Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

Sizzix Giveaway

Have you entered the giveaway yet over on the Sizzix Facebook page? Theere is $120 worth of dies from my new Picket Fence collection! Enter by clicking here and then make sure to share the chance to win with your friends…

Did I enter it? Heck yeah! It only took about 5 seconds to do…
Since this is a wedding themed giveaway, I decided to show some wedding projects to keep the theme going.
My daughter Jess got married two years ago (as recounted here and here). On Christmas, we received the happy news that my daughter Pam will be getting married next year… One more daughter to go after that… but it will be perfectly fine if she waits a little.
Here’s a keepsake I did for Jess as seen on the Kool Tak™ blog. I love this picture of the two of them!
I used the Window Box ScoreBoards die and adhered fabric to the window well section using Kool Tak™ adhesive sheets, which worked great. I also used that product to adhere microbeads and glitter to the window section The wedding was in April and this color combo of yellow, black, white and gray really seems fresh and spring-y to me. It’s a little blingy but what the heck- weddings are fun 🙂
Are you all caught up on wedding and shower gifts, graduation announcements, etc? I am buying gift cards like crazy and trying to keep everything straight. Wish me luck…

 

Craft Attitude Faux Chalkboard Canning Jar

I have been working with a really cool new product called Craft Attitude. It is a printable film that conforms to the shape of what is under it. You just print your desired photo, text or images on Craft Attitude using your inkjet printer. Then simply adhere the film with a glue stick or spray adhesive to your base- paper, lampshade, fabric, etc.


As you might know, I love working with matboard. For years I have been trying to figure out how I could print on it. Matboard is way too thick to fit through a printer and could not pass through the rollers since it is so rigid. FINALLY, there is a solution… You can print on Craft Attitude, adhere it to matboard, and it looks just like it has been printed on! 


I decided to use my Sizzix ScoreBoard Canning Jars die as a base for some Fourth of July favors using this Jar die, matboard and Craft Attitude. 


The Canning Jar dies are now available at your local scrapbook stores or on the Sizzix site. They are a great value because you get two jar sizes on one die- a pint and quart- also two metal lids and an insert piece to make it 3D!

Print out the desired artwork for your project on Craft Attitude using 
an inkjet printer. There are actually nine versions of the Attitude lines- 
Quilt Attitude, Craft, Decor, Flower, Scrapbooking, Jewelry, Flower, Wood
and Shoe, but all of the film is the same, so any kind that you buy will work.
 
Die cut a piece of plastic from your die packaging in the shape of the larger jar. 
Tape it in position on your die. Line up your printed work with the hole in the 
plastic and make sure the design fits correctly. Roll through die cut machine.
Assemble 3D jars following directions on die packaging. Just add tape 
to the tabs on the inner well and place jar front and back on, then add lids.
 Print a faux chalkboard label with black background and glue on

off white matboard. I also outlined the die with a white pen. However, as 
with many craft projects, this went a little wrong… the white was TOO white, 
so I added a very light yellow copic marker on top of the white lines. I wound 
up actually liking this because it gave that kind of blurred effect that 
chalkboard has. So all is well 🙂



Die cut and adhere to box. Tie twine around the top of the jar. 

Add metallic painted lid and adhere with strong adhesive.
Think of all the ways this can be used! I can’t wait to explore the options further. 

Would you like to try Craft Attitude? If so, click on the link in the sidebar- there is free shipping right now but not sure how long it will run. Thanks for stopping by…

I Love the USA Blog Hop

Welcome to the I Love the USA blog hop- sponsored by my amazingly talented friends Laura Kelly Walters and Jen Goode!

Laura has designed a line of fabric for Joann Fabrics and her bloggers friends have teamed up to show some cool ways to use it. Jen is the technical whiz who made it easy to navigate the links, giveaway, html stuff, etc- thank you! This hop was especially fun because along the way we received little treats and surprises in the mail to help keep our creative mojo going.

Here’s who’s up today:

  • Jennifer Margeson- Laura Kelly Designs
  • Niki Meiners- 365 Day of Crafts
  • Eileen Hull- you are here!
  • Melony Bradley- Mel Designs
  • Lorine Mason- It’s Sew Lorine
  • Cathie Filian- Cathie and Steve
  • Jen Goode- Projects for Preschoolers

Thanks to these generous partners who contributed product and inspiration to the hop:
General Fabrics, Plaid, Fiskars, Coats and Clark, Buttons Galore and More, Joann Stores, Cre8Time, and Expressionery!

