Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

Drawer or Box? You decide…

On the Sizzix blog, I showed this Stacking Drawers project I created using the new Candy Drawer die from the Sweet Treats collection.

I promised to show you another way the die can be configured to make a box with a lid- yes- all from the same die… It’s all in how you tape it up. 

The drawer part goes together the same either way. Add strong double sided tape to all tabbed areas. Fold the drawer up and center the square piece on the bottom of the tabs. Press into place.


I also decided to emboss the frame section of the drawer so I ran it through the Big Shot with a Textured Impressions folder.

Add tape to the two segments of the box nearest the notched end. Place the drawer section on top of the second segment and fold and press the notched end up to the edge of the drawer. This forms a fun little box that opens and closes. I love that this box may be used in different ways!

I couldn’t resist adding some glitter. Take your Versamark Watermark stamp pad and run it over the raised areas of the embossing. Pour glitter on top and shake off excess. I love these new Momenta metal stickers and this one was just what I was looking for. Add sticker first, then glitter.

Wishing a Happy Birthday to my son Chris who is in Afghanistan. Can’t wait to give him a huge hug…


Thanks for stopping by!

My Craft Celebrity Friend, Tiffany Windsor

Ever wonder what makes craft celebrities tick? Let me introduce you to Tiffany Windsor, whose innovative new craft product, Cool2Cast, won second place out of over one hundred entries in the Innovations Showcase at CHA Winter 2012.
Tiffany wears many hats- she is the host of the popular web TV show, Cool2Craft, which airs on Mondays at noon (and also may be seen on demand at her site). She and her sister, Eco Heidi Borchers, demonstrate all kinds of inventive techniques on the show- many of them developed by their mother, Aleene Jackson (yes, THAT Aleene!), years ago. These techniques are classic- the colors and supplies may have changed, but bread dough roses are still amazing! Tiffany also consults for manufacturers and chains, does speaking engagements, designs product, and gives back to the craft community by serving as a member of the CHA Designer Council and as head of the PR Team. She is always there to help promote her fellow designers and is well-respected and admired for her dedication and professionalism.

Tiffany is no stranger to crafting- it’s a family affair! Here is our interview with her; read on to hear of her inspiring journey and all that she has accomplished in our industry…

Hi Tiffany! What is your favorite craft?

That’s way too difficult for me to decide! I am a self-proclaimed hard-core crafter which means that anything goes! I’ll try just about any craft product and technique and put my own twist to it. I am definitely most excited about my new product launch for Cool2Cast. It can be used in so many ways in so many creative categories so, OK… if I have to pick a favorite – it would be Cool2Cast! I have been developing the launch of this product for the past 3 years and I never grow tired of it and find new ways of using it every day.

How long have you been crafting? 
My first memory of a crafting project is at the age of 3 when I crafted an Easter basket with Styrofoam, chenille stems and ribbon. I have always been enchanted with ribbons and I remember how much I loved weaving the ribbons in and out of the chenille stems to make a basket.

Why did you start crafting?
In my family there was no choice 🙂 My mother’s business was in a major growth spurt when I was a young child, so the crafting business was a part of our everyday life. With 5 active kids, Mom gave us crafting supplies from her retail store to keep us busy. Fast forward to my adult years when I really embraced crafting for myself, I find crafting to be totally relaxing. Crafting is like a moving meditation for me. It’s my zen time.

Why do you keep crafting? 
About 10 years ago, I decided I was finished with crafting. Kaput, stop, end, no more. I was on total overload after having hosted and produced over 2,000 episodes of the Aleene’s Creative Living TV show for 6 years without a vacation. I thought I never wanted to see another craft again. I stepped away for about a year and in that time of soul searching I realized that crafting was really a passion for me. And sharing my love for crafting is a passion for me! So many people over the past 60 years have been enjoying the wealth of ideas in the Aleene’s vintage archives, I knew that I wanted to keep that heritage alive. That’s why in 2009, I started the Cool2Craft Community and TV show in an on-line format. It is the perfect way for me to keep connecting and sharing with the creative community.

What is your favorite crafty brand and why?
Aleene’s of course! Since I use glue in almost all my projects, I love that there is a glue for EVERY creative need. From basic all-purpose glues, to industrial strength and dry adhesives, to specific use, it is glue heaven in my studio.

