Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

Give Thanks!

I really wish there was a little more time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Store decor seems to go from Halloween right straight to Christmas. I think Thanksgiving is getting short-changed! We should dedicate more time to giving thanks for all we have, don’t you think?

A few weeks ago, the Duetica Design Team was privy to a sneak peek at a new font soon to be released! It’s called Woodwynds and I love it! Lots of swirls and curliques. I decided to do a matted piece reminding me to give thanks every day. And who knows, I may just keep it up all year!


There are 15 versions of this font. Starting with a plain serif, each successive version contains more and more swashes as you click through Woodwynds A through P. The good thing about this system is that if it starts looking too swirly (really? is there such a thing?), you can intersperse your phrase or title with a balance of undecorated and decorated letters creating a truly unique final project that pleases your eye.
I decided to use the words, “give thanks” so I am not limited to the holiday. Here is my project and how I created it!

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  1. Decide what size you want to make your project. (I used an 8″ x 10″ frame without the glass. I triple matted the artwork using my Logan 750 Simplex mat cutter– favorite tool of all time!)
  2. The artwork was designed in Illustrator to fit in a 5″ x 7″ cutout. The text “give thanks” was added using the Woodwynds font by Duetica Lettering Arts Studio. Make sure to balance your type so that all of the swirls add value and do not distract from the message you are trying to get across. Plain and more decorated letters were alternated resulting in a fun yet still readable result. (I’m loving that “k” that descends below the line!) 
  3. In keeping with the fall theme, the message was printed on kraft paper in orange and green text. After printing the artwork, Stickles glitter glue was added on top of the letter forms to accentuate them. A fairly heavy line was applied to the larger letter strokes and then spread out to thinner areas with a toothpick.
  4. Acorns and 3D flowers were adhered with Thermoweb Zots. The flowers were die cut from fall colored cardstock using the Sizzix 3D Flower die designed by Beth Reames. The larger flower was cut from a page in a child’s Golden Book. Other accents include dimensional leaf stickers.
  5. Since the flowers added dimension to the project, a spacer from foamboard was built to bump up the matboard from the artwork. Omitting glass from the frame helps with photographing the project since there is always a glare with glass!
  6. You can use this technique for many different occasions. Quick and easy!

eBarn Sale!

As I mentioned in this post, the Barn Sale is taking on another form this year!
Two newsletters have gone out so far featuring products created by the amazing Barn Sale vendors just for you! Each week you can view what is available and order from a selection of five specially designed products. Sign up for my newsletter on the sidebar if you’d like get the mailings.
Here what we have for sale so far:
Doorway Ornament by Lorine Mason- $18 
Can be personalized with your address!
Snowflake Ornament by Connie Cook $10 or 3 for $25
Soy Candles handmade by Teresa Balkin $12
available in 12 scents
God Bless America ornaments- $20
Hand soldered and designed by Charms & Flourish
Angelworks Mixed Media Collages by Ann Krier- small $20, large $25
Proceeds donated to charity for kinds
Kid’s Apron by Angie Colwell- $15
Handpainted Santa Slate $30 one left!
Christmas Dish Towels by Merry Stitches $8.50 
Assorted Magnets by Eileen Hull $4 each 3/$10
If you would like to order anything, please email me at EileenHull@aol.com. If you are unable to come and pick up your order in person, shipping charges will apply.
Please join us in the Barn 
1127 Devon Street, Herndon, VA
on Dec. 10th 
from 10 AM till 2 PM 
to celebrate the 
10th Anniversary of the Barn Sale!
There will also be lots of additional items for sale in our Cash and Carry area. Please take a few minutes out of your busy holiday schedule to enjoy the company of your fellow shoppers while you snack on yummy treats and hot cider in the relaxing atmosphere of the barn. List of what will be available is coming soon!
Thanks so much for being such great customers and we hope to return next year with the usual format! Please pass this info on to others that you feel might be interested. We appreciate your suport 🙂

