A Day at the Shore

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

Looks like summer is really here with temperatures around 90* and rising. Just thinking about a day at the shore brings a smile to my face. Even though I don’t like to actually swim in the ocean, I do love hearing the waves, wading in the surf and sitting under a palm tree in the shade. Follow along to create this fun card!

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of white, blue and tan paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Envelopes to fit cards (or make your own with the AG envelope template)
• Wescott™ personal paper cutter
• Scor-Pal™ (Love the new 1/8^” version)
• Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur II
• Dies: Impression Obsession™ #190-C & 78-C
• Spellbinders™ IN-038 Paradise Palm
• ColorBox Stylust™ and tips or make-up sponge
• Med. blue, light golden tan & green water-based ink pads
• Thin piece of plastic with a straight edge
• Beacon™ ZipDry™ Adhesive
• Scrap of white card stock
• Double sided foam tape or dots
• Tiny container of water

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create a sheet each of heavy weight light blue & tan paper. 
2. Dry the sheets of paper.
3. When the sheets of handmade paper are dry, cut or tear the blue sheets in half creating two 5 ½ x 8 ½’ cards. Score and fold the cards.
4. Tear or cut the tan sheet in half. Tear an approx. 11/2” piece for the sand.
5. Tear a curved shape from the middle forming sand dunes on each side. (Save all the scraps.)
6. Die cut 1 tiny seagull & 2 chairs for each card from the white card stock.
7. Die cut the palm trees for each card from a scrap of the tan handmade paper.
8. Shade the palm tree trunks and the bottom part of the sand dunes with the golden tan ink and Stylust™ tips or make-up sponge.
9. Dampen the tip or sponge with a tiny bit of water to be able to blend the colors.
10. Clean the tip or sponge between colors. Dry the tip or sponge on a towel.
11. Shade the palm tree fronds with the green ink. Clean & dry the tip or sponge.
12. Add some blue ink to the sky forming clouds. Blend with a damp tip or sponge.
13. Use the plastic’s straight edge, the tip or sponge and the blue ink to create the water line.
14. Blend with a damp tip or sponge.
15. Attach the tiny seagull to the sky & the sand dunes to the bottom of the card with ZipDry™ adhesive.
16. Attach the straps to the tiny sandals with ZipDry™ adhesive.
17. Attach the palm trees, flip flop sandals and chairs to the card front with tiny pieces of foam tape or dots.

Sea Shell Treasure Box

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I have fond memories of playing on the beach as a small child when we lived in Southern California. Life was simpler back then, less stress and worry! I long to go back to those days and be able show our grandkids what life was like back then. I have created a “treasure” box for each of them as a reminder of lazy summer days spent at the beach.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• AG Cotton Press sea shell mold
• A sunny window, microwave or heat gun
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Beacon  QuickGrip™ Adhesive
• Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, left over cardstock scrap, etc.)
• Hexagon paper Mache box approx. 4 ½”
• Silver metallic and medium blue pearl acrylic paint
• Small flat paint brush, 1” foam brush
• Sea sponge
• Numerous sizes of white and blue pearl beads
• Wired tiny white pearl beads

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry.
2. Cast two sea shells.  (I often create multiple castings to use for later projects.)
3. When the castings are dry, use the flat brush and blue pearl paint to add some color to the sea shells.
4. Set aside to dry.
5. Use the foam brush to paint the box with blue pearl paint.
6. When the box is dry, use the sponge to randomly apply silver metallic paint.
7. Set the box aside to allow the paint to dry.
8. Use the QuickGrip™ adhesive to attach the two sea shell casting onto the lid of the box, slightly overlapping the shells.
9. Arrange and attach the pearl beads and wired pearls.

Enjoy the memories.

Hurrah for the Red, White & Blue

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

The Independence Day celebration has become a yearly neighborhood pot luck get together. You know that I love paper casting using the many molds available from the Arnold Grummer website.  I often will cast items ahead of time using up the slurry I made for previous projects. Several months ago when I was using the CP “Nature’s Miniatures” mold from AG, I created a lot of the “star” castings knowing that I would need invitations for the 4^th of July celebration. They went together quickly and will be a big hit when they are hand delivered next week.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• Microwave , heat tool or a sunny window
• CP “Nature’s Miniatures” casting mold
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive,
• Scraps of white (think junk mail, etc.)
• 5 ½ x 8 ½” red card stock for each card
• Envelopes to fit cards (or make your own with the AG envelope template)
• Red & Blue star sequins, clear seed beads, beading needle, white thread
• 18” of ½” sheer dark blue ribbon for each card
• Wescott™ personal paper cutter
• Scor-Pal™ (Love the new 1/8^” version)
• X-acto knife and cutting pad
• Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur II
• TH patriotic embossing folder

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create numerous star castings.  
2. Dry the casting.
   (Did you know that you can save the slurry? Place it in a strainer and let it dry. Pop the dried slurry out of the strainer and store for future use.)
   
