Three dimensional art... with heart
There is a big Sizzix giveaway going on at Scrapbook.com! The prizes are amazing- check. this. out.
All you have to do is click HERE to visit Scrapbook.com and see how to enter AND (hopefully) WIN!
I am so excited to be part of this giveaway- good luck everyone!
Happy Spring everyone! I am very happy to welcome my friend, neighbor and fellow Paper Trailer to the blog today. Karen Bearse shares her Sizzix Grungy Art Journal with us and I am very excited to share yet another way you can use this Passport Book die!
You may remember that Karen was a passenger on our trip this summer to park Scotty at the Paper Arts Show- read about it here, here and here… boy did we run into some adventures… some not so fun.
But everything worked out fine, thankfully! Now, I know you want to see this… so take it away Karen…
Hi out there in blogland! Karen Bearse here using some of Eileen’s awesome dies. Inspiration is a funny thing. When I am in creation mode I find inspiration all over and never know when it will hit. A few months ago I was at my local scrapbook store and saw this metal clasp. Immediately the idea to double the space in the Passport Book of Eileen’s struck. I had so much fun making this book. Made the book in a day & you can too! Grab a cup of coffee, follow along & I will give you a detailed look into how it was put together. If all the inky stuff is daunting just use mat board, covered in scrapbook paper instead! Trust me you can do this!
Here is the money shot. It is shiny and grungy and I LOVE it! There is lots of great journal space in it and a few design ideas to make working in it easier.
First cut 2 passport covers from corrugated cardboard. Using the Sizzix mat board cut 2 spines. Cut a piece of mat board for the back cover, mine is “5×7 1/4”.
Cover both sides of the back cover with scrapbook paper. I made a paper pocket on the inside to put some tags or ephemera in. Cut 1 spine in adhesive lined scrapbook paper. This will be the inside right spine.
Time to decorate the cover. Tear pieces out of the top paper on the corrugated covers. Be careful not to tear through but if you do a little it is ok these pieces will be reinforced. Add a thin coat of gesso, dry. Stamp randomly using color blend ink, dry. Cover in various colors of Glimmer Glam. One of the reasons I like Glam for this is the glitter. The second it acts like a glaze and leaves a shiny, glossy finish but also adds strength to the project. Cover the outside of the spines in the same way – but no need to gesso. Paint a layer of Glam on the inside of one spine. This will be the left spine of the book. Attach your adhesive scrapbook paper to the other inside piece.
You will need 3 signatures for your art journal. For each signature I used 4 pieces of paper & a big Ranger tag size #12. The side of the tags need to be trimmed to 4 ¾’. For paper I used 2 pieces of RENDR, 1 piece of watercolor and 1 piece of canvas paper. Cut paper 4 ¾ x 14”. Fold in half and using an awl poke 2 holes, use the mat spine piece to line up the holes. Stack your papers inside each other for each signature. Set aside.
Time to assemble the book! Glue the spines- You have a choice to either glue the spines on the outside or inside pieces of your covers. I attached mine to the outside. I used glossy accents for this step as it is good and strong. Remember to keep the scrap paper spine on the right hand side. Start with the front covers and glue together holding the pieces together for a few minutes, than attach to hold. I let them sit for an hour. Next add the spines to the back piece and clip to hold as in the photo. I put the book aside a few hours to let the glue set more before sewing in the signatures.
Use wax linen and thread from the inside, holes of first signature and though the first set of holes in the left side spine. If you want you can add beads to the thread before tying off the threads. Make sure they are taut and hold the signatures in well. Do the same for signatures 2 & 3.
I decided to add beads to the right side spine of the book also, using thin wire. Now that the book is together time to decorate the cover. I colored some chippies from Southern Ridge Trading Company using Color Blends ink and covered with a layer of clear embossing. I added my metal clasp.
I made a flower using Eileen’s flower dies- cutting from book pages and spritzing with glimmer mist and painting on glimmer glam. Ah shiny. My first attempt was a little weak. You can see it in the photo where I added die cuts of Sizzix new paper leather and totally random fabrics. I again painted the new die cuts and stacked a random bunch together. Much better! The center is micro beads. I adhered my flower using Velcro so it is removable when I work in my book, making it easier to art journal.
Here is a close up of the flower. Don’t over think it just add a bunch of stuff and voila! I also added a cut coin envelope to the inside left hand side cover, which had been distressed like the front cover. Now I have somewhere to put cut out stamped images or stickers… I think once I finish my journal I will add more to the cover but for now it is fine. Making this book was awesome and I see myself playing with this layout again soon! Thanks to Eileen Hull for making such great dies and the opportunity to blog for her!!!!
Supplies:
I so LOVE this project and appreciate Karen for taking the time to share it with us! Please let her know you like it 🙂
See you in a few days!
It has been a busy place here on the blog lately! I am happy to be part of a celebration for National Craft Month that my friend Jen Goode put together. I have been doing a lot of stitching lately so I made this Sew Cute 
Needle Book to keep my needles together.
