Paper Cast Journals

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I love journals! Any shape, any size, any kind! I love creating them, using them and especially giving them as gifts. Two dear friends have birthdays this month and I wanted to create something extra special for them but was really short on time. I had two blank journals that I purchased several months back and knew with a few minutes of “creative time” they would be perfect for the birthday gifts.

Note: I had previously made the castings so the project took less than 15 minutes each to complete.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft paper towels
• Sunny window, microwave or heat gun
• Scraps of white and Ivory/cream/tan paper (think junk mail etc.)
• Hands mold (I used a matrix board as a mold)
• ColorBox^TM  Stylus™ handle and tips
• Water based inkpads in black/gray and rusty red
• One each 4 ¾ x 6 ¾” black and brown leather look blank journals
• 8” each black and rusty red ribbon
• Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry. 
2. Cast one or more of the hands mold. Dry the casting.
3. Add tan scrap to the slurry and create one or more of the hand castings.
4. Dry the casting. (I always make extra castings to have on hand for future projects.)
5. Use the Stylus handle and tip to lightly color the white hands casting with black/gray ink.
6. Lightly color the tan casting with the rusty red ink.
7. Clean & dry the tips.
8. Open the journals and attach the ribbon to the inside of the spines with adhesive.
9. Attach the hand casting to the front of the journal covers with QuickGrip™ adhesive.

The Gift of Autumn Leaves

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

Fall is in the air! It is a perfect time for me to start on the many “Fall” projects I have planned to do. This piece is one of my favorites and will make a perfect gift for a dear friend who loves Fall as much as I do.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of beige, tan, ivory paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dried/pressed oak leaves on a stem (I used the AG flower press)
• Tiny bit of dried spices (I used nutmeg)
• Spellbinders^TM Grand Calibur machine
• Die: Quiet Fire^TM/Elizabeth Crafts Designs™  “Believe”
• Scraps of Kraft colored heavy weight handmade paper or card stock for the die cut word
• Beacon ZipDry™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape
• Matt board

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create light tan slurry.
2. Create a sheet of paper, and while the paper is still a bit wet, lay the leaf stem onto the wet paper.
3. Continue removing the water from the paper. Sprinkle the spice onto the damp paper.
4. When the paper is dry mount it onto the matt board with ZipDry™ adhesive.
5. Die cut “Believe”.
6. Attach the word to the bottom left corner of the handmade paper with tiny pieces of foam tape.

The finished pierce can be framed in a shadowbox-style frame, or displayed on an easel.

EXPLORE

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2015

As summer is winding down in many places, it is still warm here in Southern Arizona. I have had such fun with the wonderful paper casting molds from AG that I just had to make a new card for a friend who loves everything “fishy”. The castings are quick to create and it just takes a few extra minutes to make extras to use for later projects.

 

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• CP Nature’s Miniatures “Fish” (or mold of your choice)
• Scraps of blue and white paper (think junk mail)
• Blender, sponges & soft towels
• Microwave, heat gun or sunny window
• Scor-pal (LOVE the new 1/8” version)
• Scissors
• Die: CheeryLynn #B616 “Explore”
• Spellbinders’ Grande Calibur II™ machine
• Beacon QuickGrip™ and  ZipDry™ adhesive
• Small eyed needle and variegated embroidery floss, one clear seed bead
• Scrap of white handmade paper

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the AG paper making kits or books to create one sheet of blue handmade paper (think card stock weight).  
2. When the paper is dry, fold in half and tear to create two 5 ½ x 8 ½” pieces.
3. Score and fold to create two 4 ¼ x 5 ½” cards. Set one card aside for a future project.
4. Create white slurry and cast one of more fish.  
5. When the fish casting is dry, use the brush to apply a coat of ZipDry™. adhesive to the inside back of the casting.
6. When the adhesive is dry, use the needle to poke tiny holes in some or all of the “dots” on the fish.
7. Working from the back of the fish, create tiny French knots in each of the holes. Attach the seed bead to the eye area with floss or adhesive.
8. Die cut the word “Explore” from the scrap of white handmade paper.

Assemble the card:

1. Attach the fish to the lower portion of the card with QuickGrip™.
2. Attach the word with ZipDry™.
3. Add a message inside the card. Enjoy!