Eileen Hull

Spook-tacular Sizzix Projects

15 Oct

Hello Everyone! Today I have some Spook-tacular Sizzix projects to share with you. I’ll be introducing more new members to the Inspiration Team, a special guest designer and announcing the winner and top 3 of last months “Fall Back” challenge. Grab a seat and get comfy you’re in for a heaping dose of creative “Tricks and Treats!”

First I would like to welcome the oh-so-talented Anne Redfern to the Inspiration Team! Anne has been wowing us with her sculptural Artist Trading Block designs as a member of Team ATB and I couldn’t be happier that she has now come aboard the Inspiration Team! In her true sculptural style Anne is here to amaze you with this incredible ATB Haunted House!

Talk about Sizzix prowess, man can our girl Anne work those dies! You won’t want to miss a single spooky detail on this super spooky house so stop by Anne’s Blog…if you DARE!

Next, we have Donna Budzynski with her creative paper clay take on the classic Jack-in-the-box. Behold, the Halloween Cat-in-the-Box! I just love how Donna has combined Sizzix Artist Trading Blocks with clay sculpting! How about that black cat eh? He sure is the “cat’s meow”!

Stop by Donna’s Blog to learn more about how she created this Halloween Cat-in-the-box ATB tower.

We also have a very special guest designer…Team ATB member Claudine Criner! Claudine used the stove from my soon-to-be-released Vintage Kitchen collection in such a unique way…a spooky Halloween Treat Box! I just love the detail on the decorative top and the sneak peek of those sweet treats through the stove window!

Head on over to Claudine’s Blog for more details on this Spooky Halloween Treat Box.

Now, without further adieu let’s get to some equally “spook-tacular” entries in last months “Fall Back” challenge…

The winner of the Art with Heart “Fall Back” challenge is Pair of Petals! How fabulous is this fall Sizzix paper flower wreath created with my flower dies? I would “adore” having this on my front door for sure!

Stop by Pair of Petal’s Blog for more on this fantastic fall paper flower wreath.

Pair of Petals please email Amy(at)pluckingdaisies(dot)com with your shipping info and I will get your prize out to you.

Our first entry in the Top 3 is this bewitching Artist Trading Block Witch House by Carole Z. Isn’t it amazing how many ways you can create and construct 3-D art with an ATB?

Visit Carole’s Blog to see if “the witch is in” and find out more about this spooky good Sizzix project!

Speaking of witches Sara’s Closet shares an absolutely incredibly paper flower witch hat! You won’t want to miss a single detail on this amazing creation…AND it lights up!

Visit Sara’s Blog for more detail shots and a tutorial on how she created her gorgeous flowers!

Last but not least this lovely, leafy ATB by Bonnie McLain. Bonnie really captures the “Joy” of fall with this beautifully stamped artist trading block design.

Stop by Bonnie’s Blog for fun fall stamping techniques!

Congrats to our winner and Top 3 and thanks to all for sharing your Art with Heart! You can link up your creations for the Art with Heart “Tricks and Treats” Challenge HERE.

The Inspiration Team will be back next week with more “Tricks and Treats” for you.

Eileen

Day 40- Paper Trail 3

13 Oct

OK, I am a little behind in filling you in on my travels, but I promise I will go back and post about earlier happenings when I get home. Thankfully I have lots of pics to remind me what happened when!

Last night I had dinner with my friend Jen Goode and she says I should just do quick updates here and not worry about writing big long posts… of course I always do what my wise friends say so here we go…

I have been having issues with Scotty- the lock on the door totally froze when I was at Simple Pleasures and we had to load everything in the back of the truck and ride around with it for several days while I figured out what to do. I dove up to the Littleton area and called a locksmith through roadside assistance.

He charged me $129 to open the door but was not able to offer a solution except to jam the lock so I could get in. Many thanks to all of my amazing folks who are traveling along this journey with me. Due to your help and support, I was able to handle this with a minimum of anxiety because I felt like you were all there for me to bounce things off of.

