Wallpaper Cards

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

Recently a friend gave me several large boxes of wallpaper samples. I was in the process of sorting the samples when I remembered that I still needed some Thanksgiving cards and had just come across the perfect piece of scrap wall paper! I had enough of the wallpaper border left to also create a great birthday card.

 Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Personal paper cutter, scissors
• Scor-Pal™
• Beacon ZipDry™ Adhesive, foam tape or foam dots
• Scraps of white, tan and brown paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dies:    Spellbinders™ acorns
              Dreamweaver™ ovals
              Sizziix™ Tim Holtz leaves and matching embossing folder
              CheeryLynn™ words “Happy Birthday”
• Spellbinders™ Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Several pieces of wallpaper border
• Scrap of autumn toned paper
• ColorBox™ dark brown ink pad
• Large “Thanksgiving” word stamp (or computer generate it)
• A2 envelopes (or make matching envelopes using the AG envelope template)

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create several sheets of medium brown heavy weight paper and one sheet of ivory paper.
2. When the sheets of paper are dry, cut one piece of the medium brown paper in half (8 ½” x 5 ½”).
3. Score at 4 ¼” and fold in half to create two cards.
4. Die cut the Happy Birthday and the large oval from the second sheet of medium brown paper. (Save the scraps for another project.)
5. Die cut the acorns from the scrap of autumn paper.
6. Stamp the word “Thanksgiving” onto the scrap of autumn paper.
7. Die cut the stamped piece of autumn toned paper with a smaller oval die.
8. Die cut three leaves from the ivory paper and emboss with the leaf embossing folder.
9. Cut the wallpaper border to fit the front of the folded cards.

Assemble the cards:

Attach the wallpaper to the fronts of the cards with Beacon ZipDry™ adhesive.

“Thanksgiving” card:

1. Attach the large tan oval centered to the front of one of the cards with foam tape or dots.
2. Layer the stamped oval and foam tape to the tan oval.
3. Add the acorns to the left side of the stamped saying with foam tape or dots.

“Happy Birthday” card:

1. Attach the three embossed leaves to the left top of the card with foam tape or dots.
2. Attach the “Happy Birthday” die cut with ZipDry™ adhesive.

Quotes Fan Book

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

I always need “stocking stuffer” kinds of gifts… you know the ones that are really easy to create, don’t cost an arm and a leg to make, and can be made by the dozen, but look like they took a lot of work to make! Once again I turn to my stash of Arnold Grummer’s® products to solve the problem. The books can be used for thoughts, quotes, memories etc.  You can make paper for the covers, use scraps left from other projects, or just scraps of patterned cardstock or paper. Follow along and see how easy it is to create this great
quote book.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ 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
• Small scrap of chip board and tan/black print papers
• Dies: CL tiny leaf strip, IO tiny rolled roses, small frame
• Die cut machine: Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur
• Punches: 5 petal flower, stamen

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create black slurry. Create a sheet of thick black paper.
2. When the paper is dry, die cut the leaves and the frame.
3. Die cut the tiny rolled roses from the tan/black print paper.
4. Punch the 5 petal flower from the tan/black paper.
5. Punch the stamens from the black paper.
6. Remove the screw hinge and pages from the book.
7. Stamp a saying onto the front cover.
8. Attach the frame to the cover with double sided foam tape or dots.
9. 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 portrait and has the hinge on the top left). 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 and save them for later “Fan” book projects.)
10. Reassemble the fan book.
11. Attach the flower, roses and tiny leaves to the top left corner of the cover of the book.

These little books go together in a jiffy and can be any theme you chose and will be treasured by all who receive them.

Rustic “Bark” Journal

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

I love creating journals and handmade books both for myself and to give as gifts. The books are always a big hit with the recipients.  I had several males in mind when creating these very rustic small books. Each book is one of a kind and is made with handmade paper with dried leaf and grass inclusions. The books go together quickly so it is easy to make them in batches of 10 or more at a time. I can’t wait to see the smiles on their faces when they open their gifts. Maybe I can find some of those “stick” pencils to go with the books!

These make the perfect gift for the hunter, fisherman, hiker, bird watcher or gardener in your life!

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Scissors
• Scraps of white, ivory or off white paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dried leaves and grasses, small pieces of bark
• Chip board (I used pieces of cereal box) for the covers
• Awl, needle tool or Japanese Screw Punch (JSP)
• Thin twine/cord for binding
• Large eyed needle
• Beacon Quick Grab™ Adhesive

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create numerous sheets of handmade paper.
2. When the papers are dry, fold and tear each sheet into half (or quarters for smaller books) leaving the rough torn edge.
3. Fold the pages in half, nestle several sheets together (this is a signature). You will make as many signatures as you wish for each book. 
4. Use the awl, needle tool or JSP to place holes in the signatures. Bind the book with a simple pamphlet stitch (also called saddle stitch). If needed, refer to this quick how-to video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlvf0Idog10  
5. Attach the small pieces of bark to the outside of the book covers with the Beacon QuickDry™ adhesive.

