Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Winter Thank You Cards and Christmas Tags Using Eileen Hull's Sizzix Dies - Comfort and Joy

 Many of Eileen Hull's Design and Educational Team members are creating Comfort and Joy posts - quick projects for the holidays and beyond using Eileen's Sizzix dies.  All of the teams projects will be linked over at the Eileen Hull Fan Club FB.

I have created an easy to make winter Thank You Note using the snowflake die from Eileen's Wreath and Snowflake Thinlits die set.

I also made two tags, also using the lovely snowflake die along with the bird die from the Wreath and Snowflake set.  I die cut the tag using the largest tag die from her Waterfall and Tags Thinlits die set. By changing the sentiment these could be used on any winter gift!


Here is a brief tutorial on making the quilt background for the Thank You note.  
I found the tutorial for the 'Disappearing 9 Patch' in the Forum over at Splitcoaststampers.

First, I picked out 3 snowflake patterned papers from a 6x6 paper pad.  I cut a couple of 1" strips from each pattern and then cut the strips into 1" squares (so each strip gave me 6 one inch squares.)

I cut a 3" square out of white card stock and adhered a double sided adhesive sheet over the white panel (you could also just put glue on the squares to adhere them to the white panel)
I laid out the snowflake squares onto the white panel mixing the patterns 
(looking at the top row across below) - I did pattern 1, pattern 2, pattern 3  second row Pattern 2, 3, 1, then third row pattern 3,1, 2) 
You want to try and adhere the squares evenly with edges touching.
Next, I cut the square in half one way, then the other way as per below.
Then I laid the 4 quilt pieces on a 4"x4" black panel leaving 1/2" outer edge all around, turning each square to create a mixed up pattern. Once I was happy with the look of the pattern, I adhered the 4 pieces to the black panel.
I die cut the snowflake out of Disco Glitter Cardstock (Michaels) and put thin foam strips on the back as shown.
I adhered the snowflake with the foam strips, to the center of the quilt piece.  
My outside edges on this one didn't quite come out even (!?)  so I die cut a square frame using 3 1/4" and 2 3/4' Nestibilities and adhered it over the quilt square. (There's always a 'fix' right?!)
The frame makes the outside lines look crisp and clean.  
You could also just trim your quilt square outside edges to make them even, if you're trying to make a bunch of these as quickly as possible!
Another way to get these put together quicker is to just leave your 9 patch and don't cut it in quarters!  
It's still a lovely quilt look!  I lined up these pieces better and the edges were even so I didn't need a frame around it.
Below is the simpler finished card with the 9 patch and no framing.  I also just adhered the snowflake over the panel without foam so it lays flat.
Below is the Disappearing 9 Patch with the frame over it and the snowflake up on foam.
I adhered the black panel to a 4 1/4" square white card base.  I stamped the thank you, punched out the oval and adhered it to the corner of the frame.
Now on to the tags.   
You could use this tag for any winter gift giving with a different sentiment (Happy Birthday, Just for You, Congratulations)  It would look pretty on a bottle of wine, right?!

A simple how to for the tags.
I die cut snowflakes out of the Disco Glitter Cardstock. I cut the birds as well as the tags out of blue and red Glitter cardstock using Eileen's Wreath and Snowflake Thinlit dies.  I used the largest tag die from Water Fall and Tags Thinlit Dies.  
I stamped the sentiment on a strip of white card and adhered it as a grounding for the bird's feet.  I added tiny black gems for the eyes.
I hope I have inspired you to create some simple but impressive holiday/winter cards and tags!

All of the teams' Comfort and Joy projects are being shown on Eileen Hull's Fan Club Face Book page with links to our blog posts during the month of December.

Are you a member of the Eileen Hull Fan Club? Join over 5,ooo other members to share ideas, inspiration, sources, challenges and make some fabulous friends – make sure to answer the questions! Watch her Facebook Lives at Eileen Hull Designs on Tuesdays at 6:00 Eastern and Thursdays at 4:00 for project ideas, techniques, inspiration and creative community. Additionally, you can also find Eileen on FacebookInstagram and Pinterest.

