FB Sunday challenge

 Fathers day is this weekend and what better inspiration than a sketch!  Here is my version using a retired stamp from last years catalogue for the Happy Fathers Day image.  

LOVE this combination of black, white, daffodil delight, crumb cake and old olive.  I also used some stampin blends to colour my ribbon and versamark ink to make a subtle background on the Old Olive using the Artistically inked stamp set. 

If you've come here from Facebook, please say hi in the comments.

Happy Stamping,

Rachael xx

Share it Sunday blog hop

Hello and welcome to my blog, we are hopping along today for Share it Sunday.

I've recently been sending out a lot of Birthday cards to fellow demonstrators and have run out!  Can you believe it!  So I've decided to try to make as many birthday themed cards as I can over the coming weeks. 

I used Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight and Bermuda Bay as my colour pallet and went to town using the stamps from the "Sweet Ice cream" set.  I love that effect that tone on tone stamping gives, and made my daffodil delight pop with the sprinkles stamp.  

There is loads of dimensional dots used on the ice creams to pop them up on this card.

Thanks for popping by.  Don't forget to jump on over to the other fabulous blogs and leave some comments. 

Happy Stamping, Rachael xx

 

Tidings of Christmas

 This weeks Facebook Sunday challenge was the theme Christmas.  

I've used Tidings of Christmas, a 6x6 inch DSP pack from the annual catalogue.  I've paired it with the tailored tag punch and the Merriest Moments stamp set.  

The sentiment came from Words of Cheer, another great set from the mini catalogue. 

If you don't have a copy of the annual or mini catalogues and are new to Stampin Up, please reach out - these really are fabulous for your Christmas crafting.

Happy Stamping,

Rachael xx

August Ink and Inspiration - clean and simple

Welcome to the Ink & Inspiration Blog Hop. You are currently visiting Rachael Merrick from Australia. I hope you enjoy my Clean and Simple project.

I decided, with Fathers Day just around the corner, to use the Hats Off Stamp set to create this simple and VERY FAST card. 

I stamped the hat directly onto the Granny Apple Green Cardstock then stamped the DAD element onto some Pumpkin Pie DSP before hand cutting it with scissors.

Finally, I used Pacific Point to stamp the sentiment onto Basic White and cut it then matted it with Basic Black.  I added dimensional dots to the DAD element and used Soft Seafoam light Stampin Blend to fill in some 'shadow' onto the hat which is really subtle when dry.  

I hope the projects you've seen here on my blog today have inspired you & brightened your day. 

You are currently visiting Rachael Merrick. Please see the list below & hop through all of the people on the list to see all our projects. You don't want to miss any!

Happy Stamping,

Rachael

TGIF Challenge...

I'm back into it!  You have no idea how frustrating the last several weeks have been - so busy that crafting has taken more of a back seat.  BUT this morning I was up early and decided today was the day to get back to doing some of my favourite challenges!  (see my side bar for links to my faves)

This weeks challenge was to be inspired by the new mini catalogue.  I've done 2 orders already from the mini catalogue because anyone who knows me, knows that Christmas is my time to shine.  I love the crafting, the decorating, the baking and the love that is felt!  So my card today uses some of the things that came from my order which arrived earlier in the week!

I was thrilled to see Heartwarming Hugs return as DSP again this year - its the only pack of DSP I've ever managed to run down to only a few scraps.  I love the traditional red and green colour combo for Christmas.  

The new embossing and die cut combo in the merriest moments bundle worked amazing!!! And all the stamped and die cut elements to layer with the frame were super easy to work with too. And I can't forget the sequins combo - whites and silvers that shimmer and make for a great shaker element to any card.  I added some to the frame too.  

If you haven't had a go at the TGIF challenges, jump in.  If you want anything from the mini catalogue - contact me.  

Edit: I've had such an overwhelming response to this card that I've created a YouTube tutorial and recreated it in similar colours.  Thank you to everyone who was so generous with their support. 

Finally, another YouTube tutorial

I apologise this one took a lot of effort, my iMovie really wasn't wanting to cooperate this week.  But I finally got another quick and easy YouTube how-to uploaded.  YAY!

  

I recreated the mechanism for another pop up card, the same as THIS CARD.  This time though, I used the Counting Sheep stamp set and Sheep Dies - both free from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue!  

This is a super fun birthday card that pops up as a surprise when you open it.  

The YouTube video is now uploaded and ready for viewing.  Please pop over HERE to subscribe.  

Happy Stamping, 

Check out the great freebies in the Sale-a-bration catalogue.  Don't have one?  Contact me now. 

 

Let's Get Hopping -Round 45

You may have come from the lovely Shelly's page, welcome to my part in the blog hop!  If you haven't, don't forget to hop along using the links on each blog until you get back to me. 

