Rachael's Handmade Designs

I'm currently working on my home, upgrading here and there and adding touches that I love. A few weeks back I  installed kitchen cafe curtains (sewed them myself!) and as a simple decorative touch I added one of those retro three arm towel racks above the sink.  I found a delicate pillowcase that had embroidery on it that I loved and cut it down to tea towel size.  I've been displaying this on the towel rack ever since. This also gave me an idea.  Embroidery is cheap, easy and fun (seriously, the floss is practically next to nothing and you can get a whole pack of all sorts of colors at Joann's for less than $10) and, even though I've never done embroidery before, when I was little I did cross stitch, which is kind of the same thing.  Well, I've seen tea towels on etsy that women have embroidered and I absolutely love them. But lets be real - I'm not going to spend $35 plus shipping for a stinking tea towel!  And besides, personal crafts are...

Welcome! I hadn't busted out my Bombshell Stamps in a while. When I found this gnarly stencil that looks like waves, it reminded me of my Bombshell set Koi Tattoo , which I love but have been stumped on how to incorporate into my designs. I also used Bombshell Stamps' Happy Birthday from the  Banner Sayings  set. What a match! I love how this card turned out. I stenciled with two different shades of blue to add more depth, and highlighted the scales with my copic marker blender pen. So much fun! This card has already sold, but if you like the style, check out my shop. There's more to come! :) Thanks! Cheers!

Just before Christmas my Mom and I took a trip by train to Portland. We originally wanted to go for the Saturday market, but when I found out there was a handmade show going on (Crafty Wonderland) we decided to make that a priority. Turns out we had time for everything on the list! We hit the craft show, the Saturday market (which is also open on Sunday) and my favorite place in Portland, Collage art store in the Alberta Arts District. (Second favorite is Barista coffee just down the street, where you can also get a beer!) Anyways, I'd had my eye on a Gelli printing plate for a few weeks and since I had my Christmas shopping done I decided to treat myself. I've been playing ever since! Here's a picture of my first print that I liked. Anyways, the second print I created that I really like is below. I was able to create this piece with multiple layers of color and using three sets from Bombshell Stamps as stencils, Butterfly Queen , A Pirate's Life  and B...

Hello and Welcome!   Clean Bingo at The Free Flow Dance Center in Saskatoon was awesome! Thank you to all who could make it! Cory and I were lucky enough to even win some prizes!      I got to show right next to my buddy Deirdre, of Cupcakes by Deirdre, who makes AWESOME cupcakes!!     Here are some cute cards I made specially for the event. So much fun to create! Little Red Riding Hood by Sassy Studio Designs Feature Presentation by Mark's Finest Papers Rose's Portrait by Bombshell Stamps (featuring a brayer background technique) Bombshell Angel by Bombshell Stamps , paired with Tim Holtz Game of Life ATG stamp Butterfly Queen by Bombshell Stamps , paired with Tim Holtz Game of Life ATG stamp     Retro Cowgirls by Bombshell Stamps Thanks again to all who came out to play, see me and say goodbye, and especially to Deirdre and Jackie, who supported my being apart of such a fun event...

The Pin Up Challenge this month was to use three Bombshell stamps in one piece. I've been working on a new project and trying to push myself to get out of my comfort zone. So I incorporated mod podge, ribbon and some found items and created a mixed media layout.           For this layout I used the Love and Luck sparrows, the heart from the Madonna Woodcut  set, the small icon anchor from the Ahoy Sailor set; and the small icon skull and crossbones from the Homeward Bound set.   This project was stamped on white paper, colored with copics, tea-stained and distressed stained. There's some sparkle in there for fun. Eventually it will be bound into a small book.   Thanks for stopping by. Leave a comment if you like! :) Cheers! 

Guest Design Team Call! It's time to select the next six Bombshell Pin-ups (Guest Design Team members)! Each Pin-up receives a free set of stamps, a generous discount to Bombshell's store, will be featured on Bombshell Stamps' website and blog, sets our monthly challenge, and shares four (4) items (cards, scrap layouts, altered art) during her month. If the Pin-up rocks her guest design gig, she'll be asked to join the Bombshell Girls (our Design Team). Please send an email containing the following information to: designteam@bombshellstamps.com 1. Name: 2. Address: 3. Email: 4. Phone number: 5. Blog or website address: 6. Links to any online galleries you may have: 7. Related forums/message boards that you like to visit and participate (we do NOT need your forum nickname): 8. Three (3) items -- cards, altered items, or scrapbook layouts using stamps as the main focus. Your submissions don't need to be brand new and do not need to have Bombshel...

Its the end of the month stampers, and you know what that means!! Time for another great blog hop with Bombshell Stamps!! If you are here from Emily's blog , then you're in the right place. If not, go back and start at the Bombshell Stamps Blog to make sure you hop in the right order and get to see everyone's work. This month's theme is Some Like It Hot. I was totally inspired by this theme!! I even got to use my new prize rubber stamp Panther Tattoo  that I wont for a contest on the Design Team. (You can win prizes at Bombshell Stamps too, just check out the forum and sign up for our newsletter!) Anyways, here is what I came up with the for the fab hop this month! I stamped the Panther in bright pink, cut him out, layered him on/behind some scraps and added some Aileen's craft glue to make him look shiny. I think the bow was a nice detail. A little bit of femininity! :) Go ahead and leave a comment and let me know what you think! Don...

Welcome Back Stampers! Today's post is all about the Bombshells! ;) Our fab Pin Up has challenged us to create a red and gold piece for this month! Here's what I came up with: And now its YOUR turn. Head on over to the Bombshell Blog and Forum to see what the other Bombshells have come up with and have a go at the challenge yourself!

