“Saint Nickolas Wreath”

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I enjoy creating small Christmas wreaths and hang them on my inside doors during the Christmas holidays, and once again I used one of my favorite Arnold Grummer/Cotton Press paper casting molds; Victorian Saint Nickolas. There are so many beautiful paper casting mold to choose from (yep, I have to admit I collect the molds and way too many other things too - smile). Follow along and see how easy it is to create a wreath for yourself or as a special gift.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of white (think junk mail, etc.)
• Cotton Press Victorian Saint Nickolas casting mold
• Beacon QuickGrip^TM Adhesive
• Double sided foam tape
• Pastels, Chalks or powered eye shadow in red and brown, applicators
• DecoArt^TM Americana Line Dark Green paint, “Snow” paint &paint brush
• Several yards of dark green /white dot 1 ¼” ribbon
• Two 5” evergreen tree cut outs (chip board or wood)
• One 12” rustic twig wreath
• Several 6-9” twigs 

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one of the Saint Nickolas paper casting.
2. When the castings are dry, lightly color each area with the chalks. (See sample for placement).
3. Add some dark green paint to the tree part of the casting.
4. When dry, add some “snow” paint to the tree part of the casting.
5. Paint the two large evergreen trees.
6. When they are dry add the “snow” paint to the trees. 

Assemble the wreath:

1. Weave the ribbon through the twig wreath.
2. Tie a large 4 loop bow and attach it to the top right of the wreath with QuickGrip™ adhesive.
3. Center and attach the Saint Nickolas paper casting on the right bottom of the wreath.
4. Attach the extra twigs to the left side of the wreath to help brace and secure the evergreen trees.
5. Layer the evergreen trees with foam tape between and attach them to the extra twigs and wreath.

  

Remember that I always make extra casting to have on hand when the mood to create a project strikes me. It is not unusual for me to make 50 to 100 castings at a time.

Christmas Card for Him

Featured in Blog Tonic USA

Michele Emerson-Roberts
DECEMBER 14, 2015 | BLOGTONICUSA

With over a foot of snow on the ground and more coming down, today is a great day to create a Christmas card with one of our favorite Tonic Studios Dies – Regal Reindeer. This versatile die from the Rococo Christmas die line. Michele created this modern Christmas card in more masculine colors perfect for anyone on your Christmas card list.

This black and cream card is created especially for the men in my life as well as my favorite brother-in-law who is a bit of a non- traditional person. Who knew how elegant it would be and is one of my favorites. This card would be gorgeous in traditional Christmas colors too.

Instructions:

1. Die cut and emboss two of the reindeer from the buff cardstock.
2. Die cut and emboss one of the sleighs from black. 
3. Lightly sand the sleigh.
4. Stamp the Christmas sentiment onto the buff card stock.
5. Layer it onto black with tiny pieces of foam tape between.
6. Create a 5 ½’square center step card from the G45™ black & cream cardstock.

Assemble the card:

1. Attach the layered stamped piece to the top right of the center step card with tiny pieces of foam tape or dots.
2. Glue one reindeer to the lower left, overlap and attach the 2nd reindeer more to the center of the card with foam tape.
3. Attach the sleigh to the lower right of the card with foam tape

Supplies:

Dies: Rococo Regal Reindeer 1018E, Rococo Santa’s Sleigh 1015E

Tools: Tonic personal paper cutterand scissors, Scor-Pal 

Adhesive: Tonic Craft Tacky Glue, double sided foam tape or dots 

Cardstock: Graphic 45 black & cream card stock, The Paper Cut Manila File Buff cardstock and envelopes for the cards 

Stamps: Impression Obsession: Christmas stamp 

Other: ColorBox Chalk Charcoal Ink pad, sanding block

Tis The Season for the Sniffles

Featured in Blog Tonic USA

Michele Emerson-Roberts

DECEMBER 9, 2015 | BLOGTONICUSA

DIY projects using Tonic Studios dies are simple to create and yield stunning results for any occasion. Michele Emerson-Roberts created this giftable DIY project perfect for teachers or to keep for yourself. After all it “Tis the Season for Sniffles”!