This months theme is to CASE the mini catalogue. 

I've purchased several bundles from the catalogue but my favourite and most used one so far would have to be the Words of Cheer Bundle on page 20.   Of course I changed the colours up slightly for my card, using what I already had on my desk, but I loved the idea of putting this one together.  

Honestly, the number of dies in this set and their versatility is awesome!  I hadn't used the stars (aka flowers) or the dots (which I assume is supposed to be a border?) until this CASE card.  WOW!  Both added so much extra detail.  

I managed to get this card finished in a quick amount of time and honestly, it was pretty easy to assemble when copying from an example.  Who doesn't love a CASE just for that alone!  

I couldn't go past adding a 'plate' to mount my large sentiment on, and used a stitched rectangle die to cut the beautiful silver foil cardstock for this.  

I've used the following to create the card:

• Cardstocks - Pear Pizazz, Misty moonlight, Petal Pink, Basic White, Silver foil, Pool Party
• Ink: Versamark and Petal Pink
• Other: White embossing powder

Thanks for dropping in for the blog hop.  Be sure to check out the other wonderful blogs along the way.  I'm now linking to Mikaela (just click to arrow to go and see how wonderful project)

Happy Stamping,

Inky Stampers meeting!

Each month our team meets up via Skype.  Its always a great hour of chatting and giggling.  We also try to craft in that time.  This month we decided to create a fun fold card.  Here is my version with a popup section inside.  

I used the Penguin Playmates paper that comes free at the moment in the SaleABration catalogue with any $90 order.  What is great about this paper is all the images that are begging to be cut out and used with the reverse side papers....  

I also used the die from the Words of Cheer Bundle (page 20 of the mini catalogue).  How pretty is that layered HAPPY sentiment!  It is so simple to create maximum impact on a card with these sorts of things at your fingertips.

The inside of my card pops open to reveal a fun scene using more of the cute animals from the DSP.  I couldn't help but use a retired die from last year to create a snowy slope scene for the bottom of the card.  As tricky as this card looks, it is very quick to come together and easy to do.  I must do a quick video on it to share.

Happy stamping, 

Rachael 

Stampin Dreams Blog Hop - Step it up

 Welcome to another Stampin Dreams blog hop!

 I can't wait to see what the other demonstrators come up with for this one.  The theme is Step it Up. 

I began with a basic layout and stamping using the free stamp set Delicate Dahlias.  I used a basic white background cardstock and added my sentiment strip to the bottom right hand side.  

Next, I 'stepped it up' by using a coloured base card in Crumb Cake, stamped and fussy cut my floral elements and added a die cut large label.  

Lastly, for the more enthusiastic, I added in some versamark (watermarked) images of the dahlia and the leaves to the card.  The flower is popped up with dimensional dots.  I also fussy cut a second layer for the flower, just choosing the middle section to pop up on more dimensional  dots.  

Its amazing by just adding a few more elements, how much more detail a card looks.  Below is a photo of all three lined up to show the comparison.  

Thanks for popping by to my part of the hop.  Please be sure to leave a comment and jump over to the other blogs.

Happy Stamping, Rachael xx

Technique Tuesday - punches

 

Welcome to our blog hop where this months theme is PUNCHES.  

I love the convenience of a punch, so quick and easy.  I'm also a teacher and the kids love to use builder punches because its something they can safely do and it creates such a cute little image. 

 

I don't have an 'alternative' use for this penguin punch, I do think its super cute and perfect for lots of cards.  Its currently available in the mini catalogue and whilst at first thought a penguin is more Christmasy, I did want to showcase it for a birthday card.  I've combined the Christmas and birthday to allow for a December born birthday!  

I used basic black and basic white cardstock for the punches.  I punched out he feet then stamped them as I found aligning it into the punch a little tricky. 

This card is also a fun fold.  Birthdays make the best time for fun folds :) 

Please check out the other blogs and hop through to be inspired.  And don't forget, a comment is always appreciated :) 

Happy stamping, Rachael xx

Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sale-A-Bration blog hop where a group of demonstrators from all over are showing off the products in the SAB catalogue.  The spend to earn most items is $90 with a few $180 spend items as well.  

Today, I chose the Delicate Dahlias stamp set (free with a $180 spend) to showcase.  I had a simple card in mind, using memento ink stamping, a Stampin Blends background and simple stamping using yellow as the focal colour.

I had lots of fun seeing this come together, and I think it makes for a super happy card.  I kept the sentiment simple using part of a sentiment from the Counting Sheep stamp set (also from the SAB catalogue, free with a $90 spend) and the Biggest Wish Stamp set from the Annual Catalogue. 

Thanks for joining in the hop today.  You can jump on over to the other blogs and check out othere items in the catalogue.  

Happy Stamping, Rach xxx

3 August - 30 September
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