Blog - Eileen Hull

Show Us Your Card Techniques

13 Jan

To kick off our new “Make it Monthly” Technique Tutorial the Inspiration Team will by sharing Card Techniques throughout the month of January! Card and Tag making is a timeless crafting experience and it’s always fun to have a few creative card tricks up your sleeve. Leave it to the Inspiration Team to get your creative card mojo flowing with their clever card technique tutorials.

Pam Bray starts us off with a stand out card creation filled to the brim with card techniques. Pam used a plethora of Eileen Hull Sizzix dies and products for this stunning card. Each thoughtful layer of Pam’s Bee-YOU-tiful card is a creative technique that you can use to add some wow to your cards and tags.

Eileen Hull Sizzix Card Techniques : Be Yourself Card Tutorial by Pam Bray

Visit Pam’s Blog for cool techniques using a brayer and my embossing folders, paper flower ideas with Paper Flower Party Sizzix dies, Twist and Style Tool Tricks, plus fun ways to use my Clearsnap Blends inks! WOW!!

Tracy Evans shares a masculine mixed-media card that is capital A amazing! Down to the last detail Tracy shows you every step you’ll need to take to create this stunning card. You’ll learn many cool ways to use mixed-media in your own card and tag making ventures with this detailed tutorial.

Eileen Hull Sizzix Card Techniques : Masculine Mixed-Media Card Tutorial by Tracy Evans

Stop by Tracy’s Blog where she’ll show you how to pair Sizzix dies like my Luggage Tag and Banners and Pennants to create a masculine masterpiece!

Anne Redfern has a quick and easy card technique to share. Anne’s simple stenciling technique is easy to recreate and is sure to add serious WOW factor to your card creations. You won’t believe how easy it is to make a lovely floral card like Anne’s with just ONE Eileen Hull Sizzix die!

Eileen Hull Sizzix Card Techniques : Heart and Soul Flower Stenciled Card Tutorials by Anne Redfern

Head over to Anne’s Blog where she shows you how to use my Heart and Soul Flower Sizzix die to create this heart felt card.

Eileen Hull's Make it Monthly: Twist and Style Heart Card Technique with Clearsnap Blends

How’s that for some creative Card Techniques? My Inspiration Team never ceases to amaze me! Stay tuned for more Card Techniques using Eileen Hull Sizzix dies, Clearsnap Blends , my new Twist and Style Tool and other crafty products in the upcoming weeks. In case you missed my Make it Monthly Heart Card Tutorial you Can check it out and play along HERE.

I’ll be at CHA all week so if you are in the area stop by and see me and Scotty! I’d love for you to check out the gorgeous samples from my new collection designed by the Inspiration Team. Can’t make it to CHA? Keep an eye on my Facebook page where I’ll by sharing “sneak peeks” of the IT’s fab creations.

Eileen

Visit the Creativation Cafe…

9 Jan

On January 19-23rd, the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) show, re-branded as Creativation, will open in Phoenix, AZ. This is a trade show where the newest craft products are on display for all to see, touch and drool over. Visit the Creativation Cafe (Booth #843/1042) for free Make & Takes taught by talented professional CHA Designers! This event is open to store owners, retailers, press and other attendees and will be open throughout the show.

The anchor of the Creativation Cafe is my 1976 Scotty camper. We are making the trip out to AZ on Paper Trail 11 and driving it right onto the show floor! *I set up last year but that was in Anaheim so it will be fun learning the ropes in a new venue (?)

I always breathe a sigh of relief when the awning is up! That thing is surprisingly heavy.

Getting there…

…and open for business!

Please stop by and make some of the awesome projects- there will be two Make & Takes going on at a time, so grab a seat and have some fun! You will leave with a cool new make and probably a new friend or two. This is where it’s happening, folks! Last year we had lines down the aisle….

Not only will we have Make & Takes but Designer Ambassadors have volunteered to help in the booth to answer questions and show you around.

You never know what will be happening next! Also pay no attention to that mess in the background. It was off camera 🙂

Learn the latest techniques with the newest products!

