Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Red, White & Blue Banner

Banners can be a simple decoration to be used around the house for any occasion. Celebrate the beginning of the summer season on this Memorial Day, with this red, white and blue banner.  It can remain up as a decoration all summer long or all year long as a simple All-American sign.

To make this decoration, I made three sheets of paper for the base of each of the three pennants.  Using sheets of red, blue and white papers, I cut them into thin strips before processing in the blender.  The red and blue strips were pre-soaked.  I created a thicker sheet of each color using the pour method.  NOTE: I started with the white sheet. Use the water in the blender from the red and blue soaked paper shreds. Continued with the red and blue, cleaning all items used and changing water between the colors in the container.

Once the sheets are formed and dried, trim them each to measure 5 1/4" x 8".  I scanned and printed images from a "flag" book to be used on each of the pennants.  NOTE: Any images can be used, such as photos, drawings or other patriotic images.  The images were layered onto glittered card stock in coordinating colors before being attached to the handmade sheets.

Rosettes, in two sizes, were die-cut from vellum.  Discs and stars, as added embellishments are also die-cut from coordinating papers.  NOTE: Any embellishments of your choice can be used to decorate each pennant.

The three pennants are attached with tiny wooden clips onto a thin length of red, white and blue ribbon for hanging.

Go the Arnold Grummer website to place an order.  Use the code SPRING20 for a 20% discount.

Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Paper Layers

Using a variety of papers, some handmade along with other types, then layering them creates a keepsake card.

Begin with a piece of white textured card stock that is cut and folded to make a card measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  The next layer is a a patterned vellum, cut 1/4" smaller then folded card front.  All four sides of the card are trimmed with a deckle decorative scissor.   Glue onto card front with Zip Dry or a narrow double sided tape.  The next layer is a piece of hand made paper.  This piece was made by adding some dried leaf bits with stems.  The processing breaks these down but gives the paper some great texture.

The large butterfly started with another piece of plain handmade paper.  The paper is colored by spraying the paper with color spray.  NOTE: Use whatever method to color the paper.  If the method uses some form of rewetting the paper, press the paper an iron to help dry and smooth it.  Use a die-cut or a butterfly pattern of choice to cut the shape. Cut a butterfly body from a small piece of brown paper.  Cut a short length of wire, form it into a "V" shape.  With round nose jewelry pliers, twist the ends of both to make a slight curl.  Glue the wire shape onto the colored butterfly shape, then glue the brown paper cut-out over the wire and center of the lower shape.

To finish off the card, stamp a short verse onto a strip of ribbon and affix the ribbon on the card.

A casting, using the Arnold Grummer #704 butterfly mold,  was added to the card.  This casting was made with an epoxy resin material instead of paper.  The mold had been used several times to make casting with beeswax before making a casting with the resin product.  NOTE: To use the molds with resin I believe the molds need to be treated in some way to help release the resin.  Testing with an untreated mold was difficult to release.  The mold was placed in the freezer and then I used an X-acto knife blade to carefully lift the resin casting from the mold.  I used thinned Distress Paints to color the butterfly image on the casting then added a litter glitter glue around the image for some sparkle.

Check out the Arnold Grummer website for products and use the discount code SPRING20 for 20% off an order.

Designer Craft Connection - How Does Your Garden Grow

These days, my garden consists of small potted plants, hanging baskets, and container plants for the summer.  Space is limited now and I am beyond the work of a large garden, rose beds and perennial gardens.  Those are things I now enjoy at other locations, like the yards of my three children!

With Mother's Day just a few days away I crafted a floral pin that can be given as a gift.  

For the two flowers, begin with two pieces of fabric that are fused together with a double sided iron on interfacing.  (NOTE: Use something like Steam a Seam or Heat n Bond lightweight.)  Do the same with a green fabric for leaves.  The larger flower was die-cut, using Eileen Hull's Flower, Trinity die (658443), the smaller flower uses Scrappy Cat die, Flower, Rose 3-D (658504).  Leaves are cut using the medium and small size from Eileen Hull Leaves die (657119).  (NOTE: All dies are from Sizzix.)  

The edges of the flowers and leaves are shaded by applying some coordinating Distress Ink colors to the pieces.  Form the flowers according to directions of twisting them into the flower shapes and glue in place.  Iridescent beads are glued to the center of each flower.  Arrange them together as in the photo along with the leaves.  The assembled arrangement is glued onto a 1 1/2" circle of green felt.  Attach a pin back to the felt circle.  

The card background is cut using a Silhoutte Cameo.  The white card design is backed with small yellow circle to accent the centers of the corner flowers and then finished with a pink card stock cut to fit.  Punch two holes to hold the pin in place on the front of the card.  

Use the pin as an embellishment on a headband, a purse, or scarf for a little something extra!  As the saying goes - "Say it with flowers"!