More Unconventional Materials & Sizzix Dies

19 May

We have more projects made with unconventional materials and Eileen Hull’s Sizzix Dies to share with you this week! That is the theme for May and Eileen also wants to see your projects made with creative materials and her dies. In fact, there is a contest going in the Facebook Fan Club so be sure to join the group if you haven’t already. Now let’s see what the Inspiration Team has for us today…

Elizabeth Robinson rescued something from the recycle bin and turned it into a lovely piece of home decor! Some paint and diecuts from the Mandala Die really turned this from trash to treasure. See what she used and how she did it in her blog post.

Elizabeth Robinson for Eileen Hull – May means more Unconventional Materials + Eileen's Sizzix dies
#eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Designer Lisa Hoel has Part 1 of a Folio Journal project to share. What will go inside? You will have to tune in next week to see. 😉 For now however, check out her blog for the cover with its tutorial and to see how Arnold Palmer lent a hand.

Lisa Hoel for Eileen Hull – May means more Unconventional Materials + Eileen's Sizzix dies
#eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Tonya Trantham also has a ‘Part 1’ project post to share. She has a created a Tiny Book that ended up not so tiny! It in fact kind of exploded and is so stuffed full of cool stuff that it doesn’t even close. Find all the details in Tonya’s blog post and she will share Part 2 next week!

Tonya Trantham for Eileen Hull – May means more Unconventional Materials + Eileen's Sizzix dies
#eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

More Unconventional Materials Bonus!

Jenny Marples has a bonus project she made that incorporates the Waterfall & Tags Die Set in an unconventional way. She used the Waterfall flap to cut pages to make a mini book all on its own! I say that is pretty clever! And of course it is full of collage-y mixed media goodness a-la Jenny. You will definitely want to check out her post to see it all and her directions.

Jenny Marples for Eileen Hull – May means more Unconventional Materials + Eileen's Sizzix dies
#eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Visit next week for more projects made with Unconventional Materials + Eileen’s Sizzix dies!

Thanks for visiting and see you next week. In case you missed it, past May posts are HERE and HERE.

Are you a member of the Eileen Hull Fan Club? Join over 5,5oo other members to share ideas, inspiration, sources, challenges and make some fabulous friends – make sure to answer the questions! Watch her Facebook Lives at Eileen Hull Designs on Tuesdays at 6:00 Eastern and Thursdays at 4:00 to for project ideas, techniques, inspiration and creative community. Additionally, you can also find Eileen on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.

If you missed Eileen’s Facebook Live from Tuesday, 5/18 you can watch the replay on on FaceBook. She and Jenny Marples had the same brilliant idea and she makes a little book from the Waterfall Die too!

Creative Materials + Sizzix Dies!

12 May

We kicked off May last week with our new theme of using unconventional and creative materials with Eileen’s Sizzix dies. The Team shared some really interesting projects with us and the fun continues this week! Let’s take a look at their creative makes…

Susie Bentz really thought outside of the box with her Harry Potter Monster Book of Monsters ornament. WOW! Fake fur, plastic vampire teeth and eyes are definitely unconventional. What a sensational result! Visit Susie’s blog to see the tutorial with her tips and tricks.

Susie Bentz for Eileen Hull - creative materials +Sizzix Dies, Harry Potter Monster Book of Monsters ornament! #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Designer Jenny Marples shares a way to use wooden coffee stirrers to create a flexible journal spine. I think this would be a great technique to take note of and use in your own projects! Of course the journal she created is in the lovely Jenny mixed media style and full of wonderful colors and textures. Head on over to her blog tutorial and see how she constructed it! She also has a post on the PaperArtsy blog showing how she decorated the inside pages so don’t miss that either.

Jenny Marples for Eileen Hull - creative materials +Sizzix Dies, coffee stirrers for a flexible journal binding! #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Recycling used packaging materials is a great way to “craft green”! Maggi Harding embossed the plastic from some packaging to use for the cover of her Passport Book journal. I think you would agree that you’d never guess she used “trash” to create this beautiful cover. Maggi has the directions and photos of the equally wonderful inside pages on her blog so check it out!

Maggi Harding for Eileen Hull - creative materials +Sizzix Dies, embossed plastic packaging for a journal cover! #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Pam Bray created a gorgeous Folio Journal with rice paper! She also used the rice paper to make flower embellishments – the lightweight paper is perfect for full and textural blooms. Her step by step photos and instructions can be found on her blog.