Stamps:  Thank You from Vintage Roses Add On Stamp Set - Altenew, Merry Christmas from Silent Night - Papertrey Ink.
Ink:  Obsidian - Altenew
Paper:  White and True Black -Papertrey Ink, red and blue glitter paper, Disco Glitter Cardstock - Michaels, DP North Winkd 6x6 paper pad - Craft and You.
Accessories:  Wreath and Snowflake Thinlit Dies, Waterfall and Tags Thinlit Dies - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, 6x6 Adhesive Sheets - Sizzix, word window punch - Stampin' Up, black tiny twinkles - Taylored Expressions.

Monday, December 13, 2021

12 Tags of Christmas - Tag #12

 So here it is -  my 12th Tag of Christmas for Ellen Hutson's challenges found here!

The theme song for the final tag is Holly Jolly Christmas and, once again I had the perfect stamp for the challenge!

The sentiment stamp is from Festive Overlay by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous,  the tag die is Papertrey, the holly die is Impression Obsession and the DP is Lawn Fawn.  I added some Clear Glitter Wink of Stella to the holly so it sparkles in the light.  
I also added 3 white glitter paper dots at the bottom, that were in my 'bin of bits' on my work table holding bits left over from prior projects!

I'll miss making a new tag every day but will now use them on Christmas gifts to  friends and family and can also relax and enjoy the final weeks before Christmas!
Stamps:  Festive Overlay - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous
Paper:  white, Pure Poppy, New Leaf - PTI, DP Snowy Day Remix - Lawn Fawn
Ink:  Obsidian - Altenew
Accessories:  Tag Sale #10 die - PTI, Patchwork Holly die - Impression Obsession, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, red/white bakers twine.

Sunday, December 12, 2021

12 Tags of Christmas - Tag #11

 Only one more tag left after today's #11 tag - the theme song is "Oh, Christmas Tree" and you can see I had the perfect sentiment!   Check out this fun challenge over at Ellen Hutson's blog here.

The sample tag by Carissa Riley had a pink tree on it so that inspired me to make a pink tree too!
I die cut the tree pieces twice - from a light and a dark pink glitter cardstock.  Then made my two trees alternating the two colors.  I cut the tags out of white card and cut designer papers for the top and inside panels.  I stamped the sentiment and punched it out with a word window punch and looped a piece of pink bakers twine through the top.  I really love these trees in pink! 


Stamps:  Rubber Soul
Ink:  Obsidian - Altenew
Paper:  White - PTI, glitter card - Michaels, SP Craft Papers Ink Drops Earth and In Drops Dusk - Craft Consortium.
Accessories:  Folded Tags die 0 PTI, Snow covered stacker tree die - Dees Distinctively, Word Window Punch - SU, foam dots, pink bakers twine.

Saturday, December 11, 2021

12 Tags of Christmas - Tag #10

Tag 10 of the 12 Tags of Christmas featured today!   Playing along with Ellen Hutson's Challenge seen here.   

Every day for 12 days there is a song theme for a tag with 2 designers posting samples to inspire us!

Tag 10's theme song is The 12 Days of Christmas.   

My tag features 4 calling birds (3 are on the DP)!  I used two different tags, layering the smaller one from Poppy Stamps over the larger one from Lil Inker Designs so I could feature the fun 'calling bird' from the 12 Days set  (on sale now!) on the smaller and patterned paper with birds on it on the larger tag.   

I colored the bird with Copics to match those on the patterned paper and drew a matching leafy vine for her to stand on while she's calling on the phone (!).  The sentiment is an Occasions Sticker.

Just a two more tags to go!


