Crafty Challenge Blog Hop

This months Crafty Challenge blog hop is a wonderful sketch.  Everyone knows how much I love a good sketch, its not only a great starting point but usually its something that I love to change up a bit to make it my own.  

I've used a mixture of Christmas and non-Christmas for this one and a lot of gold accents.  It made for a traditional colour scheme but not all Christmas trees or snowmen!

Thanks for popping by, I look forward to hopping along and seeing what everyone else has done with the sketch.  Please visit the blogs and leave some comments for the lovely participants.  I hope you find inspiration in the posts. 

Happy Stamping, Rachael xx

Youtube colouring week 5

Youtube Colouring Series Part 4 - chicken

Come on over to my YouTube to watch the next part in my colouring series.  This week we are adding colour to the chickens from the Hey Birthday Chick stamp set,

 Happy colouring,

Rachael xx

Non Traditional Christmas Blog Hop

 

Welcome to another blog hop with the Let's Get Hopping crew.  

This is a fun one, with Christmas fast approaching, who doesn't love creating cards!  And this hop is all about pushing the boundaries and choosing something 'non-traditional'.  I've chosen Polished Pink and Evening Evergreen as a colour combo.  I gravitate towards red and green at christmas so this is just a little left of centre on this idea.  

I also wanted to spruce this card up with a fun fold and was inspired by a recent card swap with this one.  Its an easel card but one where the main sentiment panel pops up off the folded easel.  Fun!

Here is the aerial view to better explain what I mean. I love how it also means the card can stand up tall!  

I've added a peek a boo panel for inside the card, complete with a very pink Delivering Cheer colouring image.  

Thanks for popping along with the hop - I can't wait to read the comments and jump along to see what everyone else has created.  

In case you are keen to give this style of card a try, here is what I created behind the sentiment panel to allow for the pop up feature on the fold.  I may just have to do a quick video in the future too.

Happy Stamping, Rachael xx

Jump over to see Alicia's fabulous project

Unboxing for Dear Santa tag Kit with Rachael from Merrick Makings

Stampin Dreams blog hop....

 .....and the theme is kids and babies!

Welcome to the Stampin Dreams blog hop, I'm Rachael Merrick from Queensland, Australia. 

I chose Penguin Place for this card because nothing could be cuter for a kids birthday card with balloons and a pile of presents.  

I've used dimensional dots to pop up the balloons and some of the presents which gives more life to the scene.  I also chose bright fun colours including granny apple tree, flirty flamingo, balmy blue and pumpkin pie.  

Thanks for coming along on the blog hop.  Don't forget to jump on over and follow the hop to see what all the others have done.  I'm sure there will be plenty of inspiration. 

Happy Stamping,

Rachael xx

What did I create???

Did you catch my YouTube colouring?  

Here is what I created using the finished coloured image.  This is my niece, and she is turning 2 this week.  This frame will find its way to their house soon, I hope they like it.  She is adorable so the image as easy to use as an embellishment. 

I used a combination of the hydrangea suite and some other items to create this.  

I hope this inspires you to look beyond the page (or card front) and use images for embellishing something as simple as a layout in a frame.  

Happy stamping (and colouring)

Rachael xx

A little catch up

 I've been bad and not updated on here the last week or so.  And so...Here is the latest in my cardmaking attempts starting with the latest Facebook Challenge using a colour combo..

Then I have 3 cards ready for a workshop in the coming weeks with friends who like to stamp.   The request was birthday cards. 

A fun sketch challenge with the Crafty Medic, love how this turned out with the splattering. 

And finally, I got an email saying I'd been a Stampin Up Demonstrator for a year.  A year already!!!  The time has sure flown.  

Happy Stamping, 

Rachael xx

Youtube Colouring Series Part 3

 This week video is another Christmas image, from the stamp set Words of Cheer. 

 This is a great one for beginners as there is quite a bit of space in the petals and you can go over the 'greenery' easily with the Stampin Blends.

I've used a combination of Fresh Freesia, Just Jade, Balmy Blue and Soft Succulent to colour with this week.  Please pop over to YouTube to see the video.  Don't forget to be a subscriber if you have an account, this will allow you to follow the series.  

Happy Stamping,

Kit Release....

