Thursday, April 23, 2015

Inspirational Cards

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2015


I mail about 50 inspirational handmade cards a month and like to make them in batches. I will often gather up scraps left over from other handmade paper projects and use them in the creation of the new cards. If I am short on time I will use card stock as the card base and use the handmade papers as the accents. If you have been following the blog, you know that I always save my scraps….but in case you don’t have any handmade paper scraps, the instructions below will walk you through the process. I ran across these sentiment stamps from JustRite™ stamps and think they will be perfect for March’s batch of cards.

 
Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • Scraps of dark gold, tan, burgundy and olive green paper (think junk mail, etc.)
  • Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
  • Westcott® paper cutter & scissors,
  • X-acto knife and cutting mat
  • Score-Pal™
  • Dies:  Spellbinders™ various decretive square designs
  • Embossing folders
  • Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
  • White card stock for card bases and scraps to stamp
  • Envelopes for 4 ¼ x 5 ½ cards or use the AG template to create your own envelopes.
  • Double sided foam tape or foam dots
  • ½” sheer ribbon to match your handmade paper colors
  • ColorBox Chalk™ Ink pads in colors to match your handmade paper colors
  • Sentiment stamps of choice

Instructions:

  1. Follow the directions for paper making found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to create the colored slurry.
  2. Create one (or more) sheet of thick paper per color.
  3. When the sheets of colored paper are dry, die cut the decorative square shapes.
  4. Cut, score and fold the white card stock to make A2 cards.
  5. Emboss the front of the cards with the folders and Grand Calibur machine.
  6. Stamp the sentiments onto scraps of white cardstock.
  7. Cut to fit the die cut decorative squares.

Assemble the cards:

  1. Cut a small slit in the left top fold of the embossed card front and then insert the ribbon through the slit, then tie a bow.
  2. Attach the stamped sentiments to the decorative squares with tiny pieces of foam tape.
  3. Attach the decorative squares to the right side of the cards with tiny pieces of foam tape.

The sentiments on this set of JustRite™ stamps will be perfect to cheer up the recipients:

   “Once you choose hope…anything is possible”
   “Every day holds the possibility of a miracle”
   “Hope is the last thing ever lost”
   “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising ever time we fall.”


FYI, I created 10 of each of the cards: 5 people times 4 weeks will be used in March….the others will be set aside for future use. Hmmm….oh dear…. I forgot all about the March birthdays………. smile.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Happy Birthday Medallion Card

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014


I have a close friend who is simply elegant in all that she does. Perhaps “classy” is a better word to describe her. I needed to create a special birthday card for her that would be elegant and classy. Her favorite colors are peach and burgundy. I hope you will like the card as much as she did.


Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
  • Mold: the bottom of a glass bowl (secretly barrowed from her china cabinet) 
  • Heat gun or a sunny window
  • Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, scissors, bone folder
  • Beacon Quick Grip™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape or foam dots
  • Scraps of peach and white paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)
  • One 6 x12” Burgundy  90# card stock folded in half (I used World Win)
  • Envelope for a 6 x 6” card
  • Dies: Spellbinders™ Circles, CherryLynn Doily
  • Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
  • ColorBox™ Chalk Ink pads in Peach and Stylist handle with white foam tips
  • Happy Birthday stamp
  • 18” each of peach and burgundy 1” sheer ribbon
  • Spray bottle and water

Instructions:

  1. Follow the direction for paper making and casting found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to create one sheet each of light, medium and dark peach paper.
  2. When paper is dry cut the doily from the dark colored peach paper.
  3. Cut a large circle from the light peach paper (smaller than the doily).
  4. Turn the bowl bottom up, lay this circle onto the bottom of the bowl and mist heavy with water.
  5. Follow the directions for casting.
  6. Dry the casting with the heat tool or in a sunny window.
  7. When it is dry use the Stylist tool and foam tips to add a tiny amount of peach ink to bring out the texture of the casting.
  8. Stamp happy birthday onto the light peach paper.
  9. Use the small circle die to cut the sentiment.
  10. Cut a slightly larger circle from the medium colored peach paper.

