Friday, July 29, 2016

God Bless America

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016


My heart smiles when I see our American flag waving in the breeze, when I hear our national anthem, or when I see a 4th of July parade. Even with some problems, this is still the best country in the world, so I send out dozens of Independence Day cards. Follow along to see how to create the two cards I’ll be sending this year.


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.)
·       Scrap of red card stock to die cut
·       Scrapes of blue (white core) cardstock to die cut
·       White cardstock for card base (4 ¼ x 5 ½ cut and folded)
·       Red cardstock for card base (5 x 7 folded)
·       Patriotic image from an advertisement (or from the internet)
·       Flag mold (acrylic paper weight)
·       Embossing folders: SpellbindersTM SEL-007 “Blistered” (5 x 7) and Sizzix™ TH657489 Texture Fades “Americana” (4 ¼ x 5 ½”)
·       Dies: Impression ObsessionTM IODIE429K BD Top Edger and The Stamp DoctorTM A2 Center Step Card
·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine
·       Westcott™ paper trimmer
·       Scor-Pal™
·       Beacon ZipDryTM adhesive, double sided foam tape
·       Sander
·       ColorBox™ Red and blue water based ink pads, Stylus handle and tips
·       Stamp: Impression ObsessionTM IOC4549 “America the Beautiful”
·       Ranger™  nibs


Instructions:

 Small card:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry and cast one or more of the flag castings. 
2.     Allow the casting to dry.
3.     Use the Stylus to lightly apply the red ink to the stripes on the flag.
4.     Apply more ink behind the folds of the flag as shading.
5.     Use the nib to apply blue ink behind the stars on the flag and the words “God Bless America”.
6.     Dies cut and fold the center step card from white cardstock.
7.     Measure and cut the blue (white core) card stock leaving a 1/8” border.
8.     Emboss the blue cardstock pieces with the “Americana” folder.
9.     Lightly sand the blue pieces.
10.  Attach the blue pieces to the card.
11.  Die cut the word “Celebrate”.
12.  Attach the Paper casting to the top center front of the folded card with double sided foam tape.
13.  Attach the word below the paper casting.


Large card:

1.     Cut, score and fold the red card stock to create a 5 x 7” card.
2.     Emboss the front of the card with the “Blistered” folder.
3.     Apply red & blue ink to the stamp with the Stylus tip.
4.     Stamp onto a small piece of white cardstock.
5.     Measure and cut the patriotic image.
6.     Layer the image and the stamped saying onto scraps of blue card stock.
7.     Attach both to the front of the card with double sided foam tape.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Roses for Ethel

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016


My elderly friend Ethel makes the most fabulous paper flowers and adds them to her cards. They are kind of tropical/fantasy type flowers in gorgeous colors and are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I thought she would get a kick out of my card with the roses made from scraps of handmade paper.


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.)
·        Dies: Tonic Studios™ #165E Wild Brier, #172E “Believe/Love”, and SpellbindersTM #S5-086 “Bitty Blossoms”
·        Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine
·        Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer, scissors
·        Scor-Pal™
·        Beacon ZipDryTM adhesive, double sided foam tape
·        Shiny green magazine/catalog cover page or junk mail
·        White 5 x 7” folded card and envelope (the card would have been even better if I had heavy weight handmade paper! Just one more reason to make extra sheets every time.)
·        Iron


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 white medium weight handmade paper. (I always make extra sheets to have on hand)
2.      Allow the paper to dry.
3.      Iron the paper to make it smooth.
4.      Die cut the Wild Brier background plus extra leaves from the shiny green paper.
5.      Die cut one large and one small rose and the word “Believe” from the medium weigh handmade paper. (Save all the extra scraps for another project.)  
6.      Roll the roses.
7.      Emboss the front of the card.
8.      Center and attach the green background and extra leaves to the front of the card with tiny pieces of foam tape.
9.      Attach the word to the center of the green background.
10.   Attach the large rose at the top left and the small rose at the bottom right of the green background.
11.   Add your personal message inside the card. Mail in a padded envelope.

Friday, July 15, 2016

Mischief

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016


My friend Donna is a cat lover. She takes in strays and keeps them safe from harm. Currently she has 7 four legged friends who share her home. Donna is also loves to knit, crochet and tat. It is a hoot to watch the battle of wills between her and the cats when she wants to create something with fibers and they want to play! Donna’s birthday is coming up and I just had to create this little tatting/crochet thread holder for her.


