Eileen Hull

Happy Fourth of July

4 Jul

I have a special place in my heart for all things red, white and blue because we are a military family.

My husband Hayward served 20 years in the army, (now RET), my son Chris, US Army Ranger with three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, my daughter Jessica five years of active duty in the Coast Guard and now in the reserves and son-in-law Jason, who currently serves in the Coast Guard. I am so proud of the service that they gave but also know of the sacrifices made. Thank you to all who serve or have served from the bottom of my heart.

Here is a Patriotic Canning Jar holding hydrangeas from my yard. I used one of my Sizzix dies and Craft Attitude to make this project. See how to make it here. (Also this die is on sale right now for $25.99 at sizzix.com!)

This is an ornament that I made for Operation Write Home that was displayed at CHA a couple of summers ago. It was really cool how they were displayed. CHA brought in a tree and cute little park benches you could sit down on. When you looked up, you could see all of the ornaments everyone had made for this fundraiser- I think the ornaments were auctioned off after the show.

I made this project using my House die, which has been discontinued. It’s funny- along the #PaperTrail, I talked with a woman who wanted this die so badly she was going to buy it from somewhere overseas and the shipping was almost as much as the die itself. I asked about it at Sizzix and discovered that there was a solution for her. Here’s the guidance that I received:

There is a Special Order Die program where customers can order discontinued, unpackaged SRDs at 25% above previous MSRP (with no further discounting), so for this die, it will cost a customer $74.99. Once the order is place and confirmed, it will be shipped within 30 – 60 days (closer to 30 days). Customers can contact Customer Service, and any of our rep should be able to help with this request.

Isn’t that a handy thing to know?

I did this banner for Buttons Galore & More… wish I had kept that one!

I hope you are able to spend your holiday with people that you love. Happy Fourth of July to all!

Art with Heart Challenge July {Red, White, and Beautiful}

2 Jul

Hey everyone! Can you believe it’s July already? Neither can I! I’m still playing catch up after returning from the #PaperTrail but I’m excited to celebrate a new Art with Heart Challenge with you as we move into July.

This month’s challenge is “Red, White and Beautiful”. We have a fun prize pack up for grabs for you to create your own”Red, White and Beautiful” projects including one of my newest stamp sets from Craffiti Direct, a custom set of Red, White and Blue Artist Trading Blocks and other fun goodies!

Need some inspiration? The Inspiration Team is here reporting for duty! Let’s see what the girls have created this month to inspire YOU to bring out the Red, white and blue…

Rina Gonzales created an adorable Red, White and Blue Mason Jar banner to celebrate the Fourth of July using my Canning Jar die.

Stop by Rina’s Blog for more details on this red, white AND beautiful project!

Tracy Evans created a fabulous across the pond version of the Red, White and Blue with this glorious Jubilee inspired Artist Trading Block!

Hop on over to Tracy’s Blog for an artful trip to London town.

Donna Budzynski has a lovely red, white and beautiful flower arrangement for you perfect for an Independence day celebration or summer picnic. Donna used my 3-D flowers die and lovely labels set to create this patriotic arrangement.

Stop by Donna’s blog for an inky good red, white and beautiful tutorial!

Now it’s your turn! Your projects don’t have to be red, white or blue because I know they will be beautiful! Can’t wait to see your Art with Heart.

Eileen

PS My apologies on the winners post delay from June. I will be announcing the winner and top 3 after the Holiday

An InLinkz Link-up

#PaperTrail Day 17

29 Jun

I left Chagrin Falls bright and early bound for Scrap Happy Ohio, after a fond farewell circle around the Town Square and a stop at the gas station to fill Big Daddy. Sharon had sent me off with a mapquest printout of how to get to Tiffin, OH, which I followed.

After about an hour and a half, I exited the highway and as I drove down the ramp, I heard a horrible grating sound. I got out to investigate and saw that the tailpipe was hanging off Big Daddy and dragging on the ground! I saw a truck stop caddy corner to the exit ramp and headed over in that direction. A good Samaritan mechanic was walking by when I pulled up. He took a look underneath and pulled off the tailpipe!

