Going Green

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2015

All this talk these days about “going green” makes me smile. The Arnold Grummer Co., family and friends have been “green” for decades. Not only are we “green” by recycling, repurposing, and re-using, we are adding to the “green” in our wallets by making our own paper from items most people consider trash. What a winning combination that is!

With March’s Saint Patrick’s Day coming up, what better time to gather all those odds and ends of green scrap paper and get started on an Irish project or two.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• Molds: R 004 Scottish Thistle, R 434 Celtic Harp, R 470 Celtic Knot Work, R 497 Celtic Flourish
• Microwave, heat gun or a sunny window
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, paper cutter, scissors, bone folder, ruler
• Beacon Quick Grip™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape or foam dots
• Scraps of green and white paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)
• 4 sheets of 12 x 12” Forest Green 90# card stock (I used World Win)
• Scor-Pal™
• Westcott® personal paper cutter and scissors
• Envelopes
• Dies: Spellbinders™ Circles, CherryLynn Celtic Circles Stacker Frames
• Craftwell™  large Embossing Folder Décor Circles
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• ColorBox™ Chalk Ink pads in Warm Green and Olive Pastel and Stylus handle with white foam tips

Box Instructions:

1. Using two of the 12 x 12” pieces of dark green card stock create the box following the instructions available from www.oragami-fun.com (*save the two ½” strips to use in making the dark green casting.)
2. Check the grain of the card stock to determine the layout for folding, then cut four (slightly smaller than) 4 x 8” cards from one sheet of the 12 x 12” card stock.
3. Cut four of the middle size Celtic Circle dies from the dark green card stock (*save the scraps to use in making the dark green casting).
4. Fold the cards in half. Emboss the front of the card with the Décor Circle folder.
5. Follow the direction for paper making and casting found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to create a sheet of light green paper.
6. When paper is dry cut four 3 ¼“circles and one middle size Celtic Circle die from the handmade paper.
7. Make more slurry and caste one each of the four molds in light green
8. Dry in the microwave, with the heat tool or place in a sunny window.
9. Make a small amount of dark green slurry and cast one thistle (*see notes), dry casting.
10. When castings are dry, use the Stylist and foam tips to add a small amount of Warm Green Chalk ink to bring out the texture and design of the light green castings.
11. Use the Olive Pastel Chalk ink for the dark green casting.

Assemble the cards and box:

1. Attach the light green castings to the dark green Celtic Circles dies with Quick Grab™ adhesive.
2. Attach the dark green Celtic Circles die to the 31/4” light green circles with foam tape or dots.
3. Attach the light green circles to the front of the embossed 4” cards. \
4. Attach the dark green thistle casting to the light green Celtic Circle die.
5. Attach the light green Celtic Circles die to the top of the box. Place the four cards and envelopes inside the box.

 
Cards Instructions


Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• Molds: R 004 Scottish Thistle
• Microwave, heat gun or a sunny window
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, paper cutter, scissors, bone folder, ruler
• Quick Grab™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape or foam dots
• Scraps of green and white paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)
• One sheets of 12 x 12” Forest Green 90# card stock (I used World Win)
• Envelope for a 6 x 6” card
• Dies: CherryLynn Celtic Circles Stacker Frames
• Craftwell™  large Embossing Folder Décor Circles
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• ColorBox™ Chalk Ink pad in Warm Green and Stylist handle with white foam tips
• Light green gel pen

Instructions:

1.  Check the grain of the card stock to determine the layout for folding. 
2. Cut one 6 x 12” cards from one sheet of the 12 x 12” card stock.
3. Cut one of the middle sized Celtic Circle dies from the dark green card stock.
4. Fold the card in half. Emboss the front of the card with the Décor Circle folder.
5. Follow the direction for paper making and casting found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to create a sheet of light green paper.
6. When the paper is dry cut one large Celtic Circle die.
7. Cut one middle size Celtic Circle die from the dark green card stock.
8. Make more light green slurry and caste one of the thistle molds, dry in the microwave, with the heat tool or place in a sunny window.  
9. When casting is dry, use the Stylist and foam tips to add a small amount of Warm Green Chalk ink to bring out the texture and design of the thistle casting.