You never know who you might run into (and have to take a selfie with)…

Didn’t you know? Jimmy is an extremely talented crafter and has been to more stores than you could imagine 🙂

We even had Mark Hill, the CEO of the Craft & Hobby Association, over for a visit!

Ahh it brings back memories… and I am so looking forward to making new ones this year….

So here’s the schedule and links to all of the Designers’ blogs. Feel free to check them out. And you never know when we might decide to GO LIVE on Facebook…

Make sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram so you don’t miss anything. It will almost be like you are there!

On Sunday, we also have some expert designers who are sharing with tips on how to grow your business during the Designer Round Tables. This is free and you will learn so much from these experienced artists- I have sat in on several and always come out glad that I did- there is so much to be learned!

Saturday, 1/21

9:00-10:00

Make and Take: Scrappy Camper Sisters and Yolie Burke

Designer Ambassadors: Anita Scroggins and Eileen Hull

10:15-11:15

Make and Take: Ann Strecko Koeman and Christie Troxell

Designer Ambassador: Patt Bell

11:30-12:30

Make and Take: Susan M. Brown and Carol Foldvary-Anderson

Designer Ambassador: Christie Troxell

12:45- 1:45

Make and Take: Susie Bentz and Karen Bearse

Designer Ambassador: Rita Barakat

2:00- 3:00

Make and Take: Terri Kolte and Rina Gonzales

Designer Ambassador: Susie Bentz

3:15-4:15

Make and Take: Marjolaine Walker and Katie Berry

Designer Ambassador: Rina Gonzales

4:30-5:30

Make and Take: Eileen Hull and Beth Watson

Designer Ambassador: Betsy Burnett and Mitsyana Wright

Sunday, 1/22

9:00-10:00

Make and Take: Lorrie McCullers and Anita Scroggins

Designer Ambassador: Christie Troxell and Marilyn Hughes

Creativation Cafe: Designer Round Tables

11:00 AM-12:00 Rina Gonzales– Post Conference Follow Up

12:30 PM-1:00 Marji Kemper– Teaching at Stores & Retreats

1:15 PM -1:45 Cherish Flieder– Art Licensing

2:00 PM-3:00 Kathy Cano Murillo– Time Management for Social Media, Blogging & Designing

3:15PM-4:15 Laura Kelly– Working with Brands to Build your own Brand

4:30-5:30

Make and Take: Tanya Ruffin and Rita Barakat

Designer Ambassador: Karen Bearse and Beth Watson

Monday, 1/23

9:00-10:00

Make and Take: Ann Strecko Koeman and Yolie Burke

Designer Ambassador: Susan M. Brown and Patt Bell

10:15-11:15

Make and Take: Terry Ricioli and Marjolaine Walker

Designer Ambassador: Ann Strecko Koeman

11:30-12:30

Make and Take: Christie Troxell and Rita Barakat

Designer Ambassador: Trish Cortez

12:45- 1:45

Make and Take: Eileen Hull and Laura Kelly

Designer Ambassador: Yolie Burke and Patt Bell

Hope you will visit the Creativation Cafe whether it’s in person or online!

New Inspiration Team Member!

5 Jan

Today we are super- excited to introduce Mitsyana Wright, our new Inspiration Team member! It turns out she will be going to CHA and we will actually meet in person in just a couple of weeks. 🙂

Mitsyana blogs at Up On Tippy Toes. You will see beautiful projects like this on her blog…

Here she took the Sizzix Needle Book to make an adorable little notebook. Her style is bright and clean and she has quite the magic touch with ScoreBoards!

See how she made this Beautiful Sizzix Teacup here.

And everyone loved this Halloween Train Case!

But my personal favorite might be this Doughnut Holder! I had no idea you could fit a doughnut in there!

But then there’s this awesome Passport Book?

And the Preppy Train Case…

Mitsyana has a beautiful clean fresh style. Please follow her blog and get to know her. You can also follow on Facebook and Instagram…

Leave a comment and let Mitsyana know which is your favorite project!

Thanks for stopping by…

Double Embossing Technique

2 Jan

Hi everyone- welcome to 2017! Today I am sharing the Double Embossing Technique- a great way to add dimension to cards, tags and other projects.

