Paper Cast Leaves

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

Did you know that almost anything that is convex can be used as a casting mold? The leaf castings on the two fall cards are a perfect example. One is cast from a Jello mold, and the other is cast from a drink coaster! They are both beautiful! Look around your home and see what objects you might have to use as casting molds.

  

 

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 heavy weight handmade paper to die cut

·       The PaperCut™ various colored cardstock for card bases, envelopes

·       Die: Quiet Fire Designs™ ECD 1199 Four Seasons

·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine

·       Random pattern embossing folder

·       Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer

·       Scor-Pal™

·       Beacon ZipDry^TM adhesive, double sided foam tape

·       ColorBox® Stylus handle & tips, dye based inks pads in olives, rust, browns, golden colors

Instructions:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry and cast one or more of each of the leaves. 

2.     Allow the casting to dry.

3.     Use the Stylus handle and tip to lightly apply the various ink colors to the leaves. (See photo for placement.)

4.     Apply more ink toward the center of the leaves as shading.  

5.     Apply some ink around the edge of one of the castings.

6.     Die cut the word “Autumn” for each card from the scrap of heavy weight handmade paper.

7.     Cut, score and fold various cardstock to create4 ¼ x 5 ½” cards.

8.     Emboss the card fronts with the random pattern embossing folder.

9.     Attach the leaf castings to the card fronts with double sided foam tape.

10.  Attach the word above the paper casting with the adhesive.

11.   Mail in a padded envelope, or hand deliver.

The Bucks Stop Here

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

Pretty “girlie” type cards are so easy to create, but I am often challenged to come up with cards for the men in my life. These two cards came together so easily and were quick to complete. I was able to create 6 of each card in about an hour (not counting creating the handmade paper).

Supplies

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits

·       Blender, cello sponges and soft towels

·       A sunny window

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

·       The PaperCut™ #709 Kraft card stock (cards are 5 x 7”)

·       Envelopes for cards

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

·       Westcott™ paper trimmer

·       Scor-Pal™

·       Beacon ZipDry^TM adhesive, double sided foam tape

·       ColorBox™ dye based ink pads in light greys and tans, Stylus™ handle and white tips

·       Iron to make the paper smooth

·       Stencils:  The Crafters Workshop™ TCW 208s “Branches”, Crafter’s Companion™ SD-STEN-ITP “Trees”, Plaid Folk Art™ #30989 “Bucks”

·       Stamps: Impression Obsession^TM D17093 “Second….”, Crafter’s Companion™ SD-HSN-“Flight”-EZ

·       Iron (to make the paper smooth)

·       Fine mist spray bottle and water

Instructions:

1.     Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry and create medium weight handmade paper. 

2.     Allow the paper to dry.

3.     Iron the paper to make it smooth.

4.     Cut the handmade paper smaller than the card.  Save the scraps.

5.     Drop some watered down inks onto the paper. Mist with a tiny bit of water if needed.

6.     Allow the ink to dry.

7.     Use the Stylus™ to apply inks through the tree stencils.

8.     When the ink is dry, use darker shades of tan to stencil the deer over the trees.

9.     Allow the inks to dry.

10.  Stamp the two sayings onto scraps of handmade paper.

11.  Layer the stamped pieces onto scraps of Kraft colored card stock.

12.  Score and fold the Kraft cardstock to create 5 x 7” cards.

13.  Center and attach the stenciled pieces to the front of the cards.

14.  Attach the stamped and layered pieces to the bottom areas of the cards.

Hands of Faith

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

When I was playing several weeks ago with paints, stencils and handmade paper backgrounds, I found the whole process addictive and just keep going and going! Each background “speaks” to me as to how it wants to be completed. Sometimes it is with a stamp and a ribbon, or perhaps it is a die cut and a ribbon. Changing the colors can make a huge difference in the “feel” of a stenciled background (compare the blue and white card to the peach and blue card from Aug. 19^th--the same stencil was used. 

Supplies:

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits

·       Blender, cello sponges and soft towels

·       A sunny window

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

·       The PaperCut™ White and Royal Blue card stock for card bases

·       Envelopes to fit cards (or create your own using the AG envelope template)

·       Die: Quiet Fire Designs™ EC#1159 “Faith”

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

·       Westcott™ paper trimmer and scissors

·       Scor-Pal™

·       Beacon ZipDry^TM adhesive

·       Stencils: Dreamweaver™ Mosaic Circles, hand cut “filigree” stencil (used a die cut that didn’t cut well……smile)

·       Stamp-A-Mania™ MH7084-H “Each day……..”

·       ColorBox™ Dye based ink pads in black, royal blue, turquoise and hot pink, Stylus™ handle & white tips

·       Ribbon: Winter White seam binding

·       Iron to make the paper smooth

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.     Allow the paper to dry.

3.     Iron the paper to make it smooth.

4.     5 x 7” card: Score and fold the royal blue card stock to create a 5 x 7” card.