Assemble the card:

1. Attach the light green castings to the dark green Celtic Circles die with Quick Grab™ adhesive.  
2. Attach the dark green Celtic Circles die to the large light green Celtic Circles die with foam tape or dots.
3. Attach the light green Celtic Circles die to the front of the embossed 6” cards.
4. Add an Irish blessing with a light green gel pen.

Tea Dyed Heart Card

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015  


When you are in a hurry but really want a card that looks like it took a huge amount of time and effort, combine some Graphic 45™ paper and a tea dyed heart casting for a spectacular look! Make up dozens of different castings a head of time and assemble the cards in under 5 minutes!

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits  
• Microwave , heat tool or a sunny window
• Heart casting mold
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scor-Pal™
• Westcott™ personal paper cutter and scissors
• 10 x 7” cream colored card stock folded to make a 5 x 7” card
• Envelope for the 5 x 7” card
• Vintage themed Graphic 45™ “cut a part” card stock
• Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape or dots
• Scraps of white or off white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Instant tea or coffee
• 12” of cream colored ¼” satin ribbon
• 5 x 7” floral themed embossing folder
• Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur™ machine
• BowEasy™

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more of the heart castings. Add a tiny pinch of the instant tea or coffee to the slurry or drop tiny specks into the mold as you create the casting.
2. Dry the casting.
3. Emboss the front of the card with the folder.
4. Assemble the card:
5. Attach the vintage Graphic 45 piece with tiny pieces of foam tape or dots to the front of the embossed card.
6. Use the BowEasy™ to tie a small bow with the ¼” satin ribbon.
7. Use the QuickGrip to attach the bow to the top of the tea dyed heart casting and to attach the heart to the front of the card.

NOTE: If you are mailing the card, I would fill the back of the casting with light spackle and let the spackle dry before attaching it to the card front. Mail the card in a padded envelope….or better yet hand deliver it to your “Valentine”.

I've been selected as a Bella Crafts Creative Team Member!

And I'm honored!

The Bella Crafts Creative Team members were announced here, and the first project I did for them is published here.

A Heart & Rose Box

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I love paper casting using the many molds available from the Arnold Grummer website. When I created the heart paper castings a couple of weeks ago for the “Heart Potpourri Holder,” I also had several other projects in mind and cast additional hearts. (Note: I always make additional castings when I have the supplies out…..smile.) I had picked up the little wooden box and knew one of the many paper casting would be the perfect element for the top of the box. I actually had pieces of the dark red and dark green paper left from some other projects and used them for this project…… however the instruction below are to make new sheets of each as well as a new casting.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits  
• Microwave , heat tool or a sunny window
• Heart casting mold
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Beacon ZipDry™ and QuickGrip™ Adhesive,
• Scraps of white, red, and dark green paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Crumbled dried flower petals or old spices to add to the slurry for the casting.
• Dies: Spellbinders’ ™ spiral rose, CheeryLynn™ rose leaves
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Red bottle acrylic paint
• 1” foam paint brush
• 3 ¼” wood box

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more of the heart castings, a sheet of red paper and a sheet of dark green paper.
2. Dry the casting.
3. When the sheets of paper are dry die cut the roses and the leaves.  (Always save the scraps)
4. Follow the instructions found with the rose die to create one large rose and two tiny buds.
5. Paint the wood box with a light coat of the red acrylic paint.
6. Allow paint to dry.

Assembly:

1. Attach the heart casting to the top of the box with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
2. Attach the two leaves to the back of the large rose with ZipDry™ adhesive.
3. Attach the rose and two tiny buds to the top of the heart casting.
4. Place a small gift, a handful of “kisses” or a love note inside the box.

Happy Valentine Card

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I promised you in last week's post (P.S.....I Love You) that I would share the matching card. I did use the left over papers that were previously created but the instructions below are for making new sheets of handmade paper. Remember if you are making these folder hearts that the paper should be a bit on the thin side. The use of handmade paper adds a beautiful touch to everything. 

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Beacon Quick Grip™ Adhesive, double sided tape
• Scraps of red and white paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)
• Die: Nellie Snellen Accordion Heart die, Cheerylynn Happy Valentine’s Day dies
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Swirly hearts embossing folder
• Westcott® Personal paper cutter & scissors
• Scor-Pal™
• A2 white card and envelope (or use the AG envelope template and make a matching envelope)

Instructions:

1. Follow the direction for paper making found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to make slurry from the white and red scraps.
2. Create one sheet of white paper and one sheet of red paper. Allow the paper to dry.
3. Cut and follow the direction provided with the heart die to create one each red and white hearts.
4. Cut the words from red handmade paper. Save the scraps for future projects.
5. Emboss the front of the card.
6. Use the Beacon Quick Grip™ adhesive to attach the two hearts and the words to the front of the card.
7. Add a “love note” and give to your Valentine!

