YouTube Colouring Series! Part 1

 I'm happy to announce that I will be filming a series of videos of my colouring in using Stampin Blends.  All videos will be uploaded on the next several Wednesdays and will feature sped up footage of my process to colour an image.  I've done a lot of learning along the way and the only way I could truly work out how others got a good image with depth and great blending, was to watch and learn.  

Todays video features a Christmas set from the Christmas themed mini catalogue called Delivering Cheer.  

I'm hoping that these videos help someone to take the plunge and invest in some colours to play with, and to find the joy that comes from making an image come to life with a bit of ink.  

Happy Stamping,

New YouTube series

 Tomorrow marks the start of a new 6 part series I've created for YouTube.  This will focus on colouring using Stampin Blends, and will be a collection of short videos of me colouring.  There is no one technique when it comes to using Stampin Blends, and I wanted to showcase to other beginners how I create for my cards.  I can't wait to share.  Please pop over to my YouTube channel tomorrow, subscribe and like my videos.  

Its rainy and miserably cold here today so I have set myself a few sewing goals for the morning.  There are a few Christmas gifts I want to get started on, so now is the time... 

Happy Stamping, 

Rachaelxx

Just add ... a sketch

I love holidays  - it gives me more time to join in some fabulous challenges.  This one is the sketch from Just Add Ink for this week.

Jump on over to their blog to join in the fun.

Happy Stamping, Rachael xx

 

Facebook Sunday - using DSP

 

I used a series of strips of DSP for this card and couldn't help but add this cute image from the Birthday Chick bundle.  So cute.

It made for a bright and cheerful card.  

Happy Stamping

Surprise package!

A surprise package - Facebook Live

New video up on Youtube

 Pop on over to my YouTube for a quick tutorial on using the Merriest Moments Bundle and Ombre Gift bags.  

I would really appreciate it if you could like, comment and subscribe whilst you are there.  

Happy Stamping,

Colour Challenge for Septembers Blog Hop

 Welcome to the September 

Crafty Challenge Blog Hop

This months colour challenge was to use the colours Bermuda Bay, Merry Merlot and Cajan Craze.  I really wasn't sure about this combo to be honest but I love the effect its given using the SAB Dahlia set of stamps.  I did use some dazzling paper too, another FREEBIE from SAB, and coloured it with the Bermuda Bay Stampin Blends.  

To add a little more detail to my background Bermuda Bay, I took a white gel pen and added highlight lines, making the image pop and allow it to tie in better with the white layers. 

Thanks for popping by.  Remember this is a blog hop, so be sure to check out what the other wonderful demonstrators have made with the colour combo.  

Happy Stamping,

I'm on Pinterest!

 Yes, its taken a while for me to get this done but finally, I've got an account to post all my cards on Pinterest.  I'm not sure why I didn't do it earlier, I've been using the app for years but never thought to add my own pins!  I'd love for you to be a follower, please pop over and find me under 

Merrick Makings with Rachael 

and click the follow button. 

Cheers

Rachael xx

Paper Pumpkin kit

 Hi everyone, 

I've just received my Paper Pumpkin kit and couldn't wait to show everyone how easy it is to use.  So of course, I've created a video for you all.  

Pop on over to YouTube to watch, comment, like and subscribe.  I love showing everyone how easy stamping and cardmaking can be.  These make the best gifts or are easy to throw in the camping gear or suitcase for holidays.  

Happy Stamping,

Let's Get Hopping #46

Welcome to another Let's Get Hopping Blog Hop.  

This month the theme is "anything but a card".

You have probably found your way here from Nina's blog. Thanks for popping in!

For those who don't follow me or know me well, I started creating with paper almost 18 years ago.  I dabbled with Stampin UP but my biggest passion was scrapbooking and with that comes OTP (Off the Page) projects.  So I have a secret passion for creating gifts and altering items with paper based products.

I also love to gift candles, because often, these are not something we buy for ourselves and yet there is nothing nicer than having a house filled with fragrance from a lit candle.  So for todays project, I wanted to showcase how to easily make a plain glass candle into something worth giving.  

I've recently discovered these wonderful candles at Aldi of all places!  They are cheap ($3.50) and have a lovely long lasting fragrance.  The one I have at home so far has lasted well over 15 hours!  This one is a vanilla based smell.  I've wrapped it in DSP and added elements to the top.  No need for a matching card because the small sentiment says it all.  

I've used the free papers from Sale-A-Bration for this one.  Cut the layers for the top from the 2 largest circle dies and then hand cut the floral image and coloured it using Soft Succulent, Pale Papaya and Blushing Bride Stampin Blends.  Adding a sentiment from the Penguin Place stamp set and a few bits of bling in the form of gold ribbon and rhinestones, these gifts take less than 30 minutes to complete.  I'll be wrapping this one with some clear cellophane and curling ribbon and gifting to one of my lovely friends who are popping over for a workshop this weekend.  PERFECT hostess gift for only a few dollars.  

Thanks for popping by and checking out my project.  I hope you are inspired to alter something to gift now too.  Don't forget to pop onto our next blog with Tanya, and leave comments as you go.  

