Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Paper Casting 3-D Shapes

While processing pulp for casting in molds for the last project, an idea came to try and sculpt a three-dimensional shape using the left over pulp.

Experimenting with crafting material of any kind just happens to be something I enjoy doing.  It's fun to push the limits of materials and play with combining products because that's how new techniques and ideas are created in my opinion.

I used wire mesh to form a simple body base for a dragonfly.  Two sizes of wings were cut from wire mesh.  NOTE: The mesh used was Amaco WireForm Metal Mesh.

The process I used to cover the mesh forms was to dip the pieces into the pulp that is in a shallow container.  Move the mesh shapes around in the container, lift the mesh pieces from the container and press some of the water out with your fingers.  Place the mesh covered pieces onto a board covered with a towel.  Use a sponge or toweling to continue to press the water from the shapes.  This process was repeated to continue to add a coating of the pulp to each shape.  NOTE: When repeating this, do it carefully to as to not add too much water, causing the pulp to wash away.  Small amounts of pulp were lifted with a fork and placed onto the mesh shapes to continue to add layers of pulp to cover the shapes.

Dry the shapes in between the layering in a toaster oven.  Once the shapes are covered to your liking, the pieces can be painted and finished before completing the dragonfly.

The body was first painted with black paint.  A combination of other metallic colors were carefully brushed on randomly.

The wings are painted with a white pearl paint and then brushed with a light coat of Ranger Ice Stickles for a bit more sparkle.

A hole was poked through the dragonfly body to add a wire for attaching.  Two bronze beads are added for eyes.  The wings are glued together  and then glued into place on the top of the dragonfly to cover the hole made for the wire, slightly overlapping them.  Shape the wings as desired.  NOTE: The wire mesh makes them easy to shape.

I attached the dragonfly to a "found" branch that is part of a wall arrangement in my front hallway.

I am sure I will attempt this process of working with pulp in the fashion again.  It's always fun to experiment and work on perfecting a process and discover new ideas.

Give papermaking and papercasting a try!

If you haven't tried paper making or paper casting go to the Arnold Grummer website and check out the products, ideas, videos and place an order using the code: SUMMER20 when placing an order.

Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Simple Candle Embellishments

Summer time is here and it a time for sitting or dining outside. Candles always add a wonderful element to entertaining.

For this project I created some simple candles that can be used inside or outside for adding some glow to a summer setting.

Recycled jars make great candle holders but embellishing them with a little something extra makes them a bit special.

I made casting using the "dragonfly" casting molds with the cotton linter squares.  Follow  the directions to blend the squares with water in a blender, followed by pressing the pulp into the mold and removing water and then drying.  Instructions can be found in the package of the Linter Squares.

The casting are fine left the way they come from the molds but I chose to add some color to the images.  The dragonfly body was delicately painted with metallic paints.  The wings were coated with Glossy Accents glaze and then sprinkled with clear rock candy Distress stickles dry glitter.  Turquoise Perfect Pearls was brushed carefully onto the background area.  A touch of paint in a round the edges of the squares to finish it off.
I trimmed the squares with deckle decorative scissors.

A strip of wood grain paper ribbon is glued around the jars and the dragonfly square is glued to the center of the strips to complete the embellishing.

If you haven't tried paper making or paper casting go to the Arnold Grummer website and check out the products, ideas, videos and place an order using the code: SUMMER20 when placing an order.

Designer Crafts Connection - Handmade Gift Ideas

This month we are sharing ideas for handmade gifts.  It's funny that I had an actual reason to create something handmade to give to a friend yesterday, and I will be sharing what I made for this post.

Our quilt group was invited to visit the home of someone who helped us get our little group off and running several years back.   We were all invited to go and see her large collection of quilts and other quilt related pieces, as well as her personal creative space and the Gammill Long-Arm quilting machine.  

Front of card box

I will share a few photos of some of the stacks of quilts were had the opportunity to view.  She also shared several patterns with us.  We decided that we needed to once again work on a larger project, with a new application that none of us have tried before.  So Maureen graciously offered to once again to guide us through a new project.  

To show my "thankfulness" for this wonderful, inspiring visit, I wanted to make a little "handmade" something to give her.  

I created a box of note cards for her.  This is a small gift that anyone could make in their own variations, with tools they have available.  

Box back - stamp details

To make the set of eight cards I used blank white cards and matching envelopes.  For the colored cardstock cut-out design, I used a design for a card (#59910 - adapating the front) for my Silhouette machine.  Eight different colors of textured cardstock were used. To add a little contrast to the cut-out area, I used a blending tool and went over the area with coordinating Distress Inks.  I added a coordinating, decorative paper to the backside of these pieces.  Each of these were then glued to the the blank cards.  Another piece of each decorative paper was trimmed to fit into the envelopes for a liner paper.  

The box to hold them was also cut from a Silhouette file (#54224) using a kraft colored paper.

To decorate the box with a "quilting" theme, I used Ann Butler Faux Quilt design 2" stamps.  

Each design was stamped with clear embossing ink and sprinkled with Ranger Gold Pearl embossing powder.  Heat the powder with a heat tool.  Once all designs are stamped and embossed, I added inks over the images to off-set the embossed areas.  Use a blending tool to add the inks.  I used Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and Archival Potting Shed for shading.  Each of the squares were trimmed down to measure 1 3/4".  Cut two black panels of cardstock just 1/4" or so shy of the box front and back.  Glue the faux quilt squares onto the black card stock, leaving a little black show between the squares.

Add a pretty piece of ribbon for tying closed.  

NOTE: I created a small "thank you" card to attach using another image for a card from Silhouette.  I resized it to make it smaller.  Attach a decorative paper to the inside front of the card.  Add a little sprackle with some glitter.

There is something special about making and giving a gift created with your own hands! 

Now just a few photos of the absolutely beautiful array of handmade quilts -

That is just a small part of what we were treated to seeing!  Amazing!!!!!