Friday, July 31, 2015

Sea Shell Treasure Box

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015


I have fond memories of playing on the beach as a small child when we lived in Southern California. Life was simpler back then, less stress and worry! I long to go back to those days and be able show our grandkids what life was like back then. I have created a “treasure” box for each of them as a reminder of lazy summer days spent at the beach.

Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • AG Cotton Press sea shell mold
  • A sunny window, microwave or heat gun
  • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
  • Beacon  QuickGrip™ Adhesive
  • Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, left over cardstock scrap, etc.)
  • Hexagon paper Mache box approx. 4 ½”
  • Silver metallic and medium blue pearl acrylic paint
  • Small flat paint brush, 1” foam brush
  • Sea sponge
  • Numerous sizes of white and blue pearl beads
  • Wired tiny white pearl beads

Instructions:

  1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry.
  2. Cast two sea shells.  (I often create multiple castings to use for later projects.)
  3. When the castings are dry, use the flat brush and blue pearl paint to add some color to the sea shells.
  4. Set aside to dry.
  5. Use the foam brush to paint the box with blue pearl paint.
  6. When the box is dry, use the sponge to randomly apply silver metallic paint.
  7. Set the box aside to allow the paint to dry.
  8. Use the QuickGrip™ adhesive to attach the two sea shell casting onto the lid of the box, slightly overlapping the shells.
  9. Arrange and attach the pearl beads and wired pearls.

Enjoy the memories.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Hurrah for the Red, White & Blue

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015


The Independence Day celebration has become a yearly neighborhood pot luck get together. You know that I love paper casting using the many molds available from the Arnold Grummer website.  I often will cast items ahead of time using up the slurry I made for previous projects. Several months ago when I was using the CP “Nature’s Miniatures” mold from AG, I created a lot of the “star” castings knowing that I would need invitations for the 4th of July celebration. They went together quickly and will be a big hit when they are hand delivered next week.

Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • Microwave , heat tool or a sunny window
  • CP “Nature’s Miniatures” casting mold
  • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
  • Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive,
  • Scraps of white (think junk mail, etc.)
  • 5 ½ x 8 ½” red card stock for each card
  • Envelopes to fit cards (or make your own with the AG envelope template)
  • Red & Blue star sequins, clear seed beads, beading needle, white thread
  • 18” of ½” sheer dark blue ribbon for each card
  • Wescott™ personal paper cutter
  • Scor-Pal™ (Love the new 1/8version)
  • X-acto knife and cutting pad
  • Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur II
  • TH patriotic embossing folder

Instructions:

  1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create numerous star castings.  
  2. Dry the casting.
    (Did you know that you can save the slurry? Place it in a strainer and let it dry. Pop the dried slurry out of the strainer and store for future use.)
  3. Attach the tiny star sequins to the castings using the beading needle and clear seed beads.
  4. Score and fold the cards.
  5. Emboss the front of the cards with the patriotic folder.
  6. Cut a small slit in the side of the card wide enough to accommodate the ribbon.
  7. Insert the ribbon into the slit, tie a bow.
  8. Attach the star casting to the front of the card with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
  9. Handwrite the invitation information on the inside of the card, or computer-generate it if you have a lot to create.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Patriotic Angel Box

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015


Here in Southeastern Arizona, summer is upon us! The Independence Day celebration coming up next month is one of my favorite holidays. I love the patriotism, the flags and the feeling of pride in our country. In honor of the holiday I have created a memory box for my neighbor whose husband is deployed. It will be a great place for her to keep the many letters and photos he sends to her. Perhaps it will help ease his being away.

Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • CP large Angel mold
  • A sunny window, microwave or heat gun
  • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
  • Beacon ZipDry™ and QuickGrab™ Adhesive
  • Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, left over cardstock scrap, etc.)
  • White pearl card stock
  • Dark blue cardstock
  • Dies: Spellbinders Grand Ovals
  • Die cut machine: Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur II
  • Spool of Kreinik gold metallic #32 braided cord
  • Bow Easy™, scissors
  • 16 Gold stars (brads or sequins)
  • 3 flat-backed red jewels
  • White box approx. 9 x 11”.
  • 1/8” round hole punch (if using star brads)

Instructions:

  1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry.
  2. Cast one large Angel.
  3. When the casting is dry, fussy cut around the edges of the angel.
  4. Die cut the largest oval from the white pearl card stock.
  5. Die cut the dark blue oval using a smaller oval die.
  6. Center, layer and attached the dark blue oval piece to the large white pearl oval piece.
    Note - if using star brads, measure, mark and punch the holes for the legs of the brads.
  7. Insert the brags.
    Note - if using star sequins, attach the sequins evenly around the white pearl oval. 
  8. Attach the layered ovals to the front of the box with Beacon ZipDry™ adhesive.
  9. Attach the angel to the center of the dark blue oval with Beacon Quick Grip™ adhesive.
  10. Attach the gold metallic cord around the edge of both ovals with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
  11. Tie a bow at the top of the smaller oval.
  12. Use the BowEasy to tie a small bow with long tails.
  13. Attach the bow and the 3 red jewels at the Angel’s hands with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
  14. Unravel some of the metallic gold cord for hair.
  15. Attach it to the Angel’s head with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
God bless our troops and the USA! 