Make sure to check out all of the other projects in the hop- you will have ideas to last you a long time!
To make this, you will need:
Instructions
7. Now head off to see the other projects in the hop! Happy Monday…Thanks so much for stopping by!
This Sizzix Mini-Album Travel Stationery Set keeps note-writing supplies at your fingertips. Instead of checking Facebook while sitting at a soccer game or waiting for an appointment, make those minutes count by writing thank- you notes or cards. This Stationery Folder can also be used to corral your coupons, planner and scrapbooking supplies, or to organize photos.
SUPPLIES:
INSTRUCTIONS
2. Place alphabet stencil over album cover and smooth texture paste over the stencil. Sprinkle glitter on top and allow to dry.
3. Fold matboard over on score lines. Cut a strip pf orange paper 4 1/2″ x 24″. Measure out a center square of 4 1/2′ and add score lines every 1/2 on either side of the square. Cut 8 squares of paper 4 3/8″ square.
4. Place ThermoWeb double sided adhesive 1/4″ tape on every other pleat of the accordion folded strips. Wrap remaining paper toward the front of the album.
5. Place accordion folded section inside the folded up album and secure to either side with double sided tape.
6. Punch holes in top four corners of the album and insert eyelets.
7. With the Twist & Style Tool, twist 3 yards of embroidery floss in complimentary colors to create a cord and thread through the eyelets. 
8. Add a charm and knot in front.
9. Add items inside dividers as desired!
This project has been entered in the FaveCrafts contest. I attended the Prime Blogging Event event at CHA and we were given all kinds of fun supplies to create with. Thanks so much to the sponsors of that event and Prime!
Thanks for stopping by… Eileen
It’s time for Paper Trail 9- Scotty goes INTERNATIONAL! The Paper Trail Tour is a series of trips that I take in my vintage camper Scotty.
I load him up with supplies from my amazing sponsors:
Sizzix, Crescent Cardboard, ThermOWeb, Crafter’s Home, Graphic 45, Clearsnap, Sakura, Beacon Adhesives, Little B, DecoArt, and M-D Hobby and Craft, and off we go! (This is the back of my uniform t-shirt. Best decision I ever made to get them- I never have to worry about what to wear!)
We are headed up NORTH for our annual trip to the Collins Show in the Boston area and will continue all the way to New Brunswick, Canada where I will join up with some super creative friends. We are doing an art retreat in Debra Quartermain’s 5 star Bed & Breakfast, the Quartermain House! Along the way, I’ll be stopping in independent stores teaching and meeting new folks. Let me know if you would like to be part of Paper Trail 9 or you know of a store that would be a good addition- there are still a few slots open.
Please follow my trip on social media:
Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Periscope
This past weekend, March 19, I had the opportunity to teach at a mini- tradeshow put on at the Scrapbook Super Station in Butler, PA.
This event was simply amazing! Amy Shepherd, the owner of the Scrapbook Super Station, made this an actual trade show experience for her customers and they loved it! Here’s an account of the day… and that’s the project we created. Yup- 150 times or so throughout the day!
I had a quick visit in Pittsburgh at my favorite Re-Use store, the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Re-use. Even the name is great, don’t you think?
Decided to head back home that night due to impending snow predicted (which never happened) arriving back in VA at 3:15 AM. Busy day. Also picked up a cold somewhere in there but NyQuil did the trick and I am almost back to normal now.
On April 5 – 7, I am flying out to Prime Publishing in Northbrook, IL to film 15 videos for Favecrafts. If you follow me on social media you probably can catch some outtakes 
Here’s a project I just posted on their site…
Go here to see how to make it along with lots of other ideas!
The BIG Paper Trail 9 Tour will begin on April 12- departing from my home in Northern VA. I will return to my Mom’s in NY overnight and head over for a meeting at the Craft & Hobby Association Headquarters in Elmwood Park, NJ. I hope to Periscope from there and give a little tour of the offices. Last time I went, I got stuck in the back of the parking lot and it took me 30 minutes and about 100 K-turns to get out- lesson learned! Hoping my backing up skills have improved this year but I also will not be parking in the back lot… why ask for trouble?
After another overnight at Mom’s, I will head up to Newton MA for the The Collins Group Rep Event. I will be teaching a class called “All You Could Hope For” featuring my returning Sizzix Candy Drawer die and new Twist & Style Tool!
I will also be showing how to use the Twist & Style Tool at the Sample Making Frenzy event on Saturday evening. We will be making Tissue Paper Flowers and twisted stems.
On April 18, 2016, I will be at Life’s Memories and More. This will be my third visit there- almost a tradition- always fun to meet up with my friends in Palmer, MA. I will do aDemo/Make and Take from 12:00-1:00 and at 1:30- 4:30 we will make the World’s Fair Train Case!
