I think my favourite card class is the Christmas one. Here’s the cards for my latest class, using a mix of mostly Sizzix dies, stamps and embossing folders, some from this year and some a little older.
Christmas crafting
Tag: sizzix
Bromsgrove Card Making Class 22 June
I’m looking forward to my next class this Saturday, and we’ve got a nice mix of cards using some different techniques, die-cutting and stamping so a chance to practice our colouring!
We also have a nice mix of different brands – Sizzix, Tracey Hey and Paper Create.
I’ve snuck in one Christmassy card! I’ve just started on all the Christmas projects for TV, so over the coming months we’ll probably have a few more each month, then we usually go full on Christmas in September!
If you want details about the class, the drop me an email on backdated@hotmail.com
Next Card making class in Bromsgrove
My next class is on Saturday May 11th. Message me for more details.
Here’s a sneak peek of what we’ll be up to…..
My next card making class – 20 January in Bromsgrove
I’ve spent today putting together the cards for my next monthly class at Avoncroft Arts Society in Bromsgrove next weekend.
To cheer us all up after the Christmas break, I decided to go with some cheerful florals, and cards that would work for all occasions.
If you’d like information about my regular classes, just drop me an email – backdated@hotmail.com.
New (and final) Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress ink colour – Scorched Timber
I thought I’d share the cards I showed on my Hobbymaker TV shows last night, it seems odd sharing them after the show, when usually I share everything beforehand in the hope you’ll tune in for the show – but of course, this one had to be kept a secret until Tim made his reveal, and my show was literally straight after that!
This first card used the Sizzix Foundry embossing folder, and I mixed the new Scorched Timber with a little bit of Salvaged Patina, and some Foundry wax in bronze to create the effect of rusty metal.
I really like this new colour, it’s the perfect dark colour that I would use instead of black when I wanted some real definition or shadow.
This card uses my all time favourite embossing folder, Lumber. As soon as I saw this new colour I was delighted for the possibilities of creating realistic wood backgrounds, and it really didn’t disappoint. How fabulous does this wood effect look?
I used some Sizzix Dimensional paste through a stencil then poured some of the Scorched Timber embossing glaze on top before heating with my heat tool to melt the powder, I like the shiny effect against the wood.
Having this last colour has really made me want to organise my craft room supplies, and perhaps get some extra shelving. I really want all my Distress products together in one area (in rainbow order of course). So watch this space, because as soon as I get time to do that, I’m going to start re-arranging things!
Sizzix Eileen Hull Launch Party!
Today is the day! Eileen’s fabulous new release is here. It’s actually an old classic making a re-appearance and I’m delighted about that as I missed this when it was first out.
Here’s what Eileen had to say about it, “You asked for it- we did it! The Classic Cantilever Sewing Box, Embroidery Hoop and Needle Book dies have been brought back because you asked 
These dies all relate to stitching but of course may also be used in other ways. They are all Bigz dies which are so versatile because of the number of materials that may be cut with them.
I have fond memories of my Mom’s wooden sewing box and designed this Cantilever Sewing Box to replicate that. It’s great for storing sewing supplies like needles, thread, buttons, floss and pins- but it also works for hair bands and clips, small storage items, jewelry, desk organization and small treats. Use the drawers separately to organize your desk drawers or create a shadowbox- so many ways to use! Finished size is
3 1/2” x 6 1/4” x 2 1/4”.
The Embroidery Hoop measures 4” and is designed to be cut from thick material such as matboard or chipboard. You can actually tuck thin fabrics in the hoop and stitch on them. Or you can die cut from paper and use the hoop on card fronts. Use the pieces separately or all together.
The Needle Book is also a ScoreBoard die and features a pretty scalloped edge to the book. It measures 3 1/2” x 2 1/4″ x 1/2″ and is perfect for storing your stitching needles and pins- works great when made from felt! But it can also be made from matboard, chipboard, leather or fabric- one of the benefits of the Bigz dies.
Please join us for the It’s All about Stitching Release Party that will be held on Tuesday, January 2nd at noon Eastern time on my YouTube, Facebook and Instagram pages. The team and I will be sharing creative ways to use these dies- we can’t wait to share them with you! There will be giveaways so make sure to tune in and see how to enter to win!”
