Artist Trading Block Favourites

Hello Friends

I apologise for my long absence and lack of visits, hopefully by early next month

I will be be in a better position to rectify that, I hope you will bear with me....

This month at Art With Heart we are not having a challenge (and things are being changed up for future months).  Eileen Hull has released some fabulous new products at CHA (like the cantilever sewing box I featured here and here) and Eileen has also re-released some all time favourite dies.  One of these is the large Artist Trading Block (ATB) die (Szzix 658983) which is my personal favourite.  The Design Team are showcasing these re-released dies during this month. 

First up is my Artist Trading Block Storage Cabinet, details of which can be found here.  I used some fabulous G45 papers to cover the cabinet.  This shows how versatile the ATB die is, you can create 3D projects with it.

Next is my Valentine Heart Box, details can be found here.  This was the first ATB I ever made and DH still has it out on show to this day.

My next choice is my Circus themed ATB using Tim Holtz's Big Top Circus stamp set (details here).

Another favourite is an Andy Skinner inspired ATB, made using DecoArt products and Andy's Faux Letterpress Technique (details here)

My final choice is a project made for our lovely DT member Anna-Karin, we held a virtual baby shower for her, following the birth of her beautiful baby Leo (details here)

I hope you can see how wonderfully versatile the Artist Trading Block (ATB) die is.  I have made houses with it - and even a steam train, it is such a fun die to use.

Edited:  I have had some very exciting news.  Thanks to Eileen Hull and Jo Packham of 'Where Women Create'  I have had four pieces published in Sizzix's newest book release 'Make it a Party'.  I am so thrilled and honoured, it is a beautiful book and wonderfully illustrated and it is my first time ever being published!!

Thanks for looking, take care and I hope to see you soon!

Hugs, Anne xx

The Artists on the Block - A New Year

It is not quite the New Year, I know, but I am sitting here wondering where on earth the last two weeks have gone!

My Design Team project for January for The Artists on the Block (where Amy is showing a summary of the team's favourites from 2014) is a perpetual calendar - I promise this is my last one but I have really enjoyed making these for some special people in my life.

The calendar is made up using Eileen Hull's Artist Trading Block die by Sizzix #658984 and it has three blocks on the one die and is my favourite go to die for 3D projects.  I used the smallest block for the calendar months and days and then created a base for them to sit in.

I hope this last calendar has now arrived safely at its destination.  If not, hopefully it will be a nice surprise when it does!

I used some fabulous Bo Bunny papers that I had been saving in my stash, I wanted the calendar to have a light and fresh look, suitable for all year long.

You can see from this view, the shape that the base needs to be in order to angle the months and numbers.  The angle inside the base is quite deep so that the days and months can be viewed easily.

And finally the back view.  The calendar blocks have been covered with the same papers with some light distressing to the edges.  The months have been added with tissue paper.  I typed the months out and then added a sheet of tissue paper to a sheet of printer paper with a strip of tape across the top and ran it through my printer.  I used Glue 'N' Seal to add the tissue to the blocks and then coated the blocks with the seam medium (as the blocks will be handled quite regularly).

Eileen has a challenge running on her Art With Heart blog HERE with the theme of 'Fresh Ideas'.  As always, there is a wonderful prize on offer.  It would be lovely if you did use a Sizzix die but Eileen just wants to see what is inspiring you at the moment - your fresh ideas!

If you would like to see the Artists on the Block Design Team favourites from 2014 you can see them HERE.  You will find lots of wonderful inspiration if you need a kick-start for this new year!

Thanks for looking and I really appreciate any comments you leave!  Big hugs,  Anne xx

Alternative Storage for Mini Spritzers

Those of you who know me well, know how much I love using Artist Trading Blocks (designed by Eileen Hull) in slightly different ways.  I wanted to make my lovely and very talented friend Jenny (Buttons) something for her birthday that was actually useful.  Jenny and I share the same birthday, except that I was born many, many years before!!

I am always inspired by the way Shelly Hickox thinks outside the box (or block in this case) with her wonderful creations (see her latest HERE) and also Anna Karin who makes the most amazing creations with lots of Eileen Hull's dies (see one HERE) so I decided to make my own mini mister storage system.   I do love the ready made ones but I don't really have enough bottles yet to fill one and whenever I try to buy one they are always out of stock, so this is my D-I-Y version.

So I created these and they are very quick and easy to make with this very versatile die:

I used the largest of Eileen Hull's ATB dies and cut the boxes from very heavyweight card (I could not use Mat Board because I needed to punch some holes and Mat Board is a little too thick for my punches), in this case I used black card which is 480 gram weight.  It is a very sturdy card.

Like me, Jenny loves all things Tim Holtz and so I covered Jenny's box with Tim Holtz's gorgeous Wallflower papers.  Before I sealed up the top of the ATB I measured out the placement for six holes (there is space for nine holes but I don't have a punch deep enough to cut a middle row.  I used a 5/8" punch to cut the 6 holes.  It is a perfect fit for the little spritzer bottles!  I added little spools for the feet, these are painted in Black Soot Distress Paint.  I added an Ideaology pull on the front with a stamp from Tim's hashtag set.

I covered the two other boxes in a similar way, one of the blocks has gone to my wonderful 'adopted sister' Mo and I have kept one for myself.  I will show you the amazing gifts that Mo, Jenny and lots of other very special and talented crafty friends made for me for my birthday, another day.

So there we are, a simple and very stylish storage system for mini spritzers!  I hope that you will try creating some storage of your own with one of Eileen's very clever dies.  I have another idea but that will need to wait for another time.

Thanks for looking, I hope to see you soon.  Hugs, Anne xx