Flower Artist Susan Tierney Cockburn

While I was at CHA in January, I had the pleasure of meeting the amazingly talented Susan Tierney Cockburn. She came to my booth and showed me some of the most unbelievable projects that she had made using my ScoreBoard dies. She has graciously allowed me to share some of them with you. Susan's specialty is making paper flowers- some are so TINY and so PERFECT!  

I especially love the project she calls Kelly's Garden, made in honor of her daughter who passed away from cancer. So many times, the joy of working with my hands has helped me through tough times and I know that Susan has found comfort there as well. This project is beautiful on many levels and I am so honored that Susan would use my House die as a base for such a special art piece. Look at all of these miniature flowers all made by hand! Wow...

Her book, Paper Bouquet, is filled with detailed examples of her work. Why not order one for Mom as a Mother's Day gift?




Here's Susan's version of a ScoreBoard Box die using the Create-A-Bow to top it off with one of her signature flowers inside. Love this!

I am going to post another set of Susan's projects which she made using my Cake die. I will be holding a giveaway which you will automatically be entered into if you vote for your favorite cake!

Speaking of cake, you should definitely check out Susan's blog, My Mother's Apron Strings, where she posts mouth watering desserts and other tasty treats almost every day. How she makes all this and remains skinny is a mystery to me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mother's Day Cupcakes

I have such talented friends! Here's a project done by fellow designer Gabriela Delworth, who has used my Sizzix ScoreBoard Cupcake Ruffle die to make a mouth watering cupcake for Mom on her special day. She embellished the matboard holder with beautiful pressed flowers. Lucky Mom!

Sterling has just released Gabriela's Flower and Leaf Press book kit. The book includes 12 projects using dried flowers. The kit also comes with an actual flower press so you can create the projects yourself. Knowing Gabriela and her attention to detail, this book kit is a winner and sure to have beautiful photos and projects!

Be sure to check out Gabriela's blog for lots more cool ideas.

More news coming this week- stay tuned, my friends! Hope you are enjoying the nice weather...

Easter Greetings!

Cute little Easter basket made with my Sizzix Scoreboard Cake die and some yellow matboard.

Wishing you all a joyous and blessed Easter!

Eileen

Wedding Bell BLUES

Don't worry- the wedding bell blues are a good thing! Those are the colors my daughter chose for her wedding this past Saturday. It was just about as perfect a day as anyone could hope for. No rain, good food, great family and friends and lots of fun!

Here's a picture of the seating chart I made from an old window.

You will need:

vintage window
old book pages
Mod Podge
ribbon
calligraphy marker
Sizzix Fresh Vintage flower dies by Eileen Hull (coming soon)
blue and white crepe paper
white tissue paper
brads
silver pipe cleaners
Sizzix Eclips machine
Starter & Rockin Janie Cartridge

blue paper in varying shades
silver pen

Instructions:

1. Clean and sand edges of windows. Rub stain or ink over sanded edges for shabby look. 
2. Tear out pages from an old wedding etiquette book. Mod Podge pages to back side of glass, varying position of pages for interest. Tear strips if necessary to cover all areas of the glass. Use a brayer to work bubbles out and make paper smooth.
3. Write message on ribbon with calligraphy marker. Embellish ribbon with Fresh Vintage flowers cut from crepe paper and tissue paper in various colors. Add bling, silver leaves and stacked book page hearts. Hot glue flowers and other embellishments to ribbon.
4. Cut out desired heart shapes using Eclips die cut machine. Cut a slit in each heart from the bottom point to the middle of the heart. Put a piece of double sided tape on the bottom left side of the point. Fold flaps into center and trim off extra pieces to form a 3D heart.
5. With a silver pen, write the name of each guest and their table number. Adhere to window with glue dots.
6. Arrange hearts in alphabetical order leaving the names visible at the bottom of the heart.
7. Enjoy the event! We sure did. :-)

I messed up! My brain is still in wedding mode- I was supposed to post an Easter project today (not wedding), as part of the Designer Connection blog hop. Luckily, I happen to have this little basket made from a Dove soap box in the archives. For some other cool Easter projects, click forward or back on the Designer Connection button on the sidebar for a trip around our webring to see what this fabulous group has to show! 

Ready?

Practicing my copperplate calligraphy- it's been a while... and rocks are probably not the best surface to start with. But still, these came out not too bad.

You will need:

rocks

oblique calligraphy nib

black permanent ink

Instructions:

1. Clean and dry rocks. You can buy them in craft stores, gardening departments of home improvement centers and sometimes dollar stores. Or you can find them outside in nature. Select them for color or shape. Rocks much be fairly smooth so your pen can move as you write and not get stuck in irregularities of rock.
2. Write words in calligraphy conforming to size and shape of rock.
3. Use as favors with the couples' initial and date of wedding or as name place settings.
4. If desired, spray rocks with sealer to protect them.

This is an easy and inexpensive way to add a special feel to your event!