3. Attach the tiny star sequins to the castings using the beading needle and clear seed beads.
4. Score and fold the cards.
5. Emboss the front of the cards with the patriotic folder.
6. Cut a small slit in the side of the card wide enough to accommodate the ribbon.
7. Insert the ribbon into the slit, tie a bow.
8. Attach the star casting to the front of the card with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
9. Handwrite the invitation information on the inside of the card, or computer-generate it if you have a lot to create.

Patriotic Angel Box

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

Here in Southeastern Arizona, summer is upon us! The Independence Day celebration coming up next month is one of my favorite holidays. I love the patriotism, the flags and the feeling of pride in our country. In honor of the holiday I have created a memory box for my neighbor whose husband is deployed. It will be a great place for her to keep the many letters and photos he sends to her. Perhaps it will help ease his being away.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• CP large Angel mold
• A sunny window, microwave or heat gun
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Beacon ZipDry™ and QuickGrab™ Adhesive
• Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, left over cardstock scrap, etc.)
• White pearl card stock
• Dark blue cardstock
• Dies: Spellbinders Grand Ovals
• Die cut machine: Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur II
• Spool of Kreinik gold metallic #32 braided cord
• Bow Easy™, scissors
• 16 Gold stars (brads or sequins)
• 3 flat-backed red jewels
• White box approx. 9 x 11”.
• 1/8” round hole punch (if using star brads)

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create white slurry.
2. Cast one large Angel.
3. When the casting is dry, fussy cut around the edges of the angel.
4. Die cut the largest oval from the white pearl card stock.
5. Die cut the dark blue oval using a smaller oval die.
6. Center, layer and attached the dark blue oval piece to the large white pearl oval piece.
   Note - if using star brads, measure, mark and punch the holes for the legs of the brads.
7. Insert the brags.
   Note - if using star sequins, attach the sequins evenly around the white pearl oval. 
8. Attach the layered ovals to the front of the box with Beacon ZipDry™ adhesive.
9. Attach the angel to the center of the dark blue oval with Beacon Quick Grip™ adhesive.
10. Attach the gold metallic cord around the edge of both ovals with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
11. Tie a bow at the top of the smaller oval.
12. Use the BowEasy to tie a small bow with long tails.
13. Attach the bow and the 3 red jewels at the Angel’s hands with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
14. Unravel some of the metallic gold cord for hair.
15. Attach it to the Angel’s head with QuickGrip™ adhesive.

God bless our troops and the USA! 

Sand and Sea Journal

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

Today’s project is using another of the AG “books a’ la Carte!” kits. We will be going to a neighborhood party with a summer sea theme in a few days. The recipients are recently back home after an ocean cruise, so this new book will be the perfect hostess gift for the photos and memorabilia from their trip.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Westcott™ paper trimmer &scissors
• Scraps of ivory or off white and rusty orange paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• A tiny amount of dried crushed leaves or old spices
• AG #2720 “Books a la carte” kit
• Thin rust colored leather cord for binding (I wanted a different thread than came with the kit)
• Scor-Tape
• Ivory colored beads with large holes
• ColorBox Chalk™ charcoal black ink pad
• Sea themed rubber stamp
• Alcohol markers: light brown, light blue and yellow
• Iron (if you want the paper to be smooth) 

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create 2 sheets of off white handmade paper. (I added a tiny bit of spices to the slurry to create speckles in the paper.) 
2. Create 3 sheets of rusty orange paper.
3. When the papers are dry, iron them to make them smooth.
4. Adhere the rusty orange paper to the front and back covers with Scor-tape.
5. Trim off the excess paper.
6. Assemble the book following the direction in the kit.
7.  Attach the beads by threading them onto the leather cord. (Refer to the photo for layering and placement.)
8. Cut a sheet of the off white paper to fit the cover, leaving a border, and attach the paper with Scor-tape.
9. Cut a piece of rusty orange paper a tiny bit smaller than the off with paper and layer it on top of the off white paper.
10. Cut a second piece of off white paper leaving a tiny border. Tear this sheet to form 3 pieces (see photo) and layer next.
11. Stamp the sea scene onto the off white paper with the ColorBox Chalk™ ink.
12. Use the alcohol markers to color in the beach house and sea,.
13. Bind the book with the drift wood stick.

Remember to always save the scrapes of handmade paper!

