With Love

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

These little books are such fun to create and give as gifts. I match the theme/subject with the person who will be receiving it and create the design on the cover with handmade paper or paper casting which makes it even better. Follow along to create this gift journal - more will follow in the future with different themes. They go together so quickly that you can make 10 or more at a time. I bet you can come up with a bunch of ideas too!

Supplies:

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits

·       Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels

·       A sunny window

·       Scraps of tan paper (think brown paper bag/junk mail, etc.)

·       Dies:  Tonic Studios™ #1099E It’s Your Big Day (1 & 2 frame), #1098E Special Occasion (lattice) & #184E Celtic Dream (With Love)

·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine

·       Iron (to make the handmade paper smooth)

·       Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer & scissors

·       Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky Glue

·       Black blank journal (4 ¾ x 6 ¾”)

·       Scrap of black card stock (for pen holder)

·       Black Pen

·       Hand full of Natural colored wooden beads of various shapes and sizes

·       Black heavy thread or thin cord

Instructions:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create tan slurry and create one or more sheets of heavy weight tan handmade paper.  (I always make extra!)

2.     Allow the paper to dry.

3.     Iron the paper to make it smooth.

4.     Die cut the sentiment and frame/lattice piece from the heavy weight handmade paper.

5.     Attach the die cuts to the front of the book cover with the Tonic Craft Tacky glue.

6.     Measure the circumference of the pen. Cut the black card stock long enough to hold the pen and glue the black piece to the back inside cover of the book. Place the pen in the holder.

7.     Thread one piece of the cord/thread through the spine of the book. Tie and leave tales at the top.

8.     Cut random length pieces of the cord/thread.

9.     Insert the pieces of cord/thread into various sizes and shapes of wooden beads tying in between each bead. Vary the type of bead and distance between each bead.

10.  Repeat this for as many “dangles as you want. ( I used 5 strings folded in approx.. half)

11.  Attach the beaded cords/threads at the top of the book spine.

Art Deco Quilt Square I

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

I have a close friend who is an avid quilter. When I first saw this die set from Tonic Studios™ I knew that I would create some “quilt squares” as gifts for her. This is the first of three (so far). I know she will love them, and they will be perfect to hang on her quilt studio wall. I will be creating them in a neutral color palette of medium blue and golden tan. And since I will be using some items that would normally be tossed, I am doing my part to follow Arnold’s “R’s”: recycle, restyle, repurpose, revamp, restore, renew!

Supplies

• Arnold Grummer® paper making kits
• Tan & gold scrap paper (think junk mail etc.)
• Large empty frozen Pizza box
• Blender, cello sponges, soft towels
• A sunny window
• Medium blue text weight paper
• Die: Tonic Studios™ #183E Verso Art Deco Collectable Die Set
• Tonic Studios™ #159 Advantage V Blade paper trimmer
• Scor-Pal™
• Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine
• Pencil, ruler
• Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky™ Glue
• Punch: Notched corner

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer papermaking kits or books to create golden tan slurry.
2. Create one or more (I needed three sheets since I was making three matching projects sheets of handmade paper).
3. Allow the paper to dry.
4. Create a 8 ½ x 8 ½ x 8 ½” ½” (deep) box top and bottom (remember to make the bottom of the box an 1/8” smaller than the top).
5. Place the box lid on the box bottom creating a closed box.
6. When the golden tan paper is dry, cut it to the size of the box top.
7. Use the punch to notch the corners of the paper. Set it aside.
8. Cut the medium blue paper to 8 ¼” square.
9. Measure and lightly mark the center of the blue paper.
10. Repeat marking the middle of all 4 side of the paper.
11. Determine which end of the “diamond” shaped Art Deco die you want in the center of the quilt square.
12. Place the die at one of the marked places, tape it so it will not shift when cutting, run it through the machine.
13. Repeat this step 5 more times, lining up the pencil marks each time.
14. Layer and glue the blue die cut paper into the notched golden tan handmade paper.
15. Attach the layered paper to the box lid.
16. When you decide which direction to hang the quilt square (Star of David or regular star quilt block) add a hanger to the back of the box.

Scottish Thistle

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2016

Happy April! Time for flowers to bloom and the weather to get warmer! Yep, I admit it - I do not like to be cold. Each year as the temperature rises, I start getting the urge to get outside and start the paper making process. I will spend a whole day just creating beautiful sheets of handmade paper and many paper castings. This gets repeated many times during the year so that I have a stash on hand. I get a head start on the many projects that are created during the year. The Scottish Thistle is one of my favorite paper molds available from Arnold Grummer.

Supplies:

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer®  paper making kits

·       A sunny window

·       Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels

·       Scraps of yellow paper (think junk mail, etc.)

·       AG’s Scottish Thistle mold #R009

·       White card stock (folded) to create a 5 ¼ square card

·       Envelope to fit card

·       Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky™ glue, double sided foam tape

·       Scor-Pal™

·       Die: Tonic #209E Celtic Dream Layering set

·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine

·       Tonic Studios™ Nuvo Mousse # 804N Mother of Pearl

·       Light Yellow water base ink pad (match the color of the handmade paper)

·       ColorBox™ Stylus handle & tip

Instructions:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more sheets of medium weight yellow handmade paper.  (Create more sheets if you are going to make numerous cards…..one sheet will make the liners for 4 cards.) 

2.     Create more slurry and cast one or more of the Scottish Thistles.

3.     Allow the casting and sheets of paper to dry.

4.     Score and fold the white cardstock to create a 5 ¼” square card.

5.     Center the (second from the center) Celtic Dream round die on the card and die cut the design.

6.     Lightly apply the yellow ink around the outside edge of the card.

7.     When the ink is dry, apply the Mother of Pearl Nuvo Mousse lightly to the front of the card and the Scottish Thistle part of the paper casting.

8.     Attach the yellow liner to the inside of the card front with glue.

9.     Attach the Paper casting to the center front of the card with double sided foam tape.

To mail any card with a paper casting, place it inside a padded envelope. I know the postage is a bit more but it will get there in perfect condition.

Sew Perfect Mending Box

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

We all have a bit of mending to do, having quick supplies handy is a good idea, such as needles, several spools of different colors of thread, and a small pair of scissors handy is good. Keeping it in a lovely container is even better! Since Arnold not only promoted making paper, but also encouraged using things instead of tossing them, I am happy to follow his lead.

Supplies

• Empty large frozen pizza box (inside is tan chipboard)
• Scraps of glossy black card stock to die cut (I used the backing from some embossing folders packaging)
• Dies: Tonic Studios™ “Patchwork Perfection” #1186E Vineyard Squares and 1185E Everyday Squares and layering squares
• Decorative hatpins or corsage pins for the top of the box
• Needles, small spools of thread, small pair of scissors, tape measure
• Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky Glue™
• ½” 3” square tan foam for pin cushion
• Tonic Studios™  Super Trimmer #153E and scissors
• Ruler. pencil
• Scor-Pal™
• Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine

Instructions:

1. Measure, mark and cut the pizza box to create a 3 ¼” cube box top and bottom (the lid should be  1/8” larger than the bottom.
2. Center, tape and cut one of the layering squares onto the top of the box lid.
3. Construct the box bottom and top (lid).
4. Die cut all 4 of the designs from the Patchwork Perfect Vineyard Squares set, and the filigree die from the Everyday Squares set from the glossy black card stock.
5. Attach the die cuts to the sides and top of the box top.
6. Glue the tan foam to the inside top of the box top (it will be the pin cushion).
7. Place the small pair of scissors, tape measure, needles and spools of thread into the box.