Heart Punch, Word Window Punch, Paper Snips, Markers, Sticky Strip.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2010 Stampin’ Up!

Enjoy your day.
Chris

Vintage Labels

Posted in 3D, A Rose is a Rose, Cards, Designer Series Paper, On Your Birthday, Sale-a-bration, Vintage Labels by

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for all the lovely comments I have received over the last two days, it is always good to get comments on my blog and know that other people are getting inspiration and ideas from my projects.
I do hope you enjoyed all the wonderful projects on your way around the blog hop, I certainly did, and now have many more ideas and new things to make 🙂  I think I need to find an extra day each week, just to fit in all the new projects I want to make!!

And now I would like to share another project which features the wonderful Vintage Label Stamp Set, and one of my all time favourite stamp sets, A Rose is a Rose.  This time a card, with a matching bag and candle, just perfect for giving to someone special.

Stamp Sets: Vintage Labels (Only availabe during Sale-a-bration), A Rose is a Rose, On Your Birthday.

Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Pink Flamingo DSP.

Inks: Basic Black, Real Red, Kiwi Kiss.

Accessories: Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/4 inch Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Snips, Paper piercing tool and Mat Pack, White Tissue Paper, Heat Gun.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2010 Stampin’ Up!

Happy Australia Day, and happy stampin,
Chris

Sale-a-bration Blog Hop

Posted in Baroque Motifs, Sale-a-bration, Scrap Pages, Vintage Labels by

It’s time for another blog hop from the ESAD (Extremely Special Aussie Demonstrators) group, this time to celebrate the start of Sale-a-bration. And this time we have even more blogs taking part, which means more ideas and more inspiration for you. So I hope you have fun on your way around.
My project today is a Scrapbook page using the Vintage Labels Stamp Set. I wanted to do a page in a “vintage” style, and have used a masking technique to create a border with the stamp. I will be adding a small journalling block underneath the photo, but I like to keep my journalling a little private, so you don’t get to see that bit! 🙂

Stamp Sets: Vintage Labels (Only available during Sale-a-bration), Baroque Motifs.

Cardstock: Basic Black, Naturals Ivory, Belle Bleu Designer Series Paper.

Inks: Basic Black Classic Ink and Marker

Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, Sponge Dauber, Black Brads from Vintage Brads.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2010

That’s it for me for now.  Next stop on your way is Christie Wallace from Christie’s Creative Corner.  And if you would like to be in the running for some blog candy, make sure you leave a comment for us all.
And if you are a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator from Australia or New Zealand and you would like to be part of this terrific group, just click on the ESAD link above and it will take you to our home page.
Enjoy the journey! 🙂

Sale-a-Bration Starts Tomorrow!!

Posted in Sale-a-bration by

Sale-a-bration is always an exciting time of year in the Stampin’ Up! world.  For those of you who haven’t heard of Sale-a-bration before, each year Stampin’ Up! bring out a range of exclusive Stamp Sets which are not available for purchase and will not be available in any of their catalogues.  The only way you can get hold of them is by earning them. 
This year there are four different sets, and it is pretty easy to earn them.  All you need to do is to purchase $100 worth of product from the Idea Book and Catalogue and/or current mini catalogue, and you get to choose one of the Sale-a-bration sets absolutely free.

So, how do you make the most of Sale-a-bration?  This is a really good time to stock up on some of your cardstock, papers, ribbons, anything that you can see you are starting to get low on.
And have a look at your wish list.  Find one stamp set that you really want, and just say that it is around $40, add a pack of Whisper White or Very Vanilla Cardstock ($13.50), and a pack of cardstock in one colour combination (maybe Rich Regals – $14.50) , perhaps an ink pad or a couple of markers ($12 approx), then make sure you have enough adhesive, so you might need another roll of Sticky Strip ($12.95) and some glue dots ($9.50), and there we go, one free Sale-a-bration Stamp Set coming your way!
If you would like a free copy of the Sale-a-bration brochure, please contact me with your address and I will send one out to you.  Or you can see it by clicking here.

And now for the other exciting news.  To celebrate the start of Sale-a-bration, the ESAD Australian Demonstrators group will again be holding a blog hop.  So make sure you come back tomorrow to have a look at all the gorgeous and clever projects the girls have come up with featuring the Sale-a-bration stamp sets.  It is sure to be a heap of fun, inspiration and new ideas. 
So,until tomorrow, happy stamping!
Chris

Watercolour Pencils

Posted in Cards, Designer Series Paper, For Everything by

My lovely and supportive husband gave me some watercolour pencils for Christmas this year (Stampin’ Up! ones of course!), and I just love them, even though I haven’t had enough time to really get to know how to use them properly yet.  But you can be sure that you will be seeing quite a lot of them in the near future, as I do more experimenting.  Anyway, this card was a nice, simple one for my first play with the pencils.  I have stamped the images onto some scrap pieces of watercolour paper with black Stazon, then coloured inside each image using the pencils.  I have then blended the colours together using the Aqua brush, which really brought out the gorgeous, vibrant colours.  I hope you like it!

Make sure you check out my Upcoming events page for classes for February, and hope you get some stamping time this weekend.
Chris

Stamp Set:For Everything

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Watercolour Paper, Kaleidoscope DSP.

Inks: Night of Navy, Back Stazon.

