Elegant Card Trio

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2015

Creating elegant and beautiful cards is a snap! Adding handmade paper is like icing on the cupcake. These three cards went together so quickly – as in less than 5 minutes each, and are sure to be a hit with the recipients. They would be wonderful in any color scheme. I chose to save some time and used purchased cardstock in a soft warm cinnamon color for the card bases and die cuts.

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 paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Tiny pieces of dried flower petals, spices or grasses
• Dies:  Quiet Fire words “Believe”, “Thanks and “Hello”
            Impression Obsession: DIE253-U
            Tonic Studios US: 77 E Butterfly Sprig & 76 E Dragonfly Brooch

• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• 2 pieces of 8 ½ x 11 cinnamon card stock
• Envelopes to fit cards
• Westcott™ paper trimmer & scissors
• Scor-Pal™ (LOVE the new 1/8^th version!)
• Beacon  ZipDry™ adhesive, Double side foam tape or dots

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.
3. When the sheets of paper are dry, tear them into 4 equal pieces. You want ragged edges. Save the 4^thpiece for another project.
4. Cut, score and fold the sheets of purchased card stock to create three 4 ¼ x 5 ½” card cards.
5. Die cut the words, both dragonflies and the butterfly from the other half sheet of purchased card stock.
6. Attach the torn pieces of ivory handmade paper to the front of the card with ZipDry™ adhesive.
7. Attach the words and “critters” to the handmade paper with tiny slivers of foam tape.

Handmade Journals

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I love journals and handmade books. The ones that will fit in your purse or tote are especially nice to have and to create. I had some scraps of wallpaper that was perfect for the covers and the right size too! The two “stick bound” journals are the same size, but orientated differently. I like to use handmade paper for the pages as it makes them even more special. You can make these any size - mine are 4 ¾ x 6”. The covers are made of mat board scrap pieces that I had on hand. The pages are ¼ sheets of handmade paper..

FYI - the stick bound book is one of the easiest books to create in multiples, and they make marvelous gifts!

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• A sunny window, heat gun or microwave oven
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of off white or cream paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Spellbinders Grand Calabur II cutting and embossing machine
• Dies: CherryLyn: Leaves          Fran The Frantic Stamper: Shrine
• Westcott™ paper trimmer
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Japanese screw punch & 1/8” bit
• Beacon QuickGrip™ and ZipDry™ adhesive
• Old credit card to use for spreading the ZipDry™ adhesive
• Double sided foam tape or dots
• Scrapes of wall paper for covers and die cuts
• Matching paper for inside of covers (even better if it is handmade paper) two pieces 4 ¼ x 5 ½”
• Mat board: Leaf journal (portrait orientation book): one piece 6 x 4 3/4” (back cover), one piece 6 x 1 1/8” (hinge), one piece 6 x 3 1/2”Shrine journal (landscape orientation): One piece 4 ¾ x 6 (back cover), one piece 4 ¾ x 1 1/8” (hinge), one piece 4 ¾ x 4 ¾”
• Sticks for spines
•  Heavy thread to match the wall paper for binding

Instruction:

1. Follow the direction for paper making found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to make slurry from the off white or cream scraps.
2. Create numerous sheets of medium weight handmade paper.
3. When the paper is dry cut or tear it into quarter sheets. Repeat for as many sheets as you want in your journal. Remember to always save the scraps.

To create the journals:

1. Cut the 2 pieces of wallpaper 1 ½” larger than the mat board.
2. Spread a thin coat of ZipDry™ adhesive onto the back side of one piece of the wallpaper.
3. Center the mat board piece for the back cover onto the wallpaper.
4. Miter the corners, leaving a tiny bit more than the thickness of the mat board.
5. Apply additional adhesive to the flaps if needed.
6. Secure the flaps to the other side of the mat board.
7. Apply the adhesive to the back side of the 2nd piece of wallpaper.
8. Place the two front cover pieces of mat board onto the wallpaper, leaving 1/8” between the two pieces.
9. Miter the corners and wrap the flaps to the back side.
10. Apply a thin coat of adhesive to the matching papers and place on the back side of the covers.
11. Measure one inch from the top and bottom hinge part of journal, use the Japanese screw Punch to create holes.
12. Place the pages inside of the covers, mark and create holes in all of the pages. (Remember the pages are a bit smaller than the covers.)
13. Bind the journal by attaching the sticks with the heavy duty thread.
14. Die cut the leaves and shrine.
15. Attach the die cuts with double side foam tape or dots.

Note: You can find a lot of videos on the internet showing how to create many different bindings.

Country Home Planter

Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

My wonderful friend GayLynn is truly a “country girl”. Her birthday is coming up and I wanted to make something special for her gift. She has a deep window sill over her sink and it will be the perfect place for this rustic “country home” planter. Follow along and create one for yourself or a gift.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• AG CP house mold
• A sunny window, heat gun or microwave oven
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Die:  Tiny heart
• Spellbinders Grand Calabur II cutting and embossing machine
• Westcott™ paper trimmer
• Tiny heart punches
• Beacon QuickGrip™ and ZipDry™ adhesive
• Tree/bush branches approx: 25 - 30
• Chip board (I used cereal boxes)
• Scrapes of heavy weight dark brown handmade paper
• ColorBox Stylus™ handle and white foam tips
• Brown water based ink pad
• 4 x 4” florist foam block

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 four (or more to use on another project) of the house molds.
3. Dry the castings in a microwave oven, with a heat gun or place it in a sunny window.
4. Create a sheet of heavy weight handmade paper.
5. When the paper is dry, die cut a bunch of hearts.
6. Punch a bunch of tiny white and dark brown hearts.
7. Cut pieces of the dark brown handmade paper for the doors and windows. Remember to always save the scraps.
8. Create a simple 4” square open top box from the chip board.
9. Attach the doors, windows and hearts to the house castings and the house castings to the chip board box with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
10. “Antique” the houses and edges of the castings with the brown ink and Stylus™ tips.
11. Attach the hearts to the tips of a lot of the sticks with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
12. Place the foam block into the container.
13. Arrange and Insert the sticks in to the foam.

Truth Fan Book

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

How fun and easy is this! Here is another from the series of “Fan” books that I created during one session. Each book is different, but made in my signature color scheme of black and tan. Each book is full of quotes related to the title on the cover of the book.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Personal paper cutter, scissors
• Beacon QuickGrab™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape or dots
• Scraps of black paper (think junk mail, left over cardstock scrap, etc.)
• One or more of AG #2718 Mini Fan Book
• Verbiage stamps and black ink pad or computer generated quotes or sayings
• ColorBox™ Stylus™ handle and soft tip
• Small scrap of chip board
• Dies: CheeryLynn™ tiny leaf strip
• Die cut machine: Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create black slurry.
2. Create a sheet of thick black paper. When the paper is dry die cut the leaves.
3. Remove the screw hinge and pages from the book.
4. Stamp a saying onto the scrap of chip board.
5. Use the Stylus handle and tip to apply ink the edges of the stamped chip board and the book cover.
6. Center and attach the stamped chip board to the cover with double sided foam tape or dots.
7. Stamp the saying onto the pages (or print out verbiage using your computer and printer, then cut and glue 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.)
   Also, I suggest that if you are making several of these books, stamp or print all of the sayings at once. (I will often do many different related saying at a time as well as die cutting the bits and pieces and save them to assemble the “Fan” book at a later time.)
8. Reassemble the fan book.
9. Attach the tiny black leaves with the Beacon QuickGrab™ adhesive, placing them around the stamped verbiage chipboard piece.

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.