Monday 8 July 2013

Eileen Hull's 3-D Birdhouse Project

After another crazy weekend (drove to Northamptonshire to try out an 8 mile hike in advance of a youth camp I am organising, drove home to pick up my daughter and a friend, then drove to Watford to a Hawaiian themed dance, then back to Northampton on Sunday... LOTS of driving and walking, but good fun!) anyway, I compiled a pretty good To Do List this morning to catch up with the house, but then the post came, bringing in it Eileen Hull's 3-D Birdhouse Sizzix Die... figured housework can wait!
I've wanted to get some of Eileen's dies for a while, but they keep being out of stock in England, so I was really happy to get hold of this Birdhouse one.
I made three houses from First Edition's Floral Pavilion pad (it worked fine just using cardboard instead of chipboard or mat board, though I put in my own creases), and decorated them.
 For the first, I added buttons to the roof, and pom-pom trim round the roof edges. For adhering heavier items like those, I use Beacon's 3-in-1 glue, because it dries so quickly (kind of like glue-gun glue, but cold).
I added some leaves cut with the 'Branch with Leaves' Sizzlit, which I painted with Antique Linen Distress paint, and added some paper roses, and a little punched butterfly, with adhesive pearls.
 For the second, I added a metal Stampin' Up book plate, and made a mini strand of bunting (I put some twine through holes on each side of the roof, and used the Beacon 3-in-1 glue to add the tiny flags), and added more butterflies, and a strip of ribbon to the roof.
 And for the third, I added some Stampin' Up pink ruffled ribbon, and swirls cut from Tim Holtz's Festive Greenery die, a couple of paper flowers, and some birds cut from Karen Burniston's Birds on a Wire die.

I was also really chuffed to been chosen as one of Country View Craft Blog's Top Three winners, for their Die Cuts challenge, last month. I get to be a guest designer next month, and was sent this blinkie...
I entered a couple of different projects to the challenge, and they picked out my tealight holder:

Some of the products used:


   

7 comments:

  1. Helen, these birdhouses are truly spectacular! I love each one of them- the colors are perfect and the special touches of buttons, ribbon and trim work great! Thank you so much for working with this die- you made it look amazing. Also great photography- wow. Congrats on your award- well deserved...

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  2. Congrats on your win at Country View Challenges Helen, so well deserved for your lovely tealight holder! Love the birdhouses, they are just gorgeous. Anne x

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  3. Hi! I'm a big fan of your work and visit a couple times a week. Can you tell me the assembled size of these birdhouses? Thanks so much.

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    1. Hi,
      Thank you so much!
      The assembled birdhouses measure approx. 9cm tall x 6.5cm deep x 6.5cm wide.
      Helen x

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  4. Congratulations Helen. You deserve it it - your work is always gorgeous! Where do you get this Beacon 3-in-1 glue? I have never heard of this... :(
    I love the birdhouses - but what are you doing with them?
    Warmest wishes from Scotland,
    Nessie

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    1. Thank you Nessie! Hello!
      With the glue, I bought some on British ebay, though it is quite expensive. I was lucky after that, and an American friend got me some. I just really like how quickly/strongly it dries, and doesn't make the paper 'wet' like PVA does.
      I've got quite a few ideas for the birdhouses (or future bird houses) - I'm going to put velcro on one of the roof tabs, so that the roof opens up like a little box, and fill it with a few chocolates or something. I also thought that with some ribbon on the top, they would make lovely Christmas house decorations, and I also want to make a load of them into a kind of garland. I've got all sorts of ideas for different fronts too... getting a bit carried away now anyway! Helen xx

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    2. Thanks for your answer Helen. I took your advice and ordered a small bottle of this glue over ebay. Not tested yet - but for this price it has to be good! lol
      Everything you craft looks so neat and special. Do you need an apprentice??? Just a shame, Scotland is so far away!
      Have a lovely day, Nessie

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