So that night I parked Scotty very close to the curb (it’s so low to the ground the door was wedged closed). Yesterday I went to my event at Stamping to See You and a lady there knew a locksmith. He came right over. He was adorable… Floyd was 86 and knew his locks, but pronounced that Scotty’s was shot and probably a latch would have to be installed. Luckily I had a good supply of Industrial Strength Velcro®- I used several strips of it to keep the door closed until I had a more permanent solution.

Today I got up and started calling around to see if anyone could take a look. It’s Columbus Day so some places were closed. But I lucked out when I got Greg Heights on the phone. I told him what happened and he said, “Don’t worry. I will do my best and we will figure something out.” I loved his can do attitude!

I hopped in Big Daddy and made sure the Velcro was secure on Scotty’s door. I could just imagine it opening while I was driving and seeing it go flying off the camper in my rear view mirror! Partway down the highway I had to get out and tighten it, but it held till I got there.

When I arrived, Greg took out the old lock and surveyed the situation.

He came out with tools, screws and hasps. After a few minutes, he came up with just the right latch for the job and bolted everything together. He thought of everything, including making it impossible for me to get locked in there 🙂 (How did he know about that incident in Florida?!)

He also gave me good info on the laws of running lights (mine are not working), so I went to Wal-Mart and got another set of bike lights for the bottom of the camper and I feel like I am back in business. I am loving the Velcro® this trip for sure!

I showed him the place where Scotty got hit last week and he said that they will probably declare it totalled, but to get an estimate when I get home. Wouldn’t that be amazing if the insurance paid me what I paid to buy it? I don’t know how that all works though… more adventures ahead, I’m sure.

He was very gracious and only charged me $40. I gave him $50 and was on my way to Wal-Mart to get a lock. Good as new!

Will try to write more often and thanks for following the #paprtrail3!

Art with Heart Challenge October “Tricks and Treats”

7 Oct

Hello Everyone! Happy October! In addition to a new Art with Heart Challenge, this month we have some new additions to the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team. I’m very excited to have the Team ATB gals sharing their creativity as part of the Inspiration Team as well as their knock your socks off Artist Trading Block designs on our sister site The Artists on the Block! I’ll be introducing each of our new team members throughout the month as they debut their Inspiration Team projects. In the meantime you can check out more of Team ATB’s amazing creations HERE.

Our theme for the October Art with Heart Challenge is “Tricks and Treats”. You can take the theme literally and show us your best Halloween projects or show your favorite crafty “Trick” and “Treat” us to some creative inspiration. Whatever you create I know we’ll be in for a “treat”!

Pam Bray has a bewitching Halloween Candy Box Artist Trading Block to share for her first Inspiration Team Project! Pam has been our resident Graphic 45 queen and her use of Steampunk Spells papers on this project is sure to leave you spellbound.

Stop by Pam’s Blog for more fabulous details on this Halloween themed ATB and welcome Pam to the Inspiration Team!

Lisa Hoel will drive you batty with inspiration as she shares mixed-media tricks and treats like this fantastic Halloween Candy drawer! I must say I am smitten by that bat drawer pull…how about you?

You’ll find details on this project and more on Lisa’s Blog. Fly on over and say hello and welcome Lisa to the Inspiration Team.

Next we have Tracy Evans with an over the top AMAZING Halloween Mini-Album! No your eye’s aren’t playing “tricks” on you, she really did put ALL those details into each and every page!

Stop by Tracy’s Blog for a look inside this amazing mini-album and prepare yourself for some absolutely stunning creative ‘treats’.

Shelly Hickox is always an innovator, and her latest Inspiration Team project is no exception. Shelly also created a Halloween Mini-Album but in a totally new way! That clever lass will flip your creativity upside down and show you how to use the mini-album die to create an oh-so-cool accordion album!

Shelly’s Blog has all the details you need on how to create this terrific Halloween Accordion Album!