We are excited to be introducing Make it Monthly, a new feature here! We show a technique and then you can share what YOU have been working on by posting in the linky at the end of the post.

Valentine’s Day is coming up so I decided to make a card for my husband.

There are three new techniques I played around with here:

Double Embossing- that’s embossing with heat
Embossing with pressure in an embossing folder
Using the Twist & Style tool to add a wire element to a card.

I really like the combination of the soft background and hard wire on top. The rich gold embossing and a twisted wire shape is guaranteed to melt your sweetie’s heart 🙂

ColorBox™ Blends and Sizzix dies are the perfect combination! The matboard base is the perfect blank surface and it’s so easy to add color and style. ColorBox™ Blends are craft inks so they stay wet longer- great for heat embossing and also for blending colors into each other.

You will need:

661426 Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folder- Eyelet Lace
656492 Sizzix Matboard Pack, White
660425 Sizzix Big Shot
661113 Sizzix Twist & Style Tool
Clearsnap ColorBox™ Blends inks by Eileen Hull– Stop, Melon, Sunshine, Wildberry
A-2 card base, gold metallic
yarn
gold embossing powder
heat gun
adhesive- SuperTape 1/2″
stapler
rubber sentiment stamp
soft wire- pink, gold
fun foam

Instructions

Trim a piece of matboard to 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″. Emboss matboard in Eyelet Lace folder.
Apply Blends inks to surface of matboard, blending colors into each other so that the entire surface is covered.
Once color has been added, sprinkle gold embossing powder randomly over the matboard and heat. The embossing powder will stick to the areas that are wet, creating cool patches of gold.
Fold two 30″ lengths of gold and pink wire in half and twist using the Twist & Style tool (watch this video to see how it works). Repeat three times so you have three 15″ twisted wire strands.
Twist ends together and place on Twist & Style anchor. Braid the three strands together. Lay the piece flat on work surface with two ends pinched together at the bottom.
Find the middle of the wire braid and pinch into the center, creating a heart shape. Secure the two loose ends together by wrapping with a single piece of wire.
Stamp a sentiment on a torn piece of paper and ink around edges using the Wildberry Blends ink.
Position elements on card and staple wire heart in place. Adhere sentiment with double sided adhesive.
Place matboard art on card base, using fun foam underneath for dimension.
Add fiber bow!

Now let’s see what you are up to creatively! Add a pic of your latest card, tag or other creations to our linky here…

An InLinkz Link-up

MidCentury Gift Box Set by Christie Troxell

31 Dec

Here’s the last project of 2016- a MidCentury Gift Box Set by Christie Troxell, one of our Guest Designers for December!

Christie blogs at Ritzy Parties – visit her site to see more unique projects and events she has coordinated.

She covered the Sizzix Flower Pocket die with coordinated patterned paper to create the Gift Box and added rickrack for a dash of style.

The Flower Pocket is embellished with a beautiful Pansy flower and jeweled center.

The package that goes inside the pocket is adorned with a paper leaf from the Spring Leaves die. The gift is wrapped in coordinating papers.

This project is a delightful way to start off the New Year- thanks for sharing this awesome MidCentury Gift Box Set, Christie!

And we have lots more in store for you in 2017…

Please follow my Paper Trail adventures! I leave in less than two weeks for the Craft & Hobby Association show in Phoenix AZ with vintage trailer Scotty in tow. Scotty will be parked on the trade show floor again this year. The journey there and back is bound to be another adventure and I hope to sprinkle in some Facebook Live videos along the way and, of course, at the show. Get a sneak peek of my new Sizzix collection coming out in March… it’s new dies and a new product that is my first attempt in a new direction!

We will be starting a new feature on the blog this coming Monday. There will be a chance for you to share what you have been working on too so we hope you will join us.

Last but not least we have an announcement coming soon about the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team…

Follow me on social media and journey along the Paper Trail on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Health, happiness and peace to you in 2017, friends!

DIY Children’s Headboard by Christie Troxell

30 Dec

A new year is starting soon- always a good time to re-organize and re-decorate. See how to create a DIY Children’s Headboard by Christie Troxell!

