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.

Die-cut Dream Catchers

With the latest die release from Eileen Hull Designs for Sizzix, ideas are flowing! After making several projects with the three re-released dies more inspiration started. I chose the Embroidery Hoop die to play around with for this post. 

Take a simple circled shaped die-cut and see where it takes you! Dream catchers and sun catchers just happened to be something I began to think about. I made a little project for the release earlier this month and sent it off to Eileen as one of the samples. 

Here it is - I consider this more of a "sun catcher".

That got me to thinking about how else to use the cuts from this die. Originally I was going to make a traditional dream catcher and use string to make the inner design, then the idea came to see how can I make one but use dies instead.  

HERE'S HOW THIS PROJECT IS CREATED - 

Creating the hoop - 

I cut 4 to 5 hoops from stiff board. I chose to use packaging from cereal boxes to cut the shapes. It's inexpensive and most have boxes like this that can be recycled for such projects. The hoop cuts are all glued together to form a thicker ring. The glued circle hoop shape could e painted but I chose to wrap it. For one I used a white thin, flat cording and the other a narrow (1/2") fabric. After tightly wrapping each with the two different materials I had to decide what and how I would add for design to the center. 

This is what I used for wrapping the hoops - 

Creating the center motif -

To make the center designs I went to some materials that again could be recycled. The list is patterned tissue paper, paper towels saved from cleaning up other art projects and cereal bag packaging. The two different saved papers are fused between two layers of the cereal bag packaging. The process of fusing with cereal bags can be found by searching online. NOTE: Maybe in the future I can make a short video of the process. From this fused material, I then die-cut patterned shapes using two Sizzix dies.  One is the thinlit, Heart Mandala (665587), the other is an old steel-rule die called "Vintage Doily" (657420). They are adhered to the back of the hoops with glue.  For added embellishing, I die-cut pieces from felt using a simple leaf shape and cutting along the sides to give it the look of feathers. These are then attached to hang from the bottom of the dream catcher.

NOTE: There are numerous ideas online for ideas for making these in a variety of different ways, and instructions to string them the traditional way. 

Dream Catcher - (Found this explanation online.)  "Native Americans believe that the night air is filled with dreams, both good and bad. The dream catcher, when hung over or near your bed, swinging freely in the air, catches the dreams as they flow by.  The good dreams know how to pass through the dream catcher, slipping through the holes and slide down the feathers so gently that the sleeper does not know they are dreaming. The bad dreams, not knowing the way, get tangled in the dream catcher and perish with the light of a new day."

New Year, New Release of New Dies (Sort of) with Loads of Inspiration

  Eileen Hull Designs has a new release of dies to share. Actually it is a te-release of some vintage dies.  Here are images of the dies. I was a fan of these dies the first time around.  One in particular as has been a very favorite of mine, more about that to come.  

The cantilever sewing box brings back memories for me too because my mother also had a larger wooden version!  The embroidery hoop die replicates actual hoops and can be used for many projects. The needle case die happens to be one of my favorites and have used this die so many times for various projects. Those that have seen my projects may notice that this one is the base for many of my banners. 

For this latest release I made this version of the cantilever sewing box. Added some decorations to the top, using the flowers and leaves cut from felt and wool.  

This made me decide to use the same extra thinlit dies for the embroidery hoop and the needle case for a trio of coordinating projects. 

There are three more ideas to share with everyone. 

The small tab bound book using the needle case die for the covers and pages.

The “love” wreath uses the inner circle from the embroidery hoop (three to four layered together), with leaves of cut from felt and paper, then applied around the circle.  Add some small felt flowers and a clear plastic circle with the word LOVE and a ribbon to complete the hanger.  

The last of course is another idea for a banner.  The needle case die is cut from layered foil that was cut and embossed with the Mandela 3D folder. These are fashioned into pockets to hold paper heart flowers in three sizes with added felt leaves and a couple of other die cut greens.