New Dies, More Ideas with Folio Die

 A new release of Eileen Hull dies for Sizzix is here once again. This latest project here is made by combining the two new dies that were designed to coordinate with the FOLIO die and the other thinlit sets. 

The combination of all the dies gave me the opportunity to create a sweet little booklet to give as a gift. 

It began with a collection of coordinating decorative patterned  papers and card stock.  Die-cutting and layering the pieces and altering the folio as the base can create some fun projects. With this collection, the versatility and the ease of using these dies can result in so many interesting combinations. The Folio covers are cut without the fold and extra flap. All but one binding strip was removed for the spine to make the booklet. A single folder/page was constructed for placing in the middle of the booklet. The inside page contains the waterfall cuts.. The outside, front and back folder covers has the corner pocket attached to hold tags. The inside covers (front & back) of the main booklet have the binding die with tags attached. The booklet is finished off front and back with the Mandala die. The front shows a white shiny mandala adorned with flowers and leaves. The back cover has a black foil mandala cut and adhered with a button at the center for part of the closure. 

This blog hop will show ideas of all types to help with inspiration to start creating. This post will not be sharing a step by step tutorial of the process I used, but will be at another time.  Use this link from Eileen Hull Designs to see the post and read about the projects or use the individual links to each participant of the blog view each individual post here. 

Additional Photos of Folio Booklet

Material List

Dies: Folio journal, scoreboard die

         Mandala, thinlit die

         Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers, thinlit dies

         Card, Waterfall & Tags, thnlit dies 

         Bookbinding & Label, thinlit dies

Decorative patterned paper, several coordinating sheets

Card stock, coordinating solid colors

Double sided adhesive tape, various widths 

Spray adhesive or adhesive sheets

Ribbon, to cover spine

Seam binding

Cording, thin black leather

Elastic hair band

Button, flat for closure

Gel medium, matte 

Brush 

Embellishments 

IDEAS

Mother's Day is soon approaching and this little booklet would make a special small, personal gift card or keepsake for any mother, a new mother and grandmother.  Add photos, quotes, memories, gift cards onto or into pockets, the various tags or folded binding.  (NOTE: I have made my own folded accordian style binding for projects, and I'm really liking this new design.)

Think beyond Mother's Day to upcoming graduations, weddings, special birthdays or celebrations. This is basically a four page booklet made from coordinating decorative papers and some basic card stock. It can go from simple to extravagant as anyone likes. Any combination of the Folio Die with the other elements are a great start to very personalized projects.

***A MESSAGE FROM EILEEN***

Welcome to our Chapter 2 Release Party! Today we are sharing Folio Journal accessory dies- the Waterfall & Tags and Book Binding dies and the new Bigz L Camper ScoreBoards die! Use these elements in different size journals, cards and layouts!

Check out all the different ways to use these dies on our Blog Hop. Click through and leave a comment on each of the designers' posts and be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate in Eileen's Etsy Shop! 

Join us on Facebook Live and YouTube Live for an up close and personal look at the team's projects. I will also demo how to use the dies during the show. Really hope you can join us for this fun event- prepare to be surprised! Thanks for joining us!

NOTE: There is also another Eileen Hull die design in this latest collection being released.  It is a 3D Camper on a Scoreboard die to allow the use of heavier materials.  A new project coming soon using this die in a special way. 

Here are images of the three newly released dies from Eileen Hull -

List of Blog Hop Participants

Julia Aston

Madeline Arendt

Jennie Atkinson

Karen Bearse

Susie Bentz

Sarah Lizzie Dodd

Sue Eldred

Maggi Harding

Lisa Hoel

Jenny Marples

Elizabeth Robinson

Tonya Trantham

Mitsyana Wright

Cheryl Waters

Other Ways With Thinlit Dies

The newest scoreboard die by Eileen Hull is the Folio Book die which is another wonderful addition to her collection of creative dies.  Along with the main folio die are different thinlit sets. The first of these are the Mandala motif and a set called page pocket and flowers. These thinlet dies were used for this card design and will share some of the uses in this post. 

