Beach-y Wreath with Eileen Hull

Hello there! I'm starting to get the itch to create fall projects but I still have some summer creativity left in me! ;-) I have a beach theme going for my home summer decor and I needed a new wreath for my front door. A few weeks ago, Eileen Hull was inspired to use her Blends 2 inks and embossing powders to color sea shells. That inspired me in the creation of my new door wreath! It was really easy.

The actual wreath is a twig wreath from the craft store
that I lightly spray painted with white paint.

I started out with coloring the shells. I used a stylus with blending sponge to apply color just where I wanted it. I dried it with my heat gun.

Once I had colored and dried the shell and starfish, I went back with the clear ink (super strong for embossing!!) and added it on the parts I wanted the embossing powder to stick to.

I also die cut Paper Leather (the pink branches) and regular heavy cardstock (the 'seaweed'). The seaweed cuts I covered with clear ink and embossed with Aqua Splash powder.

Once I had all the parts prepared I went to town with my glue gun and put it all together. For a final step, I gave the whole wreath a spray with Glitter Dust to give it a bit of sparkle.

Check out Eileen's blog and if you are not already a member, join the Facebook Eileen Hull Fan Club group. It is a warm, supportive group with lots of inspiration and sharing going on. You'll just have to answer a few simple questions when asking to join (to keep out spammers) and then you'll be added. ;-)

Dies:
Sizzix
Sand & Sea ( Sizzix / SB )
Branch with Leaves & Flower (657241) - retired
Seaweed, Coral & Wave (660349) - retired

Other:

Eileen Hull Clearsnap Blends 2 inks - Pansy, Melon, Sunshine, Clear
Stylus and blending sponge tips
Eileen Hull Molten Dimensions Embossing Powder - Aqua Splash, Polished Silver, Golden Rod
Paper Leather - Pink
Glitter Dust

decorative fish net
seashell/starfish
twig wreath
white spray paint


Store links in this post may be affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!) If you go shopping at Topflight Stamps, use my code LISAHOEL for 10% off your order.

Misfit Robots with Topflight Stamps

Hello! This week on the Topflight Stamps blog the team is focusing on the brand, For the Love of Stamps. I used the set Misfit Robots, which lets you mix and match all the parts to make custom robots! It was fun to make this cheerful card using them.

I also used Prism inks, a new line of inks Topflight Stamps is now carrying. I really like how well they blend and there are lots of fab colors!

Thanks for stopping by! Below is a list of supplies I used. Be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps blog for more inspiration. There is always something fun to see there.

Topflight Stamps Products:
For The Love of Stamps - Misfit Robots
Stamperia, Antonis Tzanidakis stencil - KSAT05
Prism inks - Camellia Pink, Apple Green, Jersey Cream
Blender tool
watercolors

Some links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!) If you shop at Topflight Stamps, use my coupon code LISAHOEL for 10% off your order.

Vintage Drafting Stool Upcycle

You may have seen some peeks of this project on Instagram over the past few weeks! A few years ago I got one of the old vintage drafting stools from my Dad's office clean out. It was grey and boring. ;-) I decided to freshen it up a bit!

Before

After!

First I spray painted the chair an aqua color. I masked off the seat and primed it with white paint.

I used Pixie Spray, a repositional adhesive for stencils, to tack down the Butterfly with Border stencil in the middle of the seat.

Next I started adding color! Blends 2 inks from Eileen Hull are vivid pigment inks that are permanent  when dry. I masked off parts of the stencil with post-it notes and used the blending stylus to easily add color just where I wanted it. When I was done with a section, I lifted the stencil and carefully used a heat tool to dry the ink. (I taped the stencil at the top so I could lift and replace it exactly were it was.)

After I had stenciled all the design, I decided outlining with a black permanent pen would really make the design pop.

I added several final coats of Krylon Crystal Clear spray over the finished artwork to protect it. I made sure to mask off the surrounding metal so the overspray wouldn't get on it.

My pretty stool is happily living in my craft room now! FYI, we just found out last week that Clearsnap, the manufacturer of Eileen's inks, is going out of business! Eileen put in a last order to stock up her etsy shop, so if you have been thinking about getting any of her inks don't delay! When they are gone, they are gone as far as we know.

Check out Eileen's blog and if you are not already a member, join the Facebook Eileen Hull Fan Club group. It is a warm, supportive group with lots of inspiration and sharing going on. You'll just have to answer a few simple questions when asking to join (to keep out spammers) and then you'll be added. ;-)

Supplies:

Eileen Hull Clearsnap Blends 2 inks - a whole bunch of colors!
Clearsnap Colorbox blending stylus with sponges
StencilGirl stencil - Butterfly with Border
StencilGirl stencil - Mod Ovals and Circles Small Stencil
Pixie Spray
Krylon Crystal Clear
heat gun
painter's tape

Store links in this post may be affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

It's Christmas in July at Topflight Stamps!

Hello! With all the summer heat we're experiencing right now, some Christmas coolness might very well be what you are wishing for! This week on the Topflight Stamps blog you will get your wish because the team is showcasing Christmas in July projects. I created a card using the delightfully detailed Santa's Sleigh Ride stamp from Crafty Individuals.

I stamped the image onto watercolor paper and then painted it. I just love all the fine detail in the stamp. (Tip - use a stamping platform so if you don't get a perfectly clear stamped image the first time, you can re-ink and fix it.)

The background is embossed Rinea Foil Paper that I had adhered to cardstock for extra sturdiness. You can use their Ghost Ink for several cool techniques; I used it to remove some of the color from the embossed areas of the foil to give it a distressed look.

Thanks for stopping by! Below is a list of supplies I used. Be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps blog for more inspiration. There is always something fun to see there! 

