Cheeky Kitty in a Box

This image reminds me so much of the cheekiness that goes on in our house on a very regular basis, that I just had to use it on a card. So very cute!

The card uses some of the Whimsy and Wonder Designer Series Paper in the background – it looks gorgeous and full of rainbows in the photo, and it didn’t matter which angle I too the photo, there were rainbows! In reality it is a beautiful silver. And cheeky kitty comes from the Sweet Stockings Designer Series Paper, which I have fussy cut. Both of these gorgeous Designer Series Papers will no longer be available once sold out.
I hope you are getting some crafting time into your week.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Ever Eden Merry Melody Christmas Card

My card today uses a combination of different elements which worked so well together to make a Christmas card to send off to family interstate.
As a musician, the Merry Melody Embossing Folder is, of course, one that I had to have, and will keep forever! Thank goodness it is on the carry over list, so will still be available for a while yet.
It’s gorgeous as a background for all sorts of cards but of course works beautifully for Christmas cards.

The Ever Eden Designer Series Paper was cut out using the Scalloped Contours Dies.

The Ever Eden DSP, and also the Intricate Leaves Dies are on the Last Chance List, so won’t be available after the 3rd of January 2022, make sure you get in now if you would like them, if they sell out before that date they won’t be available again. You can place orders through my online store 24/7 and they will be shipped straight to you.

Happy stamping!
Chris

Ever Eden for Christmas cards

I’m loving this combination for Christmas cards.

The Ever Eden Designer Series Paper is just beautiful for Christmas cards, and I have combined it with the Stockings Dies and Encircled in Beauty Dies.

I need to keep this short today, our area is in flood watch and we have had massive amounts of rain which is still going on, and is effecting our internet. So hoping this will post now.

Happy stamping

Chris

Stampin’ Up! Sweet Little Stockings

This gorgeous stamp set was at the top of my wish list of Christmas stamp sets when the current mini catalogue came out. I will admit it hasn’t had enough use yet, so hopefully after this crazy busy weekend, I will be able to make some Christmas cards and other items for family and friends.
This inspiration comes from Stampin’ Up! Enjoy!

They have definitely inspired me to have more of a play with this bundle next week.
Happy stamping
Chris

Christmas Puppy

I just thought this little fellow and his companions were the cutest ever, and since we have three four legged family members, it was a must have from my wish list for Christmas cards.

I have quite a few Christmas cards made now, but none sent!! Somehow, it doesn’t quite feel like Christmas yet. Is it just me or are you feeling like that, too?

Since there are some fairly serious delays in shipping and postage times I really had better start sending them out. Who would like a Christmas card? I think we all need some happy mail this year!!

This cute fellow comes from the Sweet Little Stockings stamp set and matching Dies, and I’ve used some of the Sweet Stockings Designer Series Paper in the background.

Happy Stamping,

Chris

Designer Series Paper for easy and beautiful cards.

I did a Livestream on my Facebook page this morning, featuring the Whimsy and Wonder Designer Series Paper, to make quick, easy and gorgeous Christmas cards, and to show that you really don’t need to spend a lot of money in order to get going and make some homemade Christmas cards.

These first three cards use exactly the same layout, with different patterns from the same pack of DSP.

I also showed this same layout using a completely different DSP to create a bright and cheerful birthday card, using the Host DSP Pattern Party.

And a couple of different layouts using Whimsy and Wonder DSP.

They were fun to make, and now I have a bigger stash to sell at the markets this week!!

Happy Stamping!

Chris

Using up the left overs.

I am on a mission to use up those bits and pieces that get saved from other projects. I seem to have an accumulation of these that never get used and they soon mount up. Am I the only one?

So today’s card came from the need to use the gold frame, rather than have it sitting in my stash, and I have used it as a frame for some of the beautiful Poinsettia Place Designer Series Paper, one of my favourites from the current Mini Catalogue.

The background layer has been embossed using the Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder, and then the framed layer offset.

The two flowers in the bottom corner have been fussy cut from the paper, and gold sprays of leaves are from the new Curvy Dies.

Now I am wondering who I should give that card to?

Happy Stamping!

Chris x

Life IS Beautiful

Life is Beautiful Christmas Tree Stampin' Up! Card 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
I have had some time over the past few days to play with some of my new Stampin’ Up! goodies, including the stamp set called Life is Beautiful.
It feels quite appropriate right now, to be loving using a stamp set with this name.
It’s all a choice, the way we see life.  Things might be very different right now, from what we have been used to, but life can still be beautiful if we choose to make it that way.

