Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

Create and Connect Roundup

I am so happy to be home! The past month has been spent on the road- first with a trip to Las Vegas for the Create and Connect trade show (aka CHA- Craft and Hobby show). It was lots of fun to see my designer buddies and some new friends that I feel like I know but had never met in person. 

While I was in Vegas, I was very excited to launch a new line of dies with Sizzix called Cherished. The display was over the top amazing and I loved it.

For more pics, visit the Sizzix blog. Amy of Plucking Daisies was such a blessing- she came and helped me throughout the show with demos, classes and workshops. Read about her CHA experience here.
I flew home on the red eye after the show and left the next day for a family reunion in Vermont. It was beautiful there and spending the time with my siblings and their kids and grandkids was really a treasure and something that we will all remember for a long time. 

After our week in Vermont, our kids that live out of state were able to come back to VA with us and visit for another couple of weeks so I finally I feel caught up on everyone’s life! Also managed to squeeze in a trip to the Jersey shore for a weekend with my husband’s side of the family, two birthday celebrations and a trip to WV. 
Can I tell you I am exhausted :-)? This week it was hard to get back to work. I still want to be in that hammock! But I’m pepping up slowly but surely… Do you ever feel like that after vacation?

Categories:
CHA

Birthday Card for Chris

Just a quick post here to wish my oldest a happy birthday! 

So glad we got to spend time with Chris and Trinity this summer. This was a pic from our recent family reunion adventures at Lake Bomoseen, VT. Lots of family time, music and water sports- loved it. I am the oldest of six and we all gathered with our kids and grandkids. I have to admit we are pretty loud but no complaints from the neighbors (this time!) 

Card is in the mail 🙂 Made this using my Borders & Hydrangea die. I die cut the rick rack border from fun foam and used double sided tape to adhere the strips to an acrylic block. Then I just stamped the repeating pattern on a gray card. I used my favorite UniBall Signo pen to write my message. And that’s it! 
 

 Glad we could celebrate with you this year Chris- love you…

Video Tutorial using Craft Attitude

After CHA and a much needed vacation, I am back!

Today I have a fun surprise- a video tutorial by my granddaughter, Trinity. She just turned seven on Monday and I have to say- this girl is a serious crafter. Every time she visits, the first thing she asks is- what we are going to make? Well, unbeknownst to her, I signed her up to be part of the Craft Attitude Back to School blog hop. The hop runs from August 5 through the 17th and features bloggers from elementary school to college ages. Make sure you check out the linky at the bottom of this post to see the completed projects to date. They have all been fabulous!

Craft Attitude is a film that transfers images to all kinds of different surfaces- paper, fabric, metal, wood, plastic, etc. Just print your designs- artwork, photos, or text- on your inkjet printer, reverse the image (so it is facing the right direction when you add it to your surface), and adhere it! This is such a versatile material to work with. Now I look around my house and see an endless number of surfaces to decorate!

We had many ideas for projects to make but finally decided to go with a customized white board for Trinity’s room so she can draw and make notes for school.


Here’s how we made it:

This was a fun and easy project and I really enjoyed making this video with Trinity. We taped a segment and then waited for the film to dry. Guess what happened in the meantime…

Thanks for hopping along with us! Hope you stop back again…

Exciting package arrived!

Hi everyone! As you know I am madly packing up for CHA, but thankfully my kits were FedEx’d today with an hour and 15 minutes to spare… whew.

Deena Ziegler is one of the talented artists in the Sizzix Art Department and this girl never. stops. crafting. In her spare time, she designs and sells these amazing card kits available as a monthly subscription. 
A little while ago Deena contacted me to ask if she could use my dies in one of her card kits. I said Heck yeah!  So she used my Canning Jars ScoreBoards die from the Picket Fence collection. Deena cut the jars out of paper and you can see what all comes in a kit in the video- lots! And here’s what I like- it’s all pre-cut for you with easy to follow instructions. Just look at the picture and make the card. It’s that simple…
I just wanted to show you a video I made after receiving a sample card kit from Deena Ziegler. Take a look at the kind of fun stuff she sends out every month and how much you get in here. I mean- that’s just crazy…… and also hear how Deena saved me from a nervous breakdown at the last CHA here… (I was a mess!)
Check out Deena’s blog here, and her store here.
Subscribe to her card club now 🙂
Like her on Facebook
And by the way, can you like me on Facebook too? I finally started a business page but I am way behind in “likes” 🙁
OK, back to creating, packing, etc. and hoping I get it all done by Sunday!

