Tea Dyed Heart Card

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015  


When you are in a hurry but really want a card that looks like it took a huge amount of time and effort, combine some Graphic 45™ paper and a tea dyed heart casting for a spectacular look! Make up dozens of different castings a head of time and assemble the cards in under 5 minutes!

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits  
• Microwave , heat tool or a sunny window
• Heart casting mold
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scor-Pal™
• Westcott™ personal paper cutter and scissors
• 10 x 7” cream colored card stock folded to make a 5 x 7” card
• Envelope for the 5 x 7” card
• Vintage themed Graphic 45™ “cut a part” card stock
• Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape or dots
• Scraps of white or off white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Instant tea or coffee
• 12” of cream colored ¼” satin ribbon
• 5 x 7” floral themed embossing folder
• Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur™ machine
• BowEasy™

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more of the heart castings. Add a tiny pinch of the instant tea or coffee to the slurry or drop tiny specks into the mold as you create the casting.
2. Dry the casting.
3. Emboss the front of the card with the folder.
4. Assemble the card:
5. Attach the vintage Graphic 45 piece with tiny pieces of foam tape or dots to the front of the embossed card.
6. Use the BowEasy™ to tie a small bow with the ¼” satin ribbon.
7. Use the QuickGrip to attach the bow to the top of the tea dyed heart casting and to attach the heart to the front of the card.

NOTE: If you are mailing the card, I would fill the back of the casting with light spackle and let the spackle dry before attaching it to the card front. Mail the card in a padded envelope….or better yet hand deliver it to your “Valentine”.

I've been selected as a Bella Crafts Creative Team Member!

And I'm honored!

The Bella Crafts Creative Team members were announced here, and the first project I did for them is published here.

A Heart & Rose Box

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I love paper casting using the many molds available from the Arnold Grummer website. When I created the heart paper castings a couple of weeks ago for the “Heart Potpourri Holder,” I also had several other projects in mind and cast additional hearts. (Note: I always make additional castings when I have the supplies out…..smile.) I had picked up the little wooden box and knew one of the many paper casting would be the perfect element for the top of the box. I actually had pieces of the dark red and dark green paper left from some other projects and used them for this project…… however the instruction below are to make new sheets of each as well as a new casting.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits  
• Microwave , heat tool or a sunny window
• Heart casting mold
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Beacon ZipDry™ and QuickGrip™ Adhesive,
• Scraps of white, red, and dark green paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Crumbled dried flower petals or old spices to add to the slurry for the casting.
• Dies: Spellbinders’ ™ spiral rose, CheeryLynn™ rose leaves
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Red bottle acrylic paint
• 1” foam paint brush
• 3 ¼” wood box

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more of the heart castings, a sheet of red paper and a sheet of dark green paper.
2. Dry the casting.
3. When the sheets of paper are dry die cut the roses and the leaves.  (Always save the scraps)
4. Follow the instructions found with the rose die to create one large rose and two tiny buds.
5. Paint the wood box with a light coat of the red acrylic paint.
6. Allow paint to dry.

Assembly:

1. Attach the heart casting to the top of the box with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
2. Attach the two leaves to the back of the large rose with ZipDry™ adhesive.
3. Attach the rose and two tiny buds to the top of the heart casting.
4. Place a small gift, a handful of “kisses” or a love note inside the box.

Happy Valentine Card

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I promised you in last week's post (P.S.....I Love You) that I would share the matching card. I did use the left over papers that were previously created but the instructions below are for making new sheets of handmade paper. Remember if you are making these folder hearts that the paper should be a bit on the thin side. The use of handmade paper adds a beautiful touch to everything. 

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Beacon Quick Grip™ Adhesive, double sided tape
• Scraps of red and white paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)
• Die: Nellie Snellen Accordion Heart die, Cheerylynn Happy Valentine’s Day dies
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Swirly hearts embossing folder
• Westcott® Personal paper cutter & scissors
• Scor-Pal™
• A2 white card and envelope (or use the AG envelope template and make a matching envelope)

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.
3. Cut and follow the direction provided with the heart die to create one each red and white hearts.
4. Cut the words from red handmade paper. Save the scraps for future projects.
5. Emboss the front of the card.
6. Use the Beacon Quick Grip™ adhesive to attach the two hearts and the words to the front of the card.
7. Add a “love note” and give to your Valentine!