NOTE: This card uses a gel press print that was previously created along with several others on a day spent playing with gel printing and stamping. The print was large enough to use the majority of the print as elements on the outside, inside and envelope. Again, I chose to include a bit of fabric. A torn piece of homespun muslin becomes the first layer on the card front. The inside message also has a small piece of fabric as a layer. 

The flower embellishment instructions can be found it the previous post from this blog called, "Working With Cereal Bags".

Here are the steps to create the card:

• Prepare the fabric for the layer on the front and inside. Iron and reshape if neccesary. 
• Tear the the gel-print to fit. Tear the paper randomly or use a tearing ruler or deckle edge decorative scissors. 
• Make a mask/stencil with the mandala design. TIP: I used the release paper from iron-on fusible to make my mask. It is a thin paper, but the coating on it works well for cutting and stenciling with paint. 
  
  
  
• Use the mandala mask/stencil to add the design as a shadow to the print. The design can also be used on the inside of the card if desired.
• When all components are ready, position them to the front of the card. TIP: They can be put in place with glue, double-sided adhesive tape and even stitched on with a sewing machine. 
• Add a strip of coordinating washi tape onto the front, vertically, before adding and embellishment of choice.

For the inside of card: 

• Use the mandala mask if desired to stencil the pattern onto the inside of the card if any fashion.
• Stamp a sentiment/verse onto paper or other material.
• Layer the stamped image onto a torn piece of fabric.
• Layer these onto a torn piece of the gel print paper.
• Run a strip of the washi tape horizontally across the inside.
• Attach the three layered piece over the washi strip. 
  
  
  
  
  

Additional ideas:

• Add a corner pocket to the card using the pocket thinlit.
• Cover a square of card stock with a coordinating washi tape.
• Die cut the corner design from the tape covered paper piece.
• Use a bone folder to go over the crease line at the 2 sides to help with folding them in.

Attach the folded corner design with double-sides adhesive or glue to a corner of the card. Use the pocket to insert a gift card, check or personal note. 

• Add a strip of washi tape and a strip left from the gel-print to the envelope flap.  

Materials 

Dies - Thinlit die set, Folio page pocket and flowers

          Thinlit die, Mandala

Big Shot

Washi tapes

Fabric scrap, muslin 

Metallic paint

Sponge applicator

Blank card with envelope

Card stock, off white

Verse stamp

Double-sided adhesive tape or glue

Any extra embellishments of choice 

Simple Way to Say Love Card

 Material List

Blank card with envelope, 5” x 5”

Card stock, colors of choice

Fabric scraps 

Dies: EH Mandala, Thinlit #664882

Folio page, pocket & flowers, Thinlit #664883

 Mitten box, #664510 (hearts)

Journaling words, Thinlit

Borders, Thinlit #659200 (zig-zag)

Adhesive foam

Adhesive sheet

Adhesive tape

Glue

Tag

Metallic foil sheet

Ribbon

Button

White gel pen

Here is the process of creating this card and envelope-

After choosing a color palette, I gathered papers and fabrics too suit the project. 

Prepare all pieces to be die-cut.

Cut adhesive foam and metallic foil slightly larger then the mandala die (5 1/2” square).Apply foil to the foam piece. 

Die cut the corner pocket from colored card stock. 

Cut 2 leaves from green card stock.

Cut the word “love” from a piece of white decorative paper that is adhesive backed.

Cut hearts from felt or wool that can also be backed with adhesive if desired.

Cut a flower from two pieces of fabric fused together with adhesive and one from colored card stock.

Cut a backing paper for the card face with a border approximately an 1/8” around the edge, the n and to the card face with adhesive tape.

Add a piece of decorative fabric over the card stock square. Make the fabric piece the size to have approximately a 1/4” space on each side. Apply over the paper with adhesive tape.