Pam Bray for Eileen Hull - creative materials +Sizzix Dies #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Visit next week for more projects made with Unconventional & creative Materials + Eileen’s Sizzix dies!

Thanks for visiting and see you next week. In case you missed it, last week’s post is HERE.

Are you a member of the Eileen Hull Fan Club? Join over 5,ooo other members to share ideas, inspiration, sources, challenges and make some fabulous friends – make sure to answer the questions! Watch her Facebook Lives at Eileen Hull Designs on Tuesdays at 6:00 Eastern and Thursdays at 4:00 to for project ideas, techniques, inspiration and creative community. Additionally, you can also find Eileen on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.

If you missed Eileen’s Facebook Live from Tuesday, 5/11 you can watch the replay on on FaceBook. She shared how to make a felt and leather phone case using the Folio Die.

May We Get Unconventional?

5 May

… with materials that is! Yes, it’s a new month with a new theme and May’s is “Unconventional Materials”! It’s time to think outside of the box (or cut up that box). Eileen Hull has challenged her Teams (and you) to create projects that use her dies with materials and substrates you wouldn’t normally think of crafting with. We are expecting to see some very creative makes from everyone so keep your eyes on the blog and join us in the Fan Club to share your projects.

Karen Bearse is starting us off strong with the unconventional material of… beer cans! She made this totally cool Pocket Notebook journal for her husband using the cans from some of his favorite beverages. Wow! She is sharing the Part 1 tutorial for making the cover on her blog now (stay tuned for more).

Karen Bearse for Eileen Hull - May's theme is using Unconventional Materials with Eileen's Dies. Prepare for creative solutions! #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Julia Aston is getting organized in her craft room with custom “bits and bobs” sorters made using the Stacking Drawer Die and a plastic placemat. (Check out what she used for the handles too!) I agree with Julia that she needs to make many, many more of these cute little organizers. See how she did it on her blog!

Julia Aston for Eileen Hull - May's theme is using Unconventional Materials with Eileen's Dies. Prepare for creative solutions! #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Lisa Hoel will have her official “unconventional materials” project posted later in the month. For now she is sharing a journal that is more of an “unconventional format” project. 😉 Visit her blog for tons of photos and a tutorial about her Day & Night reversible journal made with the Pocket Notebook. See how you can use all the Folio accessory dies in journals that are not made with the Folio base!

Lisa Hoel for Eileen Hull - reversible Day & Night journal made with the Pocket Notebook Die #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Visit next week for more projects made with Unconventional Materials!

Thanks for visiting and see you next week. In case you missed it, last week’s April wrap up post is HERE.

If you missed Eileen’s Facebook Live from Tuesday, 5/4 you can watch the replay on both her YouTube channel and in FaceBook. (Or right here, right now!) She shares how to make a wallpaper card folder to hold cards and stamps all in one handy spot.

Get Crafty with the New Sizzix Dies

14 Apr

Did you catch the stupendous Chapter 2 Release Party and Blog Hop last week? Wow, what a great line up of fab makes from the Teams! We are continuing to get crafty with the new Sizzix Dies from Eileen this week (and all month!) The Inspiration Team has tutorials and inspiration to share with you. Scroll on…

The new Chapter 2 Dies from Eileen:

Front and center are Folio Journal accessory dies – the Waterfall & Tags and Book Binding Thinlits dies. But don’t limit their use only to journals – they work really well on cards and layouts too! And because you can cut as many as you would like, you can add these elements to larger and smaller journals as well.

In addition to the two Thinlits dies, there’s also the new Bigz L Camper 3-D ScoreBoards die just in time for summer travel! Cut two camper pieces and build it into a 3-D container (so much fun to decorate!) or use it on the front of the Folio Journal or card. As always, these dies are super versatile – just waiting for you to put your special touch on them and make them yours.

Getting crafty inspiration from the Team!

Mitsyana Wright shares the tutorial for creating the cover of her stunning Folio Journal. You might be surprised at the materials she used. You won’t want to miss all her tips and tricks so head on over to her blog to check it out.