He assured me that I could have it welded back on when I got home and that it wouldn’t be any different to drive. Then he walked away- no charge! God bless him for knowing exactly what I was worried about and reassuring me that it would be OK…

I called Sharon Brown, my contact at Scrap Happy Ohio, and told her I would be late. She said it was OK- the people for class were there but she would keep them amused. I finally arrived, quickly unpacked and got the show on the road.

We made some fun Canning Jar Recipe Books using washi tape- it’s amazing how everyone’s looked so different just by the colors of tape they used…

Then it was on to making Art Journals- we cranked them out!

Sharon and I have been FB friends for a while and it was so great to meet her in person and see the store.

Then it was time to pack up the camper and hit the road. This was a traveling day- had to get from Ohio to Indiana- about 250 miles. I ran into three big storms along the way. I had to pull over into a McDonald’s parking lot for one of them- it felt like Scotty was going to go flying off the back of the truck- really windy and blinding rain. So I had a little nap and then when it calmed down, got back on the road…

At about 10 PM, I finally arrived at the home of friends that I had not seen since high school! I can’t even tell you the number of years it had been because it makes me feel really old.- let’s just say MANY years…

One of their kids worked had a set from college- I almost got to sleep with a Wild Thing!

It felt like we just picked up from where we were in HS days and caught up on jobs, kids (we each have four- three girls and one boy), moves (lots), military experiences (Bill was AF, Hayward was Army), church, and life in general. They live in a beautiful home and have great antiques from when they lived in Germany. I loved the time with them and hope that we can reconnect and get together again sometime. Thanks Kathy and Bill! More to come…

#PaperTrail- Day 16

26 Jun

Throughout my trip, I have been struck with how beautiful our country is and how lucky I am to be seeing it.

After leaving Maureen’s house in Chardon, OH I drove to Chagrin Falls, where my friend Sharon lives. She is the blogger behind Crafts ‘n Coffee and had very nicely invited me to stay with her. Read about her account of our visit here.

I had to do three drivebys of her house to determine the best approach to her place. There were workers putting in a new sidewalk with lots of orange cones, big machines and workers directing traffic. Luckily Sharon had a nice wide driveway that I could turn around in or it might have been one of those times I would need to disconnect the trailer and turn it manually.

I only have one flip flop on this pic because I lost the other one- my favorite pair 🙁 Hoping it’s in the back of the truck somewhere…

Sharon’s delightful daughter Sara accompanied us for lunch at Rick’s and a trip to The Village Herb Shop, which is owned by Sharon’s friend Lee Ann and offers plants, some really nice gifts, wearables and other fun goodies.

I was fascinated by the fairy gardens that were sprinkled throughout the store. Aren’t they adorable?

They even had a set of the dishes that I collect- some were from my aunt… and then I kept collecting. I love the colors in this pattern…

After lunch we took off for a tour of several antique/re-sale shops. I found a really pretty quilt top, two funky pieces of crocheted bottle cap art, some old pics, a Scotty colored Pyrex bowl, the perfect yoyo pillow, and other treasures (mostly for Scotty!) Sharon has a great eye and kept finding treasures. I love everything I got!

Selfie at Steeplechase II, scene of some great purchases!

We invited Sharon’s friend Lee Ann (who owns the Herb shop) to stop by that night to visit, craft with us and and see how the Sizzix Big Shot worked… we wound up creating this really pretty Coffee Filter Flower Wreath. (I say we… Sharon and Lee Ann finished theirs, mine is not done yet because I was too busy talking).

What a great visit I had- Sharon was the perfect hostess. The next morning it was time to set off for another adventure so I left bright and early but ran into some technical problems- ugh… more soon! Thanks for following me on the #Papertrail…

Inspiration Team Summer Celebrations Project Recap

25 Jun

Hello Everyone! I have returned from a wonderful adventure on the #PaperTrail, and what a fun, creative ride it has been! Can you believe the month of June is almost over? My how time flies! The creativity has sure been “flying” around here thanks to my Inspiration Team. Before another Art with Heart Challenge comes to a close let’s check out some of the latest creations from the Inspiration Team and a look back at all the others created for the June Summer Celebrations challenge…

Beatriz Jennings has created a gorgeous trio of “Garden Fresh” food jars perfect for summer celebration favors or home decor!