Journey to Oz Suitcase

I was wowed by a project sent to me by Susan Tierney-Cockburn. I met Susan at CHA Winter this past January and she showed  some projects she created with my dies. One of my favorites was a house and garden she created with the Pro House die to honor the memory of her daughter Kelly who had recently passed away from breast cancer. See Kelly’s Garden in this post. Each flower was lovingly designed and crafted by hand. Susan has also written a beautiful book entitled Paper Bouquet which is available on Ellen Hutson’s site.
Here is “The Journey”. Susan used my Sizzix ScoreBoard Suitcase die, Graphic 45 papers and a ruby slipper created by Ellen Hutson. Every time I look at it, I see more details. Holy cow, this is amazing! Look at the little oil can- the teeny tiny poppies- this gorgeous ruby slipper! That paper covering Dorothy’s suitcase looks exactly like her dress in the movie!
Make sure you visit Susan’s blog where she has posted a recipe for Emerald City Brownies. More deliciousness! Here’s the story of how Susan created the project in her words.

Life is a Journey and like Dorothy, I am thankful for the friends, I’ve met along the way, who have taken this journey with me.  This concept is key when I was inspired by Eileen Hull’s “suitcase” die cut by Ellison/Sizzix and, like Dorothy and the friends she met along her way, I’ve found my way back home. These last eighteen months, after losing our daughter, Kelly to breast cancer, it’s been my friends who have given me support, helped me find love in my heart again, and shown me courage to help me continue on my journey.

One of my dearest friends, Ellen Hutson, who I’ve come to lean on considerably, has even designed a ruby slipper to complete this profound project of mine.  I’m in awe of every one of her shoe creations, but I have to say, this ruby slipper is the best ever!  It became the perfect “vessel” to show off my red poppies–the ones that put Dorothy and her companions to sleep and the symbol of my state of mine after such a great loss.
Lastly, I have to mention Graphic 45’s “Magic of Oz” paper that finishes the project.  The gingham design for Dorothy’s suitcase is a perfect match and the “cards of the characters” gives the box a familiar look to enhance the story.  However, it’s not just a story I’ve watched on television as a child based on the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, but a greater meaning I’ve discovered watching it as an adult. 
These little suitcases can hold the most wonderful “treasures”!  And, just like my mother, I love chocolate, and always have a stash when I need some!Dorothy’s Suitcase–scared and unsure how to get home, she begins a magical journey, meeting friends who will help her along the way.
The Scarecrow’s Suitcase–he thinks he lacks a brain, but his common sense helps guide and develop a plan to save Dorothy in their quest to reach the Wizard and return home to Auntie Em and Uncle Henry in Kansas.
The Cowardly Lion–a sweet character, afraid of his own shadow until his friends need him.  He has the courage to help Dorothy in her most perilous situations.
The Tin Man–probably my favorite, who longs for a heart from the Wizard.  However, he has the biggest heart of all and puts his friends first when they need him.
I hope you all think about the friends in your life that you take with you on Life’s Journey when you look at this project–I know I do.
I love how Susan shares her process with us and makes this an experience rather than a craft project. Thanks so much Susan and Ellen- this is a touching account and exquisite workmanship.
Susan sent me some great photos of the individual pieces which, due to technical ineptitude on my part, I am unable to share with you. I recently made the switch from PC to Mac and am having trouble doing what should be basic operations, like pasting in a photo! Please tell me someday it will come to me… in the meantime head on over to her blog to read more!

Barn Sale Update

On Veteran’s Day weekend for the past 10 years, I have held the Barn Sale, a two day boutique featuring handmade crafts including iron work, wood, fabric, paper, glass, pottery, needle arts, jewelry, baked goods, (you name it- in ten years we have seen it all!) which is set up in the 100 year old barn located on our property. Each year’s offerings are slightly different and definitely always interesting! We have a very loyal and generous following and the show is enjoyed by vendors and shoppers alike. The atmosphere is relaxed as friends chat over steaming cider and cookies and kids run around playing in the leaves. We usually do a collection for our local food pantry and last year brought 26 full bags of groceries to the church.


This year, life has taken a different turn and unfortunately, I am not able to do the show as I have in the past. See last year‘s announcement, sneak peeks and show.