We are so happy to have Christie here this month- remember that amazing gramophone decor piece she shared last week? Visit her site, Ritzy Parties, to see more- this girl does it ALL- parties, florals, decor, lettering, you name it!

Now let’s see how she made this adorable DIY Children’s Headboard for her daughter’s room…

This mounted toy zebra head in an ornate frame is an incredibly unique and whimsical decoration for a girl’s bedroom, or any space where you’d like to add a healthy dose of fun! Made with a thrifted frame, a fun, stuffed toy zebra head, and dies from Eileen Hull for the Sizzix Big Shot, this project comes together quickly, and can be easily adapted to any color scheme.

What You’ll Need:

Thrifted Frame
Paintable canvas to fit frame
Craft Paint
Stuffed Toy Zebra Head (or other animal of your choosing)
Fabric
Cardstock
Acrylic Gems
Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
Eileen Hull “Heart and Soul” Flower Die, 661108
Beacon Adhesives Mixed Media Glue
Beacon Adhesives Power Tac

Instructions:

Step 1:

After ensuring my canvas would fit well into the frame, (found at a thrift store), I painted the entire surface with a bright peachy pink acrylic paint from the DecoArt Neon Lights Collection. I created this color by mixing equal parts of Peach Punch and Pink Explosion, and applied it with a paintbrush.

Step 2:

I found this adorable bedding for girl’s bedrooms at Cotton On Kids. Luckily, the set came with a cute coordinating carrying bag. I found some perfectly coordinated cardstock paper, and got to cutting on my Sizzix Big Shot. I made a variety of patterned and solid cuts using Eileen Hull’s Heart and Soul Flower Die.

Step 3:

Before gluing my layered flowers, I laid them out on the canvas to create a basic layout. Mixing solids and patterns was a lot of fun! Once I had a firm idea of where the flowers would go, and what combinations would look great together, I used Beacon Adhesives 3-in-1 Glue to adhere them to the canvas, and then glued each layer atop the last to get this fun, 3-D effect. I was really excited to be able to create something that would match my daughter’s bedding exactly!

Step 4:

I attached the toy zebra head, (found at Target), to the center of the canvas using Beacon Adhesives Power Tac. This is a glue with extreme holding power, and I knew it would do the job. I let this dry overnight to ensure the strongest hold possible.

Step 5:

Gems and gold tone buttons from my collection were added to the centers of the flowers for some sparkle! What’s a little girl’s room without sparkle?

Step 6:

Finally, I placed the finished canvas into the frame, and it was ready to hang. Crossing my fingers that my little one likes this decoration for her fancy bedroom!

Success! This is one girl’s bedroom décor idea that’s black and white, and adorable all over! My daughter loves her new art piece, and I’m so happy that I was able to get such a cohesive, coordinated look by using a little ingenuity, and my Sizzix Big Shot Machine!

Many thanks to Christie for this awesome tutorial!

Candy Cane Caddy by Mitsyana Wright

22 Dec

Merry Christmas friends. Here’s a fabulous project for you- the Candy Cane Caddy by Mitsyana Wright! She shows how the Sizzix Caddy die can be used in two fun ways.

Mitsyana and I met a couple of months ago as we were working on our collaboration with DCWV. Her work is fantastic and she rocks those ScoreBoards dies! She graciously agreed to create a holiday project for us so check out the awesome tutorial below…

Candy Cane Caddy

Happy Holidays Crafty Friends! I am super excited to be guest designing for Eileen Hull Designs today!!

I love the versatility of her dies and how many of her designs are multifunctional. Here, I’ve made a candy cane caddy that also doubles as a Christmas ornament!

For today’s project, I used Eileen Hull’s Caddy Die by Sizzix.

This is a steel rule XL Scoreboard die. You will need to use the Sizzix Big Shot Extended Cutting Pads in order to use these dies.

I started my project by first cutting down my 12” x 12” materials (chipboard and patterned paper), down to a workable 6” x 12” size so I can die cut them.