 Have you seen the new Christmas tag kit?  

So cute!  Its an all inclusive kit which means you can craft without purchasing another thing!

There are 12 tags in this kit.  BUT what I'm most excited about it that there is also printed cello bags that match so that you can package up some Christmas goodies and add a tag for an instant handmade gift!  I'll pop up some actual examples as soon as my kit arrives... I can't wait!

YouTube colouring series part 2

 

Its been a full week since the first instalment of my colouring in series was published, so that means there is another that has gone live!  These fabulous counting sheep stamps were a part of the SaleABration that just finished and they are super cute and easy to colour in.

 

Pop over to YouTube to check it out!  

I made a card with my little fluffy friends too : 

Yes, another birthday card.... have you got one from me yet?  If not let me know and I'll send one out.

Happy Stamping,

Rachael  xx

Technique Tuesday - heat embossing

Welcome to our Technique Tuesday blog hop - heat embossing...

 I've rediscovered heat embossing since I got a SU! heat emboss tool! And I have a love also for dry embossing using the cut and emboss machine so today, I've combined the two to create this background for this card.  Lots of metallics on this one!

Begin by choosing which side of your dry embossed image you can't to accent with the metallic embossing powder.  Ink up one side using versamark, tapping over and over to build up ink on the surface.

Run the embossing folder, with cardstock inside, through your machine and carefully remove.  

Cover with embossing powder - for this version, I've used the gold to match with the Simply elegant foiled Designer Series Paper.  

As you can see in my photo, the versamark ink doesn't always transfer to the entire embossed or debossed area but instead creates a highlight.  If you would like more 'fill' of the embossing powder, I would suggest  reinking and running it through again a few times to build it up.  When you have the coverage you are after, sprinkle on the embossing powder, shake off the excess then heat with your heat tool.  

The shine from the gold embossing powder is so pretty in the light and you can see how its really highlighted the detail.  

Products needed:  

Embossing folder

Versamark ink

embossing powder

heat tool 

cut and embossing machine. 

Thanks for popping by my blog.  Don't forget to go and see the other creative ideas from our talented team as listed below.  

Happy Stamping, Rachael xx

Youtube Colouring series Part 2

 We are back with another Wednesday YouTube video of me colouring.  Anyone give the layering of inks a go?  It takes practise and I suggest giving some of the larger images a try first but really, its all about the learning, and there are no mistakes!  

This weeks video features some colourful and happy sheep!

Hop on over and watch, then give it a go and tag me in, I would love to see what everyone is up to.  

Happy Stamping,

Happy Stamping!

Did you see it?

 Did you manage to watch my video from the 24 hours of cards?

Here is some photos of my card, using a great combination of Balmy Blue, Pear Pizzazz and Basic White.  

Yes, its a shaker card!  As you've seen, I love a shaker element on a card and this tutorial shows how to create one using dies to cut out your frame.  

The dimensional strips made this an easy shaker to put together, the perfect width.  

And all the tiny elements inside were cut using dies from the Sweet As A Peach Suite.  

Don't you just love the touch of silver  the foil cardstock and sequins adds?  

Hope you can have a go at creating something similar - be sure to tag me in so I can see too.

Happy Stamping,

Rachael xx

World Cardmaking Day

 Its been a busy day here and World Cardmaking day had to fit in with a long weekend full of other celebrations but I managed.  It was lovely to have some members of our team come together to craft on Zoom (although I only got one card done because I talked too much).  

I am about to go to bed here in Oz but when I wake in the morning, it will probably be my video up for the 24 hours of Card making with the Crafty Medic.  YAY!!!  I can't wait to share the project. I'll pop back tomorrow to share more and hopefully will have some 'catch up cards' to share which I can sneak in and create before anyone wakes in the morning. 

Happy Stamping,

Rachael xx

24 hours of cards!!!

 

Yes you read that right, I am participating in a great line up of demonstrators from around the world to present 24 cardmaking videos over the whole 24 hour period that is World Card Making Day.  Its not Australian time so will start later in the day for us.  I'm on the latter end of the line up too so mine won't be going up until Sunday our time.  

I can't wait to see what all the other 23 demonstrators create.  Come along and watch the videos and spend some time creating this weekend.  

Happy stamping,

Rachael xx