Scrappin’ Weather!

Posted in Scrap Pages by

Like many other areas on the Eastern side of Australia, Canberra has recently had a long run of really hot weather, up to 38 degrees today, that’s over 100 Farenheit!  What better way to beat the heat, than to sit in air conditioned comfort and do some scrapbooking.  I made two pages today, and both of them use mostly non Stampin’ Up! products which is a big change for me, but nice to do something a bit different.

The first page is yet another photo of my gorgeous little boy.  The photo itself I have modified using Photoshop, I have given it a sepia look and then added a very light cross-hatch to give it a bit of a textured look.  The papers are from one of the latest range from Kaiser called Esther’s Guestlist.  The page also features lots of  paper tearing and distressing which is not something I normally do a lot of, however it was good to do something completely different.

 Products by Kaiser

Ink colours: Stampin’ Up! Chocolate Chip and Taken With Teal.

The second page today uses a series of photos of one of my three beloved cats, Millie.  Again, most of the products used are from Kaiser, and I have used quite a lot of rub-ons on this page, again, something I don’t normally use a lot of, but that might change after today 🙂

 Special thanks to the ladies at Wrapped In Paper for their help, knowledge, sense of humour and air conditioning!! 🙂

Uncertain Times

Posted in Cards, In The Spotlight, Three Thoughts, Weathered by

I found an article on our Stampin’ Up! demonstrator website today about how, in these uncertain times, many people are turning to handmade gifts, cards, tags and wrapping.  With people trying to simplify their lives and keep as much money in their pockets as possible, many are turning to projects they can make in their own homes instead of finding entertainment outside the home.  So why not join the trend?  Do you have a cupboard full of photos that you would like to organise and put into a scrapbook?  I run classes in both card making and scrapbooking, and can also show you how to make boxes, bags……… pretty much anything you want to make 🙂  I also offer free introductory workshops in your home, where I can show you and a group of your friends just how easy and cost effective it can be for you to make your own cards and gifts for your loved ones.  Please contact me on 02 62597412 or 0408639475 or send me an email at doug_chris@myacn.net.au if you have any questions or would like to book in for a class or workshop.

So, on that note, here is a card I made today to send to my father-in-law in Tasmania for his birthday later this week.  I was feeling really uninspired about making a card for a man, so did a bit of blog surfing, and came across a card that I thought was perfect on Larisa’s blog, so I CASED it! 🙂  Hope you don’t mind, Larisa.  The colours are great for a male card, and all from the Earth Elements colour range. (Contact me if you would like more information on Stampin’ Up!’s clever colour combinations).

Stamp Sets:  Weathered, In The Spotlight, Three Thoughts.

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel.

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel.

Accessories: Sponge, Markers, Piercing Tool, Scallop Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punch, Vintage Brads.

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2009  Stampin’ Up!

Posted in Cards by

And my second project from last night, a card also with no stamping, and using one of my absolute favourite designer series papers, Apple Cider.  I just love the way this card turned out, but can’t decided whether I think it is a card for the men in our lives or if it could also be a ladies card.  I intentionally left it without a greeting as I couldn’t decide.  Why don’t you leave me a comment and let me know what you think??

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close To Coca, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Cider Designer Series Paper.

Accessories: Vintage Brads, Paper Snips, Dimensionals.

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright Stampin’ Up! 1990-2009

Christmas Scrap Page

Posted in Christmas, Scrap Pages by

Last night I had a “no stamp night”.  It was not planned that way, but everything I did was without stamping, just using cardstock, papers and punches plus a couple of extras for that finishing touch.

The first project was to make a Christmas page with some of my photos.  I had lots of fun with this one!  Hope you like it.

Cardstock:  Real Red, Holiday Harmony and Summer Picnic Designer Series Papers.

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Square Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punch.

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images Copyright Stampin’ Up! 1990 – 2009

Wallpaper Card!

Posted in Botanical Blooms, Cards, Three Thoughts by

I’m not sure why it is, but I have a real “thing” for some of the papers that look like old fashioned wallpaper.  Which is kind of odd considering that we are just in the process of stripping it off the walls of our new home, so that we can paint!  But I really do love just about all of the Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Papers, gorgeous colours and patterns, and I seem to find myself constantly drawn to them for both cards and scrap pages. 

So today’s card uses… yep, you guessed it, one of those old fashioned wallpaper designs 🙂  The layout and colours in the card is inspired by a similar card made by one of my favourite stamp artists Lin Mei Yap. 

