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

New Chapter 4 Journal from Eileen Hull/Sizzix - Bugs Tutorial

 Today I'm sharing a quick tutorial on how I put together this fun BUGS Journal using Eileen Hull's new Chapter 4 Full Size Journal Die.    

This is a larger die and requires a machine with at least a 9" throat like the Big Shot Plus or Big Shot Pro.   Eileen also sells all the precut pieces for this journal in her Etsy Shop so you can still make one if you don't have the larger machine. 

 First a few views of the finished journal. 

The front showing the latch closure and label using pieces included on the die.

The back and binding, showing the elastic cord that holds the 3 signature sections in the journal.  Depending on how  you layer the binding, you can increase the width of the journal to hold more signatures.

I added the longer label die cut on the back, stamping it with my name and adding enamel dots to the ends.

The pages inside - awaiting drawings, photos and notes on any bugs I encounter!  Slipping the signature pages through the elastic cord allows for more pages to be added very easily.

Now on to construction.  

I die cut the cover piece twice and adhered ScorTape to one of the binding areas being sure not to cover the holes.  Then I laid the right binding section over the left and pressed to adhere.  If I only put the tape on  the outside edge on the left and only laid the outside edge of the right piece over it - the journal would be wider allowing 5 signatures to be added.

I cut pieces of my bugs paper and Stick it Double Sided Adhesive Sheets to fit the outside covers, and adhered them to the journal covers.

I sponged Bay Blends 2 Ink over the inside covers and let dry.

I cut a piece of Sticky Back Canvas Tape to cover the outside binding and sponged it with the same Bay Blends 2 Ink.  The canvas tape is 2" wide and fit perfectly over my binding and wrapping around onto the covers about 1/2".

I adhered the Sticky Back Canvas piece over the binding and then used an ice pick to open the holes for the elastic cord.

I lined up the latch panel and marked the holes, punched them with my Cropadile and attached the latch to the cover with large aqua brads.

I attached the closure tab to the back of the journal with another brad.

And slipped it through the front piece.

 

I cut 6 pieces of Rustic White Card Stock to 7 1/2" x 11", scored them at 5 1/2" on the 11" side and folded them in half. I used 2 folded pieces in each signature.  I cut 3 pieces of white elastic cord 18" long, looping each piece through a whole in the top and bottom of the binding and knotting it in the middle.

This new die makes a lovely large size journal that can be made narrow or wide in the binding.  A lovely addition to all the different size journal dies Eileen has created for us!

Please check out Eileen's Blog every Wednesday this month for more inspiration from her Inspiration and Education Teams using her new Chapter 4 Dies and embossing folder!

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 to for project ideas, techniques, inspiration and creative community. Additionally, you can also find Eileen on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Paper:  Rustic White Card Stock - Papertrey Ink (for pages), white Little Sizzles Matboard - Sizzix, DP Bugs - American Crafts (Michaels).

Ink:  Bay Blends 2 - Eileen Hull/Color Box Clear Snap

Accessories:  Full Sized Journal - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Alphanumeric Dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Double Sided Adhesive Sheets - Stick It, Sticky Back Canvas Tape - Dina Wakley, colored brads, ice Pick, white elastic cord, enamel dots - Altenew.

Eileen Hull/Sizzix - New Chapter 4 Release!

Today is the release day for Eileen Hull's new Chapter 4 Sizzix dies and embossing folder.

From Eileen:

The Chapter 4 Sizzix Release is exciting for so many reasons- there are two never-done-before designs!

One is the Full Size Journal which is a Bigz Pro size- you will need a machine with at least a 9" throat to cut this die- like a Big Shot Plus or Pro. Not to worry- if you don't have that machine, Eileen will have the pre-cut pieces available in her Etsy store for you to work with. The other new technology is a 3D Embossing Folder! It's called Sweater and is oh so cozy. Also new this release is a Bigz Notepad die with lots of options for materials and uses, and a Heart Mandala Thinlits to decorate with!

There is a GIVEAWAY too- leave a comment on each of the designers' blog posts and you will be entered to win one of the new dies! Another prize will be given to someone who attends and comments in the Release Party Facebook Live at 12 noon ET.

Here are some projects I've made using the new Chapter 4 products just to give you a quick peek!

Full Size Journal Die

8 3/4" x 6 1/4" x 1"

I will have a tutorial on how I made this BUGS Journal on my blog on 10/11/21.

 

Heart Mandala Thinlit Die

I cut the heart mandala in half for this birthday card.