P. S. ….. I Love You

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014

Do you ever need a last minute Valentine gift for someone special? Your loved ones deserve the best, and for me that means something handmade with love! Keeping that in mind, I went to my handmade paper stash to create this fun gift box for my wonderful husband. I will fill the little box with “Kisses” candy and I will have the perfect gift!

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, bone folder
• Beacon Quick Grip™ Adhesive, double sided tape
• Scraps of red and white paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)
• Die: Nellie’s Accordion Heart die
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Purchased small box

  

Instructions:

1. Follow the direction for paper making found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to make slurry from the white and red scraps.
2. Create one sheet of white paper and one sheet of red paper. Allow the paper to dry. (NOTE: always save your scraps for future projects.)

Assemble the box and the hearts:

1. Follow the direction provided with the heart die to die cut and create one each red and white hearts.
2. Use the Beacon Quick Grip™ adhesive to attach the two hearts to the front of the box.
3. Fill the box with “Kisses” and give to the one you love!

I liked the hearts so much that I made more of them and created a matching Valentine card that I will share with you next week.

Heart Potpourri Holder

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

Here in Southern Arizona the sun is shining, snow (yep we actually get some….smile) is melting, and it feels like spring is just around the corner. Love is in the air and it is time to get the Valentine gifts done. Today’s project will be a gift for my mom to remind her that she is always loved.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• AGCP Heart casting mold
• Microwave, heat tool or a sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Pastels, chalks or powered eye shadow and applicator (cotton swab)
• Potpourri
• 1 yard pastel blue ¼” picot edge satin ribbon
• 1/8” round hole punch
• Westcott® scissors
• Long stemmed wine glass

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to cast 4 heart molds.
2. When the castings are dry use the pastels,
   chalks or powdered eye shadow to lightly apply color to the flowers and leaves on the heart casting.
3. Use the 1/8” hole punch to punch a hole in the four corners of the four casting.
4. Tie the castings together with tiny bows on each corner.
5. Tie the four castings around the top of the wine glass, adjusting to fit.
6. Fill the wine glass with potpourri. Place anywhere you want to have just a hint of spring!

Heart a Flutter

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014


The quiet time between Christmas day and New Year’s Day is a time for me to relax, reflect and look back at the past year and start planning and looking forward to 2015. My thoughts always go to “love”, weddings and Valentine’s Day. The card I am working on today will be for my wonderful husband Charles who grows beautiful flowers and is indeed my Valentine. Just a small reminder that he still makes my heart flutter.

Supplies: 

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• Microwave, heat gun or a sunny window
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges
• Iron and pressing cloth
• Westcott® personal paper cutter, scissors
• Scor-Pal™
• Beacon ZipDry™ & QuickGrip™ Adhesives
• Scraps of white and lavender paper or cardstock (think junk mail, etc.) - or use lavender scrap from a previous project. Remember: ALWAYS save the scraps.
• Black cardstock 5 ½” x 8 ½”  (Checked my stash and did not have any handmade paper….darn)
• Envelopes for a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” cards (or use the AG template to create matching envelopes)
• Dies: Memory Box™ heart
• Spellbinders™ Grand Calibur machine
• 18” of 1 ½” sheer purple ribbon
• Small purple silk flower and tiny white sprig flower

Instructions:

1. Follow the direction for paper making found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to make slurry from the white and lavender scraps.
2. Create a sheet of thick pale lavender handmade paper. (Think cardstock weight.) Allow the papers to dry. If you want the paper to be smooth as I did, iron it using the pressing cloth.
3. Score and fold the black cardstock in half to create a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” card.
4. Cut a piece of the pale lavender paper smaller than the folded card to write your message on.
5. Die cut the heart shape from the pale lavender paper.  

