Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

StencilGirl and Sizzix Artist Trading Blocks Blog Hop

Today is the day StencilGirl Talk and Sizzix get together and I am so excited!


Fifteen amazing artists from the StencilGirl Design Team will all be showing their art on one of my new Sizzix dies, the Block/Cube/Bank, 3-D AKA the Artist Trading Block™! 

The projects I have seen so far have been simply jaw-droppingly amazing… so make sure you stop by every blog and see all of them:

Eileen Hull (you are here)

The Block is part of my new Sizzix Cherished collection which is designed around a baby theme. But let me tell you, this die is not just for babies! First of all, it is a ScoreBoards die, which is specially designed to cut and score THICK materials, like matboard and chipboard. This technology is unique to Sizzix so you won’t find anything else like it! 

The Block measures 3″ square, can be assembled in under a minute and it is super versatile! You can use inks, paint, chalks, mists, or markers with your stencils- the rigid matboard makes the block nice and sturdy so you don’t have to worry about wrinkling or tearing- load on the techniques- the matboard can handle it! 

Artist Trading Blocks™ are the next big thing in the crafting world! Unlike tags and ATC’s, Artist Trading Blocks allow you to create in 3-D!  Why show only one side of your creativity when you can express yourself with multidimensional style? Make your mark on these six-sided blocks using all of your favorite craft supplies and techniques.

OK, so now for my project… I have to admit- I was slightly intimidated to design something for this hop having seen all the amazing StencilGirl DT’s work. Designing dies is a totally different process. Everything has to line up and be perfect or the die will not cut straight. So I am not used to the freedom I had here to just try things out and play. But it sure is fun!

I like to think of each 3″ x 3″ square as a mini-canvas to experiment on. They are quick and small and if you mess something up- oh well, move on and try again! With that attitude, shoot, I could play forever! 

So I gathered some of StencilGirl’s fabulous stencils, an assortment of inks, paint and brushes and went to town… and what came out was not too bad! Of course now I have more ideas of things to try… you know how that goes.
I started by lining up the two matboard strips next to each other and then placed the Words to Live By stencil on top. (note- if you want the blocks to be all going in the same direction, reconsider this method. We are experimenting though, remember?) After securing the stencil in place with post it notes, I took some Clearsnap Cat’s Eye dye inks and a stencil brush and transferred the ink on the stencil, varying the colors and blending them into each other. 

I outlined some of the words with a black permanent marker and then colored them in with Copic markers. Don’t you love to color?
Here comes the experiment… I took the Song Birds stencil and a very detailed Wing stencil and decided to try and layer them. I wasn’t sure if it would work with two layers but what the heck… I laid the bird stencil down first where I wanted it, securing it with more post its, and then added the Wing stencil on top. To get into these tiny areas, paint seemed to be the best choice. I loaded my stencil brush with black acrylic paint, wiped most of it off, and then applied it using a circular motion over the  stencil. Because this one is so detailed I wasn’t sure I could reposition exactly in the same place so I made sure every area was fully filled in before I took the stencil off. Success! Then I outlined the bird with black marker. 

I used the Peacock Feather stencil and black paint to fill in other areas on the blocks and that was it! 


I did not tape this block together because I will be sending it to CHA and will fold it flat to ship. Due to the sturdiness of the matboard, no tape is necessary to keep it in the block shape! 

It was hard to stop and I created another project- a set of blocks I call “A Tribute to Tie-Dye”… but this post is already too long so will share it next week. Here’s a peek…

I would love if you would like my Facebook page and see what’s to come in 2014. I have a brand new product launching! But my lips are sealed till Jan. 11. It’s killing me people!
But wait- there’s more- a giveaway over on StencilGirl Talk consisting of SG product and a Block die! All comments on the hop are eligible for the giveaway. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to win. The giveaway will close on Friday, December 13th at 11:59PM Central Time. 