Autumn Leaves

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

Autumn has arrived in Southeast Arizona! Cooler temperatures and the beautiful colors of changing leaves - yes, there are trees here, at the base of the Huachuca Mountains, anyway. I love making fall cards to cheer up friends and family. I hope you will enjoy this card as much as I did creating it.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• AG Large 4 Petal Fold Envelope (card) template #553
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Personal paper cutter, scissors
• Scor-Pal™
• Beacon ZipDry™ Adhesive, double sided tape
• Scraps of light green paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Tiny dried flower petals and/or spices and iridescent sprinkles
• Verbiage stamp and black ink pad or computer generated saying
• One half sheet of ivory vellum
• 18” of ½” sheer ivory ribbon
• Oak leaf punch or die and Spellbinders’ Grand Calibur machine
• Envelope to fit the card

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create light green slurry with inclusions.
2. Use the template to create one (or more) light green 4 petal envelope/cards.
3. When the paper is dry, score three sides of the envelope/card.  
4. Stamp the saying onto the vellum, or use a
   computer generated print of the saying. (If you
   are making several of these cards, print all of the sayings at once. I will often do many different related saying at a time and save them for later projects.)
5. Punch or die cut an oak leaf at the top of the card (the part that was not scored). You will use this leaf on the inside of the card.
6. Cut the vellum to fit the top arch and center of the card.
7. Punch or die cut one oak leaf from the bottom of the printed velum.
8. Punch or die cut several leaves from the leftover velum.
9. Attach the vellum to the inside of the card with ZipDry™ adhesive.
10. Layer and attach a velum leaf, the green leaf and two more vellum leaves at the top of the card.
11. Use the double sided tape to attach the ribbon to the outside of the card.
12. Add a personal message.

Dragonfly Dreams

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

I love dragonflies. They are one of the most beautiful of insects. They predate the dinosaurs with fossils showing wing spans of over 2 ½ feet, and today there are approximately 450 species in the US alone. In mythology the dragonfly symbolizes lost loved ones and rebirth.  

Supplies:

·        Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits

·        Mold:  Arnold Grummer Dragonfly, # 703

·        Microwave, heat gun or a sunny window

·        Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels

·        Beacon Quick Grab™ and ZipDry™ Adhesives, double sided foam tape or dots

·        Scraps of off white and yellow paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)

·        Dried flower petals and/or spices

·        Several twigs and dried Eucalyptus leaves

·        8 ½ x 11” Easel Frame

·        Rust Brown suede matt board, cut to fit frame

·        Gold PearlX™ powder, small brush

Arnold Grummer

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 off white scraps.

2.      Cast one (or more) of the dragonfly molds.

3.      Dry the castings in the microwave, with the heat tool, or place in a sunny window.

4.      Create two sheets of yellow handmade paper, and one sheet of off white paper – add a small amount of tiny dried flower petals or spices to both slurries.

5.      Allow the papers to dry.

6.      Fold and tear the yellow paper to create a piece approx. 6 x 8 ½” and a piece 4 x 4”.

7.      Fold and tear the off white paper to create a 5 ½ x 7 ½” paper.

8.      Layer and attach the dragonfly casting to the 4 x 4” yellow paper with the double sided foam tape.

9.      Attach the twigs and the leaves to the off white sheet of paper with Beacon QuickGrab™ adhesive.

10.   Layer and attach the 4 x 4” yellow paper to the 6 x 8 ½” off white paper with Beacon ZipDry™ adhesive.

11.   Layer and attach the off white sheet of paper to the 6 x 8 ½” sheet of yellow paper.

12.   Insert the rust brown sued matt board into the slot of the easel frame.

13.   Attach the layers to the matt board.

14.   Highlight the dragonfly casting with the brush and gold PearlX™ powder.

(Reminder - save all your scraps for other projects)

I have created many of these castings and given them as remembrance gifts to people who have lost someone they loved. The castings are beautiful in different colors and mounted to the tops of boxes, the front of cards or handmade journals or framed.

