"Holiday Jumpstart" with Eileen Hull

Morning and welcome, today Eileen Hull's Design Team are showcasing a whole range of products to kickstart the holiday season; that could be Autumn, Halloween, Christmas, whatever takes your fancy!

I was on a roll and decided to create three projects whilst I felt inspired! I decorated a Pumpkin, created an Autumnal card and created an ATB using techniques from Tim Holtz tag for September 2016 which you can find HERE.

Beginning with the card I used a few of Andy Skinner's techniques to create this rustic card. I began by applying DecoArt Media Crackle Paste over Tim Holtz new leaf stencil allowing to dry completely before moving onto the next step.

Once the crackle was completely dry I then applied a wash of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Dark Grey Value 3. I simply added a small amount of paint to my non-stick craft sheet and then mixed with water. I then dried the first coat of the wash with my heat tool and then added a second coat of the wash; I repeated this process until I was happy. Whilst the paint was fluid and still quite wet on my third coat I added a few sprinkles of coarse sea salt and then allowed to dry naturally.

Once the salt/paint wash was completely dry, I removed any salt particles and then added a wash of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Quinacridone Gold to give that rusty tone and to age further. I applied a couple of coats of the Quinacridone Gold, drying between each application. I cut two leaves from a separate piece I created and this time painted with a more concentrated mix of the same paints. I then used Eileen Hull's Twist and Style Tool to add the spirals of rusty wire behind the leaves for added interest and texture. To complete, I added an 'autumn' sticker. Black Soot Distress Ink has been added around the edges of the panel for definition.

I then moved onto the pumpkin which was so much fun to decorate! I began by once again applying a wash of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Dark Grey Value 3 and then drying with my heat tool. I then repeated the same process several times and on the last layer I again added a few sprinkles of Coarse Sea Salt and allowed to dry. Once completely dry, I removed the salt and then added layers of a wash of Quinacridone Gold and then dried with my heat tool.

For added interest I then used Tim Holtz Leaf Stencil to add stencilled leaves around the pumpkin; applying DecoArt Media Titan Buff over the stencil; using a very light touch and then drying with my heat tool. I used Andy Skinner's Toxic stamp set to add a touch of background stamping using Black Archival Ink; stamping with the stamp as is and not applying to an acrylic block. Stamping is much simplified this way as you can bend the stamp around the curved areas. I repeated this process with the leaves from Tim Holtz Leaf Prints stamp set, again stamping with Black Archival Ink.

The Fig. stamp is from Tim Holtz Undertaker stamp set which I thought worked perfectly with the leaf imagery.

I love my rusty flower which has been cut from coffee filter papers using Eileen Hull's Flower, Romance die. I added Quinacridone Gold and Raw Umber Fluid Acrylic to a spritz bottle, added water and then spritzed the flower with the mixes. I scrunched the flower whilst wet and then allowed to dry completely. Once completely dry I added a touch more intense colour with the paints using my finger. I added one of Finnabair's rusty stars to the centre to add to the rustic tones. Once again I used Eileen Hull's Twist and Style Tool to add the spirals of rusty tin wire.

No pumpkin is complete without a spooky hand!! The hand is made from plastic and once again I coloured with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics.

A touch more stamping adds further to the layers of interest.

I love the layers of colour that you can achieve from a few simple washes!

Now onto the ATB created using Eileen Hull's Block, Cube Die which I die cut from black mountboard. I then used Tim's techniques from his September 2016 tag to decorate each side; using the Undertaker stamp set and many stencils to add further interest. I also added further stamping using Black StazOn Ink.

I used Pitch Black and Latte on Yupo and the two colours together gave a purple tinge to the background which I loved. I then stamped the imagery on each side with Archival Ink and then used a soft cloth to remove the ink to reveal the resist.

I love the ghostly effect from the resist which works so well with a touch of overstamping for further detail, love it!

A touch of resist on this panel using a stencil and Alcohol Ink Blending Solution.

I added a jump ring to this skull for added interest; he looks rather dashing with his monocle!

I added touches of white paint to the edges of each panel to lift each panel a little from the black backdrop.

I added the same detail to the top of the ATB along with a plastic skeleton and a few bones from Tim's Idea-ology range.

I left a few drips of hot glue to add further to the texture.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x