Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

Sizzix ScoreBoard Blog Hop #7

Happy New Year everyone! So glad you could join us for another great Blog Hop featuring the Memo Holder. This die was designed to hold a 3″ x 3″ post it note pad but check out the links listed below to the other designers’ sites to see lots more cool ways to use it.

Today was recycling day. As I was taking it to the curb, it occurred to me that shipping boxes should work great with the ScoreBoard dies. So I had to run down and try one out. To my delight, they do! If you like nice clean folds, you may want to run a craft knife down the score lines before you fold them up just to keep them crisp. I used one Priority mail box and was able to get about 6 folders out of it. And the best thing is it’s recycled! I like the way it looks with either side showing. These are so fast to make you could have post-it note folders all over the house, give as party favors, or a quick little something to tuck in a card. Stock up on post-its when you see them on sale or purchase them in bulk at a discount store. You’ll want to make these for everyone you know!

First I punched holes in the center of each scallop. I used white pigment ink to stamp a border on the front and back of the folder, and also stamped a flower on top of the smallest of the three flower die pieces. Use a brad to attach the flower to the folder. Cut a small piece of elastic long enough to loop through the center scallop and around the flower. I knotted white grosgrain ribbon through the loops for a handle. Quick and easy… and free! Hard to believe that was going out to be recycled…

If you are wondering how that red memo holder was made, go to the Sizzix blog for complete instructions!

For more ideas on ways to use this die, check out the following blogs:

Jenn Ellefson
Niki Meiners
Bonnie Bruns
Laura Bray
Candice Windham
Ann Butler
Karen Burniston
Cindi Bisson

Sizzix ScoreBoard Blog Hop #6

Welcome everyone and happy holidays to all! So glad you could stop by to check out our sixth Blog Hop. Today’s die is the Easel Frame. There are many ways this die can be used, as you will see when you check out the links to the amazing designers’ blogs listed below.

When I designed this die, I wanted a frame that would mail easily. It holds a wallet size photo and folds flat to mail. The frame is easily assembled by adding three brads (or just a strip of double sided tape).

In the past, I have always used matboard as a base for the dies, but got curious about what other materials might work with the ScoreBoard dies. Turns out foamboard works fine! Consider starting a new tradition at the holidays of sending an updated school picture of your children to grandparents and other relatives that you may not see often.

I spray adhesived a piece of BasicGrey paper to one side of a strip of foamboard and then ran it through the Big Shot. The machine will resist a little and does compress the foamboard but all of the pieces popped out without a problem. I cut off the bottom easel section, leaving a mat with a window and back piece the same size. I also added a matboard “J” cut out using my Serif Essentials alphabet, some baby rickrack, red glitter snowflake and a beaded handle.

For more detailed instructions for this project, check out the latest issue of Totally-Creative, a beautiful e-magazine that contains 60 pages of unique holiday projects, complete instructions and interesting articles. Click here to sign up for a free trial issue! Need a last minute gift for a crafter friend? You have till Dec. 31 to get 2 subscriptions for the price of one!


I love how my friend Kim added the middle heart shaped mat inside inside the frame. The red and white color scheme is so nice and crisp! The tiny ornament punches are adorable and I’m guessing here that they are Martha Stewart’s. Am I right?

One more item of interest and invitation. The Sizzix blog is up and running! You will see projects and ideas from Sizzix designers including Karen Burniston and Brenda Pinnick, who you have seen on our Hops, along with me.

Many thanks to my great designer friends who took time out of their holiday preparations to bring you inspiration. Merry Christmas everyone!

Ann Butler
Fabrizio Martellucci
Brenda Pinnick
Jenn Ellefson
Candice Windham
Niki Meiners
Violette Clark
Cindi Bisson

Birth Announcement

My friend Joayn became a grandmother at Thanksgiving. She had gotten some stationery before Jackson was born and I asked her for a notecard. Wasn’t sure what I would do with it but thought I might somehow create a unique birth announcement for her. Actually I did two and will give the other one to Tara, Joayn’s daughter. I like how this came out and it was so easy with the help of my trusty workhorse, the Logan mat cutter!

Make sure to check out the Sizzix site on Monday and click on BLOG! I will be posting new projects, tips and techniques for working with the new ScoreBoard dies along with other Sizzix designers.