Knit 3D Embossing Folder

Such a gorgeous deep knit embossing - it looks real!

Note Pad Die

A handy little notepad to slip into your bag or pocket!

3 5/8" x 3 3/4" x 3/8"

Hop Stops:

Eileen Hull Designs
Julia Aston
Jennie Atkinson
Sue Eldred
Maggi Harding
Lisa Hoel
Tonya Trantham
Sarah Lizzie Dodd
Karen Bearse

Have fun and visit next week for more inspiration from Eileen’s Chapter 4 Sizzix Dies release!

Are you a member of the Eileen Hull Fan Club? Join over 5,000 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 to for project ideas, techniques, inspiration and creative community. Additionally, you can also find Eileen on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Don’t miss Eileen’s Sizzix Chapter 4 Release Party Facebook Live
Friday, 10/1 at 12pm EST! It will be streaming live on both her YouTube channel and in FaceBook.

 

 

Using Dies in Different ways - Nature Junk Journal

A new month means a new theme for Eileen Hull's Inspiration and Education Teams. This month we are taking a look at journals inspired by nature.  And just to make it a little more tricky, we have been challenged to use dies that aren’t normally considered “journal dies”.

I used Eileen's Gift Card Folder to hold a little nature journal. The Junk Journal stamp is from her new set Buttons Cards and More.  The Nature stamp is from a soon to be released new set!

I held the flaps of the folder closed with a blue elastic ribbon.

Remove the ribbon and you'll find a little junk journal

I added a little felt flower using Eileen/s Journaling Cards - Flowers and Leaves Thinlit dies.

I pressed leaves and flowers from my garden using my Vagabond onto panels of watercolor paper 

and onto tea bags that I used as pockets on some pages.

I slipped little die cut pieces into the tea bags.

Here are a few shots showing how I put this together.

I die cut Eileen's Gift Card Folder out of matboard.  Then I stamped it with her beautiful new Damask stamp on both sides.  

Then I used a blender brush to ink all the edges with Distress Antique Linen. (not shown in photo) 

I die cut the ornate piece from Eileen's Gift Box Scalloped Edge die out of matboard and stamped the image from her new Buttons Cards and More stamp set onto it.  I also stamped the ticket from the same set onto a piece of DP and fussy cut around the edges.  I later looped a piece of twine through a hole I punched on one edge so it was easier to get out of the tea bag pocket I put it in.  I die cut the larger leaf from Eileen's Spring Leaves Die out of watercolor paper, stamped a sentiment  and leaf from a 'soon to be released' stamp set from Eileen.

I went out to my garden and gathered some leaves and blooms so I could 'press' them using my Vagabond.  I used a geranium leaf, petunia blossoms, clover, an astilbe leaf stem, Solomon Seal leaves and phlox stems and blossoms.  I pressed them onto new teabags that I had stained with watery Ranger Distress Vintage Photo ink to make them look 'used' as well as water color paper.   My sandwich was teabag, leaf or blossom, piece of watercolor paper.

This shows how wonderfully the petunia blossom pressed into the watercolor paper.  I hadn't removed one of the blossoms from the top piece yet for illustration.

For my Nature Junk Journal, I cut 3 pieces of watercolor paper each one 4 3/4" x 3" that I scored in the mittle of the long edge to create 6 pages.  I laid the pages on top of each other and bound them with a knotted piece of black twine.

I die cut all my pressed pieces with a rectangle Nestability slightly smaller than my journal pages and stamped some of them with various nature themed sentiments.

Please check out Eileen's blog every Wednesday this month where you will find lots of inspiration for using your dies in different ways for journaling!

Stamps:  Vintage Damask, Buttons Cards and More - Eileen Hull/Maker Forte, EAB16 and EAB04 Alison Bomber - PaperArtsy, Potters Bench - Stamping Bella, Stampotique, Verve Stamps.

Paper:  Little Sizzles Matboard - Sizzix, water color paper - Canson Cold Press, DP Petite Places - PTI.

Ink:  Ranger Distress Vintage Photo, Antique Linen, Iced Spruce, True Black - PTI, Iceberg - Altenew.

Accessories:  Gift Card Folder die, Spring Leaves Die, Thinlit Journaling Cards Flowers and Leaves - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Classic Rectangle die - Nestabilities, new teabags - gift from a friend, black cord, blue elastic ribbon - Cousin, rhinestone heart, ScorTape, felt from stash, Vagabond Machine, leaves and blooms from my garden.