Friday, July 10, 2015

Sand and Sea Journal

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015


Today’s project is using another of the AG “books a’ la Carte!” kits. We will be going to a neighborhood party with a summer sea theme in a few days. The recipients are recently back home after an ocean cruise, so this new book will be the perfect hostess gift for the photos and memorabilia from their trip.


Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • A sunny window
  • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
  • Westcott™ paper trimmer &scissors
  • Scraps of ivory or off white and rusty orange paper (think junk mail, etc.)
  • A tiny amount of dried crushed leaves or old spices
  • AG #2720 “Books a la carte” kit
  • Thin rust colored leather cord for binding (I wanted a different thread than came with the kit)
  • Scor-Tape
  • Ivory colored beads with large holes
  • ColorBox Chalk™ charcoal black ink pad
  • Sea themed rubber stamp
  • Alcohol markers: light brown, light blue and yellow
  • Iron (if you want the paper to be smooth) 

Instructions:

  1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create 2 sheets of off white handmade paper. (I added a tiny bit of spices to the slurry to create speckles in the paper.) 
  2. Create 3 sheets of rusty orange paper.
  3. When the papers are dry, iron them to make them smooth.
  4. Adhere the rusty orange paper to the front and back covers with Scor-tape.
  5. Trim off the excess paper.
  6. Assemble the book following the direction in the kit.
  7.  Attach the beads by threading them onto the leather cord. (Refer to the photo for layering and placement.)
  8. Cut a sheet of the off white paper to fit the cover, leaving a border, and attach the paper with Scor-tape.
  9. Cut a piece of rusty orange paper a tiny bit smaller than the off with paper and layer it on top of the off white paper.
  10. Cut a second piece of off white paper leaving a tiny border. Tear this sheet to form 3 pieces (see photo) and layer next.
  11. Stamp the sea scene onto the off white paper with the ColorBox Chalk™ ink.
  12. Use the alcohol markers to color in the beach house and sea,.
  13. Bind the book with the drift wood stick.
Remember to always save the scrapes of handmade paper!



Friday, July 3, 2015

BBF…Butterflies & Best Friends

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015


For many years I have been happily watching two neighbor kids grow up. They played together and chased butterflies as little ones and became “best friends” in their teens. I was pleased to see the friendship turn into love and will be attending their wedding this summer. I was delighted when they asked me to create the invitations for their wedding.  I had 100 invitations to make so I chose to go with purchased cardstock instead of making the card bases from handmade paper. I was able to concentrate on creating the peach butterflies and completed the 100 cards in just a few days. Follow along to create your own versions of this card, which would make a lovely birthday, get well, thanks or thinking of you card.


 Supplies:

  • Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
  • A sunny window
  • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
  • Scraps of white and peach paper (think junk mail, etc.)
  • Iridescent copper flakes
  • 12 x 12” white card stock
  • Westcott™ personal paper cutter, scissors
  • Scor-Pal™ Version 4……1/8”
  • Foam tape or foam dots
  • Dies:  Several sizes of butterflies from CheeryLynn
  • Swirl design embossing folders
  • Spellbinders Grand Calibur II™ die cutting & embossing machine
  • 1/8” round hole punch
  • 12” of ½” sheer peach colored ribbon (for each card)
  • Envelopes to fit cards (I like to use clear envelopes for my cards to share them with my postman)

Instructions:

  1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create peach colored slurry with a tiny bit of iridescent copper flakes added to the slurry.
  2. Create enough sheets of peach heavy weight paper for the amount of butterflies you want to die cut.
  3. Die cut 3 sizes of the butterflies for each card.
  4. Cut the 12 x 12 white card stock 4 ½ x 12”.
  5. Score and fold at 3” and 9” creating a gate fold card.
  6. Emboss the front of the cards with the swirly embossing folder. (a butterfly embossing folder would have been even better!)
  7. Punch a hole at the center on each side of the “gate”.
  8. Insert the printed wedding information inside the card.
  9. Insert the ribbon into the two holes and tie a bow.
  10. Attach the 3 butterflies to the front of the card with foam tape.