Stop by Beatriz’s blog for more on this lovely project and a bonus card creation.

Pam Keravuori has a June themed Mini-Album to share with you filled with pretty papers and tied up with bakers twine! Oh my what a lovely cover, just wait till you see what’s inside!

Stop by Pam’s blog for a tutorial on how to create this Mini-Album and record your own June Celebrations and memories.

Shelly Hickox hits us with the “Wow” factor once again with this amazing Birthday Cake Artist Trading Block tower. This project is perfect for a summer birthday or wedding. Shelly’s creation is so lovely you’ll want to display all year-long!

Stop by Shelly’s Blog to find out more on how to create this innovative ATB design.

Don’t miss Shelly’s masculine masterpiece the Industrial Caddy and Mini-Book HERE.

Tracy Evans created a beautiful Songbird Artist Trading Block covered in Summer fun colors!

Stop by Tracy’s blog for more details on this artful ATB.

Want more Tracy Evan’s Artist Trading Block Inspiration? Don’t miss Tracy’s fantastic Beach Hut Artist Trading Block.

Anna-Karin Evaldsson shares a nautical Artist Trading Block that will make you want to head for the coast! The soft watercolor stamping reminds me of sun soaked salty air days by the shore.

Stop by Anna-Karin’s Blog for a detailed tutorial on how to create this Nautical ATB design.

For more Coastal designs from Anna-Karin make sure you check out her Nautical Art Supply Caddy HERE.

To see the rest of all the fabulous Summer Celebrations creations from the Inspiration Team you can find them HERE and HERE. Do you have a Summer Fun project you’d like to share? There’s still time to enter the Art with Heart Challenge and win a Sizzix Prize pack. You have until 8pm on June 26 so hurry on over and link up your creations HERE.

The winner and top 3 will be announced on Friday June 27.

See you soon!

Eileen

#PaperTrail- Day 15

23 Jun

After a five hour sleep in Scotty, I emerged and walked ever the bridge to the restroom. I saw a large crowd of Mennonite folks gathered in line at McDonald’s, so I went into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. When I came out the line had gone down so I got some breakfast and walked back to the truck.

But when I got to where I had parked, there was no Scotty or truck!

WHAT!???

I checked the parking lot twice- just could not figure it out. Could it be that those people who told me not to sleep in the camper were right? Were there really people who had time to sit and wait till I finished sleeping and went into the bathroom, then came over and hotwired the truck and droved it away? Or had it been loaded into the back of the truck and hauled away to be resold on the black market? Many bad thoughts were going through my head as I walked in to report this to the police. I happened to see a truck driver walking in and said, “I can’t believe it but my truck has been stolen!” He said, “Where are you headed?” I said to Erie and he said he had just come through there and that I was probably on the wrong side of the highway.

Oh thank God! I was so happy I couldn’t believe it. And realized how Scotty had become my little traveling buddy. I felt like Tom Hanks and his battered volleyball Wilson…

Much relieved, I continued the 60 mile drive to Erie, PA. I spent the afternoon with my best friend since second grade, Irene.

I had to finish the video for Sizzix so she went and ran some errands. After I finally finished the video, Irene took me out to Beach 11 in Presque Isle State Park. It was huge- just like the lake- and we sat on the beach and ate sandwiches for lunch.

Then we visited a beautiful garden center where she found some flowers to fill in the garden.

At about four, I rolled on to Chardon, OH where I arrived just in time for a delicious (and healthy) meal at the home of Maureen and Kenny, my husband Hayward’s cousins. After dinner we walked the dog around the neighborhood and I retired to my beautiful guest room intending to write a blog post but instead getting a much needed night of sleep.

What I am seeing from visiting all of these kind people who take me in is that my hosting skills need serious tweaking!

Stay tuned for another chapter soon…