Assemble the card: 

1. Tie the sheer purple ribbon into a bow around the front top left of the card. Cut the ends of the ribbon to form a notch.
2. Use the Beacon QuickGrip™ adhesive to attach the small silk flower and the tiny white sprig under the knot of the bow.
3. Apply tiny amounts of Beacon ZipDry™ adhesive to the back of the die cut heart and attach it to the right side of the card.
4. Write your message inside the card and give the card to your Valentine.

Use Coupon Code JAN20 at checkout for 20% off your order. 

Wedding Gift Card Holder

©Michele Emerson-Roberts

Want a really fast gift card holder that will be a special keepsake too? Those of you who have been following the blog this year know that I make lots of paper castings at a time and have them on hand when I need one. This is another of those “5” minute projects because I already had the casting made. However the following instructions will include creating the castings.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer^TM paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Arnold Grummer^TM Cotton Press Celebrations Miniatures casting mold
• White paper scraps or Arnold Grummer^TM Cotton Linter
• Metallic silver thread and needle
• 12” Metallic Silver cord
• 9-inches of 1/8” White and Silver ribbon
• Beacon QuickGrip™ adhesive
• 8 ½” x 5 ½” Metallic Silver card stock
• Scor-Pal™
• Westcott® paper cutter, scissors
• BowEasy™
• 1/8” hole punch
• Gift card

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits to make white slurry. Follow the instructions to create as many paper castings as you want. (Note: For this project I am using the “two bells” casting.)
2. When the castings are dry, stitch metallic silver French knots along the rims of the two bells.
3. Add a running stitch in the crease of the bells.
4. Use the BowEasy™ to tie a tiny white and silver bow.

Gift card holder:

1. Place the 8 ½” x 5 ½” metallic silver card stock on the Scor-Pal™ board (landscape), and score at 3 ¼” , 4 ¼”, and 5 ¼”.
2. Turn it to the short side (portrait), and score at 1 ½” and 4”.
3. Return the card stock to landscape position and “mountain fold” at the 3 ¼” and the 5 ¼” score lines, then “valley fold” at the 4 ¼” score line.
4. Return the card stock to portrait position, and fold both sides in toward the center.
5. Use the 1/8” hole punch to punch two holes on each top folded part (the pocket where the gift card will be placed.).
6. Insert the gift card and tie holder closed with the silver cord.
7. Attach the bow to the top of the casting, and then attach the casting to the front of the holder with Beacon QuickGrip™ adhesive.

I have also made these gift card holders using thick handmade paper instead of the purchase card stock. Keep in mind the wedding colors and the bride’s style. You could also create them for birthdays, Christmas, or other occasions. The options are endless!

Snow People

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014

Heading “home” for the Christmas holiday? I will make an early trip to visit with family and deliver their presents. With my folks, two sister, their kids and 6 great nieces and nephews….it’s a lot of gifts to make and take! This year for the young ones I decided to create “Snow People” ornaments that they can hang on their Christmas trees each year. I started this tradition as each was welcomed into this world. By the time they set up their own homes they will have a fun collection of ornaments to take with them.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• Microwave, heat gun or a sunny window
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges
• Iron and pressing cloth
• Westcott™ personal paper cutter and scissors
• Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive
• Scraps of white paper or cardstock (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dies: Sizzix™ Tim Holtz Snowman and Impression Obsession™ Christmas tags
• Christmas themed embossing folders 
• Cotton Christmas ribbon
• Thin red twine or crochet thread
• 1/8” round hole punch
• Red Gel Pen

Instructions:

1. Follow the direction for paper making and casting found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to make slurry from the white scraps.
2. Create numerous sheets of thick white handmade paper. (Think card stock weight) Allow the papers to dry. NOTE - if you want the thick white paper to be smooth as I did, iron it using the pressing cloth. Remember: ALWAYS save the scraps to be used in future projects.
3. Cut the sheets of heavy white paper into pieces that will fit the snowman and tag dies.
4. Die cut the Christmas tags.
5. Die cut the snow people and snowflakes.
6. Emboss the snow people with Christmas themed folders.
7. Tie an 8” piece of Christmas ribbon around the necks for the snow people.
8. Attach the snowflake to the knot with Beacon QuickGrip™ adhesive.
9. Use the 1/8” round hole punch to make a hole at the top of the hat.
10. Add the red twine as a hanger.
11. Use the red Gel pen to write the names on the Christmas tags.
12. Add red twine to the tags and attach to the ribbon around their necks.