Supplies

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits
·       Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
·       A sunny window
·       Scraps of tan/brown paper (think junk mail, etc.)
·       Die: Tonic Studios™  #1186E Tangled Mischief die    
·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine
·       Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky glue 
·       Small balls of crochet or tatting thread, crochet hook or tatting needle or shuttle, small pair of scissors.
·       Metal container 5 ½ x 4 x 3” high
·       Iron “reactive” paint, off white acrylic paint, foam brush
·       8 x 3” clear semi ridged plastic, foam to fit bottom of container


Instructions:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create tan slurry and create a sheet of heavy weight tan handmade paper. 
2.     Allow the paper to dry.
3.     Die cut two of the cat with yarn dies.
4.     While one of the die cut is still in the die, dab on a tiny bit of off white acrylic paint to highlight the cat’s stripes and the thread.
5.     When the paint is dry attach the cats back to back onto the clear plastic sheet.
6.     Follow the instruction on the bottle of “reactive” paint to color the container.
7.     Allow the paint to dry.
8.     Score and fold the plastic to fit inside the container.
9.     Place the foam block into the bottom of the container.
10.  Fill the container with the small balls of thread, hook/needle/shuttle and small pair of scissors.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Tide Pool Tags

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016


Some of my fondest memories are of being at the beach in Baja Mexico with my kids when they were young. We could spend countless hours searching for tiny sea creatures in the tide pools that remained when the tide went out. It always reminded me of the excitement when my sister and I used to do the same thing as kids on the coast of Southern California. These two tags will be perfect to my sister and a dear friend who both have July birthdays.

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, lavender, purple and burgundy heavy weight handmade paper or card stock to die cut
·       Dies: CheeryLynnTM:: # B267 Sea Horse Family, B 279 Sand Dollar & Star Fish
·       Stencils: The Crafters’ Workshop™  #TCW357s Mini Cell Theory, and Memory Box Inc. #88557 Garden Leafy Branches
·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine
·       Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer, scissors, ¼” round hole punch
·       8” – 10” various ribbons, cords and fibers
·       Beacon ZipDryTM adhesive, double sided foam tape
·       ColorBox™ Dye based inks in purples, pinks and burgundies, Stylus™ handle and tip 
·       JustRite® stamps
·       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.     Apply various shades of inks through the stencils creating seascape backgrounds. Spritz with a tiny bit of water if needed. Allow the tags to dry.
5.     Stamp the sayings onto the dry tags in the top left corner.
6.     Die cute the sea horses, coral, sand dollars and star fish from scraps of heavy weight handmade paper or card stock.
7.     Arrange and attach the die cuts to the lower right of the tags with either glue or tiny pieces of foam tape.
8.     Insert and tie the fibers into the hole at the top of the tag.
9.     Add a “Happy Birthday” or other note to the back of the tags.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Jukebox Jive Journal

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016



My favorite niece is graduating this month with a Master’s degree in several “MUSIC’ fields. This little journal is sure to put a smile on her face. She can use it to keep track of the many appointments, music scores or all things musical in her life.

Even though I am not using any handmade paper or casting, Arnold would still love this project because I am repurposing something that would have gone into the trash!




Supplies:

·       Scraps of silver metallic card stock weight paper (lid from a disposable aluminum pan)
·       Dies:  Tonic Studios™ #1177E Jukebox Jive, #1180E Musical Notes
·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine
·       Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer & scissors
·       Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky Glue
·       Black blank journal (4 ¾ x 6 ¾”)
·       Black Pen
·       Black heavy thread or thin cord, silver metallic cord
·       Various sizes and shapes of large hole black and silver beads


Instructions:

1.     Die cut one Jukebox from the metallic silver card stock lid.
2.     Attach the die cut Jukebox to the front of the book cover with the Tonic Craft Tacky glue.
3.     Die cut multiples of the music notes. Cut equal amounts backwards. You will be gluing them back to back.
4.     Measure the circumference of the pen. Cut the metallic silver “card stock” scrap long enough to hold the pen and glue the piece to the back inside cover of the book. Place the pen in the holder.
5.     Thread one piece of the cord/thread through the spine of the book. Tie and leave tales at the top.
6.     Cut random length pieces of the cord/thread.
7.     Insert the pieces of cord/thread into various sizes and shapes of black and silver beads and music notes tying in between each bead and/or note. Vary the type of bead and distance between each bead.
8.     Repeat this for as many “dangles as you want. (I used 5 strings, folded in almost-half)
9.     Attach the beaded cords/threads at the top of the book spine.