Masculine Monday

Summer Days Masculine Card Colouring July 2020

It sure has been a crazy busy few weeks, and I will share more about that later in my post.  I have had time to think and ponder during those few weeks though, and I thought it was time to add a little structure to my creating, and so this is the start of that, Mondays are going to be for my masculine cards. (That’s Monday Australian time!)
Here’s hoping that I can maintain it and that things don’t get too crazy busy again anytime soon.

I made some time to create a card for brother’s birthday though, using the Host stamp set from the Annual Catalogue, called Summer Days.
Summer Days Masculine Card July 2020
In the background is some of the paper from the In Good Taste Designer Series Paper, and the image stamped in Early Espresso ink, before being coloured with Watercolour Pencils, and then gently painted over with an aqua painter.

I had to go with a wood theme for this card after the last few weeks.  My incredible 14 year old son decided late last year that he wanted to have a go at woodturning.  He had been doing some woodwork classes for a few years but had never tried woodturning.
He took to it straight away and started making beautiful things and learning and growing every day.  He just loves it and spends as much time as he can in front of his lathe.
A few weeks ago, he was asked to make 100 Spatulas for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and they wanted them as quickly as possible.
I’m sure you can imagine that this was an amazing opportunity for him, not just to get paid to woodturn but also to get his name out as a talented woodturner.
So here is a photo of my boy, with the 100 spatulas before they were delivered to the Department.  His Spatulas are to be used as gifts for special guests at public diplomacy and cultural programs overseas.
Jamie with 100 Spatulas

Hopefully I will have a little more time for crafting from now on.
Happy stamping!
Chris
xx

Colour Creations Showcase Bermuda Bay

Colour Creations Header

This week the Art with Heart Team is showcasing the Stampin’ Up! colour Bermuda Bay.
In Good Taste Suite Feathers Stampin' Up! 2020 Annual Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

For my card, I have teamed the Bermuda Bay with neutrals, Crumb Cake, White and the In Good Taste Designer Series Paper.
In Good Taste Stampin' Up! 2020 Annual Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
Nearly all of the elements on my card come from the In Good Taste Suite, and the inspiration for my card comes from a card on the left hand side of Page 123 of the Annual Catalogue.
The feathers have been stamped and then fussy cut, and the Bermuda Bay panel has been die cut using the Tasteful Labels Dies and then embossed with the Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder.
In Good Taste Suite Stampin' Up! 2020 Annual Catalogue Card inside Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

You can find all of the links for this Showcase on Catherine’s blog, with all of the other amazing ways to use Bermuda Bay in your projects.

Happy Stamping!
Chris
xx

In The Garden

In The Garden Masculine Card French Countryside Trolley Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

I’m not sure about you, but we have been spending quite a bit of our “shelter at home” time, out in the garden, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air (well, except the last couple of days which have been rather chilly and overcast), and getting stuck into the garden.
Since it’s the end of Autumn here in Australia, it’s a great time to get our garden in to tip-top shape and we are enjoying having the time to make the most of it.

I’m also enjoying some time to do some stamping and cardmaking, and have been sorting out all the retiring things, so that I have room for new goodies that come with a new Stampin’ Up! catalogue.
I do get sad though, I love all of the gorgeous Designer Series Papers, it is my special addiction, I just have to have it all!
But then I don’t like to cut it up and use it.
I don’t think I am the only one with this addiction though.
Anyway, I found some retired Designer Series Paper which was just perfect for the current challenge at The Male Room, which is “In The Garden”, and made up this card especially for the challenge.
In The Garden Masculine Card French Countryside Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
The gorgeous stamp is from the French Countryside stamp set, one that is, unfortunately, retiring in a week or so.  It’s gorgeous for colouring and hasn’t had enough use in my craft room.
And isn’t that gorgeous pumpkin paper just perfect for Autumn?
I have popped a strip of it inside the card to keep the theme going.

In the Garden Masculine Card Inside French Countryside Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

Hope you are having a crafty day.
Happy stamping!
Chris
xx

Masculine Card Showcase

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Welcome to another Creative Showcase with the Art With Heart Team.

This month we are featuring Masculine themed projects.
We have many masculine themed products in the Stampin’ Up! range including Stamp Sets and coordinating Dies, Designer Series Papers, Embellishments and Embossing Folders.
Art With Heart Team have a wonderful selection of projects to inspire you to create Masculine Masterpieces.

