Fabric and Fibres with Eileen Hull Designs

Hi everyone and welcome. Throughout this month Eileen Hull's teams are featuring creations with fibres, fabric and felt components. The designers are using them for accents on projects as well as major parts in their constructions. In one of Eileen's most recent Lives she looked at ideas for filling all those journals we've had such fun making. Feeling inspired I've decided to show you some ideas for doing the same, incorporating fabric and fibres with Eileen's dies. 

(click on each photo for a closer look)

The page with the pansies on may look complicated but it's easy to achieve and begins with pieces of brown paper (old packaging material, a used paper bag, etc) and some torn scraps of muslin.

Start layering them with extra scraps of fabric and gluing it all in place; curtain samples, old net curtains, linens with holes in that would be destined for the trash - it will all work to add texture and pattern to your page.

I save any paper/card left over from making the insides of journals because they will of course coordinate perfectly. Here I have die cut some using Eileen's Sizzix 'Snail Mail' Die Set; it's a good idea to cut the frame as well as the stamps - you'll see why later.

Tear apart the stamps and rearrange them over the layers of fabric before adding tracing paper or vellum die cut with one of Eileen's more delicate die designs; you can see below how I've used the Sizzix 'Mandala' Die and one of the Sizzix 'Journaling Cards, Hearts' Dies to do this.

You can draw your own flowers, die cut and paint some or (as I have here) find them in discarded gardening encyclopaedias. The one I discovered in a local charity shop had lots of botanical drawings which, when tea stained and watercoloured, make perfect focal points. At this point you can save your completed collages for future use.

And of course these fabric collages don't have to be limited to floral themes; use your own choice of images and when you have made a few scatter them throughout a new journal, leaving the remaining pages empty ready for the eventual recipient to add their own journaling.

To finish mine I added lace trim to the edge of each journal page and glued the collage pieces on top. I also like to hand stitch some cross stitches through the layers of the collage and even through the page they are sitting on.

Going back to the original photo of my two page spread you'll see how I've balanced the design on the opposite page by adding an embossed vellum flap and a coordinating butterfly cluster. Again, the blank page underneath can then be used for journaling purposes.

Taking a closer look you can see where the vellum has been embossed with Eileen's Sizzix 'Vintage Buttons' 3D Embossing Folder over-layed with one of the Snail Mail frame pieces - nothing goes to waste! The painted fabric butterfly was die cut from Eileen's Sizzix 'Birds & Butteflies' Die Set and mounted on another of those Snail Mail stamp shapes with a vintage tag and scrap of cotton lace.

Here's the collage page in more detail, made exactly the same way and this time incorporating tracing paper die cut with Eileen's Sizzix 'Heart Mandala' Die.

And here you can see those lines of cross-stitching which have added to the stencilled collaging on the next page. Also on these pages is a scrap cluster using Eileen's new 'Snail Mail - Postage' stamp set from Maker Forte and some hand drawn leaves over a Gel Press printed background (a tutorial for this process can be found HERE). The words and patterns come from a Rebekah Meier TCW stencil called 'Mini Love and Peace' which feels very appropriate at the moment.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing how fabric and fibres can be used with your die cuts and stamps to create collages which can help fill your journal pages. Make sure to check out all the fantastic projects and tutorials from the rest of Eileen's team members - links to their posts can be found on Eileen's blog throughout the month.

For now thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Eileen Hull Designs Book Box Journal

Hi everyone and welcome. As you may have seen during the Sizzix Chapter 1 2022 launch party for her dies Eileen set me a challenge to turn her new Sizzix Scoreboards 'Box, Book' XL Die into a handbound book and this is what I came up with; it's full of interactive pages using a number of Eileen's dies.

Since the launch I've had a number of requests to share how this was constructed so here's an in depth tutorial, starting with the pages.

You will need a collection of 12x12 inch double-sided scrapbook papers and some matching ephemera; I picked some from 49 and Market's 'Vintage Artistry' collection. Taking 10 sheets cut them lengthwise through the middle to create 20 pages measuring 6x12 inches. I scuffed the edges of the card and machine stitched around each page for added detail and texture.

With ten of the pages score at 4 3/4 inches and at 9 inches, leaving a 3 inch flap at the end. You can leave the 3 inch flaps loose, cut off 1 1/2 inches width-wise and glue down at the top and bottom to create tuck spot pockets or cut of the top 4 inches and glue down the remaining 2 inches at the bottom to create a pocket. 

With the other ten pages score at 4 3/4 inches and cut off 2 3/4  inches at the other end to leave a 4 1/2 inch page. Use the cut offs to create pockets and belly bands as well as reserving some to make extra ephemera with Eileen's dies and stamps.

Decide on the order of your pages making sure to mix up the colours, page sizes and types of page sitting next to each other. Once sorted make small holes along the central fold of each page at 1/2 inch, 1 1/4 inches, 3 inches, 4 1/4 inches and 5 1/2 inches. It is worth using a punch board or template for this to make it quicker and more consistent.

