Eileen Hull - Book Club Part 2 - and News!

Hello Friends

You may remember that I shared one of Eileen Hull's latest Book Club dies HERE, well I am back today with another idea for using the latest Stamp and Photo Storage Box die.  I just love how Eileen creates dies that can be used in so many different ways!

My first bit of exciting news is that I am on Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team again this year, I am so thrilled to be part of this amazing team!  I have added a photo at the end if you are interested in seeing who else is part of the team.

I created a Field Note and Map holder for someone who loves to walk in the countryside.

Rather than bombard you with dozens of photos I have created a couple of collages to explain the process I used to bring this project together, with a brief explanation of the steps.

I used the same method for the cover and the map holder inside.  The covers were painted with various DecoArt paints, using a brayer.

I used a fabulous stencil by AALL&Create to apply Ranger crackle texture paste to the cover and the map holder.  I then applied two quite thick coats of Ranger Distress Collage Medium (matte) to all sides to give some water resistant protection.  The inside of the cover was painted in plain blue.

I created a single signature and a small pocket for the inside using Maja Design papers.

To create the maps, I photocopied some favourite walks from a book, laminated them and added some cord so that they can be worn around the neck for ease of reference.

To finish off I added a compass which is attached by a Tim Holtz Idea-ology clip.  I always add a charm of some sort to my journals and this one is a TH Idea-ology Monocle with rub-ons that say 'best day ever'.  I wasn't until I loaded up the photo that I saw that the monocle is showing the wrong side - oops!

To finish off, I die cut the words 'Explore', 'Maps' and 'Field Notes' from plain white card, using the Tim Holtz Mixed Media #3 set of dies, I love the quirky font!  In this photo you can also see the lovely textures that are created by using the brayer technique to apply the paint.

All month long Eileen's Inspiration Team will be sharing lots of creations using Eileen's latest release of dies, HERE.  If you do have the time I hope you will pop over to have a look!

My second piece of exciting news is that I am attending Creativation (CHA) this year!!  I am so very excited as I will get to see so many of my Crafty Heroes in real life!!!  My travelling companion is none other than the uber talented Jenny (Buttons) - we are going to do our best to have a brilliant time and we will also be lobbying to try to get more of Eileen Hull's dies here in the UK.  Wish us luck!

Thanks so much for your visit, I really appreciate you taking the time.  See you soon.

Hugs,  Anne  xxx

Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team 2018

Eileen Hull - Create A Card

During October Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team are creating cards using

Eileen Hull dies/products.

I rarely make quick cards these days but I decided to make some fairly simple cards that could be used as friendship cards, get well cards, thank you cards or just to say hello.

To create these cards I used three of Eileen Hull's dies - Canning Jars (658453), Leaves (661111), Lovely Labels (658051) and a Tim Holtz die - Mini Acorn (657457).

To create a card with the Canning die, tape a folded card just inside one of the cutting lines on the die.  This will give you a folding card shaped like the canning jar.

I used some 'mop up' card left over from a previous project to cut the leaves using the Eileen Hull Leaves, Spring die.  The colours on the leaves are Distress stains in Fired Brick and Spiced Marmalade along with some Carved Pumpkin.  The leaves were folded and veins were added with a Distress Marker.

The top of the jars were cut from card backed with foil.  Once cut the tops were scored to give a more realistic look.  The jar bases were coloured with Distress Inks.

The leaves were added to the jars along with labels cut from the Lovely Labels die set, attached with some string.  The acorn was coloured with Distress Markers and Distress Glitter was added to the top of each acorn (Vintage Photo).

Perhaps not quite CAS cards but they were quick and easy to create!

You can see some other Fall/Holiday  projects the Inspiration Team have made over at Eileen's blog HERE and for the rest of this month, you will also be able to see more cards created with Eileen's dies/products, again on Eileen's blog.

See you again soon!  Anne xx

A Haunted House....!

Before I show you the house I just wanted to say that as well as being on the DT for The Artists on the Block, I have now also joined Eileen Hull's Inspiration Team - I am so thrilled !!  Eileen is the fantastic designer behind Artist Trading Blocks which so many of have come to love.  It is awe inspiring to see the wonderful way people use these little blocks and create some astonishing little works of art!

My Haunted House was made for both The Artists on the Block and also Eileen's Art with Heart Inspiration Team.

Eileen is offering a fantastic prize for her latest Art with Heart Challenge - Tricks and Treats which you can find HERE.  The prize is one of Eileen's Scoreboard Artist Trading Block Dies!  That's one challenge not to be missed!!

On to the house now........ here it is finished.

Those who know me, know how much I adore Halloween in spite of the fact that it is not widely celebrated here in the UK, so having some of Tim Holtz's dies is a must for me.  I gathered all my elements together first.

Two of Eileen's large blocks and four of the medium size all cut from mat board and heavy card.  I cut some windows from an old Spellbinders die and cut the rest of my embellishments from Tim Holtz dies - the fence, the little people, and the border trim to cover up the joins.

before constructing the boxes I cut a few windows and doors and used some cut up blocks to create the roof line.  One of the larger blocks opens at the back of the house so that a tea light (battery operated) can sit inside to provide some spooky light.

At this point I got a little carried away with the construction and did not take photos.....  The house was painted with my new favourite - IndigoBlu's black Gesso (Gee-Sso Good), it gives the most wonderful matte finish and it has chalkboard like qualities.  I dipped my fingers into Picket Fence Distress Paint to give the black walls a distressed look.

The roof tiles were simply strips of grey pearlised card which again was distressed with Picket Fence DP.  The curtains are made from white gauze stained with Spiced Marmalade Spray Distress Stain,  If you have not tried the spray stains yet - please do, they are fabulous to use.

I made a wreath for the front door using Tim's tinsel and some string which was coloured with stain.  The tree was sprayed with Black Soot Spray Distress Stain, lightly coated with Ranger Multi Medium Matte and then dipped in Dusty Concord Distress Glitter, it has just the right amount of sparkle without being too 'in your face'.  Some florist moss was added in the garden.

The tree was created using one of Tim's embossing folders (I don't have the tree die yet), I embossed black card and fussy cut the tree out and added some Autumn Leaves from one of Tim's foliage strip dies.  I added a tombstone and a jolly pumpkin for added interest.

This is the best picture I could get to show how the house looks lit up!  I love the owl's eyes - very creepy!

I hope you like my Haunted House and feel inspired to create something for Eileen's Challenge - don't forget that great prize that is on offer!

This is my main Halloween piece for this year but I will also be bringing out my box from last year - for those who may have missed it..........

Can you see the same shaped house and also the tree?  I did this as part of a tutorial that the fabulous Richele Christensen did last year.

I would like to enter my Haunted House into Simon Says Stamp blog Monday Challenge where the challenge is 'O'.  My 'O' is October and owl for the owl in the tree...  there is a fabulous prize of $50 on offer for one lucky winner.

I am also linking up to the Sizzix Challenge - Halloween HERE as I used a number of Sizzix dies in my creation - Eileen Hull's Artist Trading Block dies, Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings, Halloween Shadows, Vintage Lace and also the On the Fence On the Edge Die.  The fabulous prize is a selection of Tim's new releases!

Thanks for looking and I hope to see you again soon.  Take care.  Hugs, Anne xx