“Winter chills and sniffles go hand in hand. I love decorating for the holidays and this will be perfect sitting on an end table, mantel, or bathroom countertop or wherever you might need some tissues.

I will be making these tissue box surrounds for all of the holidays……already planned are Valentines’, Easter, Independence day, Halloween and Thanksgiving. With all the wonderful TONIC® dies to choose from DIY projects like this one are easy to create. And there is a die for every occasion making this project very versatile.

Instructions:

1. Score the clear plastic strip 4 times every 5 1/2”. (You will have an overlap piece left over….trim it to 1”.) 
2. Burnish the score lines. 
3. Glue the overlap with TONIC® Craft Tacky Glue. 
4. Set the surround aside to dry.
5. Die cut and emboss four each “ ’Tis the Season”, the small flourish die and the outside square “wreath” die from Kraft colored cardstock.
6. Apply the Tonic ®Craft glue to one piece of the die cut wreath. 
7. Center the wreath and attach it to one side of the surround. 
8. Center and attach the sentiment inside the wreath. *Repeat this step for all four sides of the surround.
9. Attach the small flourishes to the top of the white cardstock tissue box.
10. Place the tissue box inside the surround.

Supplies:

Dies: Verso Christmas Wreath die set 641e 

Tools:Tonic personal paper cutter and scissors, Scor-Pal™ 

Paper/Cardstock: The Paper Cut™ Kraft #709 Adhesives: Tonic Craft Tacky Glue 

Other: Clear flexible plastic strip 5 ½ x 25” strip White square tissue box (I made mine from white card stock)

“Victorian Saint Nickolas”

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I always make extra special Christmas cards for those extra special friends. The Cotton Press Victorian Saint Nickolas mold has been one of my favorites for years and gets used many times during the Christmas holidays. Coloring him is not difficult but looks like it. Using G45 Christmas cardstock for the card base and one of the versatile Tonic dies made the project go together in a jiffy.  I love these kinds of projects and think you will too.

Supplies:

·        Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits

·        A sunny window

·        Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels

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

·        Cotton Press Victorian Saint Nickolas casting mold

·        Beacon QuickGrip^TM and Beacon ZipDry^TM Adhesive

·        Double sided foam tape

·        Envelopes to fit cards

·        Scor-pal^TM

·        Westcott^TM™ Paper trimmer

·        Die: Tonic Gold^TM US #637E (Dragonfly Frame & Insert set.)

·        Spellbinders^TM Grand Calibur die cutting machine

·        Graphic45^TM Christmas cardstock

·        The Paper Cut™ BS204 Base Green for the frame

·        Pastels, Chalks or powered eye shadow in red, green and brown, applicators

·        Flower Soft™ Ivory or Polar White

Instructions:

1.      Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more of the Saint Nickolas paper casting. (Note: I used the upper part of the mold)

2.      When the castings are dry, color each area with the chalks. (See sample for placement)

3.      Apply ZipDry™ adhesive to the fur cuff, rim of hat and ball of hat.

4.      Sprinkle with the Flower Soft™. (I used Ivory) 

5.      Allow it to dry.

6.      Die cut and emboss a frame for each card from the green cardstock.

7.      Create a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” card from the G45 Christmas cardstock.

Assemble the card:

1.      Center and attach the die cut frame to the center of the card with tiny pieces of foam tape.

2.      Center and attach the Saint Nickolas paper casting inside the frame.

Add a hand written message inside the card. Hand deliver or mail in a padded envelope or shallow box.

“Dancer, Prancer & Vixen”

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

Christmas is a magical time of year; favorite stories, poems, movies and TV shows often come to mind. Think back to your childhood memories and create card using one of those memories as the theme.

Supplies:

·        Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits

·        A sunny window

·        Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels

·        Scraps of off white, tan & brown paper (think junk mail, etc.)