I have made three different cards using this set, Father’s Day is coming up in a few weeks here in Australia, so I am making some cards to sell at my local markets.
Life is Beautiful Father's Day Card 2020 Plaid Tidings Stampin' Up! Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

These cards are inspired by a card on Page 50 of the new August – December 2020 Mini Catalogue.

Life is Beautiful Father's Day Card 2020 Stampin' Up! Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

The cards use the Plaid Tidings Designer Series Paper, also from the Mini Catalogue.
And here is a Christmas card, using the same stamp set and papers, but with a completely different look.

Life Is Beautiful Christmas Card Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

It feels too early to be making Christmas cards, but I know it will creep up on us, as it always does!

If you haven’t had a chance to have a look at the new Mini Catalogue, with all it’s gorgeous Christmas inspiration, stamp sets and so much more, you can view thePDF here.  Alternatively, if you are in Australia and would like a hard copy, please reach out to me, I am happy to send one. If you have a demonstrator who you normally order through, please reach out to them for a copy.

I hope you can find some way to make life beautiful today.

Happy Stamping!
Chris
xx

Heart of Christmas Week 13

Heart of Christmas 2019
Welcome back to the Heart of Christmas Blog Hop.

Copper Detailed Bells Dies Christmas 2019 Holiday Catalogue Stampin' UP! Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

This week I have combined the Detailed Bells Dies with the Brightly Gleaming Designer Series Paper.  I love this paper, and it is so versatile, it doesn’t have to be used just for Christmas.  But I have, I’ve made two Christmas cards with this combination.

Brightly Gleaming Designer Series Paper DSP Detailed Bells Dies 2019 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping (1)

Brightly Gleaming Designer Series Paper DSP Detailed Bells Dies 2019 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

Did you notice, there’s no stamping on these cards?
I have used the gorgeous Classic Weave Ribbon, instead of stamping.

To see all of the other Christmas inspiration, make sure you hop over the Judy’s blog where you can find links to everyone who is taking part.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

Heart of Christmas Week 6

Heart of Christmas 2019
Welcome to another Heart of Christmas Blog Hop, I do hope you have been enjoying all the wonderful inspiration from the Art of Heart team.
Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper Card 2 Stampin' up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
I had a massively busy weekend, last weekend, and in amongst everything else, I ran a Launch party for the 2019 Holiday Catalogue at my home, with some lovely ladies, who wanted some ideas on making cards on a budget, and using up left over bits and pieces.
And what an awesome challenge that is, don’t we all have those left over bits and pieces?
And don’t we all want to find ways to craft on a budget?  Well, I know I have to.

The ladies made two cards at the Catalogue Launch party, but we looked at different ideas and combined different things, depending on what they liked.
I started off showing them just how simple a card can be when it’s made with some gorgeous Designer Series Papers, and some left over scraps of cardstock to stamp a sentiment on.
Night Before Christmas DSP Perfectly Plaid Stamp Set Stampin' Up! Simple Stamping Beginners Card 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
Ok yes, I did add a couple of red rhinestones to the card, just because I like a little something shiny on my Christmas Cards.
A very simple card, great for a beginner cardmaker or stamper.

Next we added some of those pesky leftover strips of cardstock – you know the ones!!

Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper Card Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

This one is a CASE (Copy and Share Everything) of a card on page 24 of the 2019 Stampin’ Up! Holiday catalogue, but using some of the bits and pieces from my stash.

And this next one started out as a CASE from the same page, but we decided to fussy cut some of the Christmas stockings from the papers to add to our card, as well as some strips of leftovers.
Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper Card 3 Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
And last of all, we used some of the Brightly Gleaming Foil Elements over the Designer Series Paper for a different look, and they are another product that makes it so easy to create quick and easy Christmas cards this year.
Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper Card 4 Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
All four of these cards uses just a card base, in this case some of the Thick Very Vanilla Cardstock, then one layer of the Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper, and we used a star from the Brightly Gleaming Foil Elements.  All of the sentiments on my cards are from the Perfectly Plaid stamp set, although you could use whatever stamps you have on hand.  And, I have only used a Real Red ink pad.

If you would like to see some more Christmas inspiration from the Art with Heart team, you can find all of the participants here.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!
Chris