Prayer Journal - Heartfelt Dies Collection

During the month of April, Eileen Hull's Creative Team will be posting journals using new dies from her Sizzix Heartfelt Dies Collection. 

I made a Faith Journal out of kraft cardstock.

I used her awesome Journal Die which includes the kraft label on my cover, the branch from her Birds and Butterflies Thinlits die set and her Eyelet Lace Embossing folder on the black Paper Leather panels.

I added some golden charms from my stash with jump rings to the elastic cord bindings.

A few photos to show how I put this together

First I assembled the 2 cover pieces.

I used Newsprint Paper for my pages.  I cut 12 pieces of the 8.5' x 11' to 8" x 7.5", folded them in half to measure 4" x 7.5".  I divided them into 3 signatures, each with 4 papers folded in half giving 8 pages in each signature.

I cut three 15" pieces of white Round Cord Elastic and laced them through the holes, tying the knots on the outside .

I used an Idea-ology Elastic Loop in the middle hole for the piece that will hold the journal closed when not in use.  It has a metal piece on one end of the loop that you can see in the photo above.  You can also just use a piece of elastic cord for this.

I embossed two black paper leather panels  and adhered them to the front and back covers.  Then I decorated the front cover as shown above.

I opened up one of the 8 page folded signatures to the middle and slipped it under the left cord.

I did the same with the second signature under the middle cord.

And the 3rd signature under the remaining cord.

Then I stamped lots of faith themed stampings on the pages leaving plenty of space to journal.

The tabs are part of the Journal Die and I made labels for them with a label maker.

Here is the journal held closed with the Elastic Loop.  It will easily expand if I add things to the pages.

Please be sure to check out Eileen Hull's blog all month for lots of Journal Inspiration!

Stamps:  Inspired: Prayer, Inspired: Faith, Journaling Lines, Walk by Faith, Beautiful Blessings - Papertrey Ink, Creative Worship sets - Sweet N Sassy, Beautiful Scriptures - Clear Dollar Stamps, Bible Verses - Verve, Trust God - Stampin' Up, The Stamp Pad Co., Verses Rubber Stamps, Our Daily Bread, Journaling Art - Clear Art Stamps.
Paper:  Kraft, White - PTI, Black Paper Leather - Sizzix, Newsprint Paper - Wendy Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous.
Ink:  True Black - PTI
Accessories: Journal Die, Birds and Butterflies Thinlit dies - Eileen Hull/Sizzix,  Prayer Die - Inspired Prayer - PTI, Word Window Punch - SU, Idea-ology Elastic Loop and Jump Rings, ScorTape, Eyelet Lace Embossing Folder - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Micron 01 fine black Pen, charms from stash, White round cord elastic - Dritz.

NBUS Birthday

I'm so excited that Darnell is running another NBUS challenge April 1 - April 11!  I have so many NBUS's I could make a card everyday for a month or more using stuff I buy and then NEVER use! 

(I didn't have a boo boo card)

Today my NBUS is one of the fun 'Splits' stamp and die sets from PTI -  I've  purchased  4 of them and have not taken them out to ink - until today!   This is the Best Wishes Splits stamps and die (they are just $5 each!).  I didn't use the best wishes sentiment that comes with the set though, I used a Happy Birthday from a Cat's Pajamas set.

I colored the petals with Zig Clean Color Brushes and added black half pearls where there were stamped berries.  I also cut the sentiment center off of the die cut and raised up the petal top and bottom as seen below.

I used my favorite SU embossing folder, Square Lattice,  on the white panel and layered it over a Hibiscus Burst panel and adhered it all to a white card base.

Linking my card to:

NBUS challenge

Seize the Birthday

Stamps: Splits - Best Wishes - Papertrey Ink, A Beary Good Year - The Cat's PajamasPaper:  White, Hibiscus Burst - PTI
Ink:  True Black - PTI
Accessories:  foam dots, black half pearls - Kaiser Craft, Zig Clean Color Brushes.