Even though I really can’t sew at all, I’m really enjoying creating with these dies. The Cantilever box could be used for some many things (and those that like to customise could very easily adapt the design to create all sorts of configurations).
The Needle book makes a very cute mini notebook too, and it’s very easy to add little notebooks or pages to it if you don’t want to use fabric or felt to make a needle book.
I think the embroidery hoop is my favourite though, because really, an embroidery hoop is just a really nice way to frame all sorts of art. It can be cut from card or mountboard and be used on a card front or as a stand-alone frame. It’s just a nice size to work with, and I know I’ll be using this a lot.
There’s a fabulous release party on Eileen’s FB page and YouTube channel today at 12.00 Eastern (5pm UK). Also, if you pop to Eileen’s blog http://www.eileenhull.com you will find links to all the DT’s blogs (and I’ve got to say, there are some AMAZING projects, and I definitely need to up my sewing game!).
I’m still creating with these sets, so the photos here are just a a small selection of what I’ve been making. If you are in the UK you can catch me on Hobbymaker TV on 8 January where we will have a great deal on these 3 die sets, and I’ll be showing you exactly how they all work and how to put them together.
Christmas Journal using the Sizzix Eileen Hull Field Notes Journal die
This month we have the theme of Comfort & Joy in the Eileen Hull Fanclub FB group, and I really wanted to create a Christmas journal where I can add some of my favourite recipes, and maybe some photos.
I had a happy accident with the cover. While die cutting the covers, I had decided to have the pale blue patterned card on the front, and the lovely mistletoe pattern inside. I accidentally put my mat board the wrong way up on my Bigz die and had just started to run it through when I realised.
I quickly stopped, but I had made a bit of a cut into the mat board. Rather than toss it and start again, I decided I’d just cover it. So I took some rose gold texture roll, used the die to cut just a small panel to go over the ends, then I embossed it with the Woven Leather embossing folder. I put it front and back, and inside and out, and it covered my little mistake beautifully, and in fact adds a really nice feature. It’s something I wouldn’t have thought to do, but I’m really glad my mistake made me think of it!
I used the little frame from the die to create a backdrop for my little nutcracker, and I added some white pigment ink to give it a distressed look.
The papers used throughout the journal are from P13 Paper and the collection is called Christmas Charm.
For the inside pages, I used the die to create shaped pages from kraft card. I sandwiched a hinge of plain card between two die cut pages so that I could then tie them into the journal with seam binding.
I decided to have some pages that were purely decorative, then just a few with panels where I can add my recipes.
I used the Skinny Mini Elements die to create a bit of interest behind these two panels, and throughout the journal I have added paint splatters with white acrylic paint to give a snowy feel.
This panel has the perfect blank space for me to add a recipe. I haven’t fully stuck down the mistletoe piece so I can tuck something in underneath.
There’s another nice space for a recipe here too.
I used some Sizzix texture paste and a Studio Light stencil just to add a bit of added texture to this page. The images in this paper collection are quite fun – although there was a LOT of fussy cutting!
More texture paste on these pages, along with some mica spray. For the snow on this last page I used Pearlescent medium instead of plain texture paste.
I’ve really enjoyed making this journal, I think the Field Notes Journal is my current favourite, the scalloped edge is just so pretty, and I think my rose gold texture roll on the edges is now my new thing to do on all journals!
 Sizzix Eileen Hull Field Notes Journal Shop at: SZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Eileen Hull Envelope, Folder & flowers Shop at: SZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Eileen Hull Embossing Folder Woven Leather Shop at: SSS | SZ | AZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Surfaces Mat board white* Shop at: SSS | SZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Surfaces Texture Roll Rose Gold Shop at: SZ | AZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Effectz Dimensional Paste Shop at: SSS | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Effectz Pearlescent Medium Shop at: SSS | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting machine Shop at: SSS | SZ | AZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Big Shot Switch Plus Electric die cutting machine Tim Holtz Black Shop at: SSS | SZ | AZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Big Shot Switch Plus Electric die cutting machine white Shop at: SSS | SZ | AZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Cutting Plates Extended Shop at: SSS | CS | SBC |
Next Card Making Class at Avoncroft Art Society Bromsgrove – 28 October
My next class is coming up soon, and it’s a mix of both Christmas cards and some general occasion cards. I know everyone will love this little Christmas pudding as his legs swing side to side which is fun.