 I have used one of four Limited Edition Stamp Sets available through the Sale-a-bration promotion at the moment, so if you like it and want one, please contact me to find out how you can get one.

Stamp Sets: Botanical Blooms, Three Thoughts

Cardstock: Soft Sky, Whisper White, Designer Series Paper Afternoon Tea.

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Cameo Coral, Old Olive.

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Sponge, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon.

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images  Copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Folded Flower

Posted in Cards, Live Your Dream by

As a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I receive a monthly newsletter from the company which includes some fantastic ideas and tips, and this card was inspired by an article on using punches and doing some really easy paper folding.  It was a lot easier than I thought it would be and very effective, especially when using the double sided Designer Series Papers.

Stamp Sets: Live Your Dreams

Inks: Versamark

Cardstock: Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Designer Series Paper (DSP) Spring Flowers, and Prints DSP in Certainly Celery.

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Large Clear Rhinestone Brad (from the Pretties Kit), Double stitched Ribbon in Wild Wasabi.

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images Copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Yayyyyyy… another post!

Posted in Birthday Best, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Live Your Dream, Scrap Pages by

Now that things are starting to settle down after the silly season, I am finally finding some time to do some stamping etc and of course wanting to do something with all the gorgeous photos of my gorgeous little family which I have taken over the past few weeks 🙂   So some scrapbooking has been the order of the day, and what better way to start than with my lovely Jamie’s 3rd birthday photos.  He just loves having his photo taken, and is often making funny faces in the photos so sometimes it is a challenge to get a “normal” face.  I often find myself sneaking up on him, camera in hand, trying to take him by surprise so that he doesn’t have time to form a cheeky face, but I rarely succeed!  And “smiling” involves crinkling up his nose and closing his eyes tight so telling him to smile doesn’t exactly work either.     But…. on his birthday, he was so busy having fun that he forgot all about the camera, and here is the end result.  Such a cute boy! 🙂  I have yet to add the journaling but would rather not share that side of some of my scrap pages.  I had a lot of fun creating this page, and used heaps of different Stampin’ Up! products.

The Birthday BoyStamp Sets: Itty Bitty Background, Birthday Best, Live Your Dream.

Inks: Whisper White Craft Ink, Chocolate Chip, Ballet Blue.

Cardstock: Ballet Blue 12″x12″, Whisper White, Designer Series Paper Summer Picnic (from the 2008 Australian Spring Mini Catalogue).

Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin’ Write Markers, Stampin’ Pastels, On Board Lots of Letters, Rub-ons, White Gel Pen.

Jamie wasn’t really sure what all the fuss was about leading up to his birthday, he was just really interested in getting more presents.  And when I told him he would have a birthday cake, he said he wanted to help make our chocolate cake that we buy from Aldi.  He loves to help me with the cooking.  Easiest birthday cake ever! 🙂

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990-2009 Stampin’ Up!

Finally…. another card!

Posted in Cards, Say it With Scallops by

Some friends of ours had a lovely baby boy just before Christmas, who they have named Hamish.  I wanted to make a card for them, but found that I didn’t have very much when it came to new babies, so I had to work out something a little different, and this is what I came up with.  So here it is.  Congratulations Rob and Helen, Hamish is a lucky and very cute little boy!

Stamp Sets:  Say It With Scallops (from the Australian Summer Mini Catalogue).

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Wintergreen Designer Series Paper, White Vellum Cardstock.

Inks:  Blue Bayou, Whisper White Craft Ink.

Accessories: Scallop Square Punch, Double Stitched Ribbon in Soft Sky and Blue Bayou, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

 

 

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images Copyright 1990 – 2009 Stampin’ Up!

Let me apologise….

Posted in Uncategorized by

…to all of you who visit my blog on a regular basis (all two of you 🙂 ) but I am back on board.  Things have just been so busy with Christmas and Jamie’s 3rd birthday as well as unpacking boxes and organising the new house, and getting stuck into the rather unloved garden.

But now that the silly season is over I can start to concentrate on other things again, which includes stamping, craft and… yes, my blog!!

I thought I would just share a couple of photos from one of the stamp-a-stacks I held here in December.  Everyone had heaps of fun and we came up with some incredible variations on the original cards that I had prepared.  But that is one of the things I really love about being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, is seeing the designs that other people come up with.  So thanks Tammy, Naomi, Helen and Judi for a good night!!

Tammy, Naomi & Helen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen, Naomi & Tammy