AAAAND, there is a sale right now at Topflight Stamps! Use my code LISAHOEL for 10% off the non sale category things you might want to get. (I think that would work lol.)

Topflight Stamps Products:
Crafty Individuals - Santa's Sleigh Ride
watercolors

Other:

Rinea Foil Paper - purple

Rinea Ghost Ink

Tim Holtz embossing folder - Starry Night (retired)

Some links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!) If you shop at Topflight Stamps, use my coupon code LISAHOEL for 10% off your order.

The Big Reveal – Steampunk Atlantis!

Well, I have finally finished a project that has been literally in the works for years! It kept getting put on the back burner but now you can check it out…my Finding Atlantis steampunk configurations book! (Prepare for lots of photos!!)

Hmmm… what's inside?

Lots and lots of stuff, that's what!

I had so much fun collecting all the little bits and pieces to fill the cubbies. The whole project was really inspired by the fabric I found and used on the inside cover. It is from Spoonflower and is called The Deep Deep Depths. Whales, mermaids and steampunk?? It was fabulous!

One of the first elements I created was the Captain's "journal", made using Eileen Hull's Passport Book Die. It's full of maps, notes, and other nautically themed goodies. You can check it out in this blog post – there are lots of photos in that one too! It has its own little niche:

I suppose I should be methodical in the photos here. ;-) I'll go back to the outside for a detail photo:

I created a front panel from matboard and covered it with Distress Oxide inks, stamping, and embossing. I also embellished it with die cut gears and a center section comprised of more die cut parts and a metal mermaid ornament. I painted it all with the same gold paint to unify the parts and then antiqued it with black paint. Now, moving back to the inside:

Here's a detail of the goodies inside the cover. The fabric panel has a piece of batting underneath the fabric to give it some 'poof' and dimension.

The compartments!

It was fun going through all the stuff I had collected and creating each little compartment vignette.

I found this Empty Pocket Watch Pendant at Hobby Lobby and filled it with an old sea horse pin and little gears and die cuts.

I like how the front opens out.

The edges of all the little compartment boxes are covered with strips of brown Rinea foil paper and then distressed with their Ghost Ink by swiping it on parts and then wiping it off with alcohol and a paper towel. (The ink removes the color on the foil.)

Book niche!

I am entering this project into the following challenges: 

• SanDee & amelie's Summer Steampunk Special Challenge 'cause, steampunk!  

• The Vintage Journey July Challenge - Precious Metal because my project contains so many metal findings, foil paper, metallic paint and gold embossing powder.

• The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog Challenge - Water, Water, Everywhere because our bold Captain's great passion for finding Atlantis took him on a quest over the seven seas (that is a lot of water) and sometimes his wife and children would accompany him as a vacation adventure. ;-)

Thanks for stopping by and making it through this long post! Below is a partial supplies list. This project has been in the works for so long and I've used so many different things there is no way I can list it all! ;-) I'll just hit the highlights.

Dies:
Eileen Hull Sizzix
Passport Book ( Sizzix / SB )

Tim Holtz Sizzix
Cameo Frame ( Sizzix )
Pediments - retired
whole bunch of gear dies

Other:

Steampunk sea fabric from Spoonflower - The Deep Deep Depths
Tim Holtz Configurations Book
Stamperia Paper Pack - Around the World
Tim Holtz stamp set - Architecture
Tim Holtz stamp set - Marble & Doily
tons of Tim Holtz Idea-ology
Seahorse Key Charm
Empty Pocket Watch Pendant
Rinea Foil Paper - brown
Rinea Ghost Ink

Store links in this post may be affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Dots to Diamonds with Topflight Stamps

Hello and happy Tuesday! ;-)  Topflight Stamps has a new line of products from Hunkydory called Dots to Diamonds. You can get the paper pads that are preprinted with dot designs. Some dots are foiled and others are marks to show where you can add the pearls and rhinestones bling. (Use your stash of bling or buy color coordinated packs!) It is so easy to quickly create a sparkly card for any special occasion!

Preprinted sheets!

Take a look at that glam:

I used a mix of pearls and rhinestones.

For this card, I first spritzed the pre-printed sheet with a little Distress Spray Stain. When it was dry, I added the bling and then topped with a die cut sentiment. Easy peasy! Give it a try. =)

Thanks for stopping by! Below is a list of supplies I used. Be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps blog for more inspiration. There is always something fun to see there! 

Topflight Stamps Products:
Hunkydory Dots to Diamonds Paper Pad #3
Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles - Brillant Blues
Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles - Beautiful Blues
Neenah Metallic Cardstock pack

Other:

AJVD - Celebrate Word Die
Distress Spray Stain - Spiced Marmalade

Some links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!) If you shop at Topflight Stamps, use my coupon code LISAHOEL for 10% off your order.

Robot Birthday Card #2 with Topflight Stamps

Hello! I'm still in robot birthday card mode and have created another one for a friend's birthday.

I tried out the new Prism Inks that are being carried at Topflight Stamps and I really like how they stamp and blend! I will have to increase my collection of colors lol. I also added an Action Wobble Spring underneath the fussy cut robot cat. It was really easy to apply and wobbles quite nicely. ;-)

Thanks for stopping by! Below is a list of supplies I used. Be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps blog for more inspiration. There is always something fun to see there! 

Topflight Stamps Products:
Katzelkraft stamp - Robot Cat
Katzelkraft stamp set - Holiday Quotes
IndigoBlu stamp set - Fly High
Leane Creatief stamp set - Clocks
Visible Image stamp set - Rays of Light

Prism Ink - Thundercloud, Apple Green, Smoked Paprika
Action Wobble Springs
Ink Blendering Tools

Some links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!) If you shop at Topflight Stamps, use my coupon code LISAHOEL for 10% off your order.