Here Kitty Kitty

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014


I love October! Fall colors, cooler weather and one of my favorite holidays, Halloween. I’m not into witches and goblins but black cats are great. We have a wonderful black kitty named “Bitty”, who we rescued from under our porch 13 years ago. She is precious and rules the roost, keeping the two dogs in line at all times. My card today honors Bitty and all the kitties in our lives.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• Molds:  R320 Cat With Heart (available from AG)
• Microwave, heat gun or a sunny window
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, paper cutter, scissors, bone folder
• Beacon Quick Grab™ and ZipDry™ Adhesives, double sided foam tape or dots
• Scraps of yellow paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)
• 1 sheets of black 8 ½ x 5 1/2” cardstock
• Envelope for a 4 ¼ x 5 ½” card (or use the AG template to create a matching envelope)
• Dies: Stamp Doctor Center Step Card, Cheery Lynn Chasing Rainbows Doily
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• Punches: small cat foot print
• Bow Easy^TM
• 12” yellow 1/8” satin ribbon
• Small flat backed yellow heart cabochon
• Fine tip black Sharpie™ marker, yellow 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 yellow scraps.
2. Cast one (or more) of the cat molds.
3. Dry the castings in the microwave, with the heat tool, or place in a sunny window.
4. Create a sheet of yellow handmade paper. Allow the paper to dry.
5. Cut one yellow doily.
6. Cut two strips of yellow scrap to go behind the punched foot prints. (Save the scrap for another project.
7. Cut one of the center step cards from the sheet of black card stock.
8. Fold the card and use the bone folder to get a good crease.
9. Punch kitty foot prints along the outside edges and the two bottom corners of the center step card.
   
   

Assemble the card:

1. Carefully color the kitty with the black Sharpie™ marker.
2. Tie a tiny bow with the yellow ribbon.
3. Attach the bow and the heart cabochon at the neck of the kitty.
4. Use the ZipDry™ adhesive to attach the yellow strips behind the kitty foot prints and to attach the doily to the center of the card.
5. Use double sided foam tape or dots to attach the kitty casting to the center of the doily.
6. Write a Happy Halloween message inside the card with the yellow gel pen.

Tag…You’re It!

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

I love creating small gift items for special friends and family to include with a handmade paper card. These tag necklaces can be made ahead of time and stashed away for later gift giving.  Since I make dozens of sheets of paper at a time and always have scraps, I will often use leftover handmade papers and simply draw around the template and cut the tag shape with scissors. Great way to use up leftover papers and beads too!

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Arnold Grummer tag template #360
• Personal paper cutter, scissors
• Scraps of white or ivory paper, scraps of colored paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• ColorBox™ Ink pads in various dark colors to match the hand made tags
• Decretive stamps (patterns for the covers… words would be great for the inside pages)
• Clear embossing powder
• Heat tool
• Standard size round hole punch
• Four feet of soft metallic cord (for each tag necklace)
• One large bead, two medium beads and six spacer beads (for each tag necklace)

Instructions:

1. For each tag necklace, follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create two heavy weight tags for the covers and 6 light weight tags for the pages.  
2. When the tags are dry, stamp designs onto the covers, and emboss with clear embossing powder and the heat tool.
3. Stamp the words onto the inside pages (encouraging words for a friend who is going through a rough time are a nice addition.)
4. Punch the hole at the top of the covers and pages.

Assemble the necklace:

1. Fold the metallic cord in half, insert the loop into the stacked tags and tread the loose ends through the loop.
2. Place one spacer bead, the large bead and one spacer bead onto the loose ends of the cord.
3. Tie a loose overhand knot approx. 8” from the ends of the cords.
4. Thread one spacer bead, the medium bead and one spacer bead on each end of the cords.
5. Tie a knot at the end of each cord.

Birthday Greetings

Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

Recently a friend gave me a bag of old greeting cards that she had been saving. The cards represented many holidays and celebrations themes. I separated the cards by category and filed them away for future use.

I had just finished several sheets of handmade petal paper and remembered that I needed a birthday card for the very friend who had given me the bag of cards. I checked the stash of cards from her and found the perfect one to die cut and use for her BD card! Wonder if she will notice? Smile.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Personal paper cutter, scissors
• Scor-Pal™
• Beacon ZipDry™ Adhesive, and foam tape or foam dots
• Scraps of white paper, scraps of turquoise paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Small dried flower petals
• An envelope (or make matching envelopes with the AG envelope template)
• An already used store bought card to die cut
• Dies: Spellbinders’ Large Scalloped Ovals
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine

Instructions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one or more sheets white “petal” paper and one sheet of heavy weight turquoise paper.
2. When the sheets of paper are dry cut the turquoise paper to 81/2” x 5 ½”.
3. Score each at 4 ¼” and fold in half to create two turquoise cards (set one aside for a future project).
4. Fold, crease and tear the white “petal” paper to create a deckled edge piece slightly smaller than 4 ¼  x 5 ½” card. (Note - always save the scraps)
5. Attach the deckle edged “petal” paper to the front of the folded turquoise card with Beacon ZipDry™ adhesive.
6. Die cut and emboss the sentiment shape from the front of the old birthday card.
7. Attach the die cut verbiage to the middle of card with foam tape or dots.
8. Add a personal message.

