ImpressArt Metal Stamps

Are you sick of hearing about CHA yet? It's almost here! I always say I will blog about it while I'm there every year and never do. It's hard to describe the energy and excitement but by the time I get back to the hotel every night I can barely keep my eyes open to get on line to describe the events of the day. I need to recharge! But who knows, I could surprise us all :-) 

I'd like to invite you all to stop by the ImpressArt booth (#2719) and check out their cool metal stamps. I had the pleasure of creating some samples for their booth and discovered that these stamps work just great with my favorite material- yes, it's matboard! Here's a look at one of the projects I did for them...

Stop by and do a Make and Take! I'll be in the booth on Tuesday from 2-4 and Wednesday from 10-12. My designer buddies Theresa Cifali, Ann Butler, and Jen Goode will be demo-ing there as well and I can't wait to see what they have come up with using the stamps! 

Getting ready for CHA!

All my designer buddies are busy in their studios finishing up final preparations for CHA. I thought you might like a look at what Karen Burniston, designer of the fabulous Sizzix pop-up dies, and I have been cooking up for a Sizzix workshop. We will both be working with our latest dies. Karen has a brand new system coming out that is SO cool called Pop 'n Cuts- (click to see how they work)! Here are the cards she is teaching. Just wait till you see how quickly these come together! So much fun...

My release for CHAW 12 is called Sweet Treats. It combines all of my favorite things- sweets, treats, matboard and ScoreBoard dies! With so many beautiful papers, stamps, and embellishments out there, these dies are a lot of fun to decorate. And they're actually practical too! What more could you want in a project? They go together really quickly so you can make lots in one sitting, making them great favors. Easy to personalize and embellish too. I'm loving these papers from Creative Imaginations- so romantic and pretty!

Stop by the Sizzix booth #949 at the show. I'll be there demoing all of the Sweet Treats dies:

Sunday         10-12

Monday        2-6

Tuesday       10-12

Wednesday  12-2 

Here's a look at what's on my table...

See you in Anaheim! 

If you are not able to be there, come virtually through the Live from CHA site! I'm giving away a free ticket to see what's going on at the show through streaming video. The winner will be picked tomorrow so you still have a chance- leave a comment here before midnight tonight!

EDITOR'S UPDATE: Congrats! The winner of the Live from CHA craft kit and event ticket is Monika! Please contact me so I can get you the prize- EileenHull@aol.com. Thanks- hope you enjoy it :-) See you there...

LIVE from CHA

CHA is the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show, which is held twice a year. This is where you will see all of the new craft products coming out, learn how to use it and where to get it! The Winter Show starts on January 28 and goes till February 1.

Charity Wings is an organization that donates money or supplies to different charities. LIVE from CHA is a live event where you can watch streaming video from the show and complete a progressive 6" x 6" mini book/art journal with amazing manufacturers and designers. When you sign up, a kit will be mailed to you so you can be crafting along with the attendees! How cool is that?

I am honored to have been invited to be a guest on the show. AND Elena gave me ONE TICKET to the event to give away! This gift bag is full of crafty goodness worth over $50! You will also have the chance to win other great raffle prizes over the course of the show.

HOW TO ENTER:

You have until Thursday January 19. Do one of the following three things…

1. Tweet a link to this blog post on Twitter with @EileenHull in the post or...
2. Leaving a comment on my BLOG.
3. Leaving a comment on my Facebook Page.

The winner of the ticket will be announced here on my blog on Friday, January 20, 2012. Here are links to other designers that are giving away tickets this week:

Theresa Cifali

Ann Butler 

Jennifer Priest 

Jen Cushman

Liz Hicks

Susan Weckesser

Debra Quartermain

Michelle Cummings

Good Luck everyone!

If you'll be at the show and feel like putting your dance moves to good use, 

She's Crafty and Charity Wings are sponsoring a Craft Flash Mob! Anyone 

can participate if you are interested make sure to check it out.