I made a couple of things… once I got going it was hard to stop. The fun colors and cheerful peeps just make me happy. Do you Cre8Time for yourself to enjoy the satisfaction of making something? You really should!

First up, a wreath.

A 12″ STYROFOAM™ wreath was wrapped with blue ribbon. I used some 3D flower dies I designed for Sizzix to decorate the wreath:

I added fabric to both sides of a 6″ x 6″ pice of Phoomph, an adhesive backed foam stabilizer. Then I ran the whole piece through the Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine. Solid color felt and paper pieces were also cut and added to the flower layering process. I adhered them to the wreath with hot glue and added patriotic buttons to the flower centers. A red and white pipe cleaner is used as a hanger.

 

I am co-hosting a luncheon today for fellow military spouses here in
the DC area. Our theme is Flag Day- perfect timing! This wreath will
hang on the door to welcome our guests.

 

My other project is a framed and matted piece.

I covered Crescent matboard with Laura Kelly Walters fabrics and created a shadowbox behind it with a little scene of the peeps.
(FYI, I was not sure how this would work but it came out great- will definitely be using this technique again.)

Here’s how I made it:
  • Coat the matboard with Mod Podge Fabric , then lay your fabric on top of the matboard piece (right side up) Mod Podge the fabric. Let dry overnight.
  • Using a Logan mat cutter, cut a 6″ square window in the fabric covered matboard. A piece of red matboard was selected as the second mat and cut 1/4″ smaller.
  • Make a shadowbox of the blue matboard for the backing.
  • Stitch “I heart the USA” using Coats & Clark embroidery floss.
  • Add the peeps (extra pieces of fabric that I had already Mod Podged) by adhering with Zots. Don’t you love the guy doing a cartwheel?
  • Adhere fence piece (part of my new Garden Gate Album die from the Picket Fence Sizzix collection.) Arriving now in your local scrapbook stores!

I had a great time playing with Laura’s fabric.

Wooden Wedding Sign

I was asked to make a sign for my friend’s wedding. She wanted it to say, “All the roads led to you” which I love. She has a happy ending story and I am so excited for her in her new life.

So I went to Lowe’s and bought the wood I needed. Although the power saw was out, the nice employee cut the wood for me with a hand saw. Upon checking out all options, I decided to use a picket for the stake because I liked how it looked. All told, I think the sign was made for less than $5 in materials!

Lace Front wigs

After painting all of the boards white with some leftover paint I had on hand, I asked my husband how he would attach the boards to the back. He helped me by screwing the boards to the back. (I was considering gluing them but will admit it’s very sturdy the way he did it)

Then it was time to break out my Sizzix eclips electronic die cut machine. I LOVE that you can cut your own designs on this!

I laid out the text I wanted on the computer, selected a font, saved in the appropriate file format and pressed “cut”. The machine cut out the words from vinyl chalkboard material (I didn’t realize till after it was cut that it was chalkboard- I just saw black…) After cutting all of the words, I used a piece of clear contact paper to transfer the letters to the sign. And that was pretty much all I did… did give a brief coat of spray sealer in case it rained on wedding day and signed the back too.

I really like how this turned out and it makes me want to make more signs…

Thanks for stopping by!

Eileen

 

Picket Fence

I have a post up over on the Sizzix blog about my new collection of dies called Picket Fence.

They are shipping any day now and I can’t remember when I have been this excited about a collection of dies. Gardening was the inspiration and the dies work great for favors, cards, invitations, albums and table settings. I hope you’ll take a look and try one (or sixteen) out 🙂
For more info and ideas, check out my post on the Sizzix blog and come back here for looks at projects all through June!

Washi Tape Gift Card Folder

Are you loving washi tape as much as I am? It is so easy to use and brightens up any project. This  aqua diamond pattern by Scotch is one of my favorites. Jennifer gave it to me at the SNAP conference and I am hoarding it. 

Here’s a project I did for the Sizzix UK blog. Stop over for instructions on how to make this fun Gift Card Holder using the new Sizzix die of the same name. 

