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.