Live the Life

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

I love creating these inspirational mixed media pieces. They go together so quickly and are always a huge hit when I give them to a friend who needs some cheering up. I create several at a time, varying the colors and subject a bit. Sheets of thin handmade paper are a must for the base layer. Remember to always make extra to have on hand.

Supplies

·       Amazing™ Mold Putty

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits

·       Blender, cello sponges and soft towels

·       A sunny window

·       Scraps of white/off white paper (think junk mail, etc.)

·       Scraps of white chip board to die cut (I used white food packaging)

·       Matboard scrap to emboss

·       Wicker embossing folder

·       Tonic Studios™ Nuvo™ Crystal Drops 675N White Seashell

·       Polymer clay: off white/pearl, clay oven

·       Art Nuvo metal jewelry finding

·       Substrate 8 x 10” box insert from an acrylic frame (or make your own)

·       Iron, old credit card (to apply the adhesive)

·       Die: Tonic Studios™ #1049 Simply Screens Moroccan Mosaic, #26 Live the Life

·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine

·       Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer

·       Beacon ZipDry^TM  and QuickGrip™ adhesive, double sided foam tape

·       Antiquing  ink pads: blue, rust and light brown

·       ColorBox™ Stylus™  Handle and tips

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 the thin handmade paper.

2.     Allow the paper to dry.

3.     Iron the paper to make it smooth.

4.     Apply ZipDry™ adhesive to the substrate with the old credit card or other type of spreader.

5.     Carefully smooth out the handmade paper, covering the top and sides of the box.

6.     Allow the adhesive to dry.

7.     Place the piece of matboard inside the embossing folder, run through the machine to emboss the wicker design. (If you lightly mist the matboard with water it will have a deeper embossed design.)

8.     Die cut the Moroccan Mosaics “stencils” from food packaging.

9.     Use the Stylus™ and tip to apply various ink colors through the stencil around the edges and top of the box, and the embossed matboard piece adding interest to the surface.

10.  Use the Amazing Mold Putty™ to create a mold of the Art Nuvo face jewelry finding.

11.  When the mold is dry create and bake the polymer clay face.

12.  Die cut the verbiage “Live the Life……” several times from the white food packaging.

13.  Layer and glue the verbiage.

14.  Attach the embossed matboard to the left side front of the box with double sided foam tape.

15.  Attach the Clay face to the center of the matboard.

16.  Add the Seashell Crystal Drop “beads” to the matboard corners.

17.  Attach the layered verbiage to the middle right of the box with ZipDry™ adhesive

18.  Place the finished art piece on a small easel for display.

So Glad………

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

My friend Heidi’s birthday was celebrated in style! She is such a dear person and deserves only the best. I am truly blessed to have her as a friend. It is probably good that she lives so far away, as we’d find it easy to lose the day just visiting and creating.

Supplies:

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits

·       Blender, cello sponges and soft towels

·       A sunny window

·       Scraps of light blue and medium green paper (think junk mail, etc.)

·       The PaperCut™ White card stock

·       Dies: Creative Expressions™  CED5420, Spellbinders^TM  S5-086 Bitty Blossoms, and CheeryLynn^TM  B176 Flourish Leaf Strip

·       Spellbinders^TM Grand Calibur™ die cutting and embossing machine

·       Westcott™ paper trimmer

·       Scor-Pal™

·       Beacon ZipDry^TM adhesive

Instructions:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create light blue slurry and create one or more sheets of medium weight light blue paper.

2.     Create one or more sheets of medium weight green paper, and allow the papers to dry.

3.      Die cut one large rose, three small roses and the verbiage “I’m so glad you are my friend” from a piece of the light blue paper.

4.     Assemble the roses.

5.     Create a top fold 5 x 7” white card (wish I had some handmade heavy weight paper for this!)

6.     Center and cut the CE decorative round die on the card front.

7.     Attach a light blue liner to the inside of the card front.

8.     Attach the verbiage to the circle area.

9.     Attach the large rose, two small roses and lots of leaves to the top left of the card.

10.  Attach the small rose and leaves to the bottom right. 

Art Deco Quilt Square II

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

This is the third in the series of the Quilt Squares for my quilter friend. The neutral color palette of medium blue and golden tan matches with the other projects (Art Deco Quilt Squares from April 22, and the Celtic Quilt Square from May 20). 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 while creating beautiful ART!

 

Supplies

• Arnold Grummer® paper making kits
• Tan &gold scrap paper (think junk mail etc.
• Large empty frozen Pizza box
• 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 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. Create one or more (this is the last of the three sheets I made previously). Allow the paper to dry.
2. 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). Place the box lid on the box bottom creating a closed box.
3. When the golden tan paper is dry, cut it to the size of the box top.
4. Use the punch to notch the corners of the paper. Set it aside.
5. Cut the medium blue paper to 8 ¼” square.
6. Measure and lightly mark the center of the blue paper.
7. Repeat marking the middle of all 4 side of the paper.
8. You will use the same diamond shaped die as the first quilt square but using the opposite end. Place the opposite end of 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.
9. Layer and glue the blue die cut paper into the notched golden tan handmade paper.
10. Attach the layered paper to the box lid.
11. 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.
12. Hang the three quilt squares horizontal or vertical.

Mixed Media Shrines…. Arnold’s “Rs”

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

Arnold was well known for repurposing items that otherwise would have gone into the trash. He would be happy to see these mixed media shrines that I recently created for a swap. All three have made use of handmade paper, mat board scraps and the mirrors from my makeup compacts. I am providing the instructions for the “Garden Shrine”, but have included two other photos to “kick start” your imagination.

Supplies

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits

·       Blender, cello sponges and soft towels

·       A sunny window

·       Scraps of white and olive green paper (think junk mail, etc.)

·       Scrap of white card stock for the window die cut

·       Dies: Spellbinders^TM  S5-086 Bitty Blossoms, CheeryLynn^TM  B176 Flourish Leaf strip, and Marianne™ Design  CR1259 Arched Window

·       Spellbinders^TM Grand Calibur™ die cutting and embossing machine

·       Beacon ZipDry^TM  and QuickGrip™ adhesive, double sided foam tape

·       Mirror (I used the lid from my make up “compact”)

·       3 x 3 ½” matt board scrap

·       Iron (if you want the paper smooth)

·       Pearl Polymer clay

·       Tiny key mold

·       Dedicated clay oven

Instructions:

1.     Condition the clay.

2.     Place a small amount of clay into the key mold.

3.     Remove the key and bake in the dedicated clay oven.

4.     Remove the key when it is baked and allow it to cool.

5.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry and make several sheets of medium weight handmade paper. (I always make extra sheets)

6.     Repeat the process using olive green scrap.

7.     Allow the papers to dry.

8.     Iron the papers to make them smooth.

9.     Die cut and emboss the widow from the cardstock scrap.

10.  Die cut the leaves from the olive green handmade paper (you will want a lot of leaves)

11.  Die cut the bitty blossoms from the white handmade paper (I used 4 large and 2 small roses).

12.  Create the roses.

13.  Attach the die cut window to the mirror and the mirror to the matt board base with QuickGrip™ adhesive.

14.  Arrange and attach the roses and leaves to the base and open window frame with ZipDry™ adhesive.

15.  Attach the clay key to the front of the base with QuickGrip™ adhesive.