Happy Stamping, 

Coffee, cake and cards resumes

 I'm excited, finally its school holidays, and that means we can breathe and get some time to create.... with friends.  I am holding a workshop to create 3 birthday cards tomorrow with 3 lovely friends from work.  Unfortunately one friend can't make it and I know was a bit disappointed.  To cheer her up, I created 2 cards that I have in 'kit form' to pop in her mailbox - for her to make with her youngest who happens to love arts and crafts.  

I tried to keep the colours more male or neutral and also to make the cards fun.  Suitable for all ages!  I used some retired items and some of the Sale-A-Bration goodies too.  I hope they have fun putting them together.  

To all those who are entering school holidays and have their kids at home, good luck to you all.  As a teacher I not only look forward to the holidays but also feel for parents who will no doubt be very ready to hand them back in 2 weeks time. 

Grab out the crafting gear or buy a kit and spend some quiet time creating.  Not only will the kids love it but you will end up with some great projects at the end.  

Happy Stamping,

 

Penguin Place sparkling card

 We all love a few sparkles on a card and what is even better is a lot of sparkles all together!  Sale-A-Bration brings us not only this adorable papers with images ready to cut and use but also the 6x6 BE DAZZLING  paper.  Both are free items in the catalogue with a $90 spend.  

I was doubtful about the BE DAZZLING papers because to take a photo doesn't do it justice but I quickly grabbed myself one on my second SAB order, and it is beautifully sparkly and adds so much to these snowy scenes.  

If you love sparkle and want to grab yourself some, pop an order in with me ASAP before they run out or the promotion finishes.

Happy Stamping,

Rachael xx

Another MERRY card

Yes, its another card using the Merriest Moments Bundle

I teamed it up with the Heartwarming Hugs DSP and plenty of bling thanks to some of the sparkling sequins and some floral accents from the dies in the bundle. 

The mini catalogue items are available until the end of the year.  BUT if you are thinking of ordering, now is time, with Sale-A-Bration ending soon.  See the side bar to be able to download copies of the catalogues to browse through today. 

Happy Stamping,

Rachael

 

Peachy birthday

Just a quick one from me today, another birthday card because .... I need them.  Using the peach suite this time.

The DSP makes it easy to have a great background and then some quick stamping and die cutting made this an easy one to pull together.  

I tried to double dye the ribbon this time too, I really loved the result.

I hope you find some time to be creative today also, happy stamping!

Rachael xx

 

Technique Tuesday - Scoring

 Today we are hopping for Technique Tuesdays and the theme this month is SCORING!  

I think scoring can be the most basic of things to teach a beginner stamper or card maker.  We begin with folding a card and what better way than to get a neat and straight fold than to score.  I use the Stampin Up Paper Trimmer which comes with a scoring tool however I started with nothing more than a ruler and a bone folder many years ago and got the same results.  

My card was created to show how simple scoring can be effective.  Come back to my blog over the coming weeks though, because I may have just been bitten by the scoring bug and you will see a few more examples of fun things you can do with just a few scores and some cardstock! 

I did create a quick video to show the scoring and how to put this card together.  A list of all the products is also on the video at the end.  

Don't forget this is a hop, so pop on over to the others blogs and see what great inspiration they have for you.  Don't forget to leave comments because..... we all love a bit of feedback :) 

Happy Stamping,

Rachaelxx

Jun-Dec Mini Catalogue virtual swap

 

I participated in a virtual swap recently, using items from the new Mini Catalogue.  Of course, it was a Christmas Theme and I loved using the stamp sets and DSP from the catalogue to create a traditional feel card.  

Heartwarming Hugs Designer Series Paper was a returning product from last years catalogue.  When I saw this, I was thrilled as I used almost an entire pack last year (totally unheard of in my craft room!).  I do love the traditional colours and patterns.  The houndstooth is one of my favourites and had to be featured on this card.  

I used my go to technique of background stamping with Versamark ink using the Words of Cheer bundle.  The large clustered image from this has been used on other cards of mine already.  

 

Happy Stamping everyone, 

Birthday card with a touch of bling

 I've been sending out birthday cards to fellow demonstrators in Australia recently and I'm finding myself in need of more cards.  Always a good place to be in!

The free sparkling paper came from the SaleABration catalogue, free with $90 order.  I coloured it with my stamping blends so it matched the HOST set of DSP, Playful patterns.

I love how this DSP print matched the embossing folder and means I can have more dimension with little effort for my background piece.  Please do this again Stampin Up!  

I've used the check DSP which is the back of the floral design and embossed the HAPPY sentiment with white embossing powder.  

I must give this a go again, it came together very easily using small pieces that were already on my table. Here is a snippet of the bling that comes with that paper - amazing! 

Happy stamping,

Rachael

Colour Challenge with the Crafty Medic

Another great colour combination that was perfect to create my second (and final) Fathers Day card using the hats off bundle.  I really love using smaller stamps to create backgrounds and this "DAD" one is perfect for a fathers day card!

I used my blending brush to shade in my hat first then used Stampin Blends in Crumb Cake and Soft Suede to create the rest of the colouring.  I wanted a faded feel to the hat.   

Happy stamping,

Rachael xx