Friday, June 24, 2016

Grateful for My Blessings

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016



Do you ever stop and think how much you have to be grateful for? Think about all the blessings that you have in your life? Ever want to let someone know that you are grateful for them or that they are a blessing to you? Here are two really quick cards made especially for those times… You could also change the “words” to Thank You, Hello, Congrats, or whatever, and all would be beautiful! Remember that I always make extra handmade paper to have on hand when needed so these actually went together in about 10 minutes per card.

 
                                    
Supplies

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits
·       Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
·       A sunny window
·       Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
·       Burgundy and turquoise card stock for card base and to die cut from THE PAPER CUT™
·       Dies: Tonic Studios™ #183E Verso Art Deco Collectable set, #1197E Toby’s Sill Pet Window set, #185E Patchwork Perfection Everyday Squares, #1198E Harvey’s Ledge Pet Window, CheeryLynnTM B615 “Blessings”, B347 “Grateful”
·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine
·       Scor-Pal™
·       Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky Glue
·       Iron


Instructions:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry and create several sheets of heavy weight paper. 
2.     Allow the sheets of handmade paper to dry.
3.     Iron the sheets of handmade paper to make them smooth.
4.     Cut and fold the burgundy and turquoise card stock to create 4 ¼ x 5 ½” cards.
5.     Die cut the word “Blessings” from a scrap of burgundy card stock and the word “Grateful” from a scrap of turquoise card stock.
6.     Die cut one each of the “window frames” from the white handmade paper.
7.     Die cut the PP leafy quilt square toward the top of the Toby’s Sill window frame.
8.     Die cut the square shape from the Verso Art Deco Collectable die set toward the bottom of the Harvey’s Ledge window frame.
9.     Attach the die cut words to the blank spaces of the window frames.
10.  Attach the window frames to the front of the cards.
11.   Add a personal note inside.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Celtic Quilt Square

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016



This is the second in the series (so far) of the Quilt Squares for my quilter friend. I know she will love them and they will be perfect to hang on her quilt studio wall. Staying with the neutral color palette of medium blue and golden tan harmonizes with the first project (Art Deco Quilt Squares from April 22), and since I will once again 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

  
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. Repeat marking the middle of all 4 side of the paper.
  10. Place the die at one of the marked places, tape it so it will not shift when cutting, run it through the machine. Repeat this step 5 more times, lining up the pencil marks each time.
  11. Layer and glue the blue die cut paper into the notched golden tan handmade paper.
  12. Attach the layered paper to the box lid.
  13. 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.




Friday, June 10, 2016

Burgundy Flower Tags

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016


Spring has sprung! Trees are budding and the flowers are waking up from their winter’s slumber. I love this time of year when things are starting to turn green and the first blooms are opening up. With several friends birthdays this month and my not having proper cards for them….it is the perfect opportunity to use some of the wonderful handmade paper to create a pair of tags. Adding a birthday wish on the back makes them the perfect birthday card!


Supplies:
·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits
·       Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
·       A sunny window
·       Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
·       Scraps of white card stock to die cut
·       Dies: CheeryLynnTM DL112 Exotic Butterflies mini, Memory Box Inc. #99081 Florina Corner
·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine
·       Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer, scissors, ¼” round hole punch
·       Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky Glue, double sided foam tape
·       ColorBox™ pinks & burgundies dye ink pads, Stylus™ handle and tip
·       Stamp- A-Mania™ “Heart of a friend”
·       8“ - 10” lengths of various fibers, ribbons and cords in pink and burgundy  
·       Iron
·       Scrap of plastic to protect your work surface when inking the flower die cut (vertical tag)
·       Water mister bottle and water
         
Instructions:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry and create one or more sheets of heavy weight handmade paper.
2.     Allow the paper to dry.
3.     Iron the paper to make it smooth.
4.     Cut the tag shapes.
5.     Punch a hole at the top of the tags.
6.     Die cut the Florina Corner and one mini butterfly from white cardstock scrap
7.     Lay the top part of the flower die cut onto one of the tags (horizontal), apply inks with the Stylus tip.
8.     Remove the flower die cut. Allow the tag to dry.
9.     Place the flower die cut onto the scrap plastic and continue applying ink onto the balance of the tag. Set the die cut aside to dry.
10.  Add inks to the vertical tag. Mist with water and let some of the ink run. Allow tag to dry.
11.   Stamp “Heart of a friend” sentiment onto the middle right of the horizontal tag.
12.  Attach the mini butterfly to the lower left of the horizontal tag.
13.  Attach the inked flower corner die cut to the left bottom of the vertical tag.
14.  Attach the dimensional flower with a tiny piece of foam tape.
15.  Insert and tie the fibers into the hole at the top of the tags.
16.  Add a personal message to the back of the tags.

Friday, June 3, 2016

Bee-lieve

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2016

A dear friend is having some health issues. I wanted to send her a small gift to cheer her up but know she is limited on space. This 4 x 6” mixed media piece will be perfect and will bring a smile to her face.


Supplies:

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
·       A sunny window
·       Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
·       Scraps of white or off white (think junk mail, etc.)
·       Scraps of chip board to die cut (I used cereal boxes)
·       Die: Tonic Studios™ #172E Believe/Love Frames Topper set
·       Embossing folder: Swirl design
·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine™ die cutting machine
·       Stencil: die cut from Tonic™ Honeycomb Simply Screens #1048E
·       Antiquing ink pads in blue, rusts and light brown
·       ColorBox™ Stylus handle & white tips
·       Tonic Studios™ Nuvo™ Crystal Drops Wedgewood Blue #660N (or match ink color)
·       1 ½ x 3”scrap of mat board
·       Large Bee jewelry finding
·       Amazing™ Mold Putty™
·       Air dry polymer clay: gold color
·       Beacon ZipDryTM and Beacon QuickGripTM adhesive, double sided foam tape     
·       Substrate: 4 x 6” box insert from clear acrylic frame (or make your own)
·       Iron, old credit card


Instructions:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create a half sheet of light weight handmade paper. 
2.     Allow the paper to dry.
3.     Iron the paper to make it smooth.
4.     Apply the ZipDry™ adhesive to the substrate with the old cc.
5.     Carefully smooth out the handmade paper, covering the top and sides of the box.
6.     Allow adhesive to dry.
7.     Use the Stylus™ and tip to apply various ink colors through the stencil around the edge and front of the box, adding interest to the surface.
8.     Use the Amazing Mold Putty™ to create a mold from the large Bee jewelry finding.
9.     When the mold is dry, create a polymer clay Bee.
10.  Allow the clay to dry.
11.  Die cut 4 each of the word “Believe” from the scraps of chipboard.
12.  Layer and glue the word to create thickness.
13.  Place the piece of mat board inside the embossing folder, run through the machine to emboss the swirl design. (Note: if you first lightly mist the mat board it will emboss deeper.)
14.  Apply the same colors of inks to the embossed mat board.
15.  Attach the mat board to the left side of the front of the box with double sided foam tape.
16.  Attach the clay Bee on an angle to the middle of the mat board with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
17.  Add a blue Crystal Drop “bead’ to the top right of the embossed and inked mat board piece.
18.  Attach the layered saying to the middle right with ZipDry™ adhesive.
19.  Set the finished art piece on a small easel for display.