However, there is a Plan B! Watch this quick video to see what’s up:

I look concerned in this picture (thanks YouTube!) but all is well! 
Interesting trivia- I am told they post the image exactly in the middle of the clip.

If you would like to receive the Barn Sale updates, sign up for my newsletter located on the sidebar. First one going out Friday, that’s 11/11/11! 

Don’t forget to thank a veteran!

Sizzix Linky Party

Hello everyone! Welcome back… no blog hop today… but something very interesting instead!

First, I want to thank everyone who stopped by the Fresh Vintage blog hop to check out the killer projects created by all of the fabulous designers, to leave comments and participate in our giveaways. There’s one final event going on this week right here- it’s a Linky Party! This is where where WE get to see what YOU have created with your Sizzix products.

It’s really easy- all you have to do is post a link to your blog post that shows a picture of your project! Don’t be shy-  show us your stuff 🙂 Place your links below (many thanks to InLinkz for making this so easy to do!) How many Sizzix projects can we get?

Sizzix Fresh Vintage: Petal Power

Today wraps up the Sizzix Fresh Vintage blog hop with our twelfth and final die! I am so grateful to the amazingly talented designers who created the beautiful projects for us to see twice a week. Many thanks to Sizzix who supported this hop and also to you, our loyal viewers, who commented and encouraged us all along the way. My next collection, It’s a Wrap, just went up on the Sizzix site. Go have a look! Who knows, there might be a another blog hop coming your way again soon…

To view the hop, you can click on the Fresh Vintage blinkie on the sidebar. This will take you around to all of the designers on the hop OR you can click on the linky party below for a look at the projects.

There are three Sizzix giveaways going on right now and you have a good chance of winning some really cool stuff! If you would like the chance to win the Flower, Layers #9 die, answer the question about today’s hop on the Oh My Crafts blog. Go to Creating the Hive, a cool crafting community, and leave a comment for the chance to win the Caddy die (you must be a member to comment but it just takes a minute to sign up!). And visit Julie McGuffee’s blog for info on winning the Caddy die and more!

One more fun thing… I’m not quite ready for this hop to be done. I want to see what you are working on! Do you have a Sizzix project that you would like to share? Join me and the Fresh Vintage designers next week when we do a big final Linky Party (like what you see below with the small pictures of the projects) This will open Monday, 11/7 at midnight and run until 11/11/11! Please stop by and post a link of one of your favorite projects! 

Petal Power is so versatile. You can cut fabric, fleece, paper and recycled materials. It actually makes a pretty big flower- about 6″ if you use the large and small petals. I can’t wait to see what the designers did with this one! Here’s a look:

I decided to make one of those rolled book page wreaths I have been seeing all over the place. 

  1. Tear 16 pages from a vintage book and run through Big Shot using Petal Power die.
  2. Cut a sturdy circle base that is about 6″ in diameter. I used scrap foamboard  but you could also use the cardboard from a frozen pizza. 
  3. Take drapery ring and adhere book page petals all around the ring with Zip Dry glue- large pieces in the back and small pieces in the front. 
  4. Cut a section of a colorful map page about 12″ x 2″. Trim top of map page with scalloped scissors. Ruffle/scrunch with your fingers and adhere to inside of drapery ring. 
  5. Get 5 kraft colored coffee filters. Grab each one in the middle and make a little ruffly poof. Fold the base in about 1″ and staple.
  6. Adhere coffee filters in a ring around the backing circle using double sided tape or glue gun. 
  7. Center a 3″ mirror on top of a large round (5″) recycled jar lid or foam board scrap. Place the drapery ring wreath on top of the jar lid and glue gun in place.
  8. Add a ribbon hanger and bow in the center of the wreath.
  9. Good luck taking a photo that does not include your face, camera or ugly basement ceiling. Mirrors are hard- forgot about that!


Additional Supplies:

6″ cardboard round, drapery ring, map page, book pages, 3″ round mirror

Sizzix Fresh Vintage: ScoreBoard Caddy

Welcome to the eleventh of twelve blog hops featuring dies from my Fresh Vintage collection. I hope you have been enjoying the fabulous projects created by these amazing designers.

