It's BLOG HOP Time for StencilGirl/Sizzix Artists!
I am so excited about the
New Thing on the Block!
ATBs or
Artist Trading Blocks! They are so easy to make and the sky is the limit with what you can create.
So here we were asked to use
Eileen Hull's soon-to-be realeased
Block/Cubes 3D die with StencilGirl Stencils. Perfect!
Of course, I had to go
CRAZY with mine. It's a sickness. But I have to say, it was extremely rewarding!
So come along, I'll lead you through mine. AND make sure you leave a comment. It will enter you into the drawings for PRIZES from StencilGirls and Eileen Hulls 3-D Scoreboard Block Die plus Matboard!.
This is how ATBs have been described....
"
Unlike
Tags and ATC’s Artist trading blocks allow you to create in 3-D! Why show only
one side of your creativity when you can express yourself with multidimensional
style? With Eileen Hull’s (soon
to be released) Scoreboards Block dies you can showcase your creative side
inside and out on an ATB! "
This is a picture of the
Block/Cube 3D .... cute, eh? Check your local craft stores in February.

This Block is cut from White Mat Board.
The 2 pieces of mat board are shown with the one flap under the left section. This is how you put it together using double stick tape after it's decorated.
When you're done decorating, you simply fold it up on the score lines, tuck in the flaps, and glue it together. Simple!
Then, since Distress Ink can be used as an Embossing Ink, I added
Clear Embossing Powder over it and melted with a heat tool.
(You'll have to use your imagination here since I forget to take a picture before I glued the pieces on.)
I laid the
Gears stencil back over the embossed area and
STAMPED with
Jet Black Archival Ink and an
Artful Tools Stamp. The Archival Ink will dry on the embossing and the stencil will block the stamp from the non-embossed area.
Then I "roll stamped" the
Steampunk stamp carefully in the non-embossed areas of the paper, and added markers. I also used white paint in the Word Bands.
Lay it out and see what you want to move around.
Next I wanted to raise the Box off the table, so I found wooden pedestals at Hobby Lobby. But how to decorate???
I used white Tissue Paper and traced the Gears with a permanent black Micro Pen.
I also wanted a Topper, so I used Fresco Paints, Foam, and the Layered Salad Stencil to create an image large enough to go around the wooden top.
I like to outline the stencils with black permanent pen to make the colors pop.
I base coat the 2 wooden pieces white first.
Then cut or tear pieces of the stenciled
Tissue Paper and add to the top with
Glue-n-Seal.
I added hand painted designs here and there to fill in the holes in my design.
The black trim covers any irregular painting of lines and just looks cool...
The base is done the same way with a black pen and paints to finish it off. I added a layer of Gloss Multi-Medium to both to seal and add shine.
I've shown steps for making these numbers before, but here's a short version...
Push the metal
Numerals into embossing ink. Carefully remove them and push into an open jar of Ultra Thick Embossing Powder. This way the UTEE stays in the jar.
Then on a craft sheet, heat until it's melted with a heat tool. It won't look like it's going to cover the number, but it spreads out.
I used
Platinum, and sprinkled on a bit of
Bronze while it's still hot.
So all that is left is to add the sections to the box. Here's side Number 1....
....and the Brass
Watch Movement Charm is on Number 4. All the smaller gears are glued onto larger gears that I got somewhere in my travels.
All that's left is adding
Wonder Tape to the flaps and putting it together!
Give it a go, or at least leave a comment for a chance to WIN A PRIZE, and HOP on to the next Blog for another take on ATBs and another chance to win!!!
All comments on the hop are eligible for the giveaway. The more blogs you
comment on, the more chances you have to win.
Giveaway will close on Friday, December 13th at 11:59PM Central Time.
Just a Note: One Winner on the last Hop I was on came from my Blog! Just sayin'.
Linda
Maria McGuire
And here is the link to The Artists on the Block website.
UPDATE: If you only want to cut a larger block (3 1/4x 3 1/4) then this die is in stock here.
The new one that cuts all 3 sizes uses a 3x3 block as shown in the tutorial