Gone Fishin’ Card

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014

I have such wonderful childhood memories of lazy afternoons just sitting and fishing with my dad. Looking back it didn’t seem to matter that I never caught anything, or would not bait my own hook. What a delight it is to take junk mail and scrapes of paper and use them to create something that not only is useful but also helps keep stuff out of the land fill! This card will be a big hit with the all the males in your life, so you might want to make several to have on hand.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• AG #552 Large Template: Envelope A2
• AG #551 Large Template:  Deckle Divider
• Scraps of white and olive green paper (think junk mail, etc.)
• Dried evergreen needles
• AG #163 Opal Sprinkles
• Tiny amount of Opal shred
• Mold: Fish soap mold
• 8mm clear crystal bead
• A sunny window
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, scissors, bone folder
• ColorBox™ Olive Green Chalk ink pad and Stylus handle & tip
• Beacon QuickGrab™, double sided foam tape or foam dots
  

Directions:

1. Follow the direction for paper making and casting found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books using the deckle divider and envelope templates to create two sheets of pale green paper.
2. Add a tiny bit of dried evergreen needles for the card sheet.
3. When the paper is dry you will have two deckle edge cards and one matching envelope (You may want to create a second envelope to use later with the extra card - just a reminder: always save the scraps and the left over pieces to use for other projects in the future).
4. Create some darker olive slurry, add a few of the Opal Sprinkles, caste the fish. (While you have the slurry, you may want to cast some other items to use for future projects. I often do many casting at a time.)
5. Since this mold is thin plastic, dry the casting in a sunny window.
6. When the casting is dry, carefully tear around the shape of the fish close to the body.
7. Use the ColorBox™ Stylist handle and tip to apply Olive Chalk ink to the raised areas on the fish.

Assemble the card:

1. Fold the card in half. Follow the folding instructions to create the handmade envelope.
2. Use the QuickGrab™ adhesive to attach a small amount of Opal shred to the front of the card and to attach the 8mm clear crystal bead to the fish’s eye.
3. Use the foam tape or dots to attach the fish casting to the center area of the card. 

Caution when mailing: you will probably need to put this one in a box so that it does not get crushed, or better yet, hand carry it and watch his eyes light up when he opens the envelope!

WHO! WHO!

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2014

I don’t usually do “cute” but fell in love with this owl from Dream Weaver and knew it would make a great “guy” card. I am also an avid “saying” collector and have pages and pages of saying that resonated with me… someday they will get sorted and put in a book, but that’s a project for another day - smile.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits
• A sunny window
• Blender, cello sponges and soft towels
• Personal paper cutter, scissors
• Scor-Pal™
• Beacon ZipDry™ Adhesive, and foam tape or foam dots, double sided tape
• Scraps of tan paper and black paper (think brown paper bag, junk mail, etc.)
• Two envelopes (or make matching envelopes with the AG envelope template)
• Black frame shape left over from another project
• Embossing folder or vegetable net bag or other texture plate
• Dies: Spellbinders’ “Branching Out” S6-006, Memory Box “Woodland Branch #98187 and Dream Weaver “Nested Owls” DG751
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• “Who do you see……” computer generated verbiage (or your choice of other message)
• ColorBox Stylus™ Handle and white foam tip, Honey colored Distress™ Ink pad

Directions:

1. Follow the directions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create one sheet of tan heavy weight paper and one sheet of heavy weight black paper.
2. When the sheets of paper are dry cut the papers to 81/2” x 5 ½”.
3. Score one of each color at 4 ¼” and fold in half to create a tan card and a black card.
4. Cut one of each left over piece to slightly smaller than 4 ¼  x 5 ½” to line the inside  front of the cards. (Always save the scraps)
5. Computer generate and print the saying. (Note - I will often do many different saying at a time and save them for later projects.)
6. Die cut the saying.
7. Die cut the owl shape from the front of each of the two cards (refer to photo for placement). Then die cuts out the “parts” and leaves the outline. Note - the “fall outs” will be used on the opposite cards (black owl on tan card, and tan owl on black card).
8. Die cut the branch from the black handmade paper scrap.
9. Emboss the tan owl fall out pieces.
10. Emboss the front of the tan card. Note - to bring out the texture and design of the embossing on the owl pieces, use the ColorBox™ Stylus™ handle with the white foam tip to lightly apply the Honey ink to the embossed paper.
11. Tint the die cut saying.
12. Attach the lining paper (black inside the tan card, tan on the inside of the black card) to the inside of the cards with ZipDry™ adhesive or double sided tape.
13. Attach the die cut verbiage to the right side of the black card with foam tape or dots.
14. Attach the embossed tan owl pieces to the left side of the card.
15. Use tiny pieces of foam tape to attach the black owl (except the feet) pieces to the tan card.
16. Place the branch at the owls’ feet, and place and attach the feet on top of the branch.
17. Attach the frame to the front of the tan card.
18. Add a personal message.