Stitch the pages together using a Coptic stitch binding to create a text block from your pages. I use a method demonstrated by Sea Lemon on her YouTube video HERE.

This text block needs to be self-supporting because it will not be glued onto the centre of the spine so to keep it in place but still flexible glue a strip of fabric slightly wider and shorter than the spine in place using an archival acid free glue. Hold the text block in place and upright by securing it with an elastic band at the edge of the pages as shown below.

Whilst the glue is drying you can work on your spine. To make it more flexible I cut off the half inch outer strips along the score lines and re-attach with an 1/8 inch gap using Architape®. 

You can see below how I've attached the second side back onto the main spine using Hinge Spacers to ensure an even gap between the two pieces of card. Stick the Architape® along the outside of the spine before wrapping around onto the inside of the spine to ensure it is secure.

Here's what the spine will look like when the tape and gaps have been added on both sides. The reason for doing this rather than leaving the die cut spine solid (with inbuilt score lines) is that it becomes more flexible and allows the pages to lay more flat when opened.

At this stage decorate your spine with trims, tassels etc  before you stick the spine, text block and covers together.

Add glue to the outside 1/2 inch strips on the spine only (the bits separated from the main spine by the tape). Do not add glue to the main portion of the spine. Sit the text block, now secured with the fabric strip, onto the spine in place. You should find there will be a 1/4 inch gap at the top and bottom. Press the fabric and outer pages into the glue and leave as shown below until completely dry.

When dry you can fold the text block shut with the spine now securely wrapped around it and glued in place. Now add colour with paints or inks onto the two die cut cover pieces before gluing them onto the spine on the outer 1/2 inch strips. 

Use some of the leftover paper and ephemera to decorate the front and back covers, making sure to glue ribbon beneath the paper layers if you want to use it as a closure. I used Eileen's new Sizzix 3D 'Vintage Buttons' Embossing Folder as a great way to add decoration and dimension to one of the layers, whilst applying Glossy Accents over the more delicate images helped to ensure they wouldn't get damaged each time the book is opened.

Here's a closer look at some of the pages inside the book where I've more of Eileen dies (including her new Sizzix Thinlits 'Snail Mail' Die) and some of her stamps to create interactive elements and ephemera. The rest of the ephemera, including the paper lace and tabs, came as part of the Vintage Artistry collection;

I hope you've found this tutorial helpful - if you have any questions please leave them in the comments below and I will do my best to answer them.

Make sure to check out the new release projects and tutorials from the other Inspiration and Educator Team members - links to their posts can be found on Eileen's blog throughout the month.

For now thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Eileen Hull Designs Chapter 1 Release Party and Blog Hop 2022

Hi everyone and welcome. Thanks for joining us for the Eileen Hull Chapter 1 Release Party and Blog Hop. With a blog hop (see details below) a FB Live with Eileen and members of the team and even a giveaway going on it's going to be a special party to celebrate Eileen's new releases.

The dies in this new collection are versatile, practical and fun to embellish;

• The 'Phone Stand', a Sizzix XL ScoreBoards Die, is a MUST- you need one for every room! Make for yourself, family, friends, for gifts or to sell- the die cuts the stand in one pass and is very easy to assemble.
• The 'Box, Book', another Sizzix Scoreboards XL Diecan be used to make a book or a box that holds A-2 greeting cards. What a great way to package handmade cards... or a quick and easy book!
• Add the 'Vintage Buttons' 3D Embossing Folder to create vintage backgrounds for cards, journals, pages and tags. The 3D effect is stunning when you add a little Sizzix Luster Wax to bring out the highlights...
• The 'Snail Mail' Sizzix Thinlits Die cuts a postal pane that coordinates with two of Eileen's Snail Mail Maker Forte stamps. This die was designed to use on the front of an A-2 card.

There's a giveaway too. If you leave a comment for each of the designers in the Release Party Hop, or during the Facebook Live or YouTube video, you will be eligible to win one of the newly released products! Tell us what your favourite new product is and what you plan to do with it. There's a list of participating blogs below - thanks for hopping with us!

When Eileen initially introduced the teams to the new dies she jokingly laid down a challenge for me to turn the Sizzix Scoreboards 'Box, Book' XL Die into a handbound book - challenge accepted!!! It's a chunky, one full of interactive pages and of course a number of Eileen's die and stamp designs.

The photo below gives you a partial insight into how the book was constructed using the hinge as a spine and the box top and bottom as the covers. There will be a full tutorial later this month as well as a closer look inside, and I'll be sharing a flip through as part of Eileen's FB Live today.

The papers and embellishments used all come from 49 and Market's 'Vintage Artistry' range and the finished book measures 5 1/4" x 6 1/2" x 1 3/4" (13.5cm x 16.5cm x 4cm).

On the cover I've used Eileen's new Sizzix 'Vintage Buttons' 3D Embossing Folder to create the background for the trims, foliage, flowers and bird. Inside a couple of pages have been decorated using the Sizzix Thinlits 'Snail Mail' Die and of course there are a number of other Eileen dies that came in handy too!