I can’t wait to see these babies in person on Saturday! I will be traveling down to Raleigh, NC where the closest Archiver’s store is. They are offering a free Make and Take Sizzix ScoreBoards gift card box. If you have an Archiver’s store in your area, boy are you lucky! Stop by and make a one…

Sizzix ScoreBoard Blog Hop #5

Thanks for stopping by today! I can’t wait for you to see what the fabulous ScoreBoard designers have come up with for you this time. Every Hop, I am blown away by their creativity and style and so appreciate the time they put in to working on these projects, especially during the busy holiday season.

Today we have two bloggers new to the Hop: Debra Quartermain is a designer friend from Canada who works in all kinds of mediums, but I think my my personal favorites are the projects she creates with fabric. Debra designs cuddly little creatures from felt, fabric and fleece- you just want to hug them. We also have Violette Clark here for the first time (another Canadian)! I met Violette two years ago at CHA when we had a booth next to her in the License & Design Section. We spent a lot of fun time getting to know each other. Violette is a multi-media artist and loves to work with lots of color and techniques. She has a purple house- check out her blog!

The die we are working with today is the Business Card Box. This box is quite versatile. Not only does it fit business cards but it’s the perfect size for gift cards- very handy at this time of year! Another reason I like it is because it’s so quick and easy to assemble.

I decided to do a little surgery on mine. My project is a magnetic organizer. I plan on putting it on the refrigerator next to my calendar. I am constantly looking for a pencil, paper and post-its so I can make notes and write in dates/times while talking on the phone. After I had cut out the die and trimmed the top flap off, I inserted the black matboard die-cut in the Textured Impression folder and ran it through the Big Shot. Then I sanded off the raised part of the image down to the white core. I will tell you, my arm got tired- it took a while to do! It was then inked with a light blue dye ink. I printed out labels and adhered them to the die cut tabs and threaded ribbon through the back.

Black and blue matboard were layered on top of each other with a strip of white cardstock edged with a Martha Stewart punch design in between. The Crop-o-dile was used to punch two sets of holes to thread ribbon through for a pencil holder. Foam adhesive strips were placed under the blue layer for popped up dimension. On the back, three strips of one inch magnet tape was adhered to hold the whole piece on the fridge. I added black matboard die cut flowers randomly to the background along with a narrow ribbon at the top.

I also used a couple of flowers to decorate magnet clips I had found at Ikea a while ago. This will be good for coupons.

For a look at some more cool projects, check out the blogs of my talented designer friends!

Denise Clason
Jenn Ellefson
Bonnie Bruns
Korie B
Violette Clark
Karen Burniston
Candice Windham
Debra Quartermain
Cindi Bisson
Ann Butler
Niki Meiners

Sizzix ScoreBoards Blog Hop #4

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am so grateful for the fabulous designers who took the time to come up with this special project for you so close to the holiday! I am truly thankful for their friendship and willingness to share their talents.

Tonight I had a fun time over at Angela’s Happy Stamper in Reston. I taught a class using the ScoreBoard dies. I invited them to stop by the Blog Hop and also to join the Sizzix fan page where you can see the latest new products, coupons and great ideas. Also, a new feature will be added soon to the Sizzix.com site and someone you know might be participating! 🙂

OK, getting down to business, the featured die this week is the Notebook Pocket. There are so many uses for this die- it’s inspiring to see all the different ways the designers have created with it!

I decided to emboss the matboard. Now, embossed matboard is actually available for purchase BUT the price is steep. For the little time spent experimenting with this technique, it was well worth my while considering the rich textured effect that resulted.

First I laid the embossing folder sideways over a piece of white matboard and the die, roughly estimating where the folds would lie, and marked these areas lightly in pencil. Then I sandwiched the matboard inside a Sizzix embossing folder where I wanted the design to appear and rolled the die through. Some adjusting of the plates are needed to get the deeply etched effect but I think the finished product is very elegant. I added a ribbon where the pattern stops- bought at the Offray outlet up in Hagerstown, MD a few weeks ago- and what a fun road trip that was… (A big old bag of this wide green ribbon was in the clearance section for a dollar! Love it!)

Then I just had to make a card to put IN the pocket! The card base is a soft green and I used the Sizzix cake folder to emboss the design onto a small scrap of matboard which I trimmed, then bumped up from the card and accented with white ribbon.

I think this set has the look of fine letterpress. And it was done for pennies using the Sizzix embossing folders! OK, time for someone to get married- I can’t wait to give this!

Where Creativity Knocks designer Cindi Bisson sent me this cool project. That would be a fun item to have on the dinner table to get positive conversations going. Or considering what day it is, this could be a great favor for your Thanksgiving dinner too. Lay at everyone’s place with “Why I am grateful for you…” written on the front with their name… so special, such a nice thought. Thanks Cindi!

Now grab your beverage of choice and get comfy. Check out the other outrageously creative projects the ScoreBoards designers have come up with for you!

Jennifer Ellefson
Candice Windham
Denise Clason
Ann Butler
Fabrizio Martellucci
Korie B
Barbara Matthiessen
Brenda Pinnick
Karen Burniston
Bonnie Bruns

And thanks to all of you for visiting. Please stop back on December 9 to see what we do with the business card holder (which also fits gift cards!). Now on to the business of turkey eating!

Sizzix ScoreBoard Blog Hop #3


Welcome to our third Blog Hop! The featured project today is the checkbook holder. Of course there are many other uses for this die which I’m pretty sure you will see as you visit each designer’s blog.

And here’s a more little background on some of our Blog Hop designers. I am happy to welcome back my good friend, reluctant blogger and partner in crime, Lorine Mason. Lorine is a fabric artist and has authored many books. Denise Clason joined us last week with her cool pin cushion cupcake project- Denise has also written several beautiful quilting and sewing books. From across the pond, I am happy to welcome Fabrizio Martellucci. He is a designer in London and loves working with anything Brenda Pinnick designs! We met in the Inspired at Home chat room. Gabriela Delworth is another great photographer and project designer. She is from Toronto and teaches classes in gift wrapping and other paper projects. I was so happy when Karen Burniston (of pop-up fame) introduced me to her friend Bonnie Bruns a few weeks ago. Her work is amazing- you may remember seeing her dog Bella posing with a cupcake die crown for the last Hop. Laura Bray is a fellow CHA Designer member whose work I have been admiring for quite some time. Laura shares my love for making crafts that look like yummy food! Brenda Pinnick is an amazing designer and fellow licensed artist with Sizzix. She has just started a color series entitled Color U. Check out her blog for details. This summer I was so happy to have some time to talk with the Golden Press Kit- Designer award winner Candice Windham. She is another matboard/foamboard fanatic! I loved what Barbara Mattheissen did last week with the cupcake holder die. I am fascinated with how many techniques she has mastered and manages to make them look fun and easy to try. Did you see the sweet cupcake projects from Niki Meiners? She has a fun and contemporary style that just makes you smile. Thanks to all of the fabulous designers whose work is truly outstanding. I am blessed to have you all as part of my die promotion events. Readers please stop by their blogs for inspiring projects and insights!

And now… on with the Hop!

I designed a notepad with this die. My inspiration was a book called “Elegance- a Complete Guide for Every Woman who Wants to be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions” originally published in 1964. I found it in the thrift store and was fascinated by the advice of the author. The page I used on the cover of the notepad is telling the reader why you should not go shopping for clothes with good friends and it’s hysterical. VERY proper. So not me 🙂

Here’s how I created it… This project requires you to cut out 2 covers, which means you need one and a half pieces of matboard to make the project. I coated the front and back covers with spray adhesive, adhered the book pages to the outside cover of the folder, then ran the whole thing through the Big Shot. The added pressure of the rolling through ensures that the paper will stay adhered to the matboard. The binding was attached with brads and the faux crystals adorn the closure. One piece of advice… magnets may be the way to go with the closure on this project instead of Velcro. The paper is tearing away from the base layer and ripping paper. Darn it!

While I was working on it, I realized that I had a bunch more ideas that I could use this die for… stay tuned…

Here are some fantastic designs that the Blog Hop Designers have come up with for you! Thanks for sharing them with us.

Brenda Pinnick
Fabrizio Martellucci
Jennifer Ellefson
Ann Butler
Lorine Mason
Karen Burniston
Bonnie Bruns
Gabriela Delworth
Candice Windham