BBF…Butterflies & Best Friends

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

For many years I have been happily watching two neighbor kids grow up. They played together and chased butterflies as little ones and became “best friends” in their teens. I was pleased to see the friendship turn into love and will be attending their wedding this summer. I was delighted when they asked me to create the invitations for their wedding.  I had 100 invitations to make so I chose to go with purchased cardstock instead of making the card bases from handmade paper. I was able to concentrate on creating the peach butterflies and completed the 100 cards in just a few days. Follow along to create your own versions of this card, which would make a lovely birthday, get well, thanks or thinking of you card.

 Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of white and peach paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Iridescent copper flakes
• 12 x 12” white card stock
• Westcott™ personal paper cutter, scissors
• Scor-Pal™ Version 4……1/8”
• Foam tape or foam dots
• Dies:  Several sizes of butterflies from CheeryLynn
• Swirl design embossing folders
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur II™ die cutting & embossing machine
• 1/8” round hole punch
• 12” of ½” sheer peach colored ribbon (for each card)
• Envelopes to fit cards (I like to use clear envelopes for my cards to share them with my postman)

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create peach colored slurry with a tiny bit of iridescent copper flakes added to the slurry.
2. Create enough sheets of peach heavy weight paper for the amount of butterflies you want to die cut.
3. Die cut 3 sizes of the butterflies for each card.
4. Cut the 12 x 12 white card stock 4 ½ x 12”.
5. Score and fold at 3” and 9” creating a gate fold card.
6. Emboss the front of the cards with the swirly embossing folder. (a butterfly embossing folder would have been even better!)
7. Punch a hole at the center on each side of the “gate”.
8. Insert the printed wedding information inside the card.
9. Insert the ribbon into the two holes and tie a bow.
10. Attach the 3 butterflies to the front of the card with foam tape.

Pheasant Fathers Day Card

 ©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2015

I have the best “dad” in the world!  I wanted to make a special card for him for father’s day to remind him how special he is to me. He and mom have always liked to go for walks and watch the birds they would see along the way. I remembered a story of them seeing a beautiful pheasant many years ago and knew this mold would be perfect.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer’s paper making kits
• Pheasant acrylic paper weight (look around….you might be surprised at how many “molds” you already have!)
• A sunny window, heat gun or microwave oven
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dies: Happy Father’s Day from CheeryLynn
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Westcott™ paper trimmer
• Scor-Pal™ (LOVE the new 1/8^th version!)
• Scor-Tape™
• Envelope to fit card
• Beacon QuickGrip™ and ZipDry™ adhesive
• 6 x 5 ½” medium blue precut matt and backing

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. Cast one (or more) of the pheasant molds, dry the castings in a microwave oven, with a heat gun or place it in a sunny window.
3. Create a sheet of heavy weight handmade paper.
4. When the paper is dry, cut, score and fold to make a 5 ½ x 6 ¼” card.
   Remember to always save the scraps.
5. Die cut the words from the scraps of handmade paper.
6. Attach the pheasant casting to the matt backing with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
7. Attach the matt to the backing with Scor-Tape™.
8. Attach the words to the bottom of the matt with ZipDry™ adhesive.
9. Attach the matt to the front of the card with Scor-Tape™.

Dragonflies Kaleidoscope

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

As you may know I love dragonflies! I use dragonfly images in a lot of my creative endeavors.

I also love kaleidoscopes and wanted to combine the two things to create this project. It will have a special place in my art room, and will serve as a reminder to me to slow down, savor and enjoy a few peaceful minutes. 

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of white (think junk mail, etc.)
• Iridescent paper scrap
• Westcott™ personal paper cutter, scissors
• Scor-Tape™, foam tape or foam dots, Beacon QuickGrip™ adhesive
• 12”  each of narrow picot & ½” sheer white ribbon
• Several dragonfly stamps
• Beige ink pad
• Clear embossing powder
• Heat gun
• Iron
• Purchased (child’s) paper kaleidoscope
• 6” of gold colored thin wire, round tooth pick
• BowEasy™

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to make white slurry.
2. Create a sheet of handmade paper.
3. Iron the paper to make it smooth.
4. Randomly stamp the dragonfly images onto the paper.
5. Emboss the images with clear embossing powder and the heat gun.
6. Stamp at least one dragonfly onto scrap paper.
7. Layer it with the iridescent paper on the wings and hand cut both.
8. Wrap the wire around the tooth pick.
9. Remove the wire from the pick and stretch it out.
10. Fold the wire in half and attach the antenna to the head of the cut out dragonfly with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
11. Measure and cut the stamped paper. You will want a bit of overlap.
12. Wrap the stamped and cut paper around the kaleidoscope and attach it with Scor-Tape™.
13. Use the Bow-Easy™ to tie both ribbons into a small bow.
14. Attach the bow and the cut out dragonfly to the turn area of the kaleidoscope with QuickGrip™ adhesive.