Welcome Back! Today I’m bringing you a great technique to try when you need vibrant colors or if you want something to look like it is caught in a liquid. Supplies Rubber gloves, if you don't want to get inky. Tissue Paper Acetate StazOn Ink™ Stamps - Bombshell Stamps used here. Clear drying glue or glaze Fine sparkly glitter, if you wish. Dye Ink Reinkers or alcohol inks Neutral colored cardstock Step-by-Step Step 1 - Stamp your image on the Acetate with Stazon™ . Step 2 - Stamp your neutral colored cardstock with an image you want to appear in the back of your Acetate piece. Doing this helps to add layers, depth and interest to the finished piece. Use a light-colored alcohol ink for the background. Step 3 - Turn the reverse side of the acetate up and lightly coat with your glue or glaze. Step 4 - Add a few drops of alcohol ink randomly around the sheet. Start with a a few and then add more l...

Welcome Back! Its that time again at Bombshell Stamps to play along with the sketch challenge!  Here is this month's sketch by the fab Kathi! Here's my take on this month's sketch! I used the Thinking of You flower and sentiment from Rose's Portrait    Now go ahead and play along on the Bombshell Blog and forum !! Have fun with it and get inspired!

For this month’s challenge at Bombshell Stamps, the Pin Up Challenge was to “Make it Ornamental”. Instead of creating a paper ornament, I’ve been wanting to try creating my own. So I purchased a plastic ornament at Joann’s and filled it with Elmer’s glue. *Note - use floor polish if you want it to  dry translucent. After swirling it around a bit to make sure all of the sides of the inside of the ornament were covered, I poured out the excess glue and folded a piece of paper to funnel the glitter into the ornament. And then I shook! I repeated and tapped out the excess glitter and glue. After it dried I replaced the cap. Originally my idea was to stamp on the plastic with Stazon, however after many failed attempts, I gave in. *Note - Stazon comes off of plastic with lighter fluid. Instead, I stamped the image I wanted (I used the Tattoo sentiment from the Sacred Heart set) and colored and cut it out. Then I adhered it to the domed surface with Ranger's Glossy Accents and...

Break out your favorite Bombshell and let's get started with a great style of movable card - slider cards! You will need the following: 1.  Pop dots - preferably the round ones, but if you do not have those, you can always round off the square ones. 2.  Two pennies 3.  Stampin' Up Word Window Punch (or the like) OR a craft knife/xacto 4.  Your favorite Bombshell image. I am using Bombshell's  Hawaiian Girl  set. First, select the papers that you would like to use and stamp out your images. Stamp, color and cut out the images that you would like to use. Now create the base of your card. Now, on the base of your card, figure out how far you want your slider to go, lengthwise. On a scratch piece of paper, punch out a template if you like, as I did here. Trace and punch the actual paper you would like to use. Distress if you like. I'm using Tim Holtz's Distress Ink in Antique Linen. Add pop d...

Welcome Back! Hope you're all enjoying the hop! This month's challenge for the blog hop at Bombshell Stamps was to create a recipe card using: 1 ribbon, 2 stamped images and 3 papers. Here's what I came up with. I used Mermaid Anchor  and the seaweed from Mermaid Treasure . Finished this card up with a brown rick rack ribbon at the bottom and three printed papers at the top to simulate waves. Now hop on to see what all the other Bombshells have come up with! Bombshell Blog:  http://bombshellstamps.blogspot.com/ Alison:  http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com Susie:  http://whiteribboncards.blogspot.co.uk Alaine:  http://missalaineousmosaics.blogspot.com/ Glittery Kate:  http://ferrishyn-frontier.blogspot.com Jodi:  http://www.elamdesign33.blogspot.com/ Torrey:  http://left-field-studio.blogspot.com/ Jenn:  http://stampinangeljenn.blogspot.com/ Kim:  http://www.craftypinkanchor.blogspot.com Kelli:  http://www.cajun...

Cassie, the Bombshell Pin Up for November, has challenged all of us to confess to something. My confession? I love mermaids. Always have. I think its a carry over from my childhood - a 'The Little Mermaid" obsession that never really faded. Actually, its more than mermaids - mer-folk of all sorts, and tales about the sea in folklore. So I made this little art tag for my 'confessions' project. Hope you enjoy it! First I created the background. I started with a blank white tag and ran the tag through Green and Blue Distress ink. Then I stamped with a flourish stamp and covered it with glue and glitter, packing the glitter into the glue, and let dry. I stamped out my mermaid image and colored her.  I cut her out and put her on dimensionals to give a sense of depth. I added rhinestones to her hips. I thien background stamped the small icons in the far right corner. I threaded a button and stuck it on and added the "imagine" metal tag. ...

Today I'm bringing you a newly designed card using  Sacred Heart  and the heart icon from  Mi Amor . To create this card I first selected the images that I wanted to use.  I wanted to use my new stamp set, Sacred Heart and a small rose from the Mi Amor set from Bombshell Stamps. and  I then selected my color palette and then my printed papers. I stamped the main heart image from Sacred Heart twice onto blank white card stock. I colored the heart and fire of one heart and the bramble vine of the other. I then cut out the vine of the second and glued it down to the first stamped and colored image. I then cut out the entire image. I stamped, colored and cut out the wings from the same set. On a strip of red card stock I stamped the small red rose from Mi Amor as a background stamp. I used my Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Ovals Small (using the largest oval) and cut out and embossed an oval of white card stock. ...