I didn’t want the entire caddy to be just one patterned paper. So, I trimmed down my 6” X 12” sheet into smaller pieces (4”x 6” and 6”x 8”) to cover just one of the panel pieces each.

Then, layered my chipboard piece over the patterned papers and ran all the material through my die-cut machine at the same time.

It cut through all the layers with ease!!

I trimmed off the “tucking” flap pieces of the bottom box portion (for the patterned paper only)… you will not see these pieces so there’s no need to add them.

Then, I cut apart this cut out on the crease lines.

Next, I ran my papers through my adhesive machine and attached them to their coordinating chipboard pieces.

I also cut an extra back piece out of the same black patterned paper to cover the back of the caddy, ran it through my adhesive machine, and attached it to the backside of the caddy’s back wall.

I added clear adhesive to the bare flaps and adhered them to the back panel.

Then, I used more clear adhesive to attach a few embellishments and to trim with ribbons.

You can fill with your favorite holiday treats…

Ready to gift as treats…

Because it has the wonderful handle built in…

Hang it on the tree as festive decor!!

I hope you enjoyed my project for today!! I am very honored to be able to guest design for the Eileen Hull Design Team.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!!

~ Mitsyana Wright (Up On Tippy Toes)

Thanks for sharing your ornament/treat box with us Mitsyana!

And thanks to all of you for stopping by to visit at this busy time of year. Happy Holidays from me, my awesome IT Coordinator Amy Bowerman, and the Inspiration Team! We are looking forward to sharing another year of awesome creativity with you.

Paper Flower Gramophone by Ritzy Parties

20 Dec

Hello everyone! Today we have a fabulous guest designer…Christie Troxell of Ritzy Parties. Christie designs and masterminds lavish decor for swinging soirees and events. She’s sharing a gorgeous decor piece featuring Eileen Hull Paper Flower Party dies. Prepare to be amazed by Christie’s sensational decor piece and feast your eyes on this fabulous Paper Flower Gramophone.

Paper Flower Gramophone Tutorial

This vintage reproduction gramophone transforms into an even more beautiful home décor accent, when it’s filled with delicate paper flowers and curls of vintage music sheets.

These exquisite paper flowers were created using the Pansy Flower and Romance Flower dies with the Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine. Scrapbook papers in deep reds and creamy ivory were used, as well as embossed sheets of solid paper. Miniature filler flowers were made using repurposed coffee filters, and all of the flowers are attached to a rustic green wrapped floral wire sourced at a local design warehouse.

The flowers feature brilliant gold tone button centers, as well as rhinestone gems. The stems are curled into coils and sculptural curves, simulating the movement of live blooms on vines. Vintage music sheets are curled and layered in voluminous piles to the very center of the horn, and they unfurl over the front of the horn, spilling out their sweet notes in a visual display that is both charming and nostalgic.

Placed near a Christmas tree, or displayed on a shelf, this vintage gramophone is a decorator’s delight, and a perfect gift idea for the modern vintage décor enthusiast.

Visit Christie’s Blog Ritzy Parties for more party planning projects, diy decor and more!

Thanks Christie for sharing your creativity with us!

Eileen

Sizzix Twist & Style Gift Tag

18 Dec

I am part of the Last Minute Gift Ideas Blog Hop and my project is a Sizzix Twist & Style Gift Tag!

I have been having a blast making wire words with my Sizzix Twist & Style tool and some pliable wire I found at Michael’s.

You can use the tool not only to twist wire, but also the yarn cord that I made to attach the tag to the gift bag! (See video here on how to twist soft materials.) Here’s how to twist a word in 46 seconds 🙂

I have also been making ornaments for my friends and family…

You will need:

661113 Sizzix Twist & Style tool
661423 Sizzix Daisy Wreath folder
tag
ColorBox Blends ink- Leaf
yarn for tag
bell

Instructions:

Emboss tag with Daisy Wreath folder. Lightly ink raised area of design and edges of tag.
Twist wire as seen in video above.
Staple wire word to tag in 3-4 places.
Twirl any remaining wire around a pencil and add bell!

