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

I feel Pretty….

Posted in Bodacious Bouquet, Cards, One of a Kind, Three Thoughts by

Something new and different again today, I used my markers to colour the big flower from the pretties kit, which is something I have seen done but never tried.  It is so effective and makes it really easy to colour the flower to match (or contrast) and also easy to blend more than one colour onto the flower.  It certainly makes a statement!! 🙂

Stamp Sets: Bodacious Bouquet, Three Thoughts, One of a Kind, Bodacious Jumbo Wheel

Cardstock: Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Lavender Lace

Inks: Versamark, Pixie Pink, Orchid Opulence, Handsome Hunter

Accessories:  Large Flower and Large White Halfback Pearl from the Pretties Kit, Corner Rounder Punch, Markers, Glue Dots.

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2008 Stampin’ Up!

Trying out new things :)

Posted in Cards, Carte Postal, Three Thoughts by

It’s been a rainy day in Canberra so far today (although now that I have said that, the sun has come out!) which makes it a really good day for sitting down and doing a little bit of experimenting with new things 🙂  I haven’t used much out of the pretties kit yet, and thought I would like to make a card or two today using some of the gorgeous beads and flowers.  For those of you who didn’t know, prior to becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I ran a business making beaded jewellery, and still enjoy that in my spare (??????) time!  So combining the two things, papercraft and beading, is something I would like to try more of, and this is as good a way as any to start.

This card didn’t turn out anything like what I had planned 🙂 but is lovely and old fashioned and I really enjoyed making it.  The flowers on the pale plum card are stamped in silver ink, and then embossed straight onto the silver ink with clear embossing powder.  I didn’t use any versamark ink on them.  Like I said, today I am trying some things out! 🙂  I like the way the colours in the flowers are slightly varied, and I have taken a close up of them so hopefully you can see what I mean. 

Stamp Sets: Carte Postal, Three Thoughts

Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Very Vanilla

Inks: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Sage Shadow, Encore Silver

Accessories: Markers, Pretties Kit (Hat Pin and Beads), Sponge, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool,  Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon.

                                                                            Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2008 Stampin’ Up!

Purely Pomegranate

Posted in Cards, Three Thoughts by

This colour has definitely become a favourite of mine, it goes with so many other colours, is great for Christmas, can be used for both male and female cards, and is just a beautiful shade of red.  Here I have put together black, white and purely pomegranate, a combination which is striking.  This card is for a niece of mine who isn’t into “girly” stuff, so I didn’t want to make it too flowery nor did I want to use pinks or purples, but I think this is a happy medium.

Stamp Set: Three Thoughts (from the Simply Sent card kit)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Designer Series Paper Rose Red.

Inks: Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate

Accessories: Purely Pomegranage Double Stitched Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, Sponge, Dimensionals, Glue Dots.

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images copyright 1990 – 2008 Stampin’ Up!

I will do my best to continue to stamp and also to post some updates occasionally through the coming weeks, I just can’t promise that it will be very often with the move to our new house fast approaching 🙂

In the mean time, happy stamping 🙂

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!

Tulips Tops Gardens

Posted in Uncategorized by

I have been a little slack with my posts recently so I thought I would make up for it with some photos that were taken today whilst visiting the Tulips Tops Garden.  This is an amazing place to visit, it is only a few kilometers outside Canberra on the Federal Highway but is only open for a few weeks each year while the tulips are flowering.  However, if you live in the Canberra area it is definitely worth going to.  Doug had the day off work today so we had a lovely family day out.  Jamie had a ball because he could run to his little heart’s content, plus he just loves flowers, as you will see in the photos.  Hopefully I will get the chance to post some cards later today, but in the meantime enjoy the beautiful flowers.

Leaves a la Carte

Posted in Cards, Leaves a la Carte by

This card is the third in a series of cards using the Carte Postal and Leaves a la Carte bundle which is currently available as a Stampin’ Up! Promotion.  This particular layout was inspired by Beate Johns who is amazingly talented and another inspiration to me.  So, thanks Beate, I hope you like my variation. 🙂

With this card I have done a double layer of ink with the wheel to create a shadow effect, the first roll across the card was with Almost Amethyst ink (one of my absolute favourite colours) and then rolled a second time with Chocolate Chip (another favourite) slightly lower and starting a little bit before the card stock.  Hope that made sense, but if not, and if you would like to learn how to do it, please contact me.

Stamps Sets: Live Your Dream, Leaves a la Carte Jumbo Wheel

Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Almost Amethyst

Accessories: Round Scallop Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Circle Punch, Jumbo Wheel handle, Chocolate Chip 1.6cm grosgrain ribbon, mat pack and piercing tool, sponge, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images Copyright 1990 – 2008 Stampin’ Up!

Wheely Good Fun!!

Posted in Cards, Carte Postal, Leaves a la Carte by

The current Stampin’ Up! promotion is a fantastic deal, so I wanted to demonstrate some cards made using one of my favourite combinations from all of the stamp and wheel duos, which is the Carte Postale stamp set and Leaves a la Carte Jumbo Wheel.  This is such an elegant set and can be used in so many ways.  I will try to post some more examples over the coming week or so.

And don’t forget that this fabulous promotion ends on the 30th September, so you still have a few days to make the most of it. 

This first card uses a colour combination that I think is stunning for cards and can be good for both male or females depending on what you add to it, and that is of course, black and white.  I like using black and white with orange, or yellow, or in this case pink.  But it looks great with a heap of different colours.  Try it with blue or green for a nice male combination.

Stamp Sets: Carte Postale, Leaves a la Carte Jumbo Wheel

Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Regal Rose

Ink: Basic Black, Regal Rose

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Half Back Pearls from the Pretties Kit, Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon

Artwork by Chris Parker-Barnes

Images Copyright 1990 – 2008 Stampin’ Up!

This second card is a design that I think I saw on someone else’s blog, but I really don’t know whose.  I have had a bit of a search around on the blogs I frequent on a regular basis but couldn’t see it, so I apologise to who ever owns it!!  However, typically when I go to CASE someone else’s work, it never works out the same anyway 🙂 and I was doing it from memory, so in the end it is probably completely different 🙂

Stamp Sets: Carte Postale, Leaves a la Carte Jumbo Wheel

Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Whisper White

Inks: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky

Accessories: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Ribbon, Clear Round Rhinestone Brad from the Pretties Kit, Dimensionals.

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!