We have lots of plans in the works and will be posting lots of inspiration over at our website, The Artists on the Block. Please stop by to see what’s new and LIKE our Facebook page too! Feel free to post your latest projects so we can ooh and ahh over them!

Head on over to the amazing Mary Beth Shaw‘s blog to see the rest of the projects. Thanks for stopping by! 

Stamped Mini-Album and InspiredCo ezine

I am so excited to show you what Pam Keravuori has created! She went to town with my new Craffiti Direct stamps and made a project using all three sets in one project!

I love how Pam uses materials and combines colors, don’t you?
Pam will share how-to’s next week on her blog, Pamela Jane’s Studio. This week she is busy having the roof of her garage taken off in preparation for the fabulous studio that is being added to her house!
Also, my friend Amy Powers, editor of the Inspired Ideas ezine, has published the Holiday issue! Go here to order. It is just so HAPPY- it will definitely get you in the holiday spirit and give you lots of ideas too!
Amy is also teaching a class with Big Picture Classes right now and I am enjoying it immensely (although I am not getting my assignments done- they are visions of sugarplums dancing in my head right now!)
I am blessed to live near (within lunching distance) of these two amazing artists and always look forward to sharing creative adventures with them!

Day 3 Stamp Release

I have featured one of my new Craffiti Direct stamps sets for the last two days and here is the last one. It is called Flower Sentiments and I am really excited about this set because it is so versatile! It comes with ten tiny sentiments which I will use all the time for tags and gift cards.  


The sentiments included in the set are:
  • happy birthday
  • congrats
  • thank you
  • so glad
  • hi friend
  • give thanks
  • I’m sorry
  • love you
  • best wishes
  • safe travels 

… and the words fit perfectly in the center of the flower! You can stamp up a bunch of cards and flowers, then fill in the sentiments as needed. Quick and easy! There is also a funky leaf, stem and quote stem. The stamps are available to purchase on the Craffiti Direct site.

But wait- there’s more! The flower shape fits inside some of my 3D Sizzix flower dies! If you have these Sizzix dies: Fringed Flower, Flower Layers #9, Flower Layers with Heart Petals, or Labels & Buttons, you are in luck! The Leaves die (smallest leaf) works with the leaf stamp in this set also.


Here’s a Thanksgiving card for you… 

  1. Stamp Barn Wood background in white on Desert Storm card base. Ink and blend edges in light brown. Stamp stem on card in black ink. (do not smear like I did :-()
  2. Die cut flowers and leaves from white cardstock. Stamp the flower image on top. You can get some interesting images if you stack two white flowers on top of each other, then stamp.
  4. Color flower in with markers. Die cut leaves and color.
  6. Cut an larger solid orange flower, add a glue dot in the middle, then place the smaller colored in flower on top.
  7. Assemble pieces on card and adhere with double sided tape or glue.
I can’t wait till Thanksgiving!  I am going to get out my Copic markers after we eat

dinner and just color in flowers all afternoon in every combo I like… after my nap of course! 

 
I showed you a box of tags and labels that I made using the Heart Tattoo set yesterday. I promised you a video showing how to make magic with this stamp set but decided to keep it with yesterday’s post. You can view it here.
 
Don’t forget- there are a few days left of a Rafflecopter giveaway– someone is going to win a complete set of these new stamps! It just takes a few seconds to fill it out. 


Thanks so much for following along to see what’s new with me… I hope you have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving!

Day 2 Stamp Release

Today is was 24 degrees out! I am definitely getting in the Christmas spirit… so here are some more ways to make quick and easy gift boxes and tags! 

 
The new Craffiti stamp set I am featuring today is called Heart Tattoo. I don’t have a tattoo… but if I did, I would get a pretty one like this 🙂  


These borders were so much fun to design. I like hearts but didn’t want “cute”, so I fiddled… and fiddled… and fiddled some more in Illustrator until I came out with two uncute coordinating heart patterns. They fit just right on an A-2 card. You can alternate borders in different colors to create a kind of wallpaper effect or just stamp one as the perfect accent on a card. They can also be joined and repeated as a stripe or border on a layout.


