Ideas, Ideas and More Ideas

Sharing ideas from the past and a few more recent to hopefully inspire you to create from homemade goodness for the coming season.

Whether it’s gifts to give or something to put the gifts in this is meant to give you some ideas!

I have been a big fan of Sizzix for a very long time, even before Eileen began designing for them. I have always found them one of my favorite and useful tools to use in projects I was creating.  My main goal for this post is to share ideas using mostly dies designed by Eileen. Another good reason to use them is that  coordinate so well together no matter who they are designed by.

You will find photos of several of my projects posted here. Hope that they will nspire you with to create your own projects.  

First four are made with the Passport book die

 

Here is a "star book" made with the Tiny Book die and a wreath covered in snowflake die cutouts

A few banner ideas using the Mitten die, Teacup 3Ddie and Needle case die

Keeper for Christmas Photo Cards

Packaging Ideas with box dies

My version of honeycomb ornaments with the Ornament die

For decorating or gift giving - Poinsettia in a foil pocket, Keepsake Trinket box

 

A 3 dimensional assemblage with the Slotted Treat Box die and other Sizzix dies

This is but a small glimpse of what I have made with Eileen's dies but I truly hope they will help inspire you to get out those tools you have and start making your own handmade decorations and gifts. I learn something new everyday by just trying! Happy Holiday making to ALL!

What To Do With Embossing Folders

Anyone who may follow me or know me, does know that my very favorite tools are those from Sizzix. The dies are my "go to" favorites, but I a fan of all the components they make.

This month Eileen Hull's Team have been sharing ieads with her designs of folders for Sizzix.  

 

Here is one that I created this week!  It consists of the Storage Box die for the box base and lid. 

The lid is given design and texture by using an embossing folder. The project is completed with some embellishments using a selection of thinlit dies from Eileen's collection.  

Materials Used

Eileen Hull Storage Box #666498

Eileen Hull Embossing Folder Textured Impressions A5, Floral Damask #666765

Eileen Hull Thinlits, Painterly Blooms & Background #666689 (Flowers, leaves)

Eileen Hull Thinlits, Envelope, Folder & Flowers # 666474 (Leaves)

Decorative file folder, white poster board

Metallic paper

Vellum

Thin metal sheet to create a band around the box lid

Felt, off white, green

Double sided adhesive tape, 1/4", 1/2"

Glue

Flower shaping tools and mat

Beads, for flower centers

• DIe cut box, twice, to create the top and bottom of the box.
• Emboss the metallic paper with the large embossing folder. 
• Center the embossed design for the lid and mark where it will be cut. (Use the wrong side to make marks, before cutting to fit lid.) My paper did not completely fit, so an additional metal band was made to go around the bottom of the lid.
• A strip of off white felt was cut with scallop scissors to make a little contrasting band. Glue near the top of one side of the lid or as desired. (Optional)
• Green felt leaves are die-cut .
• Thinlit flower dies are cut from the metallic paper, backed with vellum to make flowers of  various sizes.
• Position the leaves and flowers in a desired arrangement. Glue all in place and allow to dry.
• Add a flower center of choice if desired to compete the lid embellishments.

Comfort & Joy 2024 - Felt Tree & Wreath Pins

 

Wreath and Tree Pins

Materials

Green felt

Green wool

Green mulberry paper

Iron on fusible

Red papers - foil and smooth

Gold foil paper

Red felt

Brown felt

Glue - Fabri-tac or thick white glue (Beacons Felt Glue)

Aleene’s Fabric Fusion sheets

Poster board 

Green wired pine-like stems

Various decorative buttons

Large safety pins or pin backs

Dies

Eileen Hull Bookmark, Pockets & Toppers, thinlits #666767 (small square, tiny flower) 

Eileen Hull Charms, thinlits#666769 (tree top) 

Eileen Hull Wreath & Snowflake set, Bow, thinlit #675326 (bow)

Journal card, envelope & window, Straight label #666276 (tree trunk)

Circle die, 2” (wreath backing)

Geometric box, #666046 (tree backing)

The original set of pins was made using felt. It’s best not to use a thick felt, a thinner weight is easier to fold. The small square is easier to handle if you use a craft iron to press the folds that form the pieces. (Use something like a mini Olisio iron or Clover mini iron.) 

I used a piece of poster board to cut the circle and triangle from, plus two coordinating pieces from felt or wool of each shape.  I glued one of the fabric shape onto the poster board shape. The folded pieces are then arranged and glued onto the shape.  