Assemble the card:

  1. Attach the sentiment to the medium colored peach circle with Beacon Quick Grab™ adhesive.
  2. Attach this to the center of the casting with foam tape.
  3. Attach the casting to the doily with the adhesive.
  4. Attach the doily to the front of the card with foam tape.
  5. Tie a double bow with the ribbons.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Angel Baby Card

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015


A close neighbor friend is expecting a new addition to their family. Knowing it will be a little girl gave me the perfect opportunity to use one of the Arnold Grummer’s Cotton Press Angel molds for a “welcome to the world little one” card to include with the baby gift. I will be framing the card for them later as an extra bonus. It will be a beautiful addition to her room.

Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • AG Cotton Press Angel casting mold
  • Scraps of white and pale grey blue paper (think junk mail, etc.)  Note - I matched the paint color they used in the baby’s room for the card background layer.
  • Microwave, heat tool or a sunny window
  • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
  • Westcott® Personal paper cutter, scissors
  • Scor-Pal™
  • Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
  • Die: Spellbinders S5-198 Tapestry
  • Beacon QuickGrip™ & ZipDry™ Adhesive, & double sided tape, foam tape or foam dots
  • 24” of 1 ½” sheer Iridescent White ribbon
  • Clear Iridescent glitter
  • White card stock scored and folded to make a 5 x 7” card
  • ½ sheet of white card stock for the die cut or create sheets of handmade paper to use for the card and die cut
  • Envelope for 5 x 7” card
  • Pastels, chalks or powdered eye makeup and applicators (cotton swabs)

Instructions:

  1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry.
  2. Create one (or more to use later) of the angle castings.
  3. Dry the casting in the microwave, with a heat tool or in a sunny window.
  4. Create pale blue grey slurry (or color of your choice), then create one sheet of heavy weight paper.
  5. When the sheet of pale blue grey paper is dry cut it to 4 ½ x 6 ½” (save the scrap for a future project)
  6. When the casting is dry, use the chalks to very lightly add color to the angel’s cheeks, mouth, eyes, hair and flowers.
  7. Apply a thin coat of ZipDry™ adhesive to the angle’s wings.
  8. Sprinkle the clear iridescent glitter onto the wings, and set aside to dry.
  9. Cut the Tapestry die from the ½ sheet of card stock.

Assemble the card:

  1. Layer and attach the Tapestry die cut to the pale blue gray paper with small pieces of foam tape or dots.
  2. Cut the ribbon in half.
  3. On the left side of the layers, attach the two pieces of ribbon to the back of the layers with Quick Grip™ adhesive.
  4. Allow the adhesive to dry.
  5. Tie a multi loop bow.
  6. Attach the layers to the center of the folded card with small pieces of foam tape or dots.
  7. Attach the angel casting to the right side of the card with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
I added the message “Welcome to the world little one” to the inside of the card.



Friday, April 3, 2015

Cherub Votive

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015


Spring is just around the corner and things are beginning to bud here in SE AZ. We are lucky to have lots of sunshine and a long growing season. Thinking ahead to the delicious fruit and vegetables that my husband Charles grows every year inspired this project. I have a perfect place for it on the dining room sideboard.


Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • Arnold Grummer Cotton Press Cherub 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 (if you want to add a tiny bit of color) and applicator (cotton swab)
  • Faux fruit candle ring
  • Long steamed wine glass
  • Battery operated votive candle
  • Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive

Instructions:

  1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to cast two of the Cherub molds.
  2. When the castings are dry use the pastels, chalks or powdered eye shadow to very lightly apply color to the casting. I chose to leave mine white.
  3. Place the faux fruit ring around the bottom of the wine glass.
  4. Use the QuickGrip™ to attach the two cherubs to the glass.
  5. Place the battery votive candle into the glass.

Note: I always make extras when doing paper castings so that I have them on hand when I need a fast gift. I have also created the votive candle holder with fall or holiday themes - BEAUTIFUL!