Watercolour Blooms

Posted in Bloom Away, Cards, Designer Series Paper by

These cold wintery days in Canberra are good for one thing, and one thing only….. stamping! 🙂 The weather here has been bitterly cold and miserable, and I am looking forward to seeing more and more flowers starting to bloom.  We have some beautiful Camelia’s in bloom in our garden and there is gorgeous yellow wattles starting to show themselves, which is a sure sign that spring isn’t all that far away.  Today I have really enjoyed watercolouring some of the Australian native flower stamps from the Bloom Away set.  I am holding a class in August where we will be making this card, along with three others using the Bloom Away set.  Go to my Upcoming Events page to find out more details, and make sure you contact me to book in.

Stamp Set: Bloom Away

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Watercolour paper, Bella Rose Designer Series Paper.

Inks: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Always Artichoke.

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Scallop Edge Punch, Sponge Daubers, Paper Piercer and Mat Pack.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

Some Family Time and a Hostess Gift

Posted in 3D, Baroque Motifs, Great Friend by

My blog posts have been few and far between recently, so I do apologise to those of you who are regular visitors.  I have been spending a little more time with my family and doing things together as a family, which has been lots of fun.  This is one of the reasons I just love being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator – I decide how much time I want to put into my business and when.  It is good to know that I have that flexibility but can still earn an income while I stay at home with Jamie.  Yesterday the three of us went for a bit of an excursion up to Black Mountain Tower.  For those of you who do not live in the Canberra area, this tower sits on top of Black Mountain which is quite central in Canberra and the views across the whole of Canberra are just amazing.  We can see the tower from parts of our house and Jamie is always asking about it so we thought it was time to go and have a look up close.  Here are some photos taken from the tower. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did however, hold a workshop on Saturday afternoon, and just thought I would share with you the Gift that I gave to my hostess, Debbie.  I did have fun making this, as it is a little different!  The design on the outside of the container is embossed with silver embossing powder, and heated, as you normally would when embossing on cardstock.  Be aware though, if you want to try it at home, the versamark on metal can be very slippery so it is easy to slide the stamp around creating a blurred image.  And the metal gets quite hot when you heat the powder!  Not necessarily a bad thing in this cold winter weather 🙂  And I did, of course, fill it with chocolates before I gave it away.  Can’t have a container without chocolates!  Hope you enjoy them, Debbie, and thanks for an enjoyable afternoon of stamping.

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs, Great Friend (available 1st August 2009).

Inks: Versamark

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Tea Party Card

Posted in Cards, Designer Series Paper, Say it With Scallops by

Life has been keeping me very busy just recently, so I haven’t had much time for blogging or cardmaking, so only a short post today.  This is a card I made a few weeks ago, but thought I would share it with you.

This is one set of Designer Series Papers that I have hardly used yet. The colours are such a gorgeous combination, they are really pretty, feminine papers and use one of my favourite Stampin’ up! colours, Almost Amethyst.  I actually made this card for a fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrator Leigh Stoodley, who does some beautiful work and is a great inspiration to me.

I have combined the Almost Amethyst paper with some Elegant Eggplant cardstock, it is such an “elegant” combination 🙂

Stamp Set: Say it with Scallops

Cardstock: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Tea Party Designer Series Papers.

Ink: Elegant Eggplant.

Accessories: Square Scallop Punch, Silver Brads, Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

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!

Envelope Gift Card Holder

Posted in 3D, Say it With Scallops, Simply Scrappin' Kit, Sweet Nothings by

Here is the next in the series of projects using the Sweet Nothings Simply Scrappin Kit.  This one was made for Makeesha’s Make it Monday series, which you can find out more about on her website, http://www.makeeshabyl.com.au/  The instructions for making this project is there too.

These are really quick and easy to make and you can use them for heaps of things.  I have made some little gift cards to go inside mine, but they would be great for giving cash or gift vouchers, and I’m sure you can think of lots of other ideas too. 

Stamp Set: Say it With Scallops

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Patterned Papers and Stickers from the Sweet Nothings Simply Scrappin Kit.

Inks: Riding Hood Red.

Accessories: Envelope, Circle and Square Scallop Punches.

 

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

 

 

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!