If you want a good laugh, stand next to me :-)

CHA Sizzix Sneak Peek

Hi everyone- I am very excited! I get to give you a peek at my newest line of Sizzix dies being released at at CHA in a couple of weeks! I have been holed up in my studio all week making samples and just love what's happening here.

First of all, I am working with papers from Creative Imaginations in the IOD line called Devotion. They are just beautiful. The only thing I don't like is when I have to pick which side to use because I really like all of them! That almost never happens with double sided paper. 

OK so here's a look at the new Bigz Borders & Hydrangeas.... 

some Sizzlit Swirls...

... and the XL ScoreBoard Box with Lid, Cake Slice. ...

I can think of so many ways to use these! What a fun party favor for any occasion where cake is served. You could even coordinate them with the colors/papers from the event. Stop by the Sizzix booth for a demo!

I think these dies are a lot of fun and hope you will too. OK, back to work!

Punch needle

It's the Designer Crafts Connection monthly posting day! Make sure to stop by all of the designer's blogs for a look at some great projects. Click on the blue button on the sidebar for a look. The topic today is journaling but my crafty adventures took me in a different direction. I have always loved stitching and last week I discovered a new craft (to me, anyway).


I went to Michael's the other day with my daughter. She was looking for a cross stitch sampler design that she could work on for her baby due in June. Being the helpful mother I am, I was diligently rooting through all of the books and kits that I thought Jess might like. I happened to come across a book on Punch Needle Embroidery. The projects fascinated me but the technique sounded fairly simple to do. After combing three aisles looking for a the required punch needle tool, I came up empty handed... so I came home and found supplies on line and ordered a kit and tools.

It arrived on Friday and by Saturday night I had finished it. It's addicting. Here's a pic of my first project (which I did when I was supposed to be making samples for CHA). There are some mistakes but overall I love the colors and fun bumpy texture of it. And no, you may not see the back of it!

I meet with a group of creative friends every month including Pat Sloan (I was a guest on her radio show and we discovered we live in the same town. She generously invited me into the group!), Patty Symkowitz, Amy Powers, Lorine Mason and Ann Weber (who are the bloggers in the group- hi guys!) along with a dozen or so other amazingly talented women. We grab tables at Wegman's and check out everyone's Show and Tell, catch up with each other, laugh a lot, quilt, sew and stitch. I'm happy I will have handwork to bring with me!

Now to figure out how to finish it... any suggestions?

Monogrammed Mirror

Happy New Year everyone! We had a great break and now I am getting back to work. Lots to do before I leave for CHA.

My youngest has gotten a real job! Soon she will be moving out on her own :-( I decided to make her something for her new place. She loves bling- her screen name has been Glttergirl since she was in middle school.

You will need:

one clean 12" x 12" mirror tile 

access to Duetica Lettering Arts Studio

Mandolyn font

frosted contact paper

flat Swarovski crystals in 3 sizes

Zip Dry Paper Glue

craft knife

transparency sheet

Copic markers

12" x 12" frame without glass

1. Go to the Duetica site and create your monogram. (mine was sized at 215 pts) 
2. Import the letter to Illustrator. Highlight letter and click Type> Create outlines. Print sheet.
3. Place transparency sheet over printed paper. Cut a piece of frosted contact paper about 5" x 5". Remove backing and adhere to transparency sheet, lining up with letter printout. 
4. Run transparency and contact paper through printer.
5. Cut out letter with craft knife. Do not cut through the transparency, just the contact paper. When letter is all cut out, remove the background contact paper. Letter will remain. Carefully peel from transparency and place in position on mirror tile.
6. If desired, color in letter with Copic markers.
7. Add Swarovski crystals to letter if desired. Adhere crystals with Zip Dry glue.
8. Place in frame and hang!

Another (and much easier) option would be to cut the letter from vinyl on your Sizzix eClips machine. Unfortunately, I had some technical problems and was not able to do it. Instead of crystals, you could substitute with dots of Stickles.

Once you cut the letter, this project goes really quickly. I love how it turned out and hope Maryanne will too!