Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

Happy Birthday magazine

Just a quick post to let you know that Amy Powers’ Happy Birthday magazine is published and available for download. I am totally impressed by her talent. She put a 245 page idea book together in just a two months and every turn of the page is a delight! I saw her previous “Spring” issue on Facebook and thought it sounded cool so I followed the link, paid my $3.30 and downloaded it. What a treat- talk about eye candy!

Loved the look of it so much, I decided to see if I could submit something for her next issue and contacted Amy. In the course of our conversation, I discovered that she actually lives right down the road from me! We are going to get together at some point and meet in person.

I promise you will not regret getting this magazine- it is so worth it! Follow the link above and let me know what you think… And don’t forget to check out pp. 186-191- you might know that designer 🙂 What is your favorite project? What was your favorite birthday memory? 

Floral Trinket Box

I am so excited to be working with Oh My Crafts, a huge on-line scrapbook and craft supply store! They carry my dies and asked if I would do a UStream video for them demo-ing one of my dies. I happily agreed so went on and did a show. However, I neglected to push the record button :-(. Since I did not want to have cleaned the studio for nothing, I did an encore performance. You can see it on the Oh My Crafts UStream channel. They have 4-5 shows every week highlighting products that they sell. These mini-classes are a great way to find out different uses for all of the amazing supplies, tools and gadgets out there. I like to turn a tutorial on and watch or even just listen to it as I am puttering around in my studio.

Here’s how to make the box.

You will need:

Big Shot
Sizzix ScoreBoard Box w/Lid die
Little Sizzles
Textured Impression folder
Zip Dry Paper Glue
spray adhesive
heavy duty tin foil
rubber bands

Instructions:

  1. Cut matboard in half so you have two 6″ x 12″ pieces. Cut a piece of foil about 6″ x 12″. Coat the back of the foil with spray adhesive and place it on a piece of matboard. Smooth foil flat on board. With foil side facing down, place matboard piece on die and run through Big Shot.
  2. You will now have a box and lid cut out. Bend at each fold to break the fibers down and ensure a crisp score. Place the box bottom (larger piece) in a Textured Impressions folder, leaving one side of the box out of the folder. Run through Big Shot. Repeat for remaining side and lid of box.
  3. Randomly sprinkle drops of alcohol ink over the boxes. More ink will result in darker colors and less ink will have almost a watercolor effect. Completely cover box by swirling and blending ink with small paint brush. Let dry for about 5 minutes.
  4. Fold up box and lid. Wrap rubber bands around the boxes to hold them together. Run lines of Zip-Dry Glue down the inside four corners. Let dry for about 5 minutes.
  5. Your box is complete!

OPTION: A hinged lid may be added by punching two 1/16″ holes on one flap of the lid. Glue the opposite corners together, leaving the joins near the brad holes glueless.

I’ll be back with another tutorial on how to assemble the Fresh Vintage flower die.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful Moms out there, including my own!

Mother’s Day Teacup

Today is a hop with my Designer Connection friends! See the blue logo on the sidebar?  Click on it (back or forward) and you will be taken around the webring of blogs of participating designers. Those taking part in this hop have been busy creating their latest and greatest so you won’t want to miss this. All of the projects posted today celebrate this busy time of year, so you will get lots of inspiration. I’m going to try to get this gift for Mom in the mail tomorrow (she will be in shock if she sees a package from me before the actual event!).

Does your mom enjoy a nice cup of tea? Mine is more of a coffee drinker, but on occasion, she will get the teakettle going. This project was made using my Sizzix ScoreBoard Teacup die. This would be great to give this to your mom loaded up with teabags, small gifts, jewelry, or a gift card to the spa. 

Here’s a quick peek. It’s still a surprise so don’t tell :-). Later this week I will post instructions and share some of the cool techniques (like how to make that fun flower and glittery stem). Thanks for dropping by and hope you will check out the Designer Connection!

Flower Artist Susan Tierney Cockburn

While I was at CHA in January, I had the pleasure of meeting the amazingly talented Susan Tierney Cockburn. She came to my booth and showed me some of the most unbelievable projects that she had made using my ScoreBoard dies. She has graciously allowed me to share some of them with you. Susan’s specialty is making paper flowers- some are so TINY and so PERFECT!  

I especially love the project she calls Kelly’s Garden, made in honor of her daughter who passed away from cancer. So many times, the joy of working with my hands has helped me through tough times and I know that Susan has found comfort there as well. This project is beautiful on many levels and I am so honored that Susan would use my House die as a base for such a special art piece. Look at all of these miniature flowers all made by hand! Wow…

Her book, Paper Bouquet, is filled with detailed examples of her work. Why not order one for Mom as a Mother’s Day gift?

Paper Bouquet

Here’s Susan’s version of a ScoreBoard Box die using the Create-A-Bow to top it off with one of her signature flowers inside. Love this!

I am going to post another set of Susan’s projects which she made using my Cake die. I will be holding a giveaway which you will automatically be entered into if you vote for your favorite cake!
Speaking of cake, you should definitely check out Susan’s blog, My Mother’s Apron Strings, where she posts mouth watering desserts and other tasty treats almost every day. How she makes all this and remains skinny is a mystery to me.
Thanks for stopping by!

