Rachael's Handmade Designs

Thanks for joining me once again! I'm so happy you've come back to join me with on my blog. You've come to the right place to find Seattle's finest handmade cards! Today I've got a real treat for you - a Girlfriends greeting card. This was SUCH a fun card to create. If you have not heard about Art Impressions , then you are missing out!! I love to stamp and color these fun images to create cards that truly reflect the fun relationships in life. I loved coloring this fun image of two happy gals with my Copics! The card didn't need much else as the copics took the stage. I didn't want to overpower the card, so I kept it nice and clean. My boyfriend and I are friends with another couple and we paired this card with a bouquet of fresh cut flowers for a nice hello to our friends the last time we all got together. Its nice to make your friends feel loved and wanted.  Cheers!

Welcome back to the BEST place to find your handmade Seattle greeting cards. I'm happy to share with you one of my favorite handmade card projects of late.  :) I ended up giving this greeting card to my boyfriend. Just this morning he said to me after noticing this blog post up on the computer, "hey, it's my card! That's my favorite card I've ever received." Which kind of made my heart melt, not gonna lie.  I created this greeting card using the marker to rubber and masking techniques. I created this greeting card with four different stamps. I purchased the couple stamp from Dolce Impressions  here in Seattle. First, I started with planning out the greeting card sketch and layout. I find it easier to start a greeting card with a sketch because it offers inspiration and cohesive style to the project.  I knew that I wanted to create a stamped card featuring ink in layers, not necessarily layers of paper, and this marker to rubber technique, so takin...

Welcome back and thanks for stopping by. I'm so happy that you did because I'm looking forward to sharing my Seattle handmade cards and projects with you - seriously, you've come to the best place to find Seattle's BEST handmade greeting cards. I've been watching a lot of Bob Ross lately, and although not a rubber stamper, Bob has a point: there really are not any mistakes in art. Maybe that's why so many people enjoy creating? Usually you can work something out of an unforseen outcome, and if you're lucky it turns out even better than planned. I feel that as long as you learn from your shortcomings, they are not failures (in life and art). This is a new stamp that I purchased recently from a good friend of mine who owns an art store here in Seattle . It's a set of a couple in the rain and comes with some other stamps as well. I used the marker to to rubber technique (I will show you exactly what I did in a later post) and masked the image off aft...

Are you a sushi lover??? If you haven't tried it, you're missing out!! This is a card I made a few months ago featuring a number of techniques including background stamping, Copic coloring, brayering and layering. A super fun friendship greeting, the inside reads "I like the way you roll." Leave a comment and let me know what you like about this card!

Need I say more? I mean, really. lol Love this image from Art Impressions  - Bonnie's art captures daily life perfectly! My two favorite lines from Art Impressions is the Girlfriends line and the Ai People line.  The pairing of the sentiments rounds it out - they're just so funny! If it Zips it Fits One of my favorite things to do with clothing or fabrics with my Copics is to create a pattern. I had a very good time designing this card with a patterned shirt and my Copics and chose something easy - a monochromatic pattern on the top, with jeans (tertiary to the secondary orange) to pop the color, with a soft pink in the background. Pink and orange go well together because they are analogous on the color wheel and its a nice soft blend. I added a half doily for interest and layering and stamped the sentiment, die cut it, distressed the edges and popped it up to create dimension. The mint green behind the doily in a lattice pattern ties everything t...

How often is it that we just get so caught up with life that we sometimes forget to connect with the friends that mean the most to us? I've got a friend that I've known since 3rd grade. We don't talk much anymore, but when we do, its like we pick up right where we left off! So this card seems appropriate for those kinds of friends. I made this card using Art Impression's Texting BFFs set. I hope you like it! Leave a message in the comments!

What's the best part of spring? The colors? The birds singing? The sunshine? Yes, yes and yes. But don't forget the flowers, the holidays and the great family time! There's also birthdays, special occassions and there's always room for a simple thank you. (Its all about gratitude, right?) Today I'm bringing you the red floral version in the floral handmade card line I've recently created. Didn't they turn out great?! Each special, each a little different, and perfect for your loved one. And don't forget your grads! These would make a perfect keepsake greeting card for her to cherish in her scrapbook of her special graduation day. They're even so pretty that you could frame them and display them as artwork in your home. Just a few ideas to get you thinking. I hope you start thinking outside the box as to what you can do with handmade cards to turn your house into a home. Thanks for stopping by! Cheers!