In addition to loads of inspirational tricks and treats from the Inspiration Team we also have a special “treat” for the winning entry to our challenge this month. Since we are welcoming Team ATB members to the Inspiration Team I thought it would be fitting to offer one of my Artist Trading Block Sizzix Scoreboards dies as a prize. All you have to do is link up your “Tricks and Treats” project below and provide a link back to this post for a chance to win.

An InLinkz Link-up

We’ll be back with more creative Inspiration Team projects next Tuesday!

Eileen

PS I apologize for the delay in last months winners post #ScottyProblems 🙂 I will post the winners and Top 3 later this weeks….thanks for your patience.

Paper Trail 3 Return Trek Across America Update

6 Oct

I can’t believe I am already more than halfway done with my marathon two month Paper Trail Tour around America! I am pulling Scotty, my vintage camper, and teaching craft classes using Sizzix dies designed by me and signature Clearsnap inks in retail stores and at events!

Follow the Paper Trail experience in real time by LIKING my Eileen Hull Designs Facebook page where I am posting the latest pics and events. [Read more…]

Craft Your Stash Book Review

28 Sep

When Lisa Fulmer asked me to review her new book, I jumped at the chance! Lisa has been a friend for several years and is one of the most creative people I know. “Craft Your Stash” is a delight from cover to cover!

The book is broken down into several parts. The section on color theory was a great review. I loved Lisa’s tips on organizing, especially her idea to use a cupcake stand and mini-custard cups to hold small embellishments- so cute!

There are nineteen projects that you can make, including templates, detailed instructions and diagrams, or use the designs as inspiration or a jumping off point to create your own artwork. Everything you need to set the stage for a successful crafting adventure can be found in this book.

There is a great giveaway going on on The Craft Your Stash blog– head on over and leave a comment. Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win.

I have been traveling in my camper for the past three weeks throughout the country on the Paper Trail. I bring Lisa’s book with me every night into the hotel. Each time I look through I see something cool that I haven’t noticed before.

Check out the links below to see other reviews of the book:

I highly recommend that you click on this Amazon link right now and order it! This book may also be purchased in your local bookstore OR you can order a signed copy here. Wherever you get it, Craft Your Stash should be part of your crafty book collection.

Thanks for coming by…

Fall Fun Artist Trading Blocks

23 Sep

Hey everyone! We’ve had some wonderful Fall Sizzix project inspiration this past month. In honor of the first official day of fall I’ll be sharing some new fall Artist Trading Block projects from Team ATB and recapping all of the fabulous fall creations from the Inspiration Team! Grab a pumpkin spice latte and enjoy the show!

How fantastic is this Artist Trading Block cabinet created by Anne Redfern? I adore the Old Curiosity Shoppe Harlequin papers she used from Graphic 45 and those vials…Oh my! Are you ‘curious’ to see how Anne created this marvelous make? Run, don’t walk on over to Anne’s blog for more details!

Team ATB member Oxana never ceases to amaze us with her creative takes on the Artist Trading Block. Today Oxana is sharing not one but TWO new ways to use my ATB dies! How cool is this clever calendar? That clever gal used both of my ATB dies from the Cherished Collection to create this fabulous and functional piece of art…wow!

Next, Oxana shows another creative use of the ATB….a gift folder! The outside of this project is just as sweet as its contents. Stop by Oxana’s blog for more on these amazing Artist Trading Block projects and learn how to get more out of your ATB dies.

Finally we have the darling Diana Hetherington with another Fall inspired Artist Trading Block tutorial. Inky, mixed media goodness abounds in Diana’s fun fall ATB tutorial! Stop by Diana’s blog for some new Distress, Stenciling, and Embossing tricks for your next Artist Trading Block design!

In case you missed any of the Fall Back Projects from the Inspiration Team you can see them all HERE , HERE and HERE.

There’s still time to enter your Fall creations in the Art with Heart Challenge. You have until 8pm eastern time Thursday Sept 25. Share your Art with Heart HERE!

Eileen