I have done something a little different with my masculine card today, in that I have used some Designer Series Paper that is definitely not masculine.
It’s the Best Dressed DSP and probably not one you would have chosen for a masculine card.  But I have used the reverse side of this one….
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and used it as a background for my masculine card.

Masculine Lighthouse Card Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 1

And I also wanted to keep it nice and simple, so have taken a piece of the fabulous watercolour paper, wet it down with an aqua painter, and then swooshed some ink across it, very quickly and freely.
Then once the watercolour paper was dry, I stamped the lighthouse and birds from the Sailing Home stamp set in Pretty Peacock ink, and the words are from the New Wonders stamp set.
Layered over some Pretty Peacock cardstock, and it’s a very quick and easy card to make.

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The next demonstrator to share their Masculine project with you is the very talented …..
Kate Morgan.

I hope you enjoy all of the inspiration.
Happy stamping!
Chris

If you have a broken link or have come to this blog hop midway, you can view all the participants below:

Christina Barnes 

Kate Morgan

Andrea Sargent

Sharon Davern

Tina Gillespie

Vicki Boucher

Catherine Proctor

Rachel Woollard

Rebecca Jacovou

Sujatha Harding

Michele Taylor

Caroline Manwaring

Using Brads or Eyelets

Tropical Oasis Stampin' Up! Vintage Car Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 2
Finally, I am organised enough to have joined in with the Design Team for Cardz4Guyz this fortnight.
Crafting has been a bit hit and miss, and blogging even more so, over the past few months.  But it’s good to be back.
Our challenge this fortnight is to use Brads or Eyelets on your projects.
My cards actually use stick on brads, but close enough.  Personally I am going away from the ones that go through the layers, they can be very bulky, so I have gone with this stick-on type.

Tropical Oasis Suite by Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 1

My cards feature the Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper, and that gorgeous car has been fussy cut from the DSP.  The cards also feature the Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder.

Tropical Oasis Suite by Stampin' Up! Card 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 3

The frame on the first card, and the centre panel of the second, were one piece of cardstock which I die cut using the Stitched Rectangle dies.

Make sure you check out what the rest of the Design Team have been up to here, and share your own projects, we love to see what you have been creating.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop

Power of Hope by Stampin' Up! 2020 Saleabration Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 1

 

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Welcome to the first Art With Heart Blog Hop for 2020. This month we are featuring cards using the amazing products you can earn for free during our Sale-A-Bration promotion.
Until the 31st of March for every $90 you spend on Stampin’ Up! products you will earn free products from our Sale-a-bration brochure.

SaleaBration 2020
Hostess’ earn bonuses too! When you host a party with sales above $500 you receive this Little Ladybug set in addition to the usual Hostess benefits.  Check back here over the next couple of weeks for some inspiration using this gorgeous stamp set!

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Sale-a-bration also has a bonus for recruits joining during this promotion. For the joining fee of $169 you can choose your starter kit of products to the value of $235 plus  Mini Paper Cutter, 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper sampler and their choice of stamp set.

The mini paper cutter is just fantastic! And the Designer Series Paper is, as always, totally gorgeous!

Free DSP and Cutter

And now, to my projects for this blog hop.
I am featuring the Power of Hope Bundle today.

Power of Hope Stamp Set Stampin' Up! Lily Impressions 2020 Saleabration Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

The white layer in the background of my cards has been embossed using the Stone 3D Embossing folder from the Sale-a-Bration catalogue, then the top two layers have been die cut with the Stitched Rectangle Dies, the middle layer in Pretty Peacock.
I have stamped the image onto some of the Lily Impressions Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-Bration) and cut out the dress, before adhering to the stamped image on the white cardstock.
Here is the inside of my card:

Power of Hope Stampin' Up! 2020 Saleabration Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 2

And then I have made a second one in Melon Mambo and using the same Designer Series Paper.

