Rachael's Handmade Designs

Hi All, I've been getting some messages lately that comments are not available on my blog. OH NO! :P So I have done some fiddling and hopefully the problem is resolved. I'm absolutely loving my new crafting space! I've got more room to spread out and craft, and I find myself crafting more often. And best yet! I live alone, so I don't have to clean up if I don't want to! (And better STILL - NO ROOMMATES!!!) Not that I ever did before because I crafted in my own room, but now I'm using the space dedicated in my apartment for a dining room as my crafting space, so it's not taking up space in my bedroom. (Just making my apartment look messy - ha!) Where do you craft? I'd love to see your crafting space and how you organize your creative space. I've started on a new card featuring an image from Anita Be Stampin. I chose Sasha. First I colored my image with my copic markers. I chose a cool color palette to form a cohesiveness with the entire card. ...

Welcome back everyone! I’m really excited because I broke 180 fans on my facebook fan site. Wahoo! I’m still going for 200, so when I reach 200 I think I’ll have a giveaway. What should I give away? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! Wow, have I got some great cards to share with you! I’ve been busy stamping and coloring and piecing items together for the upcoming holidays - Halloween and Dia de Los Muerte, which are probably my two favorite holidays of the year. I was so happy with how these cards turned out, I listed them in the shop before posting here about them. I love this Día de los Muertos because it features one of my favorite sugar skull stamps from Bombshell stamps. It's altered with rhinestones and is handcolored. I love this card because, again, it features a couple wonderful images from Bombshell stamps, one of my favorite companies, and has been hand-colored. I also used my Tattered Angels glimmer mist for the first time on this card to ad...

Hi All. Wow. So I have added more items to my shop today than I intended! Usually I only like to add maybe one or two, but I've been creating so many cards lately I guess I went into a little listing frenzy! Emily sent me this sweet image of Sheree from InStyle stamps. At first I didn't know what to do with her, but then I sat down and looked through papers, which is my all-time favorite activitiy. I get so inspired! So below is what came of it! I added this darling little tub birthday card to my shop today. Actually, it can be used pretty much for almost any occasion. It's blank so you can use it for a 'relax' gift card holder, a birthday sentiment, or mother's day. Or even for your best girlfriend! I also decided to add this VAVOOM birthday card to my shop! I was really excited to use my new image from Kraftin' Kimmie - she hadn't even touched ink before I made this card. (That's always exciting!) Isn't she cute?! I love the way this ...

HELLO! Today my sweet little shop is 2 years old! Use coupon code: anniversary for 35% off. Coupon runs through June 1st, 2011, which is also the drawing date for my free blog candy. Happy shopping! Cheers, Xo, Rachael

Hello my lovelies! I'm so sorry I have been away for so long. Bad Rachael, BAD! Ha ha :-) Instead of out having fun, or even doing something enjoyable with friends, I've been at home with a tension-type headache! I'm glad to be up like a normal functioning human being! I'm excited to bring you a some great ceramic pieces straight from my favorites, too! As always, click on the image for a larger photo. :-) Thanks for stopping by! Follow my blog for a chance to win my blog candy! Cheers! Xo, Rachael

Welcome to our home! Stay awhile and rest your bones. Please make yourself comfortable in our spare bedroom. You can see the garden from the window by the bed. We hope you like it!

Welcome! I'm so glad you could join me again today! There are a number of new additions to the shop I have to show you, but I wanted to remind you all that all sales profits this month go straight to PETA. Shop, get something cute and support a great cause today! :D New in my studio today are a couple different items. The first one I have to show you is a pregnancy congratulations note card. Isn't she cute? I love how this turned out, and it's layered and detailed without being "too much". I also made this sexy little bookmark! I love this image! Super simple, super cool. ;) Smile every time you mark your page! This cute little chimney sweep is sure to bring you luck, in whatever you do! Great as a Good Luck/Encouragement card as well as a seasonal greeting. That's it for now! Don't forget to follow this blog! Also, you get extra special savings when you "like" me on Facebook . Also, big prize/giveaway once I reach 150 'likes'!...

Hi Everyone. I'm a little behind in my blog posts this week. I've been so busy! So I thought I'd update today with Stuff I Love: Pressed Flowers. When I was little I lived down the street from a girl I went to school with named Jill. Her mom made pressed flower bookmarks and I fell in love with the idea of preserving nature. So, here's my collection of nature. Don't forget to follow this blog! Also, just two more followers until my big blog giveaway ! Follow my facebook fan page and help me give away some awesome prizes! Cheers, Xo, Rachael

Welcome Back! Only three more subscribers until the big giveaway! Prize includes a kit for making handmade cards, two hair clips, some jewelry, and a pack of cards from my shop. "Like" my fb page (the link is to the right) and subscribe to my blog to enter yourself into the drawing. (pictures coming soon.) Don't forget to follow this blog! :-) Cheers! Xo, Rachael

Hi Everyone! Today's post is an interview with a shop and owner that I aboslutely ADORE. Her designs are riveting, edgy and new, and completely unique.  Read on! 1. What’s your name and shop name and what do you do? My name is Anat, and I run SchickiMickis. SchickiMicki is a German expression for the term trendy, and widely used as the german evil twin of “fancy-schmancy”. 2. Where are you located? Nowadays I am located in Tel Aviv Israel, though when I opened my Etsy shop I was living in Berlin Germany, hence the German name. 3. What’s the favorite part of your craft? difficult question... I think I have to say the very first, getting a new idea and starting to draw along side with the last one, just making an item, I find the craft to be relaxing :) 4. How long have you been crafting? I started as a child to draw and paint, was always drawn to the creative side. but really hands on crafting I started in Milano, where i studied jewelry and accessories ...