·        Beacon ZipDry^TM and QuickGrip™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape

·        Envelopes to fit cards

·        Scor-pal^TM
Westcott^TM Paper trimmer

·        Dies: Tonic Gold US^TM Rocco Regal Reindeer 1018E

·        Spellbinders^TM Grand Calibur die cutting machine

·        Stamp: Christmas sentiment stamp (unknown manufacturer)

·        ColorBox^TM Chalk Dark Brown Ink pad, Stylus handle & white tips

·        Approx. 18 “of tiny holly garland

·        Iron

Instructions:

1.      Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more sheets of heavy weight ivory colored paper. (Create more sheets if you are going to make numerous cards…..one sheet will make 2 cards.) 

2.      When the paper is dry, iron it to make it smooth.

3.      Cut it to make two pieces 5 ½ x 8 ½”.  

4.      Create a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” left side step card.

5.      Make batch of tan/brown slurry and create one or more sheets of heavy weight paper (think card stock weight).

6.      When the brown paper is dry, iron it to make it smooth.

7.      Die cut six of the reindeer for each card.

8.      Glue 3 sets of reindeer together.

9.      Use the Stylus™ handle and white tip to shade the antlers and bodies of the reindeer.

10.   Stamp the Christmas sentiment onto a scrap of the ivory handmade paper.

Assemble the card:

1.      Layer the stamped sentiment to a slightly larger piece of brown handmade paper with tiny pieces of foam between each layer.

2.      Attach the layered piece to the left side of the card.

3.      Attach small pieces of the holly garland around the reindeers’ necks and down the sides of the stamped sentiment with QuickGrip™.

4.      Attach the three reindeer to the side steps of the card with ZipDry™ adhesive.

Add a hand written message inside the card. Hand deliver or mail in a padded envelope.

Gratitude

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I practice four “Rs”: Recycle, Restyle, Revamp and Repurpose every chance I can. Making handmade paper the Arnold Grummer way is one of the best ways to do it. Most people throw away a ton of paper every year - not this gal! Look what can be created in a few minutes!

As always, with “gratitude” to Arnold and his family.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of off white, tan & brown paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Beacon ZipDry^TM Adhesive, double sided foam tape or dots
• Envelopes to fit cards (or make your own with the AG envelope template)
• Scor-pal^TM
• Scraps of ivory, light & dark olive green handmade paper, junk mail or cardstock
• 4 x 5” scrap of tissue paper
• Dies: CheeryLynn^TM # B118 Pair of Ferns
• Spellbinders^TM Grand Calibur die cutting machine
• Stamp: Impression Obsession^TM 14440E
• ColorBox^TM Chalk Charcoal Ink pad

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more sheets of heavy weight cream colored speckled paper. (Create more sheets if you are going to make numerous cards; one sheet will make 2 cards.)  
2. When the paper is dry, fold and tear it (you want the deckle edges) to make two pieces 5 ½ x 8 ½”.
3. Score and fold to create a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” cards.
4. Die cut one each of the ferns from the ivory, light & dark olive scrap. I used the set that curved right for the card and saved the other set for another project.
5. Stamp the “gratitude” sentiment on the piece of tissue paper with the Chalk ink.
6. When the ink is dry attach the stamped tissue paper to the lower right front of the card.
7. Add tiny pieces of foam tape to the back of the ferns, layer light over dark and attach to the top of the card.

Note: The stamp quote is from Melody Beattie and is one of my favorites. It reads: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

“Hope, Trust, Love”

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

When I saw this Impression Obsession™ stamp and the new dies from the Paper Cut™, I knew they would make the perfect card for a friend who is going through a rough patch in her life.