 

Sweet Nothings – Tri Shutter Card

Posted in A Rose is a Rose, Cards, On Your Birthday, Simply Scrappin' Kit, Sweet Nothings by

I have decided to see how many yummy things I can make with my Sweet Nothings Simply Scrappin Kit.  Now that I have started using it, I don’t want to stop! 🙂  So here is the next in the series.  It is called a Tri Fold Card, and I first saw these cards when Leonie Schroder,  a fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, posted one onto one of the yahoo groups I belong to.  I thought it was just so clever and beautiful that I thought I had better have a go at making one.  They do look a bit complicated but are not really.  Thanks Leonie, for the inspiration to try something very different.  If you would like to have a try at one of these cards, the instructions can be found here.

Stamp Sets: A Rose is a Rose, For Your Birthday.

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Patterned Papers and stickers from Sweet Nothings Simply Scrappin Kit.

Inks: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss.

Accessories: Craft Knife, Bone Folder, Paper Snips, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals.

While I was taking a photo of this card, one of my lovely four legged helpers, Catey, decided to “help”!  I thought you would like to see her too 🙂

In reality, she probably just wanted to sit on my lap and purr, which she likes to do a lot, but it does make it very hard to stamp and make cards etc with her there!  But she is a lovely girl!

Anyway, back to Sweet Nothings, I am making it my own personal challenge to see how many things I can make from one Simply Scrappin Kit, although I will be supplementing it with some cardstock, but using as many of the papers and stickers to make a lot of different projects.  So stay tuned, and lets see what else I can come up with. 🙂 

Hope you are all having a lovely, relaxing Sunday.

Chris

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Sweet Nothings

Posted in A Rose is a Rose, Baroque Motifs, Cards, Scrap Pages, Simply Scrappin' Kit, Sweet Nothings by

The Sweet Nothings Simply Scrappin’ Kit was at the very top of my wish list when the new Stampin’ Up! catalogue came out in April.  These kits are fantastic for quick and easy scrapbook pages but are also great for making cards with.  This particular kit has been sitting there since my first order from the new catalogue and I have been looking at it and admiring it,…. and looking at it, and admiring it,  but I didn’t want to actually use it because then I wouldn’t have it etc etc.  Well, last night I decided to stop being silly and actually use it, so I made a card and a scrap page.  And I have to say the kit didn’t disappoint.  I am really happy with how both have turned out.  And I have heaps and heaps of the kit left still to admire and look at, and then make some more things with 🙂

The photo in this scrap page is of myself and my lovely husband Doug on our wedding day.

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs

Inks: Whisper White Craft Ink

Cardstock: Basic Black 12 x 12 Textured, Whisper White, Patterned Papers and Stickers from the Sweet Nothing Simply Scrappin’ Kit.

Accessories: Black paper lace from my own stash (ie Not Stampin’ Up!).

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

 

 

And here is the card I made with the same kit.  Again it was really quick and easy to make, since all the design elements are included in the kit and they all go together so beautifully.  If you haven’t used one of these kits for either scrapbooking or cardmaking, I highly recommend you give it a try, there are seven different designs to choose from, so contact me to order one from anywhere in Australia.

Stamp Set: A Rose is a Rose.

Inks: Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red.

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Papers and Stickers from the Sweet Nothings Simply Stampin’ Kit.

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Purple & Green….. yum!

Posted in Cards by

I was in my local craft shop yesterday and saw some patterned papers that I just couldn’t resist!  Yes, yes, I know, they are not Stampin’ Up! papers, but they are just soooo beautiful, and I love the colours.  I do think Stampin’ Up! needs more purples in their colour range 🙂   So, I just had to sit down and make a card using them straight away. 🙂

Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Patterned Paper from the Garden Arabesque range by Kaisercraft.

Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper snips, Purple Brads from my own stash 🙂

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Only a short post today, but we are busy getting a few things done today so that we can enjoy our three day weekend together as a family.

Hoping you can all get lots of stamping and scrapping done this weekend,

Chris

Stained Glass

Posted in Cards, Circle Circus, Rub-ons by

A few days ago I posted a card using a Colour Challenge set by Alisa Tilsner, and I loved the way the colours went together so much that I thought I would make another card with the same colour combination.  This time I have used a technique called the “stained glass” technique.  To do this, just emboss an outline image onto vellum, then colour on the reverse side using markers and mount onto white cardstock so that the colours really “pop”.

Stamp Set: Circle Circus

Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Vellum.

Ink: Versamark.

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, White Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Powder Pal, Heat Tool, Markers in Rose Red, Perfect Plum and Old Olive, Filligree Brads, “Laughter and Love” Rubons.

Artwork copyright Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!