Paper: White - PTI, DP free with a crafts magazine.
Ink: True Black - PTI
Accessories: Copics 100, R27, YG03, E33, YO6, Taglet and Bow die - Poppy Stamps, Heart Embossed edge tag - Lil Inker Designs, red/white bakers twine, Occasions Stickers - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

Friday, December 10, 2021

12 Tags of Christmas - #9

 We're getting closer to 12 tags!  Today I have Tag #9 for Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge.  The theme song for this tag is Deck the Halls!

For this tag, I pulled out a small stamp and die set called Corner Adorner - October that I got from Papertrey Ink probably 5 or more years ago?  They had a new 'corner adorner' design every month.  And I have NEVER used most of them - yet (!) 
  
Today I'm using the October one which fit the challenge perfectly with its adornments and sentiment!  (they still have this stamp set at PTI and it's on sale for $3! and the dies are $8) 
  
The background of my Tag Sale #3 tag is a beautiful piece of patterned woodgrain from a 6x6 paper pad called Wood Textures from Craft Consortium - it has gorgeous woodgrains in several different colors!   I added drops of Nuvo Red Berry to the greenery and looped a piece of blue/white bakers twine through the top.
I love doing challenges that get me to use my 'stuff'!   
You'll find the 12 Tags of Christmas challenges here.


Stamps:  Corner Adorner - October - PTI
Paper:  White - PTI, DP Wood Textures - Craft Consortium
Ink:  True Black, Blueberry Sky, Simply Chartreuse - PTI
Accessories:  Corner Adorner October dies and Tag Sale #3 - PTI, foam dots, Nuvo Crystal Drops Gloss Red Berry.

Thursday, December 9, 2021

12 Tags of Christmas - #8

 The theme song for Tag #8 in Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas challenge is "Sleigh Ride". 

I used Tag Sale: Quilted die for my tag base and layered a square of patterned paper over it for my snowy background.  The sleigh die and sentiment are from In The Meadow sets from PTI.  I stamped the sleigh die cut with Misty Morning Ink and layered the sleigh and sentiment up on foam dots.  I tied a piece of grey/white bakers twine through the top.
You'll find Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags challenges here.



Stamps: In the Meadow - PTI
Paper: White - PTI, DP North Wind 6x6 paperpad - Craft and You.
Ink: True Black - PTI, Misty Morning - Altenew
Accessories: In the Meadow die set - PTI, Grey/white Bakers Twine, foam dots.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

12 Tags of Christmas - #7

 More than half way through with Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas.   Tag #7's theme song is "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".     You'll find all the challenges and details here.


The tag is Tag Sale #12 from PTI.  The stamp is from Santa's Coming to Town by Waltzingmouse (retired).  (I was on Claire's Design Team so I have just about ALL of her WMS stamps!)  I added Silver Star Confetti around the sentiment.  The DP is from Honey Bee Stamps.

Stamps:  Santa's Coming to Town - Waltzingmouse (retired)
Ink:  True Black - PTI
Paper: White - PTI, DP Snowday Remix - Lawn Fawn.
Accessories:  Tag Sale #12 die - PTI, bakers twine, Silver Star Confetti - Honey Bee Stamps.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

12 Tags of Christmas - #6

Here's Tag #6 for Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge.  
Jingle Bells is the song theme for this one.
You'll find the challenges and details on how to win here.

I used a fun moose DP, added an Idea-ology tiny bell to his cap and the jingle sentiment, looping red/white Bakers Twine through the top.
Are you playing along?



Stamps: Simple Strips - Christmas - Taylored Expressions
Paper: White - PTI, DP Snow Much Fun - Dare 2B Artzy
Ink: Obsidian - Altenew
Accessories: Simple Strips die - Taylored Expression, Tag Sale #2 - PTI, Tiny Bells - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, Beacon 3in1 Glue, foam dots, Red/white bakers twine.