Power of Hope Pink Stampin' Up! 2020 Saleabration Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

Power of Hope Pink Stampin' Up! 2020 Saleabration Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 2

Power of Hope Pink Stampin' Up! 2020 Saleabration Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 3
The next demonstrator to share their Sale-a-bration inspiration with you is Sujatha Harding

I hope you enjoy hopping through all of the inspiration.
Happy Stamping!
Chris
xx

If you have a broken link or have come to this blog hop midway, you can view all the participants below:

Rebecca Jacovou

Vicki Boucher

Tina Gillespie

Rachel Palmieri

Kimberly Hern

Kate Morgan

Sharon Davern

Rachel Woollard

Ros Davidson

Christina Barnes

Sujatha Harding

Andrea Sargent

Catherine Proctor

Michelle Taylor

 

 

Tropical Oasis

Tropical Oasis Frangipanis Card By Christina Barnes Stampin' Up! 2020 Dot Dot Stamping

I think I could really do with spending some time in a Tropical Oasis after all that we have been through with the bushfires over the last few weeks, and undoubtedly difficult times still to come.
Instead, I have actually made a card!!
Woo hoo…….
Tropical Oasis Card by Christina Barnes Timeless Tropical Coastal Weave Embossing Folder Dot Dot Stamping
My card features products from the Tropical Oasis Suite by Stampin’ Up! from the new mini catalogue, and available until 2nd June 2020.
The background features a new Embossing Folder called Coastal Weave – I love this one, and a strip of the lovely bright Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper.
The beautiful frangipanis (my favourite flower of all) are from the Timeless Tropical stamp set and dies, have been stamped and then lighted coloured using a blender pen.

Tropical Oasis Card Inside by Christina Barnes Stampin' Up! Dot Dot Stamping

I am going to pop my card up on the current Case This Sketch challenge.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

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 11

Heart of Christmas 2019
You may have noticed that I have been missing in action for the past month.
I have been rather unwell and finding it difficult to craft and blog along with everything else I need to do in my life.
Today has been a pretty good day, although I am starting to feel like it’s time to rest, so I will keep my post short and sweet.

My card today features the Let it Snow Designer Series Paper, and all of the cute Christmas trees on my card have been cut from the DSP.

Let it Snow Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping Stylish Scroll Embossing Folder Ornate Frames Dies 1

For the background I have used the Stylish Scroll embossing folder which was inked up before putting it through the Big Shot.  And I have also used the versatile Ornate Frames Dies for the sentiment panel.
Let it Snow Christmas Trees Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 2019 Holiday Catalogue Stampin' Up!

I hope to be back soon with some more creations but in the meantime, you can see all of the inspiration from today’s Heart of Christmas blog hop here.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Designer Series Paper Blog Hop

Creative Ways to Use Designer Series Paper Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping 2019
Tonight the Art with Heart team are sharing amazing projects featuring Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper, most of which is in the current promotions where you can buy 3 packs of Designer Series Paper and receive a pack for free! Only available until the 30th of September.

All three of my cards today, feature the Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper, and very little stamping.
Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper Card 1 Stampin' Up! 2019 Annual Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
The birds and flowers on my cards have all been cut from the DSP.
Bird Ballad DSP Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

For my second card, I have used some of the Mosaic Mood Specialty DSP, and overlaid a piece of embossed Vellum, making the DSP more subtle.  Again, the bird and flowers were cut from the Bird Ballad DSP.

Mosaic Mood Specialty Designer Series Paper and Bird Ballad DSP Card Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping Stampin' Up! 2019 Annual Catalogue

Bird Ballad DSP by Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping Stampin' Up!

And my third card is one I have shared before in a previous post, but I thought I would go nicely as a set with these two.

Pressed Petals Specialty Designer Series Paper and Bird Ballad DSP Card Stampin' Up! 2019 Annual Catalogue Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

This is a masculine card which combines the fussy cut bird from the Bird Ballad DSP, with some of the woodgrain and music note DSP from the Pressed Petals Specialty Designer Series Paper.
Bird Ballad DSP Card by Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

Don’t forget, the fantastic promotion is only available until the 30th September 2019.DSP Sept 2019 Stampin Up Promotion Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
For more information about the promotion, contact any of the ladies on the blog hop and we will be happy to help you.

Now it’s time to hop on over to our next participant, the lovely and talented, Vicki Boucher.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping,
Chris

If you find a broken link or have come to this blog hop from a different entry point, you can view the participants below:

Christina Barnes

Vicki Boucher

Tina Gillespie

Rachel Woollard

Rebecca Jacovou

Sharon Davern

Kate Morgan

Catherine Proctor

Caroline Manwaring

Sujatha Harding