To view the hop, you can click on the Fresh Vintage blinkie on the sidebar. This will take you around to all of the designers on the hop OR you can click on the linky party below for a look at the projects.

The featured die today is the ScoreBoard Caddy which has been specially designed to cut and score thick material like mat board. Matboard is my favorite art/craft supply ever. It’s nice and sturdy, you can ink, paint, chalk, mist and color it with markers. Cover it with paper or stamp on it. Whatever you do with this stuff, it looks great! The caddy can be created with just one pocket or you can cut two, and add another pocket on the back (like a beverage holder). The flowers and leafy vine also come with the die and are great for embellishments. 

The idea for this die on a trip to Aruba. My husband and I were delayed for 2 1/2 hours at the airport and when we finally boarded the plane, they offered us each a free drink. Although I was not quite ready for happy hour (at 10 AM), I took the little bottle. It was so CUTE I knew I had to make a tiny caddy for it. Unfortunately, it is not quite big enough! I have to work within the die specs and just could not make it fit 🙁 but that’s how the caddy came to be. And we had a GREAT vacation in Aruba!
Let’s take a look at what the other designers did with this die:

There are so many ways to fill this container. Pick a theme and have fun with it. For your friend who sews, tie up some fat quarters, add fun trims, needles and lace. Know a letter writer? Fill this with stamps, a pretty pen and personalized notepad. Chocolate fixes everything- send treats for a friend in need of cheering up. Put teabags and accessories in one for your favorite tea drinker. Hair bows and headbands would fit great in here. What would you put in the caddy?

To see dies and projects that have already been posted, visit the page above titled “Sizzix Blog Hops”. For a chance to win the Flower, Layers #9 die, answer the question about today’s hop on the Oh My Crafts blog today.
For my project I kept it simple. Had a big deadline today to finish up and deliver.
  1. Cut one divider piece and 2 pockets from aqua mat board. 
  2. Following instructions on package, assemble caddy adding pockets to front and back of divider. Cover divider with ledger paper on back side. 
  3. Color leaves and flowers with Copic markers, blending for depth. Add pearl bling to centers of flowers. Adhere to front pocket of box.
  4. Add a scoop of Perfect Pearls to a mister spray bottle. Spray mixture all over finished box. Let dry.
  5. I realized that the Memo Holder just fit perfectly in here! Did I plan it that way? Nope, but it worked out 🙂 Cut memo holder from heavy card stock. Place a matboard die cut on scoring board as a guide and score lines onto to paper memo holder.. 
  6. Emboss flap with Textured Impression folder. Add magnet closures.
  7. Wrap twine three times around outside of caddy and tie in a bow.
  8. Fill folder with post it notes. Add matching pencils and you have a fun little caddy for your desk. You may want to glue this to a base if contents are heavy or could get off balance.
A present for Trinity!

Special treat- Julie McGuffee is giving away the items pictured above! See the blue Designer Crafts Connection logo on my sidebar? Well, many of the DCC designers are also participating in this blog hop. Hop forward through these DCC designer blogs and see how many you can find with the Sizzix Fresh Vintage logo on their blog, then hop on over to Julie’s blog to leave a comment. She will announce the winner on November 8th, so check back.

Sizzix Fresh Vintage: Flower, 3D #2

Welcome back to yet another idea-packed Fresh Vintage blog hop! Today the fabulous designers will be working with the Flowers, 3D #2 die to create their projects. Wait until you see all of the ways they have used this die!
To view the hop, you can click on the Fresh Vintage blinkie on the sidebar. This will take you around to all of the designers on the hop OR you can click on the linky party below for a look at all the projects. To see projects that have already been posted, visit the page above titled “Sizzix Blog Hops”. For a chance to win this die, answer the question about today’s hop on the Oh My Crafts blog today.

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You may be thinking this is just another flower die. Well, it is… but it has four separate flowers it! And you can make large or small flowers depending on where you place your paper. For complete instructions, head over to the Sizzix site where you can download a pdf instruction sheet and tips for assembling the flowers.

And now, let’s see what the designers have done with the die:

I love working with crepe paper and was very excited to find it sold at my local AC Moore store in the gift wrap section. I made a bouquet of flowers using the different flowers on the die.