Accessories: Watercolour Pencils, 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 square punches, Aqua Brush.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2010 Stampin’ Up!

Workshop Cards

Posted in Butterfly Prints, Cards, For Everything by

The two cards I will show today, are both cards I have designed for some upcoming in-home workshops.  Both cards showcase stamp sets from the Summer Mini Catalogue but I have kept them nice and simple since anything too complicated just doesn’t work in a workshop setting.  Workshops are a wonderful way to earn some Stampin’ Up! products for free, and also a good way to introduce non stampers to “our world” in a fun and friendly environment where they can try things out without having to buy first.  So make sure you contact me soon, if having a workshop is something you would like to try.  All you need to do is to invite your friends, family, neighbours etc over, provide a few refreshments, and I do the rest!  And you might just be surprised at who comes along if you invite them. 🙂  Stamping, cardmaking and scrapbooking are growing and growing in popularity, and there are still plenty of people out there who have never tried it and would like to.  So don’t be shy, give me a call or send me an email 🙂

Stamp Set: Butterfly Prints

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Raspberry Tart DSP

Ink: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Butterfly Punch, Eyelet Border Punch

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images Copyright 1990-2010 Stampin’ Up!

Stamp Set: For Everything

Cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White, Tea Party DSP

Inks: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Large Oval Punch

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2010 Stampin’ Up!

Happy New Year

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

I hope the holiday season has been kind and enjoyable, and that you have all had plenty of time for some stamping!
Because I have been so busy with other things that I really haven’t had much time to stamp at all.
So today I am going to share two Christmas Easel cards that I made, and then I can move away from Christmas, at least for a few months 🙂

The first is the card I made for my gorgeous little boy, Jamie, who would have been just devasted if I hadn’t made him a card for Christmas.  And of course, the card just had to have a train.  He loves his card, and has to have it up on the coffee table so that he can look at it all the time.

Stamp Sets: Trendy Trees, Choo Choo (retired), Right on Track Stampin’ Around Wheel (retired), Occasional Greetings.

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White.

Inks: Basic Grey, Real Red, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Going Grey, Versamark.

Accessories: Markers, Stampin Around Handle, Paper Snips, Two-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Rhinestone Brad.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2010 Stampin’ Up!

The next card is again an Easel card, which I made for my sister and her husband.  For the image in this card I have used the stained glass window technique on the vellum, only I have reversed the vellum and coloured the embossed side, instead of colour behind the embossing. This gave it a really nice subtle effect.

Stamp Sets: Snow Swirled, A Wish For Peace.

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Vellum Cardstock, Ski Slope Designer Series Paper (retired).

Inks: Versamark, Close to Cocoa, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, Garden Green, Baja Breeze.

Accessories: Markers, White Embossing Powder and Heat Tool, Rhinestone Brads.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes
Images copyright 1990-2010 Stampin’ Up!

Well, I promise that I will bring you something other than Christmas cards very soon, and I look forward to catching up soon for some stamping time with all of you.
And don’t forget to check out my Upcoming Events page for classes starting in a few short weeks time, and send me an email if you would like to book in.
Chris

Merry Christmas!

Posted in 3D, Designer Series Paper by

Just popping in today to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas.  I will be taking a bit of a break from all things stamping and blogging for a few days at least, so I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year as well. 

 And just to get you all in the Christmas spirit, here is a cute Christmas decoration I made using all Stampin’ Up! products.  The idea for this came from the wonderfully creative Carol Dunstan, and they are really quite easy to make.

OCC Weekly Sketch Challenge

Posted in Big Shot, Cards, Christmas, Uncategorized by

I am back after some “non-blogging” time, life has caught up with me over the past few weeks and unfortunately my blog has been the first thing to suffer!
As many of you know, my lovely Mum has been unwell for quite some time.  She recently spent three weeks in hospital, and was then transferred to a lovely nursing home, where she is being well looked after, for four weeks of respite care.  Things are certainly a lot easier for the rest of the family now that she is settled somewhere comfortable.

Stamping has continued though! 🙂 Stamping, cardmaking and scrapbooking are such a relaxing “therapy” for me, and is the time when I can sit quietly and digest and “work through” the difficult times, as well as the good ones.  So I do have quite a lot that I have been making but haven’t shared with you.

Today’s card is another Christmas card, although one a little different, in that it uses mostly non-Stampin’ Up! stuff.  I have a massive stash of ribbon which I want to start using, and this one is just a gorgeous colour and matches one of last years In Colours, Purely Pomegranate.  The card also uses this week’s sketch from Our Creative Corner.

Stamp Sets: None!!

Cardstock: Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate (retired), Certainly Celery

Accessories: Christmas Tree embossing Folder, Big Shot, Ribbon and clear flat back Rhinestones from my own stash.

I hope the lead up to Christmas is not too stressful for all of you, and that you have time to enjoy some Stampin’!
Chris

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Huge Stamp Sale!!

Posted in Uncategorized by

Stampin’ Up! have announced today their first ever Australian Inventory Sale. Some stamp sets are 50% off. The sale starts on 15th December (tomorrow) and runs until the 24th January but only while stocks last. Don’t miss out. You can check out the stamps, papers, glitter and much more that are on sale here.

Contact me today to order yours before they run out!