Friday, January 30, 2015

P. S. ….. I Love You

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014

Do you ever need a last minute Valentine gift for someone special? Your loved ones deserve the best, and for me that means something handmade with love! Keeping that in mind, I went to my handmade paper stash to create this fun gift box for my wonderful husband. I will fill the little box with “Kisses” candy and I will have the perfect gift!


Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, bone folder
  • Beacon Quick Grip™ Adhesive, double sided tape
  • Scraps of red and white paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)
  • Die: Nellie’s Accordion Heart die
  • Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
  • Purchased small box
  
Instructions:

  1. Follow the direction for paper making found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to make slurry from the white and red scraps.
  2. Create one sheet of white paper and one sheet of red paper. Allow the paper to dry. (NOTE: always save your scraps for future projects.)

Assemble the box and the hearts:

  1. Follow the direction provided with the heart die to die cut and create one each red and white hearts.
  2. Use the Beacon Quick Grip™ adhesive to attach the two hearts to the front of the box.
  3. Fill the box with “Kisses” and give to the one you love!

I liked the hearts so much that I made more of them and created a matching Valentine card that I will share with you next week.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Heart Potpourri Holder

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015


Here in Southern Arizona the sun is shining, snow (yep we actually get some….smile) is melting, and it feels like spring is just around the corner. Love is in the air and it is time to get the Valentine gifts done. Today’s project will be a gift for my mom to remind her that she is always loved.


Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • AGCP Heart casting mold
  • Microwave, heat tool or a sunny window
  • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
  • Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
  • Pastels, chalks or powered eye shadow and applicator (cotton swab)
  • Potpourri
  • 1 yard pastel blue ¼” picot edge satin ribbon
  • 1/8” round hole punch
  • Westcott® scissors
  • Long stemmed wine glass

Instructions:

  1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to cast 4 heart molds.
  2. When the castings are dry use the pastels,
    chalks or powdered eye shadow to lightly apply color to the flowers and leaves on the heart casting.
  3. Use the 1/8” hole punch to punch a hole in the four corners of the four casting.
  4. Tie the castings together with tiny bows on each corner.
  5. Tie the four castings around the top of the wine glass, adjusting to fit.
  6. Fill the wine glass with potpourri. Place anywhere you want to have just a hint of spring!

Friday, January 16, 2015

Heart a Flutter

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014


The quiet time between Christmas day and New Year’s Day is a time for me to relax, reflect and look back at the past year and start planning and looking forward to 2015. My thoughts always go to “love”, weddings and Valentine’s Day. The card I am working on today will be for my wonderful husband Charles who grows beautiful flowers and is indeed my Valentine. Just a small reminder that he still makes my heart flutter.



Supplies: 
  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • Microwave, heat gun or a sunny window
  • Blender, small strainer, cello sponges
  • Iron and pressing cloth
  • Westcott® personal paper cutter, scissors
  • Scor-Pal™
  • Beacon ZipDry™ & QuickGrip™ Adhesives
  • Scraps of white and lavender paper or cardstock (think junk mail, etc.) - or use lavender scrap from a previous project. Remember: ALWAYS save the scraps.
  • Black cardstock 5 ½” x 8 ½”  (Checked my stash and did not have any handmade paper….darn)
  • Envelopes for a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” cards (or use the AG template to create matching envelopes)
  • Dies: Memory Box™ heart
  • Spellbinders™ Grand Calibur machine
  • 18” of 1 ½” sheer purple ribbon
  • Small purple silk flower and tiny white sprig flower

Instructions:
  1. Follow the direction for paper making found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to make slurry from the white and lavender scraps.
  2. Create a sheet of thick pale lavender handmade paper. (Think cardstock weight.) Allow the papers to dry. If you want the paper to be smooth as I did, iron it using the pressing cloth.
  3. Score and fold the black cardstock in half to create a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” card.
  4. Cut a piece of the pale lavender paper smaller than the folded card to write your message on.
  5. Die cut the heart shape from the pale lavender paper.  

Assemble the card: 
  1. Tie the sheer purple ribbon into a bow around the front top left of the card. Cut the ends of the ribbon to form a notch.
  2. Use the Beacon QuickGrip™ adhesive to attach the small silk flower and the tiny white sprig under the knot of the bow.
  3. Apply tiny amounts of Beacon ZipDry™ adhesive to the back of the die cut heart and attach it to the right side of the card.
  4. Write your message inside the card and give the card to your Valentine.