Create a tag to insert into the pocket corner. I chose a Kraft colored tag with a simple doodle of white ink around the edge and simple message. Add a piece of ribbon at the top and heart if desired.

Corner pocket placed inside is finished with a tiny gingham flower with button center and paper leaves.

Optional are die-cut pieces for embellishing the envelope such hearts and a zig-zag design or others.  

TIPS: 

• Gather all materials before beginning project.
• Prepare and precut all papers, fabric and adhesives before die-cutting
• Measure materials for layering background for the front of the card, by using 1/8" increments. NOTE: Any measurement between 1/4" or less will give a nice border.
• The fabric is torn to give a frayed look to the edges.
• Decorative scissors could be used on the edges of any of the elements if desired.
• All heart shapes are cut from felt. The felt can be backed with double sided adhesive if desired or cut without and then applied with glue.
• The flower is cut from fabric that is made from 2 pieces fused together with double-sided adhesive before cutting. An additional flower was cut from pink cardstock and they are layered together so the petals can be folded up for more dimension.
• For the mandala design, a sheet of patina metallic foil was added to a square of foam backed adhesive sheet before die-cutting.
• Since I do not have a "precision plate" for use when cutting intricate dies like this, I carefully ran the "Sizzix sandwich" through the machine more then one pass. 
• For easier removal of the intricate design from the die, I placed a piece of thin tissue paper on both sides of the piece before cutting. Because of the adhesive sheets there may be some issues with removal of the tiny cuts. NOTE: Use a brush tool or a stiff toothbrush to help removethe small remnants from the die. There may still be pieces that may need to removed with a die pick, a piercing tool or pin. 

Arnold Grummer Papermaking - Fallen Leaves

Inspiration came from my favorite season and from the abundance of colorful leaves all around.

This card was made using several different layers of papers, with the main background piece being a handmade piece.

From the other sheet of handmade paper, I die-cut three maple leaf shapes to decorate a recycled candle glass.

Easy place setting decorations were made by using a die-cut leaf shape with a pinecone glued to the surface.  Names were computer generated and glued to a colored paper background and placed in a small holder and set on the paper leaves.

Using the pour method, I formed two sheets of paper embedded with colorful shards of fallen leaves.  After making the paper mix in a blender, add several torn leaves to the blender and pulse.  NOTE: Remove the middle stems from the leaves before adding to blender.

Try your hand at paper making - visit the Arnold Grummer Papermaking website for kits and other accessories.  Use this coupon code for a discount on your purchase.

Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Shades of Green

The winter weather here has been pretty brutal this year.  Though I normally love the snow and can deal with the cold without much of a problem, I have to say I am getting a bit tired of seeing "white" everywhere for this long.  When Spring arrives it will be truly welcomed.  Looking forward to the sight of tiny purple and yellow crocus' and the bursts of green everywhere.  Green, the color of new life.  Here are three cards that I created from a handmade sheet of paper and extra pulp. Shades of green to express "Thanks", Happy St. Patrick's Day and a Celtic note.

The first card above with the Celtic Heart design began with a small square of handmade paper.  I used a brass stencil with the design to transfer the image to the paper.  Hold the stencil in place tightly.  NOTE: It can also be taped down carefully using a low tack masking tape.  Using a small foam applicator, ink over the stencil with a dye based green ink.  I small amount of Peeled Paint Distress Stickles™was carefully spread by a fine paint brush onto the stenciled image.  Carefully  tear the four edges of the square.  The torn square image is layered onto a light green square, cut with decorative scissors, then layered onto a gold square that was textured with a Sizzix Embossing Folder, finally onto a blank card. NOTE: A length of ribbon with a small tailored bow was added for embellishment.

The second card used two shamrock shapes that were first colored by applying one or two inks.  Both are embossed using a Sizzix Embossing Folder.  The embossed shapes get one more ink added to the raised areas.  The shamrocks are glued onto a gold piece of card stock. These two layers are placed onto a coordinating card stock that is edged using a decorative border punch.  The card is finished with a length of "St. Patrick's Day ribbon over the layers after being attached to a blank card.

