Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

Reverse Canvas Project

I don’t think I ever showed you all the project I made in my class with the fabulous Cathe Holden at The Creative Connection this past September. Cathe had everything all kitted up for us so we just followed along and did what she told us. I was sitting next to Deb Berger of Scrapbooks, Etc. so we had a nice chat while we assembled our projects. Tauni had a small small glitter malfunction, but aside from that we behaved and all finished our projects. Here are more photos of the class on Cathe’s post.

The project background was what looks like an old paint by number winter scene. Does anyone else remember these? Ah, the smell of the paints! It seems like they were oils- could this be? How did my mother ever let me do that? 

We inserted the copy of the painting into the back of a canvas, turned it over and covered the wood frame with some old Christmas photos that fit perfectly in antique slide mounts We added a personalized banner, glass glitter, some snow and a bottle brush tree.

I’m getting ready to hang this up- finally decorating! 

Noodle Frame

This project was soooo quick and easy! At this time of year, projects like this are great when you need something at the last minute. These were materials I had on hand. The frame was purchased about 2 years ago for $1.99 and I had been meaning to sell them at the Barn Sale but never got the art done for the frame opening. So luckily, this was already spray painted and ready to go. The noodles were left over from last year’s noodle extravaganza, so this took about 10 minutes to make! Good thing-my week is crazy with lots of deadlines! Oh and shopping, baking, parties, etc. 


Here’s how I made it: 
  1. Spray paint a frame. I used red paint- it took about three coats to cover the frame. After the frame dried, I sanded off the edges to distress it a little and wiped brown ink over where I had sanded. 
  2. Insert photo- this is one of our family from last year’s Christmas.  
  3. Add some fun green tree shaped noodles and snowflakes in natural by applying glue dots to the back of each noodle and sticking on frame where desired.
  4. Tie a coordinating ribbon on top of the frame.
  5. DONE! Great gift too.

Tip Junkie handmade projects

Second Annual Holiday Noodle Party is in session!

Welcome to our Second Annual Holiday Noodle Party! Here’s where you can post your fun holiday projects using noodles 🙂

Pasta is everywhere you look. At World Market I purchased trees and snowflakes. At Ikea, they had really cute mooseheads. And that’s not even getting into the more standard fare like rotini, linguini, fusilli, fettucine, spaghettini and penne, to name a few, that may be found in your local supermarket. 

 At Big Lots, I found a package of Beer Mug Pasta (wow).

All of these cool little shapes may be used to create with! They are natural, edible, inexpensive, available, and accept inks, paints, glitter and mists. Are you crafting with noodles? If so, you are in the right place!

The linky party starts today, Monday, December 12 and runs till Friday, December 16 at midnight. This event is open to all and extended in the spirit of fun and sharing the love of crafting during this holiday season. Here’s how it works:

  • Post a blog on your site with a picture of your project and enter the URL of that post below from now until Thursday, December 15.
  • Enter as many projects as you would like. 
  • It can be a project created by you, your child, or anyone. 
  • The only requirement is it must contain a noodle of some kind 🙂 
  • Please vote for your favorite design on Friday, December 16. 
  • The project that gets the most votes will receive a bag of goodies from our friends at Noodles & Company! I’ll also be giving away one of my Sizzix dies to a random commenter. 
  • Post early so everyone has a chance to see your work. 
  • Please share this with your social media friends and invite them to join in!
WE WANT TO SEE YOUR PROJECTS so link up below:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Handmade Holidays

Tip Junkie handmade projects
Around this time every year, I get the itch to start making things for family and friends. Is it a reaction to all the commercials and electronics that surround us as the countdown to Christmas begins? Maybe. The act of planning a project in my head, gathering the materials, and finally, assembling the design into a pleasing finished product just soothes my soul. While I am working on the project, I am thinking of who I will give it to, where they might put it, the significance that it has of the relationship between us, and that is something you just can’t buy.

I’m not saying I don’t enjoy technology as much as the next person. I love all the cool things that you can do with it. But creating handmade items seems more in keeping with the Christmas spirit to me. So if time allows, I’m going that route this year. Are you with me?

Here’s a project that’s a lot of fun and easy to do once you get the hang of it. 
I used a candle that had a couple of dents in it- probably got it on clearance somewhere! In this case it doesn’t matter since you cover the candle with sheet music. I loved what I used- it was an old music book and had drawings of cute little kids sledding down a hill mixed in with the music.
You will need:
ModPodge matte finish
old sheet music (preferably in a winter theme)
candle
berry ring
matboard scraps
Sizzix Primitive Star die
Sizzix Big Shot
crystal glitter or Epsom salts
  1. Coat candle liberally with ModPodge. Wrap a page of sheet music around candle and smooth so there are no air pockets. Add another coat of ModPodge.
  2. Roll candle in tray of glitter or Epsom salts, making sure to cover surface well. 
  3. Use Big Shot die cutting machine and star die to cut stars from matboard. Coat stars with ModPodge and press into glitter/salts.
  4. Trim where needed. Allow to dry.
  5. Place candle base in a berry wreath and add glittery stars to the wreath. 
  6. Be careful when lighting candle and do not leave unattended. 
Thanks for stopping by. Do you plan on making gifts this year? What are you cooking up?