Hola! Today I want to share with you a lovely little monotone card I made using a new stamp and flowers. I'm also designing a garden card and have started putting together some papers and stamp combos for that. Here is another project, which is looking good so far, but still needs a lot more work.  The dragon is from the same set as the knight card . I've also made a custom envelope for my sorry so grumpy card.  Just add a sticker to close the envelope. *Mailing a square envelope is an additional cost. If mailing this envelope, you will have to add glue along the flap. Otherwise, you may just tuck it inside the envelope.  This envelope fits the mailing standards, but you may consider mailing in a larger envelope as the envelope itself is part of the keepsake. Due to the layered nature of this piece, when sending to your recipient, protect the layers by mailing layered side facing in - inside the envelope.  This way the layers won't catch.  :-) ...

Hey!! Welcome Back! Today's Stuff I Love was really hard for me because there are so many nerdy things I love. It was hard to narrow the list down!! But I finally did, so here you go. Don't forget to follow this blog! Cheers, Xo, Rachael

It's Thursday again and I've got another great interview for you! Tiffany is a great crafter and makes the yummiest -looking little treats that you can use for just about anything. Check it out below! 1. What’s your name and shop name and what do you do? My name is Tiffany Addington and I’m a “Domestic Engineer” aka Glorified Stay at Home Momma and addicted Etsyian. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. 2. Where are you located? Right now we’re at North Carolina, good ole Fayetteville. 3. What’s the favorite part of your craft? The versatility of it, clay is such a versatile medium and I love that! I can make a million different things with it! 4. How long have you been crafting? Crafting in general? Since I was old enough to finger paint, my Grandmother always had awesome crafty activities for us to do growing up, whether it be embroidering a tea towel or making salt dough ornaments. 5. What’s your favorite thing to make? I love making intricate desser...

Hello my lovelies! Today's entry of Stuff I Love is all about 'Under the Sea'! So fun! As I put together this collection I couldn't help singing "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid. Ha ha, great now it's gonna be stuck in my head! I hope you enjoy! If you could please take a moment to fill out the poll asking the question "where did you hear about us?", it's to the right about half way down the page and requires just a simple click! Your feedback is priceless! Thank you! And don't forget to follow this blog! Your subscriptions mean a lot to me, and please leave a comment! :)  Find me on facebook  and twitter  for the latest additions to the shop! Cheers, Xo Rachael

Hola! General announcement: Last Chance items have gone bye bye and all jewelry has now gone back to regular price. Here's my latest interview! Danielle has a great shop full of wonderful goodies to keep you warm! Check out her interview below! *** 1. What’s your name and shop name and what do you do? Hi! My name is Danielle Campbell. My shop name on Etsy is SugarDimples. I'm a one woman accessory factory. 2. Where are you located? Currently based out of a city in Northern Ohio called Fairview Park. 3. What’s the favorite part of your craft? When it comes to crocheting or knitting, I love to see the piece "grow" as I work on it. It's very rewarding! 4. How long have you been crafting? I learned how to crochet at around 13 years old. My great grandmother taught my mother, and in turn my mother taught me. When my great grandmother passed away she gave me all of her yarn, hooks and pieces parts of projects because she knew the love I had for the...

Hey Ladies! First of all, my 50% off Jewelry Sale is still going on! But hurry, the sale is only on thru tomorrow, and then it's 'bye bye' to the Last Chance items. Shop now to get the best savings of the year. I have a new "Stuff I Love" entry! Handmade cards! I selected my favorite cards (some) from etsy and decided to show them here. Aren't they cute?! Check it out and let me know what you think! :-)  Follow this blog and my facebook  and twitter  to keep up on the latest, and for special discounts! Cheers, Xo Rachael

Aloha All! General Announcement: I've decided to close the jewelry portion of my shop so that I can focus completely on my cards. All jewelry in my store is 50% off Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week. *** Today I am so excited to share with you my brand spankin’ new little fishing card, for the guys of course! I was just playing around with my cricut machine trying out some new die cuts for some ideas. After I cut the dies I thought that they would be too small for anything, so I set them aside. And when I fell in love with this Kraftin’ Kimmie stamp I realized that it was the perfect size for the die cuts I had previously cut. So I stamped and colored and distressed each die cut and decided to make a cute little easel card! What do you think? Pretty cute, huh? Here’s some pictures of making the easel card.   Stamped and colored and textured the first die cut, then attached it to it's die cut backing. Stamped the bubbles in blue for the bottom part of...

Welcome Back! Today's post is from one of my good friends and fellow photographers Julie Lopez. Julie and I became aquainted on Etsy and when I held a show in town she dropped by my booth and said hello. We've been buds ever since and I'm always looking for ways to help promote her fantastic work! I'm so proud to bring you this interview with Julie Lopez of ImageNationPhoto. 1. Whats your name and shop name and what do you do? My name is Julie Lopez, my etsy shop name is ImageNationPhoto. I am a photographer. 2. Where are you located? I live in Seattle, Washington. 3. Whats the favorite part of your craft? Being behind the camera, capturing a moment that will never happen again! 4. How long have you been crafting? I received my first camera (Fujica 35mm) when I was in High School and I was hooked!! I took my first photography class at Tigard High School and loved taking pictures and developing them myself in the darkroom. I still have many of my first i...

***SPECIAL on TODAY*** Buy one, get one half off of = or lesser value. (You pick.)

Woot woot! I wanted to share my Letterpress love with you, so check out my new treasury!