For the tree, die-cut 9 small squares from felt or wool.

Die-cut 2 star charms from gold foiled paper.

Die-cut the small flower from the red foil paper and felt.

Die-cut the tree trunk from brown felt.

Die-cut a triangle shape with geometric box die, one from poster board and two from felt or wool.

For the wreath, die-cut 10 small squares from felt or wool

Die- cut the bow using the two pieces, smooth solid for background piece, red foiled for bow outline. 

Die cut two circles from from felt or wool and one from poster board.

Refer to the photos for the folding of the small die-cut squares. Once all the squares are folded they can be glued at the fold or use a small cut piece of Aileen’s Fabric Fusion sheets at the fold 

After all the small squares are folded they can be arranged on the triangle for the tree and the circle for the wreath.  They may need some adjusting to fit them on the background surface before gluing them in place, once a desired arrangement is found. Set aside for glue to set up. For the tree, add the star shaped to the top and add the foil and felt flower on top. On the wreath, use three pine worked stems to form a little pine swag  to glue at the center, then add the red paper bow to finish. Both pins can be decorated how you wish with other decorations.

Here are the same pins made using wool that is backed with a green mulberry paper. The fused paper helps give the wool slightly extra body for folding and shaping.  

Fall Flashback Ideas

Changing seasons bring new and old decorations out! Sharing some of them here with you to to consider your crafting hands making.  If you are lucky to have Sizzix tools available you have a great head start.

This banner is perfect for the entire Fall season and easy to hang almost anywhere to catch the eye.  It's made using felt and fabric panels with the perfect flower of the season adorning the center of each.

This project was made using felt, fabric and assorted types of paper. The entire project can be made using papers of course.  I like the variety that other materials can give to a project. 

Materials Used:

Felt 

Fabric

Assorted cardstock (greens, brown yellows, orange, rust)

Flat ribbon or cording

Glue

Inks

DIes:

Card Caddy (#665981)

Sunflower (#666045)

Card Panel, thin-lit (#666534)

Skelton Leaves (#663094)

Holiday Greens, pine branch (#658759)

Process

• Two base flags can be cut from the card caddy die. Refer to photo to show where to cut to form two flags.
• The card panel can be trimmed slightly on the two side edges to make a bit of framing. Refer to photo.
• Cut the base flags from felt. NOTE: These can also be made from papers if desired. Cut as many base flags that you'd like for the banner. 
• Cut fabric with card panel thinlit die for each of the base flags. NOTE: If using fabric, it's best to stiffen it with either a faric stiffner or using some forn of interfacing, the fabric will cut better. If using paper, not need to worry.
• Cut 2-3 of the smaller sunflower petals for each flower.
• Cut 2 of the sunflower leaves for each.
• Cut 1 sunflower center for each. 
• Cut 2 of each other leave die or pine branches for each. 
• Shape the sunflower petals  for added dimension. Add ink if desired for shading.
• Add white and/or black dots to the brown centers for added dimension if desired. 
• Glue card panel shape to the felt base flags.
• Arrange the sunflowers and greenery onto fabric panels and glue all pieces into place.
• Finish by glueing each flag onto a flat ribbon for hanging.
• Hang your new decoration!

For reference on what to cut and trim -

For other ideas refer to this older post - Halloween Treats Without Calories 

Link:https://madelinesthoughts.blogspot.com/2023/10/halloween-treats-without-calories.html

New Ideas Released With A Re-Release of Fabulous Dies + More

 It's another release time from Eileen Hull Designs! It's also been slightly a different release this time around! With Eileeen traveling and teaching in various places across the pond, the re-release of three dies and a new addition of stencils and matching thinlits became available to some. Eileen is back from a whirlwind trip and we are here to show off mor ideas using the latest release.

Now to get on with ideas I chose to make -

Since the Treasure Box, Stacking Drawer Box and Notebook dies were released awhile ago, I did have a few samples that were made previously that I'm sharing. With the original pieces I went for showing more ideas of using various materials to create and cover the shapes.  

From the older samples to the recent ones using the Treasure Box die.

Most recent Treasure Box makes

With the Stacking Drawer Box, the individual box can be used in a variety of ways. As single compartments alone or placed inside other boxes or creating a larger drawer holder. Here I made eight drawers and constructed a larger surround to hold them. These two elements then are hinged together. 

