A Plan for Miricles

“Bright Spots” are what I call small framed sayings. They display just about anywhere, take up hardly any space and brighten everyone’s day. Making them with handmade paper makes them even more special and can be created in a short amount of time.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits and paper press

• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels

• A sunny window

• Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.) 

• Small frames with glass & black backing to fit the verbiage stamps you want to use

• Stamps: Crafter’s Companion™ by Sheena Douglas 

• Westcott™ paper trimmer

• Hinged stamp positioner

• Beacon ZipDryTM adhesive

• ColorBox™ Archival ink pad: “Wicked Black, Dystress Blendable ink pads: #23116 Capri,

        #23111 Palomino, # 23108 Heather

• Craft sheet or water proof surface

• Water mister bottle

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 medium weight handmade paper.

2. Place the sheets of paper into the paper press.  

3. Allow the paper to dry.

4. When the paper is dry tap some of the Dystress ink pads onto the craft sheet.

5. Mist the inks with water.

6. Place the handmade papers onto the misted ink o pick up color.

7. When you are happy with the inked background, allow it to dry.

8. Cut the inked papers the size you need for the verbiage stamp and frame.

9. Place the cut paper into the hinged stamp positioner.

10. Place the stamp face down where you want it on the paper.

11. Close the lid.

12. Open the lid and ink the stamp with Wicked Black Archival ink.

13. Close the lid to stamp the paper.

14. * Repeat steps 12 & 13 until the ink is dark enough.

15. * Repeat steps 9 through 13 for the second saying.

16. Attach the stamped sayings to the black backings and place them into the glassed 

        frames.

17. Place each  on a small easel to display.

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TAGS: Arnold Grummer, Michele Emerson-Roberts, handmade paper, Westcott, ColorBox, Beacon Adhesive, Crafter’s Companion

From a Tiny Acorn

I have been picking up and preserving oak leaves for several months. They are wonderful to use for some of the many fall cards that I create and send out. Every leaf is beautiful and enhances both birthday and encouragement cards as well as mixed media and collage pieces of art.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits & paper press
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• A sunny window
• Arnold Grummer Flower Press # 395
• Oak leaves
• Scraps of white and tan paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dried herbs or spices
• Dark brown and peach colored card stock for card bases
• Envelopes to fit cards
• Stamps:
o Quiet Fire Designs™ #5635 “Anyone……”
o Club ScrapTM Falling Leaves kit “Happy Birthday”
• Westcott™ paper trimmer
• Scor-Pal™
• Hinged stamp positioner
• Beacon ZipDryTM adhesive, double
• Water proof surface or craft sheet
• Water mister bottle
• ColorBox™ Dyestess Blendable ink pads: #23108 Salmon, #23114 Mint & #23111 Palomino
                   Archival Ink pad: Mudslide

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 handmade paper.
2. Place the paper into the paper press
3. Allow the paper to dry.
4. **Repeat steps 1 thru 3 to create off white paper with some dried spices.
5. When the papers are dry, tear a piece of each approx. 4 x 5 ¼ “.

Peach card:
      1. Tap the three colors of Dystress inks onto the craft sheet.
      2. Mist the inks with water.
      3 Place the torn sheet of white handmade paper onto the misted ink, picking up colors.
      4. Allow the paper to dry.
      5. Place the dry inked paper into the stamp positioner.
      6. Place the “Anyone….” stamp onto the paper where you want the verbiage, close the lid.
      7. Open the lid and ink the stamp with Mudslide, close the lid.
      8. Repeat step 7 until the verbiage is as dark as you want it.
      9. Use ZipDry adhesive to attach the dried Oak leaf to the top left of the inked & stamped paper.
      10. Attach the inked stamped paper to the center of the peach card.

Brown card:
     1. Place the torn off white with spices handmade paper into the stamp positioner.
     2. Place the “Happy Birthday” stamp onto the paper where you want the verbiage, close the lid.
    3. Open the lid and ink the stamp with Mudslide, close the lid.
    4. Repeat step 3 until the verbiage is as dark as you want it.
    5. Use ZipDry adhesive to attach a dried Oak leaf to the bottom right of the handmade paper.
    6. Attach the stamped handmade paper to the front of the brown card.

Add your message inside the cards and send them on their way.

NOTE: I always make extra handmade paper to use for future projects and will often color whole sheets with the inks for future use.


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TAGS: Arnold Grummer, Michele Emerson-Roberts, handmade paper, dried leaves, QuietFire Designs, Club Scrap, ColorBox, Scor-Pal, Beacon Adhesives, Westcot