CHA Sneak Peek

Hi everyone! It’s almost time for CHA and I am freaking out, right on schedule 🙂 


Just wanted to pop in and post this video I did for the Sizzix blog last week. It’s a quick look at what will be coming out at the show. And I am very pleased to announce I figured out how to insert music into a video (!) for your viewing (and listening) pleasure. 


CHA will be held in a new venue this year- Las Vegas- so it will be nice to explore. Unless it’s too hot. Then I will not be leaving the hotel/Convention Center. Here’s what’s on the agenda:


Monday, July 22 Education Day

  • Designer Showcase set-up- this is where designers set up a tabletop display of their work in hopes of getting new clients. I am excited about mine (if I get all the parts done)… Come see me in Booth 116
  • Round Table Discussions- moderating a table at on “What CHA Designers can do for you”
  • Sizzix Rep and Retailer Training 
  • Helping my friend Ann Butler out in a class she’s teaching
  • Designer Section and Designer Council Meetings
  • get together with friends (including the one and only Jonathan Fong)

Tuesday, July 23 Show starts!

  • 8:00-9:00 Panelist on “Multiple Streams of Income” discussion
  • 11:00-1:00 demo new release Cherished in Sizzix Booth #627
  • 1:30 interview in Sizzix booth by Charity Wings
  • 2:00-3:00 volunteer in Designer Showcase
  • 4:00-6:00 teach workshop “Sizzix in 3-D” 
Wednesday, July 24
  • 9:00-10:00 Moderate panel discussion with Mike Hartnett on “Getting Your Work Published” Our panel is amazing- you should try and get a ticket- plus a special surprise giveaway 🙂
  • meetings!
  • 2:00-4:00 Demo in Sizzix
  • 4:00-5:00 Meet and Greet for Designer Showcase
  • 5:30 Paper Crafting Section meeting
Thursday, July 25
  • 9:00-11:00 Demo in Sizzix
  • 11:00-12:00 Volunteer in Showcase
I am getting both tired and excited at the same time looking at this. Amy Bowerman of Plucking Daisies, a blogger and friend I met at SNAP, is coming along to help me- so happy to have her along! Also Pam Bray from Scrapbook Flair, Pam Keravuori from Pamela Jane’s and Barbara Rankin from Black Hole Arts Studio made the most beautiful samples for me at the last minute- God bless you all- they are amazing!

If you are at the show, please stop by and see me- I love hearing what you all are up to. I will try and post about what’s going on but it’s a new place and not sure of the internet situation. If that doesn’t work, I will take pics and share when I get back home.

Thanks for stopping by- wish me luck!

Gift Box

Hi all- hope you are having a fun Fourth of July weekend! 


Just wanted to post this fun little gift box I made using the Square Box die and some beautiful Prima goodness. I am sharing it today on the Sizzix UK blog. It’s actually pretty big (3 1/2″ square) and could hold a cupcake for that special person. Make sure to head over to see how to make it. Lots of fun tips…
Will try and pop in with some new stuff but CHA is 2 weeks away and going crazy. getting ready! Thanks for visiting…

Bloom Card

Hi everyone! Wow, I can’t believe it’s already July!

Today is first Monday which means it’s Designer Connection time. Make sure you hop around and visit the blogs of all of the participating designers. Click on the blue button on my sidebar to hop around and see all the fun ideas! 
I think the theme is patriotic crafts this month but I am getting ready for CHA and just don’t have time to make a new project. If you are looking for the good old red white and blue though, visit here and here for other projects I have done in that theme.

It is rainy and gray here in VA, so thought I would post a happy card.

I used a bunch of dies in this card. The Watering Can is made from the 3D ScoreBoards die of the same name. I cut it from silver metallic paper, chopped off one of the watering cans, sanded it down to look old and rusted and adhered it to the front of the card.

The tissue paper flowers are cut from Flower, Layers #9, the butterfly is from Birds & Butterflies set and the grass is part of Flower, 3D #2. The word Bloom is from Bloom & Plant Markers and last but not least, the trusty Leaves die is used for the greenery.