To make this project, I stamped on my Sizzix Box with Scalloped Flap (which you can find in Michael’s) and Labels & Buttons from the die with the same name. I used a watermark ink pad and some chalks to make color magically appear! I also used a permanent pen to decorate and letter the tags.

 
I used a resist chalking technique that I learned a while ago. I just love how soft it looks. When the color comes out it’s like magic. I did a video because it is something that you have to watch so I will post it on Wednesday.
 
EDIT: See the video here!
 

 

So here is the stamp of the day!
Don’t forget to take a minute and enter here to win a Rafflecopter giveaway. 


How would you use this stamp? What is your favorite type of stamp- cute, grungy, vintage, clean or graphic? I want to know what kind of stamps you are looking for… because I want to make more stamps- tell me what you want! 


Thanks for stopping by! 

New Eileen Hull Product Release!

Happy Monday everyone- here’s some really exciting news that I have been waiting to share with you… I have a line of stamps!


Honestly, I am slightly obsessed right now and want to play with these stamps all. the. time. even though there are many other (not as much fun) things that should be done… Creating stamps that coordinate with my Sizzix dies has gotten my poor little brain all fired up 🙂
 
I love that this product is made right here in the USA. Craffiti Direct stamps are manufactured in Northeast Georgia with products made exclusively in the USA. Craffiti Direct Clear Stamps resist yellowing and provide a great transfer of ink onto a variety of mediums, including my personal favorite, matboard! 

Over the next week, I’ll be sharing my first three stamp sets with you. The first one up is called Barn Wood. It measures 4″ x 6″ and this would make a great background for cards, mini-albums, 3D projects (how did I not think of my Sizzix Birdhouse till right this minute?), masculine gifts, and nature inspired themes. 



The stamp was actually designed from a photo I took of my potting shed out back. The man we bought the house from in 2002 was a historical preservationist. He would find old buildings that were being knocked down or burned, take them apart and re-build them. Not sure where our shed came from but I love the rustic wood it’s made with.


I used the Seed Packet die, part of the Sizzix Picket Fence collection, to create a gift card envelope. The color combo of kraft and white has really caught my eye lately and I used items from my back yard to embellish the Seed Packet Gift Card Holder. 


These are simple to make, inexpensive and you could easily make a bunch of them in one sitting. I don’t know about you but more and more we are giving gift cards as our families are all spread out and the cost of postage seems to go up every six months!

  1. Cut the Seed Packet from (my favorite) Desert Storm 80# cardstock.

     

  2. Stamp the Barn Wood design in white Crafters Ink by Clearsnap. (I like the Crafter’s Ink, especially white, because it covers so nicely). Mask off areas where you don’t want the stamped image to overlap with Post-It notes.
  3. Find a twig and cut to size. Position on envelope and use piercing tool to make two holes on each side to lace ribbon through.
  4. Tie stick on card. Add a sprig of holiday greenery to the twig and finish with red button and ribbon.
  6. Adhere tabs to back of envelope with doubled-sided adhesive. Insert gift card!




So what do you think? Is anyone up for a giveaway? Craffiti-Direct has graciously agreed to give a set of each stamp to a lucky winner in a Rafflecopter giveaway.


If you are not the winner, that’s OK… the stamps are available to buy on line and I see they are having a 25% sale right now! Hope you will head on over to Craffiti Direct and take a look at all of the cool stamps that are available.





Thanks for letting me share this happy news with you. It’s going to be a fun Thanksgiving week… And next week there’s a special guest designer who will share a spectacular project with us- I can’t wait till you see it! 


I appreciate your support, comments and interest… I am truly blessed. 

Quick Gift Box

Just a mini post… I have a new post up on the Sizzix blog today featuring a video showing how you can assemble in 10 SECONDS. No lie- watch here:

Also last call for your suggestions for names. My little vintage camper needs to be christened.