Hello All and Welcome Back! Have you heard? One of my favorite stores EVER , Collage (in Portland), has signed a new lease and is opening a new store!  They just signed a lease for SE Division Street and will be opening this summer. I'm so excited for these gals! What great news! I'll be zipping down to Portland to check out the new store just as soon as they open! Wahoo! Can't wait to see what they do with the store! Check out their blog here for more news from this great company. Cheers!

Life is Short - Play with Your Dog! How cute is this image from JessicaLynnOriginal Stamps?! I love animals - every animal! I created this card using the   Jessicalynnoriginal Akc Dog: Shih Tzu Clear Stamps Set . Its great for us dog lovers and you get eight different images in the set so there’s quite a bit of versatility! This set is also quite unique. I personally have not seen any other place to get Shih Tzu rubber stamps.  I created this card with an embossed watercolor background.  By stamping three varying sizes of circle die cuts, I was able to use my copic markers to create shading, color and depth. I double-stamped the sentiment - once in green and once in black - and popped it up with dimensional for more added depth. Really a fun card! These stamps really capture the happy little personality of the Shih Tzu. So cute and fun! I hope you check it out! 

The big issue I faced when I tried to create my own custom envelopes with just my scoring board was that sometimes my measurements would be off and my envelopes would turn out warped and wonky. I purchased this envelope punch board because I needed the ability to create custom envelopes for my custom-sized greeting cards and I needed them to be clean and professional. This punch board really delivers! I purchased it at Impress and paid $19.99. Stampin Up also sells a similar product - also made by We R Memory Keepers - for $21.95 plus shipping. The two products, from what I can tell, are exactly the same and the only difference is that the Stampin Up product has "Stampin Up!" in the far top left-hand corner. So if you're a paper crafter and you need something that helps you to create custom, professional looking envelopes, I suggest that you spend the $20.00 and get this little beauty! It really is worth it! Cheers!

When I was little and I would go spend the day with my grandma, I remember getting into her filing cabinet. She kept scratch paper for me to draw on, but she also had a well-stocked box of greeting cards in that cabinet and her desk. All sorts, with beautiful pictures of flowers on a table, pictures of paintings and picturesque sunset.  So when she gave me the gift of beautiful pink stationary with a matching pen one year for Christmas, I fell in love with correspondence. Carrying on Her Tradition Today, I carry on her tradition (obviously - I design and create cards!) and always keep one of those plastic folding files in my desk. My folder has tabs with pockets on the inside and I’ve labeled each tab with the type of greeting card that pocket contains: Thinking of You, Love, Birthday, Anniversary, Get Well, Sympathy, etc. I fill those pockets with all of my different style of greeting cards. A Little Trick A great little trick to save time (and constantly running to t...

I'm so excited to share this with you! The Greeting Card Association has decided to create a National Thinking of You Week. Which I think is freakin' awesome because of its goal: to create a wave of love, caring and happiness across the nation by sending and getting a card during the last week in September. And who doesn't like to get a little happy mail?! I think that's the point of it. Everyone loves to get something - big or small, its knowing that you are in someone else's thoughts that's the point. Writing a message just to say hello to a friend - life is so short, why WOULDN'T you tell someone that they are in your thoughts? Besides, science has proven that receiving a card is good for everyone's wellbeing.  Its better to receive a handmade, handwritten note showing your love and appreciation for someone, which makes them feel much more special, than receiving texts, e-mails or facebook messages.  In fact, cognitive neurosci...