Mitsyana Wright for Eileen Hull - Get crafty with new Sizzix Dies from Eileen Hull! #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

One of the new Folio Journal accessory dies is the Waterfall & Tags Thinlits Die set. But, as you will see, it can be used for much more than journals. Anna-Karin Evaldsson has created a fun interactive card that features a waterfall on the front. She also added the extra feature of a pull tab that makes the panels flip when you pull it! (See the in-action video clip in her blog post.) She has a complete tutorial on her blog.

Anna-Karin Evaldsson for Eileen Hull - Get crafty with new Sizzix Dies from Eileen Hull! #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Designer Julia Aston also added a waterfall feature to a non-journal project. She created a little Easter memories decor piece with photos and a waterfall mounted on a Display Stand. So clever and what a great way to display several treasured photos all at once! The Waterfall Die set makes it really easy to quickly cut out all the parts you need. Visit her blog and see!

Julia Aston for Eileen Hull - Get crafty with new Sizzix Dies from Eileen Hull! #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Susie Bentz came up with another clever twist on using the Waterfall Die – she made them into pockets for the tags from the die set! This is such a great way to add more to a journal using the waterfall die. They could contain journaling, quotes or whatever you can dream up. You will definitely want to bookmark Susie’s tutorial so you can try it out in your own projects.

Susie Bentz for Eileen Hull - Get crafty with new Sizzix Dies from Eileen Hull! #eileenhull #eileenhulldesigns #eileenhullsizzix #ehinspirationteam #eheducators #Sizzix #mymakingstory #diecutting

Have fun and visit next week, we’ll continue to get crafty using Eileen’s new Sizzix Dies.

If you missed Eileen’s special release party blog hop Facebook Live from Wednesday, 4/7 you can watch the replay on both her YouTube channel and in FaceBook. (Or right here, right now!)

Eileen’s New Post Box & Teacup Sizzix Dies

14 Oct

Eileen Hull has two new exciting scoreboards dies to feed our creativity (shipping now!) – the 3-D Teacup Die and the Post Box Die. As always, Eileen’s dies are extremely versatile and the perfect canvases for a multitude of styles and out of the box thinking (or in the box thinking because her 3-D dies make great containers.)

What Eileen says about her two new dies:

I had so many requests for the teacup die (retired a couple of years ago) that I designed a new one for you – the Teacup, 3D & Spoon! What is different about it? This is a Bigz L die (which means a lower price point!), and features a spoon (new), teabag label (could be used as a teeny tiny book!) and insert piece.

Chapter 4 Eileen Hull/Sizzix Release Party Blog Hop

This XL ScoreBoards Post Box die was designed to work as a mini mailbox. The slot will allow a gift card/credit card to go through. It would be a fun way to decorate a gift card box for the holidays. And did I mention that assembling this die takes about 10 seconds? Seriously!

What has the Team cooked up this week with the new Post Box & Teacup Dies?

Julia Aston is sharing the tutorials for her Blog Hop projects. She used the 3-D Teacup Die to make a festively fragrant holder for a bag of balsam needles. Wouldn’t this be a wonderful hostess gift for the holidays?

Julia Aston for Eileen Hull - New Post Box & Teacup Sizzix Dies #eileenhull #mymakingstory #sizzix #ehinspirationteam

For her Post Box project, Julia made this oh-so-cute Santa letter box. What a wonderful Christmas decoration! You could even make something like this into an ornament for your tree. All the details and tutorials for both of these projects are in her blog post.

Julia Aston for Eileen Hull - New Post Box & Teacup Sizzix Dies.. Santa's letter box #eileenhull #mymakingstory #sizzix #ehinspirationteam

Maggi Harding also decked out her Post Box Die makes for the holidays! Take a look at these darling Christmas wish boxes. She suggests making them for the kids in your life so they can fill them with gift ideas. Sounds pretty handy to me for “Santa”! Visit the blog post for a tutorial and plenty of photos.

Maggi Harding for Eileen Hull - New Post Box & Teacup Sizzix Dies.. Christmas wish boxes #eileenhull #mymakingstory #sizzix #ehinspirationteam

Designer Susie Bentz came up with the brilliant idea of using the Teacup Die to make a mini album of all her grandniece’s adventures over the years on the Teacup ride at Disney World. Isn’t that perfect! You can see how she did it in the tutorial on her blog.