 

DESIGNER TIP: Use masking tape on the die to show where to place your paper for the corner circle flowers. I like using materials with a little “give” so the petals fold naturally- fabric works great, as well as felt, fleece, coffee filters, and tissue paper. Bamboo skewers and lollipop sticks work great for stems as do pipe cleaners and wire.

 

 

Flower #1:

  1. Cut 8 squares of crepe paper (or whatever you would like to use) for your flower. Fold them into quarters and place the folds toward the corner that is not getting cut. You can fold 4-6 pieces and cut at once.
  2. Take a 1″ STYROFOAM ball and place it at the end of a skewer. Coat with spray adhesive, then sprinkle colored glitter on top.
  3. Layer the stacks of flowers and punch a hole in the middle. Insert a brad and hot glue the glittered ball inside the flower. Add stem to back by inserting into styrofoam ball.
Flower #2
  1. Cut 8 squares of crepe paper as mentioned above.
  2. Poke a very small hole in the base of the fold, thread petals with floss, twine, thin wire or pipe cleaner and gather petals together.
  3. Attach to base of skewer with glue or wire.

 

Flower #3:
  1. Cut a stack of the smallest flowers (in the center of the die). Punch a very small hole in the middle of the stack.
  2. Insert thin floral wire into center of flower and add a pearl bead. Hot glue in place.
  3. Wrap stems into one, staggering flowers. Add a leaves to the stem if desired.

 

 

Flower #4
Happy Accident #517- When I took my crepe paper streamers down from the shelf, I saw they had been bleached randomly by the nearby fluorescent lights. I couldn’t have done that if I tried! I am setting them right back there for more cool bleaching when I put them away 🙂

  1. Using the fringed section of the die, tear a strip of from a roll of crepe paper about 30″ long. Fold up until you have a piece that fits inside the edges of the die.
  2. Run through Big Shot.
  3. Add 1″ of tacky tape to the end of a skewer.
  4. Keeping section folded, wrap around skewer and secure the end with floral tape.
  5. Fluff! Add leaves if desired.

BONUS: FELT FRINGED LOOP FLOWER

This is a great topper for a gift and is nice and full when cut from wool felt. You could also use on a headband or pin.
  1. Cut 4 pieces of wool felt about 4″ x 12″. Fold in half lengthwise and then into thirds so you have a piece 2″ x 4″.
  2. Lay felt on top of die with folds inside the cutting lines of fringe.
  3. Run all pieces through Big Shot. Open out to 2″ x 12″.
  4. Stitch along the raw edges with a basting stitch.
  5. Cut a matboard circle about 2″. Apply double sided tape to one side.
  6. Start winding felt from outside, edges in, spiraling into center.
  7. For center, coil one strip of felt around a knitting needle and stitch or glue piece to itself. Press into place!

 

See? Lots of ideas! What would you do with this die? What materials would you use? Thanks so much for stopping by- see you on Tuesday!

Sizzix Fresh Vintage: ScoreBoard Suitcase

Hi everyone and welcome to the Fresh Vintage blog hop. Today is exciting for three reasons: it’s my birthday, first post from my brand new computer and the Suitcase is one of my favorite dies!


To view the hop, you can click on the Fresh Vintage blinkie on the sidebar. This will take you around to all of the designers on the hop OR you can click on the linky party below for a look at all the projects. To see projects that have already been posted, visit the page above titled “Sizzix Blog Hops”. For a chance to win this die, answer the question about today’s hop on the Oh My Crafts blog today.


The Suitcase is a fun die- just the right size to fit a gift card, small piece of jewelry, ATC’s, a deck of playing cards, mini- album or hair accessories. Or it wouldn’t it make a great favor box or goody bag for a party or special occasion? You could also cut it out of patterned paper and score the folds in just a few seconds on your scoring board for a more customized look or embellish the suitcase with rubber stamps, inks, paints, ribbon straps, luggage tags, or beading. This die is really versatile. What would you put in here?



I can’t wait to see what the other designers have created for this hop! Let’s take a look:

It was so hard to choose what I wanted to do this time. I decided to make a cool vintage suitcase in black and cream using a hound’s tooth stencil from Crafter’s Workshop and then fill it with a few different things. 