This card was made from one of the “extra sheets” of handmade paper I always make to keep on hand, but I included the ‘from scratch’ instructions in this project.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of off-white, tan & brown paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Graphic45^TM “Topography” scrap for card front liner
• Scraps of black cardstock or heavy weight hand made paper
• Envelopes to fit cards (or make your own with the AG envelope template)
• Beacon QuickGrip^TM Adhesive, double sided foam tape or dots
• Scor-pal^TM (Love the new 1/8^” version)
• Dies: The Paper Cut™ PCDIE001Tripple Fancy Tag Card making die & PCDIE002 Fancy Tag Layering die set
• Stamps: Impression Obsession^TM # D1446 “Good things” & JustRite™ small word stamps
• ColorBox^TM Charcoal ink pad
• 1/8” round hole punch
• Approx. 9” Black Rattail cord
• Scissors, Iron 

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create a sheet of heavy weight cream handmade paper (think cardstock weight). Note - create more sheets if you are going to make numerous cards….. one sheet will make one card.
2. Iron the paper to make it smooth.
3. Follow the die package instructions to create the Z fold card.
4. Fold the extra right side piece under to form the “Z”.
5. Attach the piece of G45 cardstock inside this fold.
6. Stamp the sentiment and 3 words onto scrap of handmade paper.
7. Die cut the layering background pieces with the largest die from black card stock scrap.
8. Die cut the 3 words.
9. Layer the sentiment piece onto black card stock.
10. Punch two holes at the top and tie a knot through the holes with the Rattail cord.
11. Attach the layered piece to the left side of the card.
12. Layer the 3 words onto the black backing pieces and attach them to the fancy tag part of the card.
13. Hand write a note of encouragement inside the card and send it on its way.

"Grateful"

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

This is the time of year that we so often reflect back on all we have to be grateful for - our country, our families, our friends and neighbors, our four legged friends, our health, our lives  and so much more! I think it would be a better world if we would do this every day. I have so much to be grateful for; I am indeed blessed.

The card looks hard but come together in a short amount of time (I created 12 cards in a couple of hours.)

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of off white, tan & brown paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Beacon QuickGrip™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape or dots
• Envelopes to fit cards (or make your own with the AG envelope template)
• Scor-pal^TM (Love the new 1/8^” version)
• Sharpie® markers (2 shades each, red, green, yellow, purple, orange, brown)
• Scraps of tan chip board (I used the backside of cereal boxes)
• Dies: CheeryLynn^TM
•  # B615 (Grateful), # B600  (Thankful Harvest)
• Spellbinders^TM Grand Calibur die cutting machine

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more sheets of heavy weight tan speckled paper. (Create more sheets if you are going to make numerous cards; one sheet will make 2 cards.)  
2. When the paper is dry, fold and tear it to make two pieces 5 ½ x 8 ½”.
3. Score and fold to create a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” cards.
4. Die cut one cornucopia and word for each card from the tan chip board.
5. Color the word with light green, while it is still wet, color it with dark green.
6. Color one item at a time (Ex: grapes). Color with the light colored marker first, while it is still wet shade with the darker color, color again with the lighter marker to blend. Repeat these steps on each item. Refer to the sample for color and shading placement. The coloring does take a few minutes but is beautiful when finished.
7. Attach the word to the top right of the card with the QuickGrip™ adhesive.
8. Add foam tape to the back of the cornucopia basket rim and then attach it to the bottom left corner of the handmade paper card with QuickGrip™.

          NOTE: I always make extra sheets of paper to have on hand for future projects.

Check out this project how-to of mine...

 ...featured on the Bella Crafts blog!

Elk casting

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2015

I love this time of year. Things start to slow down and become more peaceful with the cooler weather and the shorting of days. It is never too early to start on the Christmas and other gifts that are needed. This project will be a birthday gift for my favorite brother-in-law.

Supplies:
• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scraps of beige, tan, ivory paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Elk mold (I used the back side of an antique pewter plate)
• Beacon ZipDry^TM Adhesive
• Matboard with round whole cute into it, and frame with glass (deep enough frame to allow for spacers)


Instructions:


1.    Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create light tan slurry. 
2.    Follow the instructions for paper casting.
3.    When you have removed all of the water from the mold, allow the casting to dry.
4.    When the casting is dry, mount it onto the mounting matboard with ZipDry™ adhesive.
5.    Make sure the glass is clean, place it into the frame.
6.    Attach the spacers to the glass/frame.
7.    Place the matboard, the mounting board with the casting attached, and a back board into the frame.