Monday, December 6, 2021

12 Tags of Christmas #5

Here's my tag for day #5 of Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas challenge seen here!
The theme for #5 is the song "I'll be home for Christmas"
I used the same tag die as my #4 snow tag - cutting it out of kraft cardstock and stamping the image in black.  (I actually stamped the image first and then laid the die over the stamping to see how much I could fit on the tag!)  I added Nuvo Crystal Drops Gloss Simply White for the snow and looped a piece of black/white Bakers Twine through the top!
I made a 2nd smaller tag using the same stamp, so got less of the image on the tag but it still includes the house, trees, deer and fence just with less air space!   I added the Occasions Sticker 'december 25' since that one fit on the smaller tag and it does fit the 'Christmas" part of the challenge and the image is a home?! 
I really love the look of the black/white on the kraft background! 
And I've got two more lovely tags!



Stamps: Scribble Woodland - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous
Paper: Kraft - PTI
Ink: Obsidian - Altenew
Accessories: Tag Sale Quilted Die, Tag Sale #2 Die - PTI, Nuvo Crystal Drops Gloss Simply White, Small Talk Occasions Stickers - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, black/white Bakers Twine.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things - Made with Eileen Hull's Sizzix 2021 dies and Maker Forte Stamps.

 For the month of December, many of Eileen Hull's Sizzix Inspiration and Education Team members are posting their Top 3 Projects made this year using Eileen's 2021 Maker Forte stamps and Sixxiz dies.

Here are mine!

Back in March I posted this beautiful journal using Eileen's Folio Journal Die.
You'll find my tutorial on this blog post.

Here's another favorite creation that I posted in August using Eileen's Tiny Book Case Die with one of her new stamp sets - Button Cards and More.

You'll find my tutorial on this blog post.


I stamped library cards for inside where I could write down the books I've read with a brief synopsis of the story.

And my third favorite project from 2021 is actually two cards I've made using Eileen' dies.

Using Eileen's Wreath and Snowflake Thinlit Dies. I made a Summer Wreath card.
Posted in July on this blog post.

Using Eileen's Heart Mandala thinlit die, I made a Pocket Posy for the front of my card.
Posted in October on this blog post.


Please check out Eileen's blog every Wednesday in December - the teams will be posting their favorite projects using Eileen's Maker Forte stamps and Sizzix Dies.

Nature Folio Journal
Paper: White Little Sizzles Matboard - Sizzix, Forest Paper Pad - Stamperia, Kraft card stock - PapertryInk
Accessories: Folio Journal Bigz Die, Credit Card Sleeve and Tags Thinlit Dies - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Alphanumeric Tiny Type Upper Dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Stick It Adhesive Sheets, ScorTape, Clippings Stickers - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, elastic cord - Cousin, Brother Label Maker, leaf charm, bakers twine, glassine envelopes, brown paper bags - from stash, Notebook - Michaels.

Library Card Box
Stamps:  Buttons, Cards and More - Eileen Hull/Maker Forte
Ink:  Cocoa Bean True Black - PTI
Paper:  Little Sizzles Matboard - Sizzix, DP Tim Holtz single sheet (from my stash).
Accessories:  Tiny Bookcase Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, ScorTape, Utra Bond Adhesive - iCraft, black elastic round cord - JoAnn, Big Chat Stickers, Label Letters - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

A Wreath for Summer
Paper:  Water Color Paper - Canson Cold Press
Accessories:  Wreath and Snowflake Thinlit Dies, Floral Arch and Words Thinlit dies - Eileen Hull/Sizzix,  Noted: Scalloped Square Die - PTI, Winsor Newton Water Color Paints, Prismacolor Water Color Pencils - Dark Green, True Green, Copenhagen, Sunburst Yellow, black fun foam, foam dots, Black Tuxedo Clay Heart - Honey Bee Stamps.

Pocket Posy Card
Paper:  White Linen - Ellen Hutson, DP Craft Papers Ink Drops Earth - Craft Consortium.
Accessories:  Heart Mandala Die, Stitchy Flowers and Leaf Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Noted: Scalloped Square Die - Papertrey Ink,  Speckled Egg Ranger Distress Oxide Spray, Fine Tip Gold Paint Marker - Top Notch, foam dots, heart Punch - McGill, Brown Twine, Teal Crystals - Prima