The final card starts with a piece of handmade paper being stenciled with the word "thanks" using a brass stencil.  Both edges are punched with a border punch.  NOTE: A piece of waxed paper is folded over the edges before punching the decorative design. The waxed paper helps with this edge punching.  This piece is glued onto a gold square that has an embossed design on half the piece and corners rounded, then onto a colored piece of card stock with the two edges cut with the same border punch.  Add ribbon onto the three layers (refer to photo), tie a bow and glue the entire piece to a blank card.

NOTE: I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks for the stenciling on two cards and to color the two shamrock shapes.

After making a few sheets of simple plain white paper (one can never have enough of these on hand), I felt like playing around with extra pulp. I made three blender containers of extra pulp.  After transferring all the pulp into a different container, I began adding the pulp into two shamrock shaped cookie cutters that act as a deckle.  Place chosen deckles onto the white grid and screening to allow the water to drain from the pulp.  To add the pulp into the shapes I used an old fashioned baster to collect the pulp and then squeeze into the shapes.  I was able to make several shamrock shapes from the pulp.  I cut a narrow strip from a sponge and used it to remove as much of the water from the deckle shape before removing it.  Once the deckle can be removed follow the steps for more water removal and pressing as you would to create a sheet of paper.  NOTE:  Refer to the card above where a set of these were used as an embellishment.

The last large shamrock I made was fairly thick and this was done by adding several layers more of pulp.  Again I removed as much of the water as possible with the use of the strip of sponge and then continued the process.  An iron was used to start the drying process and then left to dry overnight. The thickness of this shape will find its way into a piece I hope to share with you at a later date.  Any thoughts of how I will use it?

This is the COUPON CODE: STPAT20 for the month of February.  Save some "green", 20%, on an order at the Arnold Grummer website.

Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Paper Casting on a Card

For this weeks project for the Arnold Grummer Blog, I decided to pull out my paper casting supplies.  With the weather outside being extremely cold and snowy, my eye turned to the flower molds to take my mind off the weather outside.

Making paper castings are fun and easy with the use of Arnold Grummer's Cotton Linter Casting Squares.  I used five or six of linter squares for the castings that I made. I made three castings from the two flower molds I chose to use. The look of the castings can be slightly altered by how you finish the outer edge. For one casting, I carefully pulled the outer edge with the tip of a toothpick to feather the edges after removing the casting from the mold before drying it completely.  Another was left to dry without touching the edges.  The third trimmed by cutting once it was completely dried.  To dry the castings, I placed them on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  I placed them in the oven that was heated to 200 degrees for 15 minutes.  Then I turned off the oven and left them in the oven for and additional 15 minutes.  NOTE:  There are other methods to dry the castings.  I have used the microwave in the past, following directions given for that process, with great results.  Simply drying naturally works well too.

Three castings with another flower mold

To create this card I chose to color the casting. Castings can be colored with a variety of things like chalks, mica powders and paints. When coloring them with paints the main thing to remember is not to use too much water.  Use a light touch when coloring with any medium.  I chose to use Ranger's Perfect Pearls to add color. The powders mix easily with water to create a shimmery paint.  The edge was painted with a little of clear iridescent glitter glue.  The center area was coated with Ranger's Glossy Accents to give the casting a glazed look.  NOTE: The castings can be left natural without coloring.

I cut a background layer of printed paper and trimmed the edge with decorative scissors. This paper was glued to a white blank card.  I added a strip of torn coordinating fabric was added.  Another coordinating solid paper was cut for another layer, making it large enough to add the casting onto it.  On a strip of white paper, I stamped a verse to state my wish and glued it onto the card top.  NOTE: The stamped verse can be added to the inside if desired.

Wishing you a Happy Day!

Be back in two weeks with another project.

This month you can use the COUPON CODE: LOVE20 and save 20% on your entire order, so head over to the website and place an order today so you can create some wonderful handmade papers for yourself or for gifts.