Have you ever injured yourself crafting?
Thankfully no. But I do have an aloe plant handy in the studio whenever I try to use a glue gun. It’s excellent for glue gun burns.

What is your favorite crafty word? 
How about a crafty quote – “Get creative. Get inspired. Be cool!”

Tell us about your crafting space…
Since moving back to the west coast last year, I was able to set up my dream studio at my sister Heidi’s house. She had an enclosed patio area that was just being used to collect stuff so we cleared it out and I set up 6 crafting tables utilizing doors from the local ReStore (Habitat for Humanity) and set them on 3-shelf bookcases from WalMart.  Now I have lots of tabletop space to create on, and lots of underneath storage. And, it is a rare day that any of the tabletops are empty!  

Did your parents or grandparents craft?  Was your love of craft inherited? 
For anyone who doesn’t know, my Mom is THE tacky lady. Yes, Aleene of Aleene’s Tacky Glue, pioneer of the modern day craft industry. My sisters and I have often had the discussion of would we have been crafty if our Mom was not Aleene?  The rich creative environment in which I was raised definitely had to influence my love of crafting. I did work outside the craft industry for about 10 years so I have experienced my creative side both inside and outside the industry. Many people don’t realize that Aleene was not really a hands-on crafter. She had a natural talent for marketing and brought together design teams. I really inherited my crafting talent from my dad who is a very talented artist and craftsman. From my mom, I inherited the gift of visioning and perseverance. Mom forged paths that no one else even envisioned.  

What trends are you noticing in the Craft Industry? 
What I love about watching the craft industry right now is to see it re-awakening to general crafts. For so many years, the focus was totally on scrapbooking and papercrafting, so many general crafts and craft basics were overlooked. Now is the time that everyone seems open and ripe to get their hands onto products that have been ignored for so many years. I really salute the mixed media artists for showing the consumers that it’s OK to create and play and layer and glue and glob and sprinkle and have fun trying new techniques.

Can you give us a list any blogs or websites you write for, or that display your work – www.cool2craft.com, www.ilovetocreate.com, www.favecrafts.com



Thanks so much for your time, Tiffany!  Wasn’t it interesting to hear about growing up as part of a craft dynasty?

Another Candy Jar Project…

Today is a Designer Connection hop! Make sure to click on the blue button on the sidebar to go through and see all of the great and inspiring projects from the amazing designers in the group! 


This weekend we had a sixth birthday party for my granddaughter. Trinity likes princesses, coloring, running and playing with her puppy she named Lake Sparkle Hull 🙂


I decided to make her a little mini album from the Candy Jars ScoreBoard die from my new Sweet Treats collection. This project went together really quickly and will be a fun reminder of her birthday party at Mimi’s. On the back of the pages I will put wallet size photos of her special day. 

 

 

  1. Cover a piece of matboard with fabric by coating the back of the board with spray adhesive. Lay the fabric on top, smooth it out and run the whole piece through your Big Shot with the Candy Jar die. Cut two of the smaller jar fronts. TIP: after adhering fabric, sometimes the edges will fray if it is handled a lot. To prevent this, add a little Fray-Check around the edges.
  2. Cut a piece of Bazzill 12″ x 24″ paper lengthwise into a strip 3″ x 24″. Score every 2 7/8″. 
  3. Accordion fold the paper strip. Run strip through Textured Impressions and emboss borders. Shade with foam applicator and inks. Write wording on the pages.
  4. Write book title inside the window of the die and pop back into the opening- add a little glue to secure it inside the book with front and back windows.
  5. Attach two end papers to Candy Jar pieces. Adhere pages to back of jars. 
  6. Tie velvet ribbon around the top of the front cover jar.
  7. Add tiny flowers (ink edges first), leaves and pearl centers to the front of the book and adhere with Zots.
  8. I also added a cute little black metal bird sticker from Momenta to the front. First I inked it with gold Viva Decor Inka Gold. I love working with this product for many reasons- one is it dries immediately and the colors are so rich and shimmery. You need some of this!
Thanks Stefanie Girard– I borrowed your idea to make a mini album from the Candy Jars! 

Sizzix and Craftside team up!

Hi everyone! Wow what a weekend- lots going on!

  • our three week old grandson is coming for a visit this weekend
  • the Olympics have started
  • there is a supercool cross promotion and giveaway on the Sizzix and Craftside blogs this weekend! The members of the Sizzix Design Team each selected one of of my dies to work with and have created amazing projects with them! They have taken the dies and gone above and beyond anything I dreamed of. What an inspiration to see! Check out the links above to see how to enter to win- there are a few ways.
  • Jess from KinderStampO has a great blog post and project up at My Craft Channel using my Teacup die!