Final Day of Sizzix Sale on Eileen Hull's dies!

Just a reminder that today is the last day of the Sizzix Sale of many of Eileen Hull's dies!

Today I am posting several projects I have made using many of the dies on sale.  Friday, I posted my projects using the Mailable Frame Die.  If you missed it you will find it here.

Click on the link above each photo to see details on how I made each one.

Embroidery Hoop Die - see more details on this post

Romance Flower Die - see more details on this post 

Passport Die - see more details on this post 

Adirondack Chair Die -  see more details on this post 

 

Luggage Tag Die - see more details on this post

Train Case Die - see more details on this post.

Pro-Die Cone - see more details on this post 

Note: You need the Big Shot Pro Machine to cut this die

 I hope I have inspired you with my projects today -  now it's time to go shopping before the sale ends! 

The Creative Team who are posting today are doing a little blog hop. 

 Here are the links:

Nicole Wright

 Eileen Hull

Eileen would like to see your favorite projects using her dies -  link your project up on her blog above -  there's a prize to be won! and you have until April 7th to link up!

April CAS Mix Up Challenge - No Foolin'!

Happy April 1st!   No April Fools jokes from me today -  just happy that there's a new challenge up at The CAS Mix Up Blog!   Bonnie is our hostess this month and here are the three things she would like us to use on our cards.

I used - 1) a sentiment stamp, 2)  inlaid die cut eggs and sentiment, 3) my choice:  a wonky edge die and sequins.

I'm in the midst of making Easter Cards to sell at my church in a few weeks so that's what I made today.

I used a Wonky Stitches Die (Avery Elle) to make the edge on a white card panel.  I die cut the 3 eggs (Nested Eggs/Nestabilities) and the Easter (Waltzingmouse) out of the panel.

At this point, I adhered the panel to my white card base.  I die cut the Easter again out of green card and adhered it into the die cut space on the panel.   I cut the eggs out of patterned paper, and since the PP was thinner than the white card, I adhered the paper to the white card eggs I had cut, and adhered them into the spaces on the panel.

 I stamped the happy over the Easter,  added 3 green sequins and called it done!

So please join us and show us how you use inlaid die cutting!

You'll find the challenge rules and links to video tutorials on inlaid die cutting over at

 the CAS Mix Up challenge blog here.

Stamps:  Simply Said - Avery Elle
Paper:  White, Simply Chartreuse, Textstyle Egg Hunt - PTI
Ink:  True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Dies - Nested Eggs  - Nestabilities, Easter - Waltzingmouse (retired), Wonky Stitches - Avery Elle, green sequins, Tombow Adhesive.

Big Sale at Sizzix of Eileen Hull's dies!

I'm excited to share the news with you that Sizzix is having a sale of many of Eileen Hull's dies starting today (3/31/17) and going through the weekend! - whoo hoo!

So several of Eileen's Creative Team are posting projects using some of the dies in the sale throughout the weekend.

I am sharing several projects I have made using Eileen's Mailable Frame Die -  it is one of my favorite ways to send a special card because of it's ability to stand up for display.

Here is a card I made for my Grand Nieces' birthday last year - I love using photos on cards.  You will find the details of how I put this together on this post.

Here's another photo card I made using the Mailable Frame Die - this time it was for a friend at work who's baby daughter was turning 1 and she wanted a special card to celebrate the occasion.  You will find all the details on this post.

Another project, this time using die cuts and stickers to decorate my Mailable Frame die cut.  More details on this project can be found on this post.

Here's an anniversary card I made using the Mailable Frame die decorating with die cuts and patterned papers -  you will find all the details of this project on this post.

 And a final card using the Mailable Frame Die - (can you tell yet it's my favorite??) you'll find the details of this card here.