The card background is a woodgrain stencil from Crafter’s Workshop– love that and use it all the time.

Back to work. I need to make a video, and as I have mentioned before, a 2 minute video takes me approximately 5 hours to make- ugh. I’m shooting for 4 1/2 this time 🙂 Wish me luck! Happy Fourth, in case I’m not back in time to say it… 

Birdhouse Decor

Have you ever been attacked by a protective mother bird? I was… and almost had a heart attack!

However it did give me an idea for a blog post 🙂 Here are a few birdhouse designs I posted on the Sizzix blog. Here’s to you, mama bird, and all moms who just want to keep our little ones safe!

These projects were made using the Birdhouse, 3D die from from my new Sizzix Picket Fence collection. No actual birds were involved or harmed in the making of these projects 🙂 For full instructions, please visit the Sizzix blog.
Thanks for stopping by!

Canning Jar Wedding Favor

It’s a world record- two blog posts in two days!

My daughter called us to say she was engaged on Christmas Day. They were in the

Cayman Islands scuba diving and Galen gave Pam the ring. Yes, 60 feet under water!
However, we are still waiting to hear when the big event will take place.

I created this wedding favor in hopes it might get the ball rolling…

Supplies:
658453  Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die – Canning Jars, 3-D
658443  Sizzix Bigz Die- Flower, Trinity’s
658457  Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders 2PK – Rosebuds & Seed Packet 

Set
656491  Sizzix Little Sizzles – 6″ x 13″ Mat Board Pack, 6 Cream Sheets
657900  Sizzix Big Shot
656657  Extended Cutting Pads

This die is a great value because it comes with a two sizes of jars- quart and pint, two lids
and an inner well to hold treats.
Die cut Canning Jar. To create a three dimensional project you will need to cut a
second jar piece. Emboss all pieces using Rosebud Textured Impression folder. You
might have noticed, I debossed the inner well section and embossed the front of the
jars. Oops. That’s OK…
ASSEMBLY TIP:
Lay the back sides of the jars facing down and place the middle section (right side
down) across the middle of the two jar bottoms. Mark with pencil. This will make both
jar bottoms level when you stand it up. Apply strong double sided adhesive or
use glue gun to adhere bottom tabs to jars.
Now adhere sides to jar. The sides may be adjusted to the width and height
you desire on the jar.
All taped up!
The jar stands about 5″ tall, 3″ wide and 1 1/4″ deep.
Side view…
For this project, the jar lid was used as a tag and tied it on with rickrack. Write in the
couple’s names with pencil.

Cut the lid from heavy silver cardstock. On the back of it, pencil in lines.

Place on a piece of foam and trace over the lines with an embossing stylus.
Adhere to the top of the jar using foam dots for dimension.

This die would also make a great card if you folded over a piece of cardstock and laid

the fold inside the cut line of the die. I think it would also make a cute recipe book…

What would you use this die for? I’d love to hear… Thanks for coming by!

Thanks for visiting- see you again soon…

 

Sizzix Giveaway

Have you entered the giveaway yet over on the Sizzix Facebook page? Theere is $120 worth of dies from my new Picket Fence collection! Enter by clicking here and then make sure to share the chance to win with your friends…

Did I enter it? Heck yeah! It only took about 5 seconds to do…
Since this is a wedding themed giveaway, I decided to show some wedding projects to keep the theme going.
My daughter Jess got married two years ago (as recounted here and here). On Christmas, we received the happy news that my daughter Pam will be getting married next year… One more daughter to go after that… but it will be perfectly fine if she waits a little.
Here’s a keepsake I did for Jess as seen on the Kool Tak™ blog. I love this picture of the two of them!
I used the Window Box ScoreBoards die and adhered fabric to the window well section using Kool Tak™ adhesive sheets, which worked great. I also used that product to adhere microbeads and glitter to the window section The wedding was in April and this color combo of yellow, black, white and gray really seems fresh and spring-y to me. It’s a little blingy but what the heck- weddings are fun 🙂
Are you all caught up on wedding and shower gifts, graduation announcements, etc? I am buying gift cards like crazy and trying to keep everything straight. Wish me luck…