Journey to Oz Suitcase

I was wowed by a project sent to me by Susan Tierney-Cockburn. I met Susan at CHA Winter this past January and she showed  some projects she created with my dies. One of my favorites was a house and garden she created with the Pro House die to honor the memory of her daughter Kelly who had recently passed away from breast cancer. See Kelly’s Garden in this post. Each flower was lovingly designed and crafted by hand. Susan has also written a beautiful book entitled Paper Bouquet which is available on Ellen Hutson’s site.
Here is “The Journey”. Susan used my Sizzix ScoreBoard Suitcase die, Graphic 45 papers and a ruby slipper created by Ellen Hutson. Every time I look at it, I see more details. Holy cow, this is amazing! Look at the little oil can- the teeny tiny poppies- this gorgeous ruby slipper! That paper covering Dorothy’s suitcase looks exactly like her dress in the movie!
Make sure you visit Susan’s blog where she has posted a recipe for Emerald City Brownies. More deliciousness! Here’s the story of how Susan created the project in her words.

Life is a Journey and like Dorothy, I am thankful for the friends, I’ve met along the way, who have taken this journey with me.  This concept is key when I was inspired by Eileen Hull’s “suitcase” die cut by Ellison/Sizzix and, like Dorothy and the friends she met along her way, I’ve found my way back home. These last eighteen months, after losing our daughter, Kelly to breast cancer, it’s been my friends who have given me support, helped me find love in my heart again, and shown me courage to help me continue on my journey.

One of my dearest friends, Ellen Hutson, who I’ve come to lean on considerably, has even designed a ruby slipper to complete this profound project of mine.  I’m in awe of every one of her shoe creations, but I have to say, this ruby slipper is the best ever!  It became the perfect “vessel” to show off my red poppies–the ones that put Dorothy and her companions to sleep and the symbol of my state of mine after such a great loss.
Lastly, I have to mention Graphic 45’s “Magic of Oz” paper that finishes the project.  The gingham design for Dorothy’s suitcase is a perfect match and the “cards of the characters” gives the box a familiar look to enhance the story.  However, it’s not just a story I’ve watched on television as a child based on the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, but a greater meaning I’ve discovered watching it as an adult. 
These little suitcases can hold the most wonderful “treasures”!  And, just like my mother, I love chocolate, and always have a stash when I need some!Dorothy’s Suitcase–scared and unsure how to get home, she begins a magical journey, meeting friends who will help her along the way.
The Scarecrow’s Suitcase–he thinks he lacks a brain, but his common sense helps guide and develop a plan to save Dorothy in their quest to reach the Wizard and return home to Auntie Em and Uncle Henry in Kansas.
The Cowardly Lion–a sweet character, afraid of his own shadow until his friends need him.  He has the courage to help Dorothy in her most perilous situations.
The Tin Man–probably my favorite, who longs for a heart from the Wizard.  However, he has the biggest heart of all and puts his friends first when they need him.
I hope you all think about the friends in your life that you take with you on Life’s Journey when you look at this project–I know I do.
I love how Susan shares her process with us and makes this an experience rather than a craft project. Thanks so much Susan and Ellen- this is a touching account and exquisite workmanship.
Susan sent me some great photos of the individual pieces which, due to technical ineptitude on my part, I am unable to share with you. I recently made the switch from PC to Mac and am having trouble doing what should be basic operations, like pasting in a photo! Please tell me someday it will come to me… in the meantime head on over to her blog to read more!

Haunted House

Happy Columbus Day to all! I just wanted to pop in and show you all a cool project sent to me by Susan Tierney Cockburn. She blogs at My Mother’s Apron Strings where she shares mouth watering recipes and photos of yummy desserts. I met her at about a year ago at CHA. She brought projects that she had done with some of my other dies and I was amazed at her attention to detail and meticulous work. She is so nice and friendly- we just hit it off!
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Here’s a picture of my Sizzix ScoreBoard Pro House die (above). Susan turned it into a spooky Haunted House for Halloween (below)! Can you believe these tiny little flowers? The haystack and tree? And it looks like some critter is up in the tree but I can’t tell what it is from this picture…Can anyone figure that out? I love this- what a fun project!

Susan- thanks so much for letting me share this cool project! Now I am in such a Halloween mood. Bring on the candy corn 🙂