Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

CHA Sneak Peek #3

This is a quick post because I am in the last phases of printing posters, packing and deciding what shoes to bring put in my CHA suitcase 🙂 But here’s a sample of the butterfly die that will be coming out as part of the Fresh Vintage collection. I am excited about this die because it’s a mini- ScoreBoard (Bigz size, not XL like all of the others have been) and comes with another set of cut out wings that are a cool overlay. I didn’t use the overlay here because the simplicity of the 20 layers from an old map book looked just right as it was. I curled the wing edges with a pen for movement. And there you have it my friends… much more will be coming later. Wish you all could be there at the show… See you as soon as I catch a breath!

CHA sneak peek #2

This week has been a blur. As I get ready for the big CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Show starting next Saturday, I am feeling overwhelmed, excited and nervous. I am displaying my work in the License & Design Section. This is a place where artists and designers set up their work and hopefully attract the interest of manufacturers looking for the latest and greatest new thing. I don’t know why but it seems that all of my best ideas come to me at the last minute. Anyone else out there feeling my pain?

The one thing that I feel really good about is my new line of Sizzix dies that will be debuting at the show! The collection is called Fresh Vintage and the dies were designed to be used with paper and lots of other materials. I’m talking recycled cereal boxes, tissue paper, vinyl scraps, leather, fun foam, coffee filters, glitter chipboard, felt, fleece, bubble wrap, you name it. Here’s pic of one of the new ScoreBoards- a vintage suitcase that can be used to hold treasures, jewelry, a small gift or whatever you decide. The dies will be shipping in May.  Will try to post from the show!

CHA Sneak Peek!


I’m excited to share a look at some of my new Sizzix dies that will be released at the Craft and Hobby Show (CHA) in a few weeks. The collection is called Fresh Vintage and I can’t wait to show you the whole batch because I love it! Stay tuned for more…

A couple other things for you today… first of all, we have a winner of the Noodle Contest! Lynda’s Wreath made from noodles really blew our judge Jaclyn away! So Lynda will receive a $10 Anything gift card from Noodles and Company. Thanks to all of the contestants who sent in their entries- such fun!

I got my Creative Women newsletter today written by my designer friend (and Triple Play Blog Hopper), Melony Bradley. I always love to see what cool ideas Melony has to share and today I was surprised to see one of my designs in the newsletter. This New Year’s Resolution Board first appeared in All-Occasion Paper Crafting (2005). The funny part about it is that it’s been 6 years since I have submitted the project and those resolutions are still ones that I am trying to keep (obviously not too successfully!).

What a great job EcoHeidi Borchers did with her first show today! Here’s the link to the replay of her show.. I love all of Heidi’s eco-friendly and super crafty ideas and can’t wait to try some of her clever projects!

Back to work. CHA Show is 17 days away!

How to make Guest Towel Cupcakes

Happy New Year everyone! Just wanted to share the instructions for the Guest Towel Cupcakes that I demo’d on Cool2Craft yesterday.  This was a quick and easy five minute project idea that I got from my super creative friend, Jonathan Fong.

You will need:
Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine
Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die – Cupcake Holder, Ruffle by Eileen Hull
6″ x 13″ piece of matboard
double sided tape

washcloth
Instructions:
  1. Die cut matboard cupcake. Decorate if desired. Fold cupcake on score lines and adhere ends with strong adhesive. Save the remaining die pieces for another project.
  2. Lay a washcloth down in front of you with a point facing you. Fold into a triangle. Starting with the wide side, start folding over about every inch or so toward the small end.
  3. Turn the strip toward you and roll it up. Secure with a rubber band. Push up the middle of the cupcake into a dome shape.
  4. Place washcloth into cupcake holder. You are done!
NOTE: You can also cut the cupcakes from paper. Wouldn’t these be cute cut from patterned papers that match the colors of the event or room where they will be displayed?
View previous post here to see cupcakes and upcycled cupcake stand. Why not make a batch? Use as favors for wedding or baby showers, for a special gathering celebrated in your home or just for fun for you and your family! This cupcake die is so versatile- many uses for it make this a great investment.

Games Night 1-1-11

Wish you could smell this! It just says “holiday” to me… I packaged up a few batches and gave them to my neighbors last week.

I can’t wait to have all my kids together. It’s the first time since last New Year’s Eve that all four of them will be here with us. Somehow I thought it would be easier to gather everyone when they were older but now they have jobs, classes, and trips of their own.

For the past eight years on New Year’s weekend, we hold a big gathering out in the barn called Games Night. Friends and family travel from miles around to make sure they don’t miss one. A potluck dinner starts the night off usually consisting hearty fare and yummy desserts. Then the games begin. The crowd forms into eight teams and settles down to play Spoons, Pictionary, Taboo and one other (we throw a new one in to keep them on their toes). It’s pretty cold oout (typo that looks like I am trying to be Canadian!) there because the barn is 100 years old and not insulated. But for the past few years my husband has rented a huge industrial heater. This year he called a little late and the one we got last time had been reserved by the University of Maryland for a football game (is this thing heating the stadium?) so we had to get the next size up! I will post a pic of this. I am hoping there will be room to fit the people! We play four rounds of games and at the end, the winning team is awarded prizes.

The really fun thing about Games Night is the mixture of people that attend. We invite people we know from all areas of our life- neighbors, people from church, work, Rotary, book club, military, choir, the kid’s friends, etc. and somehow at the end of the night, everyone feels like they know each other. We are so blessed with great kids, family and friends. Wishing a healthy and happy New Year to all of you. Thanks for stopping by!

Noodle Contest!

Remember I told you a couple of weeks ago about getting the yummy bag of free food from the soon-to-open Noodles & Company? Well, I was contacted by the Noodles social media person, and she came up with a challenge for all of you, my crafty friends! OK- who out there has some cute noodle crafts?  This can include projects made by you or anyone in your family. I do have some but that bin has not yet been unearthed. Here is a quick gift card holder I made from a tag with some fun pasta I picked up at World Bazaar (I think).
I embossed the top part of the tag with Tim Holtz’s Snow Flurries Textured Fade, scored about 1 1/2″ from the bottom and folded the bottom up. I stapled the sides and tied a bow at the top. I sprayed the snowflake pasta NOODLE piece with Glimmer Mist and spray adhesive then added glitter. And that’s it! Looks so rich but really quick. I love those kinds of projects, especially at this time of year.
One of you can receive a $10 gift card for your local Noodles & Company restaurant! Post a pic on Facebook or your blog of your favorite ornaments/holiday crafts made with noodles, then comment here with your link. I’ll let you know Thursday night who won!