TCW Meets Sizzix

An opportunity to work with two different companies products is always fun!  The Crafters Workshop was kind to offer a samples to work with along with Eileen Hull’s Sizzix dies.  I’m lucky enough to be a somewhat familiar with the stencils and products from TCW and the little project I’m sharing here shows a way. 

 

Combining the base shape from Eileen’s new Notepad die, her new damask stamp by Maker Forte, TCW(The Crafters Workshop) stencils and paints and other assorted materials and a technique for creating backgrounds from another mixed media designer, Rebekah Meier, I ended up with my own interpretation and a smaller version of “prayer flags”. 

NOTE:

Here’s a little information on the meaning behind “prayer flags”: Traditionally prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom to everyone. By hanging flags in high places, the “Lungta” (wind horse) will carry the blessings depicted on the flags to all beings. As wind passes over the surface of the flags, which are sensitive to the slightest movement of the wind, the air is purified and sanctified by the (sacred utterances) Mantras. 

There are usually five colors on traditional prayer flags; blue - representing the sky, white - representing the air, red - symbolizing fire, green - symbolizing water and yellow-symbolizing the earth.  All five colors together signify balance. 

Information about traditional prayer flags and creative ideas for making, sharing and using more updated  prayer flags are easy to find on the internet.  

Materials

Eileen Hull Sizzix Notepad die (66588)

Eileen Hull Maker Forte stamp, vintage damask

TCW Stencils, #944s and other assorted designs

TCW Stencil Butter paints

Archival ink pad, brown

Acrylic paint, white

Distress Oxide sprays

TCW Clear Gesso, matte

Brush

Cosmetic sponges

Palette knife

Pellon EZ Steam II fusible web

Printed napkin

White cotton fabric

Iron

Pressing board

Flat braid or ribbon, 1/2” wide 

Verse stamps

Fabri-Tac glue

Stampers Anoonymous Tim Holtz Tiny Text (CMS394)

Create background for the flags

• Add one layer of a decorative napkin to one side of EZSteam sheet. 

• Press slightly with iron. 
• Brush over napkin with the clear gesso and allow to dry well. 
• Cover with parchment paper and press lightly with iron to smooth. 
• Stamp damask background image randomly onto napkin with archival ink. 
• Spray randomly and lightly with distress oxide sprays; dry. 

• Cover and iron the stamped, sprayed side well. When cool, peel the backing sheet from opposite side. 
• Lay a piece of white cotton fabric over the adhesive and iron well to adhere to the fusible.

• Fold and cut four pieces from sheet. 
• Die-cut notepad shape from each piece.
• Using the stencils and acrylic paints randomly stencil parts of the stencils onto the cut flags with cosmetic sponges. 
• Add other design elements if desired using small bottle caps or pencil erasers for circles; the edge of an old keycard or palette knife for lines.  

• Stamp or hand print a verse to add to each flag. 
• Attach the flags onto a flat braid by sewing or gluing.  
• If desired, hang the flags, as a collection or single, to fly near a door or window to catch the wind. If choosing to fly the flags outside, use a protective coating that can give outdoor protection.

TIPS

For ideas and information on mixed media collage techniques a good reference is an e-book by Rebekah Meier, "Paper Art Collage, mixed media layering techniques, from Bella Crafts Publishing.  Another source, if it can be found, is a pamphlet by Rebekah called Techniques for Mixed Media for Fabric Elements, by Fabric Editions, Inc. 

New Large Journal Die Is A Recipe For New Ideas

There has been a new release by Sizzix with a nice variety of designs from Eileen Hull. This post will feature the large journal die. The size brings with so many options for making some wonderful creative projects.  Of course the first thoughts include journal making and book making. Albums for all occasions can be created for personal use or gift giving.  

My first make with this new die was inspired by an old recipe binder that was found some time ago at a second hand store. The original binder is the exact same size as the book that was made from the die.  With a few different adaptations and editions here is a very nice book for any any size collection of recipes.

Materials

Eileen Hull Large Journal die

Eileen Hull Journal die

Eileen Teacup 3D die

Mat board

Sizzix Big Shot Plus Machine

Double sided adhesive sheets/tape

Decorative papers

Adhesive backed clear covering, matte finish

Elastic

Paper brads

Note book inserts (6" x8")

Leather cord

Hole punch

Tiny stapler

NOTES/TIPS

When the process of making this recipe book began I had not yet have the large journal die in my possession, but only the pieces already cut from mat board.  Also in my stash of decorative papers had found the perfectly "recipe" related papers to use. The related papers had to be applied to the precut mat board and then trimmed carefully around the edges with an Xacto-knife.