5.     Cut a white layer piece and a smaller white piece to stencil.

6.     Use the Stylus™ to apply royal blue ink through the Mosaic Circle stencil. Vary the color.

7.     Allow the ink to dry.

8.     Layer the stenciled piece onto the white piece.

9.     Attach the seam binding ribbon to the back side and tie a bow in the middle top of the layered piece.

10.  Attach the layered piece to the center of the card front.

11.  Die cut the word “Faith” from a scrap of heavy weight handmade paper.

12.  Attach the die cut word to the bottom of the layered piece.

13.  4 ¼ x 5 ½ “card: Score and fold the white card stock to create a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” card.

14.  Cut a piece of handmade paper to stencil 3 ½ x 4 3/8”.

15.   Use the Stylus™ to apply the turquoise and hot pink inks through the filigree stencil. Clean the tip between colors.

16.  Allow the ink to dry.

17.  Stamp “Each day…..” with black ink on the right hand side of the stenciled piece

18.  Attach the seam binding to the back of the stenciled piece. Tie a bow at the front.

19.  Center & attach the stenciled piece to the front of the white card.

Beautiful Backgrounds

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

Some handmade paper, a few ink pads and re-inkers, stamps and stencils and what have you got? Literally hundreds of backgrounds for cards, collage and mixed media pieces! Beware! Creating these backgrounds is addictive!

 

Supplies

·       Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits

·       Blender, cello sponges and soft towels

·       A sunny window

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

·       The PaperCut™ various colors of cardstock for card bases and envelopes

·       Stencils: Dreamweaver™ LJ901, Arabesques handmade stencil

·       Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer and scissors

·       Scor-Pal™

·       Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky glue

·       ColorBox™ dye based ink pads in tans & rusts, blues, greens, peach, black, Stylus™ handle and white tips

·       Winter White seam binding

·       Stamps: Stamp-A-Mania™ MH7125-H “Love….”, “Heart Of a Friend” (sorry I have lost the #)

·       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 medium weight handmade paper. 

2.     Allow the paper to dry.

3.     Iron the paper to make it smooth.

4.     Cut a layer piece for each card 3¾ x 5”.

5.     Cut a background piece for each card 3½ x 4 7/8”. (Remember to always save the scraps!)

6.     Use the Stylus™ handle and tips to lightly apply the inks onto the background pieces through the stencils varying the colors.

7.     When the stenciled ink is dry, stamp “Love is the river of Life in the world” to the blue/peach background with black ink and “And the song, from beginning to end, I found in the heart of a friend” on the rusty back ground with dark rust ink.

8.     Attach the seam binding to the back top parts of the cards, tie a bow.

9.     Layer and attach the background piece to the white layer.

10.  Score and fold the card bases from various colors of card stock (match one of the colors of ink).

11.  Attach the layers to the card fronts.

12.  Add your message inside the card.

Fairy Hideaway

© Michele Emerson-Robert 2016

One of the neighbor’s little girls is having a 7^th birthday party next weekend and she loves anything to do with Fairies! Do you remember how much fun coloring was? The new Double Details die set and stencil “Poppy Hideaway” are perfect for her birthday card!

Supplies

·       Any Arnold Arnold Grummer® paper making kits

·       blender, cello sponges, towels

·       Scraps of white paper (think junk mail)

·       5 x 5” scrap of white paper for card liner

·       Iron (to make the handmade paper smooth)

·       Die: Tonic Studios™ 1141E Double Details Poppy Hideaway

·       Stencil: Tonic Studios™ 1145E Double Details Poppy Hideaway

·       Tonic Studios™ Tangerine die cutting and embossing machine

·       Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer

·       Tonic Studios™ Nuvo Pen Collection: 318N Skin tones, 316N Rosy Pinks, 313N Woodland Greens, 315N Royal Purples, 212N Sunshine Yellows, 320N Depth & Shadows

·       Tonic Studios™ Craft Tacky glue

·       Scor-Pal™

Instructions:

1.     Follow the instruction found in the Arnold Grummer paper making kit or books to create white slurry.

2.     Create one or more sheets of heavy weight handmade paper. Allow the paper to dry.

3.     Cut and score the white heavy weight handmade paper to create a 5 x 5” top fold card.

4.     Center, cut and emboss the inside die on the folded card front.

5.     Place the stencil onto the die cut and embossed card.

6.     Use the lightest shade of green to color in the stems and leaves. Shade with the medium green, blend with the blending pen.

7.     Use the lightest shade of pink to color the flowers. Shade with the medium shade of pink, blend with the blending pen.

8.     Use the lightest shade of purple to color in her dress. Shade with the medium shade of purple. Blend with the blending pen.

9.     Color in her hair and wings with the lightest shade of yellow. Shade with the medium yellow. Blend with the blending pen.

10.  Color her face, arm and hand with the lightest flesh color. Shade with the medium flesh color. Blend with the blending pen.

11.  Apply the blending ink in small areas around the edge of the card, adding light pink and light purple while it is still wet.

12.  Attach the liner with glue.