Make sure to hop around and see lots more amazing last minute gift ideas by these talented designers from all over the world:

Ola Khomenok
Patti Hodder
Kathy Clement
Alexandra Morein
Sandy Trefger
Gloria Stengel
Pam Bray
Einat Alagem
Keren Tamir
Terry Ricioli
Katelyn Grosart
Einat Kessler
Susan M. Brown
Steph Ackerman
Eileen Hull
Rita Barakat
Mahe Zehra

And did I mention there’s a prize?

Click here to be entered in the $100 Visa gift card! In order to win, leave a comment telling what is your favorite craft supply or tool is. Everyone is eligible to win, whether you’re in the U.S. or international. The winner will be announced on Einat Kessler’s blog on Sunday, Dec 25th! You could be the one to have an even merrier Christmas 🙂

Sending warm holiday wishes to all, however you celebrate this time of year!

Please make sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook– Scotty the vintage trailer and I are gearing up for a fun adventure in January 🙂

Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV

18 Dec

The holiday season is in full swing. Hope you are all enjoying this joyful time. Today we are sharing the ultimate list of Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV. During the month of November you saw tons of projects featuring Eileen Hull products and gorgeous paper stacks from DCWV. We have quite a few new projects to share and will provide links to all of the lovely holiday creations created throughout the season at the end of this post.

DCWV and Eileen Hull Winter Wonderland Blog Hop

Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV

Shelly Hickox starts us off with a show stopping Christmas Curio Cabinet. Shelly created her curio using my Square Box and Candy Drawer dies (both dies were recently re-released) She then covered her creation in Cranberry Christmas papers from DCWV. Every surface of Shelly’s creation is decked to perfection with Christmas spirit featuring Holiday ephemera pieces from Tim Holtz and beyond!

Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV: Christmas Curio Cabinet by Shelly Hickox

Grab yourself a cup of cheer and visit Shelly’s blog for more details on her gorgeous Christmas Curio Cabinet. Have a look around while you are there as there are many more lovely holiday projects to marvel at.

Lisa Hoel has the perfect sentimental gift project to share with you. Lisa created this lovely set of photo cards using my Recipe Card box dies and several others along with Cranberry Christmas papers from DCWV.

Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV: Recipe Card Box Photo Cards by Lisa Hoel

What a heartfelt gift for a friend or family member near or far…don’t you think? Stop by Lisa’s blog for more details on how to create this Photo Card Box project yourself.

Tonya Trantham shares a quick and easy Gift Card Holder project to help you make those last minute gifts extra special. Tonya used my House Gift Card Holder with that stunning woodgrain paper from DCWV’s Cranberry Christmas Stack.

Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV: House Gift Card Holder by Tonya Trantham

Add a few trims, bits and baubles and wah-laaa! You’ve got the perfect gift card holder. Check out Tonya’s tutorial HERE.

Need a quick and easy Holiday Card? Julia Aston delivers! Julia’s card using my Mug die and Cranberry Christmas papers from DCWV is simple yet stunning. No need to knock yourself out with embellishments and tons of die cuts. Julia shows that even a simple die cut placed upon pretty papers can make a serious statement.

Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV: Holiday Mug Card by Julia Aston

Head over to Julia’s blog for more details on this simply stunning Holiday Card.

Donna Budzynski has two lovely Holiday projects to share with you. First up, we have a fantastic holiday canister using my canister die. This project is delightful indeed and I just adore the tiny tree and snowman topper!

Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV: Christmas Canister by Donna Budzynski

Next, Donna really got her creative gears turning and used DCWV Cranberry Christmas papers to cover wooden trees. She then used some of my stitchlits dies and spring leaves to add texture and depth. Wow!

Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV: Wooden Christmas Trees by Donna Budzynski

Stop by Donna’s blog for more details on both of these fabulous holiday creations.

Well we sure have had a LOT of Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV this season! I certainly have lots of inspiration and holiday spirit stocked up thanks to the Inspiration Team and Team DCWV. Hope you enjoyed our Winter Wonderland Blog Hop with DCWV. In case you missed any of the previous projects you can check them out by following the links below.

Holiday Eileen Hull Sizzix Projects with DCWV Links

Inspiration Team

Team DCWV