Wallpaper Cards

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

Recently a friend gave me several large boxes of wallpaper samples. I was in the process of sorting the samples when I remembered that I still needed some Thanksgiving cards and had just come across the perfect piece of scrap wall paper! I had enough of the wallpaper border left to also create a great birthday card.

 Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Personal paper cutter, scissors
• Scor-Pal™
• Beacon ZipDry™ Adhesive, foam tape or foam dots
• Scraps of white, tan and brown paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dies:    Spellbinders™ acorns
              Dreamweaver™ ovals
              Sizziix™ Tim Holtz leaves and matching embossing folder
              CheeryLynn™ words “Happy Birthday”
• Spellbinders™ Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Several pieces of wallpaper border
• Scrap of autumn toned paper
• ColorBox™ dark brown ink pad
• Large “Thanksgiving” word stamp (or computer generate it)
• A2 envelopes (or make matching envelopes using the AG envelope template)

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create several sheets of medium brown heavy weight paper and one sheet of ivory paper.
2. When the sheets of paper are dry, cut one piece of the medium brown paper in half (8 ½” x 5 ½”).
3. Score at 4 ¼” and fold in half to create two cards.
4. Die cut the Happy Birthday and the large oval from the second sheet of medium brown paper. (Save the scraps for another project.)
5. Die cut the acorns from the scrap of autumn paper.
6. Stamp the word “Thanksgiving” onto the scrap of autumn paper.
7. Die cut the stamped piece of autumn toned paper with a smaller oval die.
8. Die cut three leaves from the ivory paper and emboss with the leaf embossing folder.
9. Cut the wallpaper border to fit the front of the folded cards.

Assemble the cards:

Attach the wallpaper to the fronts of the cards with Beacon ZipDry™ adhesive.

“Thanksgiving” card:

1. Attach the large tan oval centered to the front of one of the cards with foam tape or dots.
2. Layer the stamped oval and foam tape to the tan oval.
3. Add the acorns to the left side of the stamped saying with foam tape or dots.

“Happy Birthday” card:

1. Attach the three embossed leaves to the left top of the card with foam tape or dots.
2. Attach the “Happy Birthday” die cut with ZipDry™ adhesive.

Quotes Fan Book

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

I always need “stocking stuffer” kinds of gifts… you know the ones that are really easy to create, don’t cost an arm and a leg to make, and can be made by the dozen, but look like they took a lot of work to make! Once again I turn to my stash of Arnold Grummer’s® products to solve the problem. The books can be used for thoughts, quotes, memories etc.  You can make paper for the covers, use scraps left from other projects, or just scraps of patterned cardstock or paper. Follow along and see how easy it is to create this great
quote book.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Personal paper cutter, scissors
• Beacon QuickGrab™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape or dots
• Scraps of black paper (think junk mail, left over cardstock scrap, etc.)
• One or more of AG #2718 Mini Fan Book
• Verbiage stamps and black ink pad or computer generated quotes or sayings
• Small scrap of chip board and tan/black print papers
• Dies: CL tiny leaf strip, IO tiny rolled roses, small frame
• Die cut machine: Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur
• Punches: 5 petal flower, stamen

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create black slurry. Create a sheet of thick black paper.
2. When the paper is dry, die cut the leaves and the frame.
3. Die cut the tiny rolled roses from the tan/black print paper.
4. Punch the 5 petal flower from the tan/black paper.
5. Punch the stamens from the black paper.
6. Remove the screw hinge and pages from the book.
7. Stamp a saying onto the front cover.
8. Attach the frame to the cover with double sided foam tape or dots.
9. Stamp the saying onto the pages (or print out verbiage using your computer and printer, then cut and glue to the pages). NOTE: make sure the verbiage is all oriented the same (my book is portrait and has the hinge on the top left). If you are making several of these books, stamp or print all of the sayings at once. (I will often do many different related saying at a time and save them for later “Fan” book projects.)
10. Reassemble the fan book.
11. Attach the flower, roses and tiny leaves to the top left corner of the cover of the book.

These little books go together in a jiffy and can be any theme you chose and will be treasured by all who receive them.

Rustic “Bark” Journal

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

I love creating journals and handmade books both for myself and to give as gifts. The books are always a big hit with the recipients.  I had several males in mind when creating these very rustic small books. Each book is one of a kind and is made with handmade paper with dried leaf and grass inclusions. The books go together quickly so it is easy to make them in batches of 10 or more at a time. I can’t wait to see the smiles on their faces when they open their gifts. Maybe I can find some of those “stick” pencils to go with the books!

These make the perfect gift for the hunter, fisherman, hiker, bird watcher or gardener in your life!

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scissors
• Scraps of white, ivory or off white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dried leaves and grasses, small pieces of bark
• Chip board (I used pieces of cereal box) for the covers
• Awl, needle tool or Japanese Screw Punch (JSP)
• Thin twine/cord for binding
• Large eyed needle
• Beacon Quick Grab™ Adhesive

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create numerous sheets of handmade paper.
2. When the papers are dry, fold and tear each sheet into half (or quarters for smaller books) leaving the rough torn edge.
3. Fold the pages in half, nestle several sheets together (this is a signature). You will make as many signatures as you wish for each book. 
4. Use the awl, needle tool or JSP to place holes in the signatures. Bind the book with a simple pamphlet stitch (also called saddle stitch). If needed, refer to this quick how-to video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlvf0Idog10  
5. Attach the small pieces of bark to the outside of the book covers with the Beacon QuickDry™ adhesive.