Four of the Creative Tea are doing a blog hop today!  Just click on their names below to see their wonderful inspiring projects using their fav Eileen Hull's Sizzix dies!  I know you won't be disappointed!

Pam Bray

Lisa Hoel

Anne Redfern

Karen Bearse
Anna-Karin 
Diana Hetherington
Donna Budzynski
Tonya Tranthum

And Eileen - the designer herself - has a link on her blog post - link up a project you made with one of her dies and there is a prize to be won!
Eileen Hull

So let's go shopping ladies and save some money over at Sizzix this weekend!

Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey

Whenever there is a 5th Friday in a month -  we celebrate a Tag Friday over at A Vintage Journey and who ever signs up creates a tag in any theme/design.  We post them on our blogs with tutorials and then post just the tags over at A Vintage Journey.

So I signed up for this month - and decided to get out my brandy-new and hardly been touched Ranger Distress Oxide Inks and have some play!  And I have to say - I LOVE how the background came out on this tag!  I can't wait until my order with other colors comes so I can play some more!

Here's how I created my tag.

I took a #8 Manila Tag and dragged it through Distress Inks Cracked Pistachio and Dried Marigold that I had rubbed on my craft mat and spritzed with water.  

Pretty light at this point.  

The tag on the left was the first drag so the one on the right  in my photos will always be lighter for each step!  I dried each layer with my heat tool before moving onto the next - so I didn't create MUD!

Next, I dragged each tag through Distress Oxide Vintage Photo that had been spritzed with water on my mat.  With each drag over the mat - I look at the tag and decide if I want more in a certain place or if I want spots or big areas of color.    You never really know what you'll get but you can control it a little bit!  You can already see how the Distress Oxides look different than the Distress Inks. The orange and green show up a little bit more than you can see in the photo below but they are much lighter than the Oxides.

My next layer was with Distress Oxide Broken China with water on the mat.

I wanted to add a little more of the Distress Dried Marigold and Cracked Pistachio so I sponged that on the tags here and there.

And finally I decided to try the Distress Oxides sponged through stencils.  I used Vintage Photo on the left tag and Broken China on the right tag.

The stenciling was pretty dark so I spritzed with water over the stenciling and it melted the color down a little bit.   I also flicked some water over the tags to create spots.

Then as Tim says in his video about the DOX inks -  you have to stop or you could keep adding layer on layer for ever -  just to see what it will look like!  So I stopped here and started decorating.  I ended up using the tag on the right and will use the other one another

I got out Lifes Possibilities - a clear set from Tim/SA and Daper, along with some new Idea-ology stuff - Chatter Design Tape, Quote Chips, and Clippings Stickers.

I colored some Mirrored Hearts with Aqua Adirondack Alcohol Ink

I tied Linen Ribbon and Trimmings/Natural through the hole - tying them with a piece of twine.

I just LOVE the background with it's mix of Distress and Oxide Inks!

 I always add a slightly larger layer of black card to my tags - I like the finished look it gives to the edges and also hides all the mess on the back of the tag that seems to 'happen' when you drag through ink, flick and splatter!

 I put a panel of kraft card on the back of my tag so I could stamp a sentiment or write a salutation.  I will probably use this for a masculine birthday card.

If you are a maker of tags (or think you might like to be!) -  please check out all of the Creative Guides tag creations over at A Vintage Journey here!

I'm linking my tag to:
Country View Challenges - Inspired by Tim Holtz

Stamps:  Daper and Life's Possibilities - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous
Paper:  #8 Manila Tag - Ranger, True Black - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Oxide Inks Vintage Photo and Broken China, Ranger Distress Inks Dried  Marigold and Cracked Postachio, Adirondack Lights Alcohol Ink Aqua,  Archival Jet Black, True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Idea-ology Chatter Design Tape, Mirrored Hearts, Quote Chips, Clippings Stickers, Linen Ribbon, Trimmings/Natural; water mister, craft mat - Ranger, twine.