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.