Mother’s Day Cupcakes


I have such talented friends! Here’s a project done by fellow designer Gabriela Delworth, who has used my Sizzix ScoreBoard Cupcake Ruffle die to make a mouth watering cupcake for Mom on her special day. She embellished the matboard holder with beautiful pressed flowers. Lucky Mom!

Sterling has just released Gabriela’s Flower and Leaf Press book kit. The book includes 12 projects using dried flowers. The kit also comes with an actual flower press so you can create the projects yourself. Knowing Gabriela and her attention to detail, this book kit is a winner and sure to have beautiful photos and projects!

Be sure to check out Gabriela’s blog for lots more cool ideas.

More news coming this week- stay tuned, my friends! Hope you are enjoying the nice weather…

Wedding Bell BLUES

Don’t worry- the wedding bell blues are a good thing! Those are the colors my daughter chose for her wedding this past Saturday. It was just about as perfect a day as anyone could hope for. No rain, good food, great family and friends and lots of fun!
cheap bridal veil
Here’s a picture of the seating chart I made from an old window.

You will need:

vintage window
old book pages
Mod Podge
ribbon
calligraphy marker
Sizzix Fresh Vintage flower dies by Eileen Hull (coming soon)
blue and white crepe paper
white tissue paper
brads
silver pipe cleaners
Sizzix Eclips machine
Starter & Rockin Janie Cartridge

blue paper in varying shades
silver pen
Instructions:
  1. Clean and sand edges of windows. Rub stain or ink over sanded edges for shabby look.
  2. Tear out pages from an old wedding etiquette book. Mod Podge pages to back side of glass, varying position of pages for interest. Tear strips if necessary to cover all areas of the glass. Use a brayer to work bubbles out and make paper smooth.
  3. Write message on ribbon with calligraphy marker. Embellish ribbon with Fresh Vintage flowers cut from crepe paper and tissue paper in various colors. Add bling, silver leaves and stacked book page hearts. Hot glue flowers and other embellishments to ribbon.
  4. Cut out desired heart shapes using Eclips die cut machine. Cut a slit in each heart from the bottom point to the middle of the heart. Put a piece of double sided tape on the bottom left side of the point. Fold flaps into center and trim off extra pieces to form a 3D heart.
  5. With a silver pen, write the name of each guest and their table number. Adhere to window with glue dots.
  6. Arrange hearts in alphabetical order leaving the names visible at the bottom of the heart.
  7. Enjoy the event! We sure did. 🙂

I messed up! My brain is still in wedding mode- I was supposed to post an Easter project today (not wedding), as part of the Designer Connection blog hop. Luckily, I happen to have this little basket made from a Dove soap box in the archives. For some other cool Easter projects, click forward or back on the Designer Connection button on the sidebar for a trip around our webring to see what this fabulous group has to show!

Ready?

Practicing my copperplate calligraphy- it’s been a while… and rocks are probably not the best surface to start with. But still, these came out not too bad.
You will need:
rocks
oblique calligraphy nib
black permanent ink
Instructions:
  1. Clean and dry rocks. You can buy them in craft stores, gardening departments of home improvement centers and sometimes dollar stores. Or you can find them outside in nature. Select them for color or shape. Rocks much be fairly smooth so your pen can move as you write and not get stuck in irregularities of rock.
  2. Write words in calligraphy conforming to size and shape of rock.
  3. Use as favors with the couples’ initial and date of wedding or as name place settings.
  4. If desired, spray rocks with sealer to protect them.
This is an easy and inexpensive way to add a special feel to your event!

Coming Soon!

Tip Junkie handmade projects

Here’s a sample of one of my new dies that will be coming out in the Sizzix Fresh Vintage collection this June!

You will need:
Sizzix Big Shot
Sizzix Fringed Flower by Eileen Hull (almost here!)
Sizzix Leaves by Eileen Hull (shipping in May)
small white frame
Extreme Glitter Paint– Plaid
matboard scrap for background
tissue paper
spray mist- yellow
glitter brad
sentiment with white distress ink
glue dots

Instructions:

Paint frame with glitter paint using random strokes. Feel free to leave more glitter in the folds and creases. Let dry. (Oh this is fun stuff- doesn’t show up in this pic so well but quite glittericious)

  1. Print or stamp sentiment and snip ends for a banner effect. Ink edges with white.
  2. Layer 20 pieces of tissue paper on top of smallest fringed flower on Bigz Fringed Flower die. I used the packaging from the tissue paper and folded it to size. Die-cut flowers. 
  3. Assemble flower by securing brad in center hole. Spray with desired color mist. Allow to dry. Ruffle up edges using a pencil eraser.
  4. Cut 2 leaves and draw in details if desired. Assemble flower and banner on frame with glue dots.

Happy Spring everyone! 11 days till wedding 🙂

Countdown

I am still alive. Just a little crazy. Jess’s wedding is coming up FAST and there’s still so much to do. Where would I be without my generous friends that are always so happy to help me?  In big trouble- that’s where…

Promise to write more later. Lots going on behind the scenes including: fun ideas for my Fresh Vintage dies available in June, info on CHA Summer Workshop, new design teams I’m working with and (trust me) lots more… but now, time for bed! Tomorrow I go see the florist about centerpieces, pick up paper for table favors, doctor’s appt… etc.