Use Coupon Code JAN20 at checkout for 20% off your order. 

Friday, January 9, 2015

Wedding Gift Card Holder

©Michele Emerson-Roberts


Want a really fast gift card holder that will be a special keepsake too? Those of you who have been following the blog this year know that I make lots of paper castings at a time and have them on hand when I need one. This is another of those “5” minute projects because I already had the casting made. However the following instructions will include creating the castings.


Supplies:
  • Any of the Arnold GrummerTM paper making kits
  • A sunny window
  • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
  • Arnold GrummerTM Cotton Press Celebrations Miniatures casting mold
  • White paper scraps or Arnold GrummerTM Cotton Linter
  • Metallic silver thread and needle
  • 12” Metallic Silver cord
  • 9-inches of 1/8” White and Silver ribbon
  • Beacon QuickGrip™ adhesive
  • 8 ½” x 5 ½” Metallic Silver card stock
  • Scor-Pal™
  • Westcott® paper cutter, scissors
  • BowEasy™
  • 1/8” hole punch
  • Gift card

Instructions:

  1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits to make white slurry. Follow the instructions to create as many paper castings as you want. (Note: For this project I am using the “two bells” casting.)
  2. When the castings are dry, stitch metallic silver French knots along the rims of the two bells.
  3. Add a running stitch in the crease of the bells.
  4. Use the BowEasy™ to tie a tiny white and silver bow.

Gift card holder:

  1. Place the 8 ½” x 5 ½” metallic silver card stock on the Scor-Pal™ board (landscape), and score at 3 ¼” , 4 ¼”, and 5 ¼”.
  2. Turn it to the short side (portrait), and score at 1 ½” and 4”.
  3. Return the card stock to landscape position and “mountain fold” at the 3 ¼” and the 5 ¼” score lines, then “valley fold” at the 4 ¼” score line.
  4. Return the card stock to portrait position, and fold both sides in toward the center.
  5. Use the 1/8” hole punch to punch two holes on each top folded part (the pocket where the gift card will be placed.).
  6. Insert the gift card and tie holder closed with the silver cord.
  7. Attach the bow to the top of the casting, and then attach the casting to the front of the holder with Beacon QuickGrip™ adhesive.
I have also made these gift card holders using thick handmade paper instead of the purchase card stock. Keep in mind the wedding colors and the bride’s style. You could also create them for birthdays, Christmas, or other occasions. The options are endless!


Friday, January 2, 2015

Snow People

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014


Heading “home” for the Christmas holiday? I will make an early trip to visit with family and deliver their presents. With my folks, two sister, their kids and 6 great nieces and nephews….it’s a lot of gifts to make and take! This year for the young ones I decided to create “Snow People” ornaments that they can hang on their Christmas trees each year. I started this tradition as each was welcomed into this world. By the time they set up their own homes they will have a fun collection of ornaments to take with them.

Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
  • Microwave, heat gun or a sunny window
  • Blender, small strainer, cello sponges
  • Iron and pressing cloth
  • Westcott™ personal paper cutter and scissors
  • Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive
  • Scraps of white paper or cardstock (think junk mail, etc.)
  • Dies: Sizzix™ Tim Holtz Snowman and Impression Obsession™ Christmas tags
  • Christmas themed embossing folders 
  • Cotton Christmas ribbon
  • Thin red twine or crochet thread
  • 1/8” round hole punch
  • Red Gel Pen

Instructions:


  1. Follow the direction for paper making and casting found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to make slurry from the white scraps.
  2. Create numerous sheets of thick white handmade paper. (Think card stock weight) Allow the papers to dry. NOTE - if you want the thick white paper to be smooth as I did, iron it using the pressing cloth. Remember: ALWAYS save the scraps to be used in future projects.
  3. Cut the sheets of heavy white paper into pieces that will fit the snowman and tag dies.
  4. Die cut the Christmas tags.
  5. Die cut the snow people and snowflakes.
  6. Emboss the snow people with Christmas themed folders.
  7. Tie an 8” piece of Christmas ribbon around the necks for the snow people.
  8. Attach the snowflake to the knot with Beacon QuickGrip™ adhesive.
  9. Use the 1/8” round hole punch to make a hole at the top of the hat.
  10. Add the red twine as a hanger.
  11. Use the red Gel pen to write the names on the Christmas tags.
  12. Add red twine to the tags and attach to the ribbon around their necks.