Rachael's Handmade Designs will be vending at the Ballard Cupcake Royale for the May Saturday Ballard Art Walk on May 10th! Come take a leisurely stroll through Ballard and view some amazing artwork by some very talented artists. Also, on Sunday, May 11th, join us at the newly remodeled Comet Tavern on Capitol Hill for The Hangover Flea Market! I look forward to seeing you all there! Cheers

When you're artistically stuck and feeling creatively drained here are five easy ways to get your groove back! #1.  Make Creativity a Habit and a Way of Life. Do something creative every day. Creativity is a way of life, a habit. Most creative people I know do something every day, even if its just a doodle, sketch or getting ideas and thoughts down on paper. No matter how small your creative something is, you should try and take a few minutes per day and do it. A great way to do this is to keep an art journal, sketch journal or the like. #2.  Don’t force it Not feeling very creative? Stuck? Happens to everyone! Leave your project, don’t try and force something that just is not working. Set your project aside! Do something that is completely different. Take a walk and get some fresh air. If you have a camera, a neat exercise is to challenge yourself to find something beautiful in everyday life. Listen to new music, or go to the art store and browse. These things usually w...

Welcome! Just a quick blog entry to let you know that Rachael's Handmade Designs will be at the Back Bar Flea Market (part of the Belltown Art Walk) on Friday, April 11th from 3-7pm  Located inside the Crocodile Back Bar in Belltown. All ages. Happy hour prices during the Artwalk (with ID.) So come right after work to enjoy a drink or two and see a room full of local artists, crafters, vintage merchants and representatives with unique, handmade, one-of-a-kind goodies and deals!  There will be music videos, a photo booth, and of course, yummy drinks! Can't wait to see you there!

Spring is here! Rachael’s Handmade Designs will be in Mountlake Terrace, Washington attending Mountlake Terrace High School’s Spring Bazaar on May 3rd from 10-4pm. Come check it out! There will be food, a rummage sale, a car wash, a blood drive, sports and wellness fair, and you can even test drive a new ford vehicle! Bazaar at Mountlake Terrace High School 21801 44th Ave West, MLT The Sport & Wellness and Spring Bazaar will be inside the School, just inside the front doors to the left. Some vendors will have the opportunity (weather permitting) to be outside if they wish.  The Rummage Sale will be just inside the front doors to the right. Car Wash will be in the upper parking lot near the main street. Drive 4UR School (Ford Giving program) will be in the Music Parking lot, just tot he left of the front doors of the school. BBQ will be outside near the circle/drop off, in the "plaza" like area near the front doors of the school. Blood Drive - will be in the a...

Wow, I've really fallen behind on bringing new cards to you! I have a TON of cards to share with you that are new in the shop - things and projects I have been working on! But first, a little housekeeping. 1.   There is a Spring Sale going on in the shop. Selected items are on sale for a short time only, so pop on by to see what's happening! Your next favorite card could be waiting! 2.   Its donation time again! About twice a year Rachael's Handmade Designs makes and donates a large quantity of greeting cards to send to our heros overseas. This helps our deployed heros keep in contact with home and supports Rachael's Handmade Design's mission of preserving the art of handwritten correspondence. Even if you don't support or agree with war, we can all support our brave people in the service. We encourage you to get involved! You may donate cards or participate in "AnyHero Mail"  here ! 3.   Contest Time! There is a contest happening right now on...

FACEBOOK CONTEST TIME! Help me reach 300 likes! Refer a friend to "like" Rachael's Handmade Designs on Facebook! Tell your friend to leave a comment telling me who referred them (you) and you will be entered to win a brand new set of greeting cards from my shop! Your friend may also refer a friend to "like" and be entered to win as well. The more people you refer, the more times your name goes into the hat to draw for a brand new set of free greeting cards!! Contest ends on May 21st, 2014. Goodluck!

Spring Sale going on now in the shop on select pieces!

I love it when you're happily in the middle of creating a masterpiece and then....you run out of your [insert random art supply here]. It happened to me last night! I ran out of my ATG Glue tape and I thought I was going to have to set aside my masterpiece right when I was in the middle of my creative flow. Luckily, I'm a crafty gal...and at times a bit absent-minded...But I digress. I got my first layer down with glue tape and decided to challenge myself to see how many different types of adhesive I could use on a card. This one turned out to be four different types! And I got to use my scraps! (It always makes me happy when I can use every last bit of my paper!) I used foam squares (which I also ran out of the day before yesterday, but luckily I had forgotten that I had purchased "the wrong kind" of foam squares and had set the wrong ones aside) and washi tape, as well as gel medium and ATG Glue tape.  So that was pretty fun, not something that I've ever ...