Please go here to enter your suggestion. There will be a special giveaway for the person whose suggestion I pick. If you have already given your suggestion on Facebook- thank you! There were some really good ones and they are eligible for the giveaway too. It will be hard to pick!

Have a great weekend everyone…

CHA Workshop Sneak Peek video

It’s hard to believe that I am so deep in CHA preparations already! There is a lot in the works and hope I can keep up with it all.


First, I am teaching a Sizzix Workshop with Amy Bowerman of Plucking Daisies at CHA. Registration opened today and the class sold out in 20 minutes. Wow. 


But don’t despair- you can still be part of the fun! We are looking for CHA samples showing all of the different ways to use this Blocks die. If you are interested, contact me at EileenHull@aol.com. 


I made a little video about what we’ll be doing in the Workshop-
many thanks to Amy Powers. I am taking a class called Craft Happy over at Big Picture Classes and loving it. The first week, she showed us how to make a stop animation film so this is my attempt at one. It really was fun to make. Thanks Amy!


The class features one of the dies in the new Sizzix Cherished collection… it will not be released until January, but here’s a taste of what can be done with it and how easy it is to assemble! Watch the video and see just a few ideas…

Just a sad note about my little Scotty trailer. Now that the weather is getting cold, we put her in the barn to keep dry. Yesterday I was raking leaves and thought I should check in and make sure all was well. I turned on the light and noticed a large brown stain on the floor. Oh no… turns out I had the refrigerator set at max and it exploded a 12 pack of cherry Diet Pepsi inside and it was leaking out to the floor. What a mess! I am a bad mother 🙁 So that’s turned off for now, but at least I know the fridge is working great! I need to get out there and start painting because I have some deadlines to make for this baby. Wait till you hear what’s up with this trailer!


Next week I have an exciting announcement to share- stay tuned… I’m telling you- this place is hopping! 

Creative DIY!

I am happy to be joining forces with some of my crafty blogging friends! We will be sharing fun ideas with you every other Tuesday (or Wednesday- oops!) So stay tuned… 
 
 
 


The Creative DIYers have rounded up some of our best ideas for making your holidays “handmade” this year. Check out each of the blog posts linked below to get inspired (and hungry!! Mmmm, Apple Crumble….):

Eileen Hull shares how to create a Sizzix Chalkboard Suitcase to hold personalized coupons for your friends and family here: http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/2013/11/handmade-holidays-blog-hop-day-3.html

Tanner Bell shares a simple Christmas teen room décor idea onhttp://craftteen.com/2013/11/03/simple-christmas-cork-diy-room-decor/

Jonathan Fong shares how to create a conversation-starting “Madonna & Child” pillow: http://jonathanfongstyle.com/madonna-and-child-pillow/

Liz Hicks shares a delicious family favorite – her Apple Crumble recipe! http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/2013/11/creative-diy-handmade-holidays.html

And Jennifer Priest shares a hand-stamped Anthropologie inspired tea towel gift basket, a great gift for the holidays:http://hydrangeahippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Joy-Peace-Tea-Towel-Cookie-Basket-Hydrangea-Hippo-Handmade-Holidays-600×503.jpg

Don’t forget to leave a little comment love  Thanks for stopping by!

Movember

EDIT: What a dork! I did the projects and wrote the post and totally forgot to add in the names and links to the other amazing designers on this blog hop! Here the list:

Apologies to all!


This has got to be a world record but here I am again! 


 I would not miss the chance to make a project using my good friend Jen Goode‘s new Moustache roller stamp for Clearsnap! (which is it- mustache or moustache?)

I met Jen at CHA about four years ago and was immediately struck with her sunny personality and ready laugh. She is one of my favorite people 🙂 She is very talented web-wise and helped me out a lot and never once laughed at me and my lack of skills. Just for that I love her. Jen is also an amazing artist. Head over to her blog where the fun begins.