I had to join in the fun too. We redid the guest room to fit my daughter and SIL’s new family status and I wanted to make a little welcome gift to leave in the room. So I created a baby bottle announcement from the Candy Jars die, brand new from the Sweet Treats collection.


I love the Little Darling papers from Graphic 45 and was just waiting for the chance to use them. I cut a 12” x 12” piece of paper in half and spray-adhesived it (is that a word?) to a piece of 6” x 13” matboard. The process of rolling the die and matboard through the Big Shot cements the paper to the board and creates perfect score lines. Remember to place the right side to the die when cutting. I also ran a piece of kraft paper through for the bottle nipple and trimmed it to size and glued it on top of the bottle.

Daniel’s birth info was printed on cardstock and inserted  into the window opening. This picture was taken when he was only a couple of hours old. He kept putting his hands up to his heard with a concerned look on his face. Apparently being born is a little scary!

Five butterflies were cut from cardstock, then embossed and inked. I tried to sew through the stack but it was too thick so I wound up sewing through one layer of the antenna which gave the same effect and glued it on top of the butterfly. Leaves were placed on the bottom of the bottle with the butterfly on top. I tied hand dyed seam binding around the top. A metal embellishment from my stash finished it off.

Make sure to stop by the Sizzix and Craftside blogs and enter to win a prize package- good luck everyone! Have a great weekend- I am parked on the couch watching the Olympics with plenty of tissues!


CHA Wrap-up

I loved being at CHA and seeing everyone! The energy at the show was fantastic. Although  attendance was down from last year, it doesn’t bother me. Those who go will make connections and do business- you know that the ones who come are hard core! Everyone seems so much more relaxed at the summer show- there is time to talk and connect that you don’t get at the winter show. I didn’t get into every booth but think I saw the highlights. 


Time in the Sizzix booth was so much fun!  I loved meeting Gretchen Schmidt, Shelly Hickox, Jeanne Streiff, and Ronda Palazzari from the Sizzix Design Team and, as always, the time I got to spend with the talented Tammy Tutterow, DT Lead, was super fun… except for at dinner where she was eating some kind of gross octopus thing which she claimed “tasted like chicken” :-0. gah 
Demoing in the booth with my new collection From the Heart was a blast- I appreciate all of your nice comments and ideas. Can’t wait till it comes out- January seems so far away… 

Here’s a pic of our end of the booth. Once again I forgot to take photos… Thanks to those who did and posted them on Facebook- hope you don’t mind if I borrow them (Gretchen :-))! 
Here’s where we demo’d. My good friend Karen Burniston is shooting a video. Her new Pop ‘N Cuts were quite the rage- congrats Karen!

I want to thank Beth Reames of the Sizzix Art Department who designed the projects displayed in the booth made from my art. They were perfect- Beth is so great at what she does! I also want to thank Marty, who can build anything apparently, for the amazing display piece…

I had the pleasure of showing my dress in the Crafty Couture display. There were sixteen dresses- it was funny how each dress looked like the person who designed it. You would probably be able to tell which one was mine 🙂 Many thanks to Crescent Cardboard Company, manufacturer of the matboard I used- they sponsored my entry. 

I used foil for the bodice because I was not sure if the measurements on my dress form matched the one that would be at the show. The color was achieved by blending alcohol inks on the foil.

The flowers are die cut from one of my new flowers and soda cans and alcohol inked as well. Can you guess what my favorite color is?
 

On Tuesday night of the show, we all gathered in an upscale bowling alley to watch our friends, Andrea Currie and Lisa Fulmer, on TV! They were contestants in the new reality craft show, Craft Wars, and wound up kicking butt and winning! What a party that was. I am so proud of them…

So it was a good trip and I will remember it fondly. And now, time to get back to work!

CHA is around the corner…

… and I am working around the clock to get everything done! I never actually get everything done but I would be happy with even half of the things on my list…


Just wanted to pop in and show another sneak peek of my new Sizzix collection being released at CHA. I love this flower- there are so many ways to use it! This flower will be used in one of the workshops I’m teaching at the show.  

Wish me luck- it’s going to be a long week and very little sleep!