I do still have a couple of places left, so if you’d like more info just email me on backdated@hotmail.com
September Christmas Card Class, Avoncroft Art Society, Bromsgrove
Here’s a little sneak peak ahead of my next card making class on 23 September (email me on backdated@hotmail.com for booking info).
Sorry the photos are a little dark, it’s so gloomy today I couldn’t get a good photo.
Look forward to seeing you all at the class!
Sizzix Eileen Hull Chapter 3 – Field Notes Journal
I can’t tell you how obsessed I am with this new journal die from Eileen Hull. I love all her journals, but this one is now my favourite. I really like the design, and the landscape format (of course you could flip it to have a top folding notebook if you prefer).
When mine arrived, I instantly knew I wanted to create a journal following the Field Notes theme, full of botanicals and butterflies, and incorporating so many of my older stamp and die sets.
I’m warning you now – this blog post has a LOT of photos. I went totally overboard with this one – I couldn’t put it down for nearly a week, and even now, I feel I’d like to go back and add some more to it!
So on the front cover, I used the frame that comes with the journal and added some vellum behind it, then a little butterfly cigarette card. The papers I used throughout the journal are from 49 & Market, and I also added some Tim Holtz collage paper and chipboard sentiment.
Inside the front cover, more 49 & Market papers, together with the little folder from the Envelope, Folder & Flowers die set. The stamps are Aall & Create, and I added a few little bits of ephemera into the folder.
For the pages inside the journal I used the journal die to create pages that had the same shape as the journal. I created a little hinge from cream card, then sandwiched that between two sheets of kraft card so that my pages were nice and sturdy and could take the weight of all the layers.
I had great fun rummaging through my boxes of ephemera that I’ve collected over the years, and it felt good to actually use some of it (I’m terrible at hoarding nice things!). I had bought some chipboard elements to match the 49 & Market papers, and I had a lot of Tim Holtz ephemera and they all worked so well together.
This little folder is from the Tim Holtz Specimen die set – the elements in that collection work so well with this journal.
The flower here is from the Folder, envelope and flower die set, along with a 49 & Market frame.
I even did a little bit of stitching! I stamped the butterflies on a scrap of fabric, then took a piece of cardboard box, dry brushed some gesso on it, then stitched the fabric to it before attaching it to the page. I love how it turned out.
For the back of the journal I used the same collage papers as the front, then a fern and butterfly from the 49 & Market collection.
I punched holes in the pages so that I could attach them to the journal with seam binding (I used cream seam binding and soaked it in tea to give this lovely vintage colour). I also added a little metal hardware piece (Tim Holtz).
Hope you’ve enjoyed seeing this journal. I really enjoyed making it and can’t wait to do more (I’ve been scouring antique shops for old botanical books and ephemera so watch this space!)
 Stampers Anonymous Field Notes Shop at: SSS | SBC |
 Stampers Anonymous Papillon stamp set Shop at: SSS | AZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Eileen Hull Journaling Card, envelope & window Shop at: SSS | SZ | SBC |
Sizzix Eileen Hull Field Notes Journal Shop at: SZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Eileen Hull Slotted Treat Box Shop at: SZ | CS | SBC |
Sizzix Eileen Hull Envelope, Folder & flowers Shop at: SZ | CS | SBC |
Sizzix Surfaces Mat board white* Shop at: SSS | SZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Surfaces Texture Roll White Shop at: SZ | AZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Texture Roll Arctic Sky Shop at: SZ | AZ | CS | SBC |
Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting machine Shop at: SSS | SZ | AZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Big Shot Plus Die Cutting machine Shop at: SSS | SZ | AZ | CS | SBC |
 Sizzix Big Shot Switch Plus Electric die cutting machine cherry blossom Shop at: SBC |
Sharon Curtis 