Hope you are having a good Memorial Day weekend. Remember all those who gave their lives for our freedom and all who have served our country…

Square Box with Vintage Button Trim Tutorial

Here is a look at one of my new Sizzix From the Heart dies. The Square Box is such a handy size- it’s about 3.5″ square- the perfect size for a cupcake (shoot- now I want a cupcake!). I stacked vintage buttons to use as a knob and on the bottom of the box as feet.

Assembling the box is quick and easy. This particular box is covered with fabric so it’s one extra step but to actually build it takes only one or two minutes (see video below). This box is great because you can customize colors and match to special events (wedding or party themes) or home decor. Since this is a ScoreBoard die, it’s designed to cut and score matboard and thick materials, resulting in a sturdy, rigid box that will hold up to whatever you want to put inside.

 
Here’s a video with a quick look at assembling the box:

Coat two 6″ x 13″ matboard pieces with spray adhesive. Place fabric on top of matboard and press down when fabric is in desired position. Run the matboard through the Sizzix Big Shot twice with the Square Box die.

Place strong double sided adhesive on three of the four tabs. The flap with no adhesive is where the box will open and close.

Adhere the label shapes to the outside of the box for a decorative embellishment (or not).

TIP: The label shape may be die cut from paper and used to decorate cards, layouts, jars, bottles and packages.

Here’s how to use the Square Box die in a different way to make a chunky book– so much fun! 
Tomorrow I am headed off to NYC to see the National Stationery Show. Can’t wait- there is so much cool stuff there! Thanks so much for stopping by.

Ann Butler Unity Blog Hop

So excited to be part of this hop! My good friend Ann Butler has launched her own line of Unity rubber stamps rubber stamps! 


If you would like to order some of these high quality unmounted rubber stamps there is a 50% off coupon deal offered by Unity for anyone ordering Ann’s stamps between Thursday May 2 – Monday May 6 at midnight CST. Make sure to give the coupon code- Unity5.

In order to celebrate Ann’s stamp release, there is a blog hop so grab a drink, get comfy and hop around to see all of the inspiring projects created with these fun stamps.





These stamps are so much fun to work with! I love how they are all sized at 1″ or 2″ squares and triangles so you can mix and match colors and shapes and they all work together.

I have been seeing eye charts everywhere and decided to make one for my Mom for Mother’s Day.
You will need:
  • Unity stamps by Ann Butler
  • Clearsnap ColorBox™ pigment ink- assorted colors
  • 2″ off-white matboard squares
  • double sided tape
  • flat frame with 2″-3″ borders (I painted mine first and distressed the edges)
  • eye chart- designed and printed on the computer

Paint frame in desired color. Stamp 16 matboard squares with 
coordinating ink colors. (I was going for a graphic look and 
the colors I chose were pretty bright)
Arrange squares on the frame. If necessary fill in with matboard strips for balance. 
Each frame will be different so you have to play with this.

Adhere squares to frames with double sided adhesive.

Insert eye chart into frame.


Give to Mom- she will love it!


Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to visit the other designers’ blogs to see more fun and inspiring ideas.


Paper Store in JFK Airport

I recently took the red-eye back from the SNAP blogging conference in Utah. Aside from the crying baby, the first leg of the journey was not too bad. There was a brief layover in NYC at JFK and we had to change planes. I turned a corner outside my gate and to my delight, saw this beautiful paper store called Muji! 

At 6 AM my brain was not doing so well and I didn’t get pictures except for this one…

The prices were very reasonable and I found some pens with .3 nibs. For the pen geeks reading- you know how hard it is to find a nice pen with a nib that fine! I love these and keep doodling away when there are way too many other things I should be doing… 
Looks like they have an online catalog. Here’s what I bought but now I am kicking myself for what I didn’t get… luckily they have an online catalog.

 I think I need another trip.

Paper Store in JFK Airport

I recently took the red-eye back from the SNAP blogging conference in Utah. Aside from the crying baby, the first leg of the journey was not too bad. There was a brief layover in NYC at JFK and we had to change planes. I turned a corner outside my gate and to my delight, saw this beautiful paper store called Muji! 

At 6 AM my brain was not doing so well and I didn’t get pictures except for this one…

The prices were very reasonable and I found some pens with .3 nibs. For the pen geeks reading- you know how hard it is to find a nice pen with a nib that fine! I love these and keep doodling away when there are way too many other things I should be doing… 
Looks like they have an online catalog. Here’s what I bought but now I am kicking myself for what I didn’t get… luckily they have an online catalog.

 I think I need another trip.