 I must confess I wasn’t quite sure what this whole Movember thing was… here’s what Google said:

As an official global charity, Movember’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of millions of moustaches on men’s faces around the world. Through the power of the Mo, vital funds and awareness are raised to combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges.

 
Thank you Google. 
 
I decided to use my roller stamp to decorate a mat of a picture of my husband Hayward with his step-dad Ray. By coincidence they wore the same thing one day!
 
You can use a precut mat- I cut my own because I have everything here and it is just easier. This is such a quick and easy project but you can easily customize photo mats to fit the subject or occasion. 
 
You will need:
  1. Coat a 8″ x 10″ piece of matboard with spray adhesive and place a dictionary page on top. 
  2. Cut a double window in the matboard OR buy a double mat in desired size for photo. 
  3. Ink up roller stamp in black and roll across the mat from top to bottom, keeping lines straight and evenly spaced. Re-ink as needed. Overstamp as desired.
  4. Ink edges with Platinum or Black Cat’s Eye.
  5. Insert picture in opening and tape in position.
  6. Die cut label from matboard and add your message or title. Tie or tape label to mat

 

Don’t forget to enter here to win a Rafflecopter giveaway! Thanks for stopping by!

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop- Day 3

Welcome to the Third Annual Handmade Holidays blog hop! The best crafters, designers, and makers have come together to create and share  a series of thoughtful, handmade gifts for the holidays during this 3 day blog hop. Our goal is to inspire you to create something from the heart this holiday season as well as share how to use our products in fun, innovative ways. We intend this hop to serve as a resource to you for this holiday season and for years to come.

Hop along to each blog in the list. Each day, from November 1 through November 3, 2013, we’ll be posting a brand new list of blogs to hop to. Comment on each blog, share your favorite posts over social media, and then use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of each post to enter to win the Grand Prize, a gift basket filled with crafty swag from the companies on the hop! We’re ready to inspire, share, and create – are you ready to hop?
 
Here’s the list for today!
Sizzix – Eileen Hull Designs http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/
Nathalie Kalbach www.nathaliesstudio.com
Tanner Bell   http://www.craftteen.com
Jennifer Priest http://hydrangeahippo.com
Vicki O’Dell http://vickiodell.com/
Cheryl Waters http://blog.artsyfindings.com/

For my project, I decided to make a Sizzix ScoreBoards Suitcase containing personalized coupons for my kids. This suitcase is one of my favorite dies because it holds ATC’s, gift cards, jewelry and all kinds of other fun items.
 
You will need:

Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set 2PK – Heart & Label Set

patterned paper
brads
white colored pencil
spray adhesive
strong double sided tape
 
 
First, die cut a suitcase from black matboard using the Big Shot. Cover the inside of the suitcase with Bazzill patterned paper. This paper will also be used to create cards for the coupons.
 
 
 
Spray adhesive the back of the paper and adhere it to the inside of the suitcase. You may want to trim down the edges a little to make sure the paper doesn’t overlap.
 
 
On the front and inside cover of the suitcase, write your message very lightly in pencil to make sure the spacing is OK, then use a white colored pencil to go over it, and carefully erase the pencil lines. 
 
 
Match up brad holes and assemble box. Adhere the front of the suitcase to the inside by placing adhesive on the back of the flap and pressing firmly against the back of the suitcase.
 


Die cut coupon foldover cards, add a circle to the top and punch through it. Write your message inside and thread baker’s twine through the hole. These would be cute hung on the tree as ornaments too. 

Die cut the label from scrap matboard. Trim off the bottom of the label to make it look like an ornament shape and write “merry” on it with white colored pencil. Add a charm and tie it on to the handle of the suitcase for the finishing touch!

 

Enter to win a fabulous prize package! 




Thanks for hopping along with us this weekend and hope you were inspired by all these amazing projects! Don’t forget to leave comments and enter the giveaway…