April 21st is when I head over to the The Inspiration Station in Stafford Springs, CT. There is always something going there. Last time I stopped by, Debbie was getting ready to have her cool historic building painted- now I will get to see it in all its glory! From 4:00-5:00 we’ll have a Make and Take/demo and then go right into the Shabby Journal from 6:00-9:00 PM.
On April 23, I will visit the NEW LOCATION of the Papercraft Clubhouse in Westbrook, CT. The last time I visited I thought the store was so pretty and packed with fun stuff that I can’t wait to see the new place. We will make the World’s Fair Train Case from 10:30-1:30 and 2:30-3:30 will be a Demo/Make and Take!
I will spend mosey on up to Scarborough, Maine and spend some time with my sister until I pick up Lorine Mason, BFF and traveling buddy, and we stop by the amazing studio of Kerry Goulder (aka kidgiddy) on April 28.
On the morning of the 29th, we will meet up with fellow glamper Cheryl Boglioli, and her trailer Glinda. Cheryl is picking up our friend Laura Kelly and we are all caravanning up to Fredericton, NB, Canada together for the Quartermain House Creative Retreat on April 29- May 1.
Our talented friend Marie A. Browning will be joining us and sharing a class in lettering- I am hoping to pick up some great tips! This event will be held at the Quartermain House B & B.
It’s a two day retreat and each artist will be teaching multiple classes- you don’t want to miss it! You pay one low price for all of it. Lots more info here. Contact Debra Quartermain, designer, friend and host- we are going to have a blast: welcome@quartermainhouse.com 1.855.758.5255- toll free or 506.206.5255
On May 2, we will start the drive back down to the States for a class on May 3, 2016 at the Brambleberry Market in Caribou, Maine. This is an adorable gift shop located waaay up North. My mom and step-dad Vince own a potato farm there and we have spent several Christmases- so pretty… and great snowmobiling! Debbie is a very good friend of the family and is kindly allowing me to come and teach the Metal Covered Technique Book at 1:00 in her beautiful store!
On May 6, I am very excited to visit Scrapbook Cove in Mystic, CT. This is very close to the US Coast Guard Academy where our daughter Jess spent four happy years. We loved coming up for special events and so it will be fun to visit that area again. We will be making the Metal Covered Technique Book at 1:00.
All of the contact information for the stores can be found here if you would like to join me for class at any time- changes will be updated as they unfold on the Paper Trail Events Page. Remember, the trip is a lot more fun with friends along for the ride, so please join me as I share the adventure on social media…
Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Periscope (eileenhull)
Thanks for following the Paper Trail!
Hi everyone! Just wanted to share a quick post showing a pair of Sizzix Paper Leather baby shoes I made for a shower we had last month for my daughter Jess. They went together fast and actually FEEL like real baby shoes. I used the ScoreBoards Baby Shoe die to make them- here’s what it looks like…
You all know how much I love matboard, but for this particular die, I prefer cutting it from Paper Leather. I like how the Paper Leather curves and matboard just can’t do that. I have to say I am getting hooked on this stuff. It has a great weight to it and it really hard to tear, so you can crumple it up, smoosh it around, wet it, dry it and it seems to get even more supple, the more you handle it. It comes in several colors but I especially like the white because you can ink it any color you want. You can buy it here!
So I’ll tell you how I made the shoes- sorry- I have no pictures along the way. The shower was here at the house and I was cleaning and cooking, then decided to make these at the last minute- you know how that goes…
I used two sheets of 8 1/2″ x 11″ white Paper Leather trimmed to 6″ to fit through the Big Shot. I ran one sheet through for each shoe- all the parts you need are on the one die. As with all Sizzix dies, if you have any questions on how to put them together, there are instructions in the package. If you didn’t keep the packaging, you can always go on the Sizzix website and find the instructions there.
Starting at one toe of the shoe, I wrapped the tabs on the body of the shoe bottom around the sole and glued them down. Then I glued the tongue to the front of the sole and eased up the front to meet the body of the shoe. I added silver eyelets to the lacing holes, pink ribbon for shoelaces and delicate white lace to the top and bottom. Once you start lacing the shoe, the sides curve in and it looks pretty real! I might try these on the baby when she is a little older 🙂
I also added a gray felt sole to the bottom of the shoe which I die cut and glued on after assembling the shoe.
Jess’s friend Norma, of Norma Fayak Photography, took some photos of the shower while she was here and I love how they came out (even though I wish I had gotten the dining room painted white before the shower- so over that green!)
I made this mini- album and everyone added their wishes for Nora. Now she’s born and I can put a pic of her in that window!
Finally got to use my collection of vintage silver baby cups for punch…
And here’s the star of the show- Nora Lynn!
She arrived on March 5- hope you don’t mind if I share a pic here and there? My daughter is a professional newborn photographer (Jessica Veara Photography) so hopefully she will keep me supplied (hint hint).
Here’s a photo I love of Jess and Nora taken by Norma…
Thanks for stopping by and for sharing our joy!