Makes using the Notebook Die from the collection.

More inside views 

Hop By To A New Release Coming Your Way

Let's hop right into a new season with new ideas, new inspiration and NEW releases from Eileen!

A NOTE FROM EILEEN - 

I'm so happy to introduce this brand new collection of mine from Sizzix! As always, I try to create designs that may be used together but also stand alone. There are four pieces in this set.

The Storage Box is an XL ScoreBoard die measuring 4” square, the largest square box yet! This box is constructed with a removable top and may be used in many ways, such as organizing desk and office supplies, as a gift box, storing craft supplies and packaging for baked treats.

The Mini Book is one of my favorites because you can create a book using this die in an evening, and use up your scraps in the process. This book measures 3 3/4” x 2 1/4” and comes with a strap/handle and tiny label for the book cover. It also makes a great bag topper if you fold it in the middle and also will hold a business card. 

There is a new Thinlits called Faux Postage- the full panel is designed to fit on a 5” x 7” card and creates a fun postage stamp effect. You can also cut (or tear) each stamp apart and use the individual pieces as a miniature work of art! This coordinates with similar dies: Snail Mail (A-2 card size) and Mini Slimline (6” x 3”).

The Lace 3D embossing folder is so amazing! It’s a new LARGE size measuring 8 1/2” x 5 3/4”. It works great on bigger journal covers, card backgrounds and on home decor pieces. This is created from vintage lace that I have collected and there are so many ways I want to use this!

***There’s a giveaway too- join us on the live and hear how you can win…

You can find these dies in your local scrapbook stores- if they don’t carry them, ask them to order.

 PS, can also be found in her Etsy shop and show her your support! 

Now onto how I chose to use the new dies ...

THE STORAGE BOX 

Basket made using the larger part of the storage box

Box made using two of the smaller top sections of the storage box

View of the top of the box

Storage box made from distressed corrugated board

Yellow box topped with a hand felted flower and vintage wooden button

Box made with 2 tops, covered with balsa wood and crepe paper rosette flower

NOTE: This new die has already become one of my favorites! It has so many possibilities like  most of Eileen's box dies. Beside being a great base box to decorate it has functional uses in many ways.  Made a few bottom bases and the tops out of plain mat board for holding tools, brushes, pens and such!  

TINY BOOK

Tiny "bits and pieces" book

Inside of book

Front, back covers and spine with dangles

Password book - embossed foil 

Inside embossed foil password book

NOTE: The "bits and pieces" book has a tab hinged spine inside, with scrapes making pockets and tucks to hold tiny bits using the "faux' stamps" die that embellished with tiny bits.

The  Password book cover is kmade from foil that is fused with iron-on adhesive, which makes the foil sturdy, but still flexible, and able to be embossed.  Plus, who doesn't like a cute tiny 

book!

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

Foil embossed pouches hold a collection of felt flowers

NOTE: The pouches or pockets are die-cut from foil that is fused together. After die-cutting they are embossed with the 3D Lace large embossing folder. There is a light coat of black Luster Wax applied to the surface.  Felt flowers and leaves are die-cut from older Eileen Hull dies and create a colorful addition to the pouches, along with a little butterfly.  These can be made as single little door knob hangers or to  hang anywhere.  Make two or more for a shelf or window banner. 

A single "welcome" banner/flag to hang on a door, in a window or on a wall

NOTE: THe welcome sign starts with a felt background cut using the cover of the large journal die (this must be cut using the Big Shot Plus machine). The next layer is fused foil that is painted with white paint or gesso, then embossed with the 3D Lace folder, and finished with Rose Gold Luster Wax added to the top. All elements used are ALL various dies from Eileen. The background, behind the wreath is the tiny book die coered in a simple print paper. Leaves are fabric, that was fused togerther with a iron-on fusible. Added extras are yellow felt flowers, pink hearts, white paper fences and paper houses, finished off with the word "welcome".

Card fronts using the Faux postage thinlit parts

NOTE: This faux postage thinlit is becoming another favorite! Use as one whole cut or tear into smaller sections or individual pieces and let the creatiity flow!

Hope these projects help give some inspiration on what is possible with Eileen's dies. I like to challenge myself with new materials to use with her dies. Some of the projects here show that!  Think outside the box and give something a try, it doesn't hurt ... it may lead to a better idea, something new and different,  but most of all your creating ... go for it and have fun!  I'm looking forward to being inspired by everyone.