Rustic Card Trio

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2015

I have never been a “glitzy” person…. no “BLING” for me! I am understated with what I create, what I wear and how I decorate. I needed cards for two friends who are moving into retirement centers and another friend who is getting married. Follow along to see how I created the three cards for them.

­

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• A sunny window or traditional oven
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of ivory & brown paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dies:  3 different types of “label dies” to layer
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Westcott™ paper trimmer & scissors
• Scor-Pal™ (LOVE the new 1/8^th version!)
• Envelopes to fit cards
• Beacon QuickGrip™ and ZipDry™ adhesive, double sided foam tape or dots
• Verbiage stamps (or computer generate the message)
• ColorBox chalk to correspond with the paper colors
• 1/2” sheer Ivory ribbon, picot edged ribbon
• Short “nubby” twigs, flower centers
• Iron

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 ivory scraps.
2. Create one or more sheets of heavy weight ivory handmade paper. Save the left over slurry.
3. Iron the paper to make it smooth. 
4. Cut, score and fold half of the sheet to make one 4 ¼ x 5 ½” card.
5. Die cut the other half of the paper with the label dies (refer to photo). Remember to always save the scraps.
6. Create brown slurry and make several sheets of heavy weight brown paper. Save the left over slurry.
7. Iron the paper to make it smooth. Cut, score and fold two cards.
8. Die cut some labels from the brown paper in different sizes to layer with the ivory labels.
9. Combine the left over paper slurry (do not over mix it….you want it to be mottled) and create a sheet of paper.
10. Iron it to make it smooth.
11. Cut it to 4” x5 ¼”.
12. Attach it to the front of the ivory card front with ZipDry™ adhesive.
13. Stamp the verbiage onto the smallest label die cut piece.
14. Layer the labels die cuts with foam tape between each layer.
15.  Add the ribbon bows to the fronts of the cards.
16. Attach the flower center or twigs with QuickGrip™ adhesive before tying the bows.

I think my friends will enjoy receiving  the cards as much as I did creating them.

Raining Cats & Dogs Fan Book

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

This is another in the series of the AG “52 Card Fan” books. This will make the perfect gift for a girlfriend who will someday be known as the "Crazy Cat Lady". This little book will be filled with "kitty/cat" quotes and cartoons. I know, only those of us who love cats will understand..... smile. I will be using scraps of handmade paper saved from previous projects, whoever you follow along with the instructions below on how to make your own paper in the event you don't have scraps.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Westcott™ Personal paper cutter, scissors
• Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive
• Scor-Tape™
• Scraps of ivory and rust colored paper (think junk mail, left over cardstock scrap, etc.)
• One  AG 3 1/2" square Mini Fan Book
• Verbiage stamps, and rusty orange ink pad or computer generated quotes or sayings, cartoons
• Dies: Cats- Poppy/Memory Box™, "Grace" Frantic Stamper Inc.
•  Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur™ die cutting & embossing machine
•  Cat & dog footprints embossing folder
•  G 45 "Raining Cats & Dogs' card stock
• Rusty orange acrylic paint
• 1/4" round hole punch

   Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create ivory slurry.
2. Create a sheet of thick ivory paper (think card stock weight)
3. Create rusty orange slurry.
4. Create a sheet of thick rusty orange paper.
5. When the papers are dry, die cut the word "Grace" and several of the cats from the thick ivory paper.
6. Die cut several of the cats from the rusty orange paper.
7. Cut one piece of the rusty orange paper 3 1/2" square for the back cover.
8. Emboss the back cover paper with the cats/dogs foot prints folder.
9. Cut a piece of the G45 "Raining Cats & Dogs" card stock 3 1/2" square for the front cover.
10. Remove the screw hinge and pages from the book.
11. Use the Scor-Tape™ to attach the front and back cover papers..
12. Stamp the saying onto the pages (or print out verbiage using your computer and printer, then cut and glue the printed sayings to the pages.) NOTE: make sure the verbiage is all oriented the same. (My book is landscape oriented and has the hinge on the top left.)
13. Punch the 1/4 hole in the cover papers.
14. Dab a tiny bit of the paint onto the screw post. Allow it to dry.

Note - to save time, if you are making several of these books, die cut and stamp or print all of the sayings at once. You can always assemble them later when you need a quick gift.

For those who are "dog people" just change the word and animal dies.

Reassemble the fan book: 

1. Reassemble the fan book arranging the quotes, sayings and cartoons as desired.
2. Attach the “Grace” die cut to the upper right corner of the cover with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
3. Layer and attach the cats to the bottom of the cover.