I'll be back soon to share the tutorial for this book and share some of the pages inside. In the meantime make sure to head on over to see the rest of the project peeks and take part in the blog hop to be in with a chance to win - good luck!

Eileen Hull Designs

Madeline Arendt

Julia Aston

Jennie Atkinson

Karen Bearse

Angela Beaver

Pam Bray

Sharon Curtis

Sue Eldred

Maggi Harding

Lisa Hoel

Jenny Marples

Tonya Trantham

Elizabeth Robinson

Sarah Lizzie

Gel Press Collaboration with Eileen Hull Designs

Hi everyone and welcome. This month Eileen Hull's Teams are collaborating with Gel Press all through January to see what magic can be made when both products are combined. Make sure to check in at Eileen Hull's blog each week to see what comes of our Gel Press journeys. Check out the Gel Press YouTube Channel too and see what they are doing with Eileen's journal bases. It's a match made in heaven!

I love using my Gel Press plates, particularly with PaperArtsy's Fresco Finish Chalk Paints and wet strength tissue (similar to deli paper in the US) to create pulls for use as backgrounds, a way of adding a pop of colour to a tea-stained page and hand drawn image.

But for this collaboration I decided to show how to use a small Gel Press plate to stamp and layer paints onto paper, creating one of the initial layers for a mixed media collage. The result was a new 'Full Size Journal' that will be filled with botanical images, die cut embellishments and stamping using Eileen's Maker Forte stamps.

I've put together a tutorial for the main panel on the front cover and will then show how the same process is being used to create a couple of the pages inside. It all started with the first use of a 5"x7" Gel Press plate mounted on an acrylic stamping block to create a rectangular stamp; these handy plates have a tacky surface that self adheres to any flat, non-porous surface so they are easily peeled on and off a regular stamping block. I used a small brayer to apply a thin layer of yellow paint onto the Gel Press plate and stamped it onto tea-stained drawing paper over a piece of book text.

Now this is handy - I decided the yellow maybe wouldn't work the best on the lime/red journal cover so hunted out a sage green paint and applied another thin layer to the gel plate.

Since both the gel plate and the acrylic block are transparent it's easy to stamp pretty much directly over the first layer to alter the colour and I love that a little of the yellow peeped through at the bottom.

To add some contrasting colour without covering the lower layers I chose a darker sage and after brayering a thin layer onto the gel plate I lifted some of the paint with some crumpled tissue. What was left on the gel plate was pressed onto the paper to contrast with the lighter sage.

Now to get a pattern onto the painted rectangle; I used a piece of card die cut with Eileen's 'Heart Mandala' Die and after brayering a very pale green paint onto the gel plate I laid it onto the wet paint. Next I pressed a piece of tissue on top of the gel plate and pressed around the mandala to remove the uncovered paint.

Once you lift the mandala die cut from the gel plate you'll find you have the pattern left, all ready to stamp on top of the previous layers of paint. I would suggest you die cut your mandala from a non-porous piece of acetate or similar so that the paint doesn't get absorbed into it - the underside of my mandala already had layers of paint on it so the paint didn't get soaked up much but I would use the acetate next time.

To make the mandala stand out even more I ran my page through the Big Shot with the 'Heart Mandala' Die laid over the pattern on the paper, using a silicone rubber mat and crease pad to make it emboss rather than cut. The leaf was then drawn onto the page and I used watercolour pencils to add some colour on them.

To finish the page I stamped images from Eileen's Maker Forte Stamp Set 'Buttons, Cards & More', and added some faux stitching.

You'll see from the close ups below how I added the finished panel to the front of the journal cover with coloured card, more book text, lace, filigree metal corners, some hand stitching and one of Eileen's journal words.

The journal itself was cut from cardboard packaging with Eileen's 'Full Size Journal' Die and bound across the spine with red Architape®. Frayed cotton calico fabric was glued to the inside of the cover to further strengthen it before I bound in some painted tea-stained pages. You can see a tutorial for this process on my blog HERE.

I'm currently working my way through a fabulous online drawing course by Rebecca Sower on Jeanne Oliver's website and, buoyed on by the success of the print on the front cover I went on to make a start on two pages inside the journal using exactly the same process shown above.

On the first you'll see the mandala stands out more when the contrast between the upper and lower layers is more pronounced. I've also begun to add to the rest of the page with another of Eileen's Maker Forte stamped images.

On the second page the gel printed panel uses shades of blue paint to contrast with the colours on the drawing of the pear. Again you'll spot one of Eileen's stamp images tucked underneath some lace trim.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing how a Gel Press gel plate can be used as a stamping tool to decorate your die cut books and journal pages.

Make sure to check out the other collaboration projects and tutorials from the rest of Eileen's team members - links to their posts can be found on Eileen's blog throughout the month. And don't forget to head over to  the Gel Press YouTube Channel too for even more inspiration.

For now thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx