Uncategorized Archives - Page 22 of 83

Creative ColorBox Blends Project Ideas

22 Feb

Hey there everyone! The Inspiration team is back again with more creative ColorBox Blends project ideas. Throughout the month of February the team has been sharing tips and tutorials on how to use my Colorbox Blends Inks from Clearsnap. You’ll learn all sorts of ways to use these pigment inks in a variety of projects from coloring fabric, creating cards and paper projects, even watercoloring! Let’s see what the IT has in store for you this week.

Creative ColorBox Blends Project Ideas

Jonathan Fong gets the creativity going with a fabulous, floral fashion art piece! Jonathan created his fab fashion illustration with Rendr paper and my Paper Flower Party Swirl Flower die cuts colored with ColorBox Blends!

Jonathan has some great tips for inking up your paper projects with ColorBox Blends so be sure to stop by Jonathan’s blog for more details!

Nicole Wright keeps the inky inspiration going with this beautiful beyond words Floral Train Case creation! Nicole’s project features my Train Case expertly embossed and colored with blends along with floral elements including the Pansy Die.

Check out Nicole’s Blog for a can’t miss Paper Flower Tutorial and More!

Tonya Trantham our leading expert on Junk Journals shares her latest creation PACKED with ColorBox Blends techniques. Not only is this lovely Butterfly Angel Journal a sight to behold it’s filled with ideas for you to use in your next project.

Visit Tonya’s blog for a technique packed tutorial with all kinds of creative ColorBox Blends project ideas.

Mitsyana Wright shares an absolutely stunning Floral Keepsake Box Project. Oh my stars it’s as if I could smell this glitzy paper rose! I just love the use of Blends inks, pretty papers and Sizzix dies here don’t you?

See how Mitsyana combined my Pansy Die with ColorBox Blends Inks and gorgeous, glittery papers from DCWV to create this show stopper.

Diana Hetherington shares a sweet little Sizzix Suitcase project. Diana’s Suitcase and matching booklet is all inked up and ready to go, just add embossing and your favorite embellishments!

Take a trip to Diana’s blog where she’s packing in the ColorBox Blends project ideas!

Lisa Hoel’s latest creation is a triple threat. Her beautiful banner features fabric art times three! Colorbox Blends inks on fabric CHECK! Felt Die Cuts and Stitched Detailing using my Sizzix Stitchlits Collection, CHECK! A lovely, wired heart hanger created using my Twist and Style tool CHECK!

Run don’t walk to Lisa’s Blog for all the cool techniques she used to create this beautiful banner.

Julia Aston is taking over the Clearsnap Blog with a cool Inked Embossing Folder technique.

Find out how Julia used the Scallop Flap Box, Daisy Wreath Impressions folder with ColorBox Blends HERE.

Hope you enjoyed all of the ColorBox Blends project ideas. I can’t wait to try these out myself! See you soon.

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!