  1. Cut suitcase die from mat board. 
  2. Place the stencil over the suitcase box and lid, and pounce Tuxedo Black Memento stamp ink with a foam applicator. Also stencil the small tab piece.
  3. Ink the inside of the box and lid by randomly swiping the inked applicator over the surface. Ink both sides of the handle also.
  4. Fold up the box and add brads to each of the four holes in the corners.
  5. Add tacky tape to the back of the lid tab and adhere to the inside back of the suitcase.
  6. Add tacky tape to one side of the small tab and adhere just to the edge of the front of the lid. The pressure of the tab against the inside of the suitcase will keep the box closed. Attach the handle to the suitcase with more tacky tape and you are done!
  7. I decorated the front of the suitcase with orange velvet ribbon, a Fringed flower and a Katiedids Creative Component. I added crystals to the outside of the component and then filled with Dimensional Magic to embed the crystals. Then I added a few more drops to the center and placed an orange card stock coil into the center. 
  8. Add whatever fun things you want, add a card and you are set!
 Nothing says Halloween like candy corn
 Stack of ATC cards.
 Deck of cards with embossed black moth of death (for Karl)
 Katiedid Component filled with crystal goodness

 Hey what’s that???
Yikes! A popping up bat! Die by Karen Burniston

Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop: Leaves

Happy Thursday everyone! Are you ready to see another batch of cool projects created by the Sizzix Fresh Vintage designers? Today we are focusing on the Leaves die.
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Please make sure to check out all of the innovative projects posted on the hop today. You can do this by clicking on the thumbnails below or on the Fresh Vintage navigation blinkie on the sidebar. I happen to know there are a couple of fun surprises here and some great techniques too. Who knew that a leaf could be used in so many ways? Ready? Let’s hop!

If you would like a chance to win a Flower, Layers #9 die (to go with your leaves), please stop over at Oh My Crafts blog and see what the “Hop Question of the Day” is. Leave a comment about the hop projects and get some fun tips at the same time.

For my project, I resurrected something I had written a long time ago. It seemed appropriate to use for this hop. I have been blessed by many friends in my life, including the designers on this hop and many of you who take the time to read our blogs and leave your kind comments. I used my favorite Duetica font “Mandolyn” (again!) to communicate my message.
  1. Layout saying using font of choice on cream cardstock. I also decided to add some special effects to my test, typing my words on curvy lines to mimic leaves falling. Print out artwork.

  2. Cut a 10″ x 10″ mat from Crescent matboard #3291.
  3. Stamp front of mat with four coordinating colors. Use foam blending tool to apply ink from Stephanie Barnard’s new Clearsnap stamp pads. I love these pads because they are really juicy but wanted the control of the applicators so the color was not too intense. Blend the ink and sponge on ImageStamp by Lara Scott.. I like this stamp because it’s 5″ x 7″ and covers a lot of area all at once. Stamp all over front of 10″ x 10″ mat.
  4. With Logan Mat Cutter, cut a 2″ border all around stamped matboard piece.
  5. Add scrap foamboard strips on the back of the mat to give a shadowbox effect. Cut another piece of foamboard 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ for backing.
  6. Cut a bunch of leaves out of heavy duty paper. On a thick piece of fun foam, draw lines on the back of the leaf with a stylus, pressing into the paper to create veins.
  7. Drag leaf across stamp pads randomly to show veins. Ink edges
  8. Adhere leaves to mat edges with ATG gun, overlapping to cover beveled edge. Intersperse pearl bling among leaves.
  9. I accidentally got ink on my printed piece. Decided to ink the whole thing. Happy accident- now the paper blends in better with the mat! Hah!
  10. Center text under mat. Adhere to backing board. Add sawtooth hanger to foamboard for hanging or insert into 10″ x 10″ frame. You will have to add spacers though to accommodate the dimension from the leaves. Or just take the glass out of the frame.
  11. Done!

Thanks for stopping by my friends. Make sure to visit all the other designers to see what they have done with this die. See you next Tuesday!