As mentioned above, an old find of a binder-like recipe book become the inspiration for the finished recipe book, mainly because the new Eileen Hull die was exactly the same size. 

***The older version contains dividers with food categories along with an envelope that recipe clippings can be placed. At the back of the book there are blank pages for attaching recipe clippings also and followed by lined paper for writing recipes down.***  

The inserts used in the new version are lined notebooks purchased at the near by "Dollar" store with the perfect measurement to fit the large journal. Because these notebooks come with various decorated covers some of the coordinated papers from the stash on hand were used to cover them. To create something similar to the envelope pockets of the old version, a folder was made by cutting  two pieces from coordinating papers or a heavy card stock from the orignal journal die. 

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

• Cover mat board with papers of choice and adhesives of choice. Both sides are covered for this project.   
• Die cut two covers. (NOTE: Be aware if using directional papers.)  
• Cover the front and back cover pieces, both the outside and inside areas with clear laminate material. (A matte finish, clear, transparent, adhesive backed covering was used, example: Con-Tact paper.)  
• Decide how many inserts will be included in the book and complete the construcion of the book accordingly. 
• Double-sided adhesive was applied to the spine to help the hold the spine together. String the spine of the journal with choice of elastic. (NOTE: This book has four individual bands strung in the spine.) 
• For the recipe book closure: Cover two small pieces of mat board with a metallic paper. Die-cut two spoon shapes from the pieces. Attach the two spoon shapes together.  Punch holes into the spoon (Refer to photo.) 
• Place spoon onto front cover and mark the holes onto the cover where desired. Pierce the marks. Add spoon to cover with brads.(NOTE: Longer brads may be needed.)  
• Cut a length of leather flat cording for closure. Refer to photo and pierce holes into the back cover, equally spaced. Pierce through the leather also. (NOTE: There was some difficulty piercing the thinner leather cord, a slightly wider leather strip could be easier, this was what I had on hand.) Hold the leather strip in place with brads. 

• Bring leather cord around the edge of recipe book, thread under the spoon shape and around and loop to close. 
• Create the pocket folders from desired papers and the orignal journal die. Cut 2 pieces with the journal die. Fold over the spine edge on one piece. Slip the unfolded piece into the folded one and allign the holes on the two pieces. Insert small paper brads into the holes. (NOTE: Pierce through the center hole before inserting brad.)  

• The sides of the folder are stapled with tiny staples from the front on each side to help hold clippings. 
• Cover the insert books with coordinating papers using perferred adhesive. (NOTE: Doubled-sided tape strips were used for the project.)  Excess paper was carefully trimmed around the edges with an X-acto knife. Inserts the covered books into the journal. 

• The folders are placed at the center of the book inserts with a strip of double-sided adhesive. 

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Cut the labels from card stock and place on the covers of the insert books to categorize. Or make tabs to place on the edges of the covers to categorize if desired. An extra folder can the attached to the inside back cover. 

***INCLUDING A BONUS PROJECT HERE***

Along with the large journal die, another new 3D embossing folder was included in this release. Here is a seasonal card using the sweater design for the background and also the pumpkin to showcase this design.

For the background, a textured brown paper was used along with the sweater embossing folder. To give the background the look of tweed sweater, the surface has a white ink applied to it.

Materials

Eileen Hull 3D Sweater Embossing Folder

Eileen Hull Large Journal die (label strip)

Various Sizzix thinlit dies (pumpkin, leaves, flower)

Big Shot Machine

Blank card/envelope

Decorative glitter paper

Orange cardstock

Brown texture paper

Printed paper/Vellum/Kraft

White ink (Blends-Coconut)

Felt scraps

Raffia ribbon

Brads

• Cut a background layer 1/4" smaller on each side as the card size used. 
• Cut a piece of textured brown paper for the next layer.  
• Using the sweater 3D embossing folder, emboss the brown paper following directions for embossing. 

Using a white ink (NOTE: I used Eileen's White Coconut Blends), to shade the embossed brown paper. 

• Cut a pumpkin like shape from a orange piece of card stock: emboss with the sweater folder also.  
• Die-cut leaves from green felt scraps.  
• Die-cut flower shapes from yellow felt scraps.  
• Cut a stem from kraft colored paper scrap. 
• Die-cut label shape from a pattern paper and vellum.  
• Stamp a verse onto the vellum piece. Layer onto the pattern paper piece. 
• Refer to photo position of layers and elements to finish card.