Susie Bentz for Eileen Hull - New Post Box & Teacup Sizzix Dies.. a teacup mini album #eileenhull #mymakingstory #sizzix #ehinspirationteam

Mitsyana Wright brings us back to the holiday at hand with her fabulously Halloween-y makes! I love the vintage feel of the papers she chose and the fun embellishments. Also, now I know that dark chocolate Reese’s are a thing and I’m in trouble! I’m not sure I should thank Mitsy for that lol. Check out her blog post for all the details.

Mitsyana Wright for Eileen Hull - New Post Box & Teacup Sizzix Dies.. Halloween treats! #eileenhull #mymakingstory #sizzix #ehinspirationteam

Visit us next week for more projects using Eileen’s new Post Box & Teacup Dies!

Thanks for stopping by to pay a visit. If you missed the previous posts, you can find them here and here.

Below is the link for Eileen’s Tuesday Facebook Live! She opens some happy mail and gets a start on a project using the new Post Box Die. Don’t miss it on replay!

The Great Outdoors Inspiration Wrap-Up

23 Sep

Hasn’t this been a great month? All during September the Teams have been looking to the Great Outdoors for the inspiration for their creative projects. We have definitely been treated to some fabulous makes! This week the Educator Team steps up to the plate to wow us with their interpretations of the theme. Let’s take a look…

Designer Sarah Lizzie loves to spend time at the seaside listening to sound of the waves and that love comes through in her summery Display Stand Die project celebrating the sea. Check out her blog post for all the how-to on making this fun project.

Sarah Lizzie for Eileen Hull - Great Outdoors inspiration using Eileen's Sizzix dies #eileenhull #ehinspirationteam #sizzix #mymakingstory

Madeline Arendt created a banner project that lets you bring a bit of the outdoors inside to brighten up your indoor decor. I love how she incorporates fabric and natural materials. Plus, these banners have a little secret in the construction. You will have to go read Madeline’s blog to find out what it is…

Madeline Arendt for Eileen Hull - Great Outdoors inspiration using Eileen's Sizzix dies #eileenhull #ehinspirationteam #sizzix #mymakingstory

Heads up for full on fall…

The rest of the Educator Team has definitely jumped into the fall feel feet first! Give us pumpkins, colored leaves and Halloween!

Cleverly using two of the lid pieces from the Treasure Box Die, Jennie Atkinson created a botanical box bedecked with a butterfly, flowers and other found embellishments. The collection radiates a gentle fall feel. See Jennie’s blog post for many more detail photos of this beautiful project and also the tutorial.

Jennie Atkinson for Eileen Hull - Great Outdoors inspiration using Eileen's Sizzix dies #eileenhull #ehinspirationteam #sizzix #mymakingstory

Anne Redfern checks the Halloween box with this delightfully spooky outdoor scene featuring Arthur the grumpy owl. Apparently he does not approve of the yowling cat. This is a journal cover made using the Journal XL Die. Anne shares a tutorial and some photos of parts of the inside on her blog so you will not want to miss that!

Anne Redfern for Eileen Hull - Halloween inspiration using Eileen's Sizzix dies #eileenhull #ehinspirationteam #sizzix #mymakingstory

Anita Houston shares a quick and easy project with us that is also interactive! If you harken back to your childhoods, you may remember flannel boards with felt cut out characters you could rearrange on the background. Well, Anita created a mini fall themed one using the Display Stand Die! This is such a creative idea and would make a fun little gift. She spills all her secrets in her blog post so head on over and read up on how to make your own.

Anita Houston for Eileen Hull - Autumn inspiration using Eileen's Sizzix dies #eileenhull #ehinspirationteam #sizzix #mymakingstory

Next week it’s party time!!
Eileen’s new Chapter 4 Dies will be released…

and we’re celebrating with a Facebook live party and a blog hop! Stay tuned for more details!

Thanks for stopping by to pay a visit. If you missed the previous posts, you can find them here, here and here.

Join Eileen on her twice weekly Facebook Live shows at Eileen Hull Designs – Tuesdays at 6:00 pm EST and Thursdays at 4:00 pm EST. Become a member of the Eileen Hull Fan Club- a friendly, talented and encouraging community of crafty folks that you will want to meet. Please join our group and don’t forget to answer the questions! Additionally, you can also find Eileen on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Below is the link for Eileen’s Facebook Live from Tuesday. She covers the wedding aftermath, opens some happy mail, and shows us how to make a desk calendar using the Display Stand Die.