A Zig-Zag Album for Arnold Grummer

This little project is something that could be used as a small photo album for any occasion by just changing the type of handmade paper and paper casted embellishment.  It could also become a small journaling book or mini scrapbook keepsake.

VIsit the Arnold Grummer blog to find the information you need to create your own, yhen check out the other interesting ideas from the other contributors to the blog.  You will find some fun things to try!

ARNOLD GRUMMER BLOG:http://arnoldgrummerpapermaking.blogspot.com/2015/04/zig-zag-album.html

Arnold Grummer Papermaking Blog - Sweet and Simple Paper Casting

It's National Craft Month so there is a lot of crafting going on for many reason!  Come join the fun!!!

These little basket boxes would be a sweet addition on a Easter table setting.  Each is made using a die-cut box as the base.  What makes them become special are "extras" added to the surface, mainly the casted images.

Paper castings are so easy to make using any of the Arnold Grummer casting molds or any variety of molds that may be available.  Use this link to find a pamphlet that you can download filled with information about creating casting here.

After the paper castings are complete, the coloring can begin.  For the images on boxes I chose to use both chalks and Ranger Perfect Pearl powders.  The castings were trimmed of the paper around them to make them smaller and allow the papers used on the boxes to frame them.  One set was trimmed straight, the other with deckle designed decorative scissors.

Box Of Chicks
Die-cut the box from white mat board.  Form the box using redline tape.  NOTE: One side of the box is folded to the inside of the box to create an open box.  It is helpful to cut away the small flap before folding to the inside.  Some glue may need to be added to hold in place.  Apply dye based ink to the surface of the box.  Cut four squares, slightly smaller then the sides of the box.  Trim the edges if desired with decorative scissors.  Glue a length of ribbon around the center of the box.  Glue the Daisy casted squares at a diagonal onto two (or four sides) of the box. If using only two images, form two small bows from the ribbon and glue to the center of the two opposite sides and embellish with a button of choice.

Butterfly Basket
Die-cut the box from chipboard.  Form the box with redline tape.  NOTE: One side of the box is folded to the inside create an open box. Follow the same directions as above.  Apply paint to the surface of the box.  Cut papers to apply to the sides of the box.  NOTE: I used a small sheet of handmade paper from my stash of sheets using leftover scraps for interesting effects.  Glue the Butterfly squares onto the front and back of the box, centering them so background paper frames the image.  Create a handle from a stiff strip of paper.  Cover the handle by wrapping jute cord around the strip.  Glue onto the sides of the box, then add a button for embellishment.  Form a bow from desired ribbon, attach to the top, center of the handle.

These boxes show an Easter theme, but either design could be used for other occasions such as showers, weddings and birthdays or to fit any other holiday theme, buy changing colors, papers and casted images.

Other material information:
Sizzix Big Shot & Eileen Hull Box Die & Mat Board
Beacon 3-in-1 Glue

Visit the Arnold Grummer website and when placing an order use code MAR20 for a 20% saving.

Next week I will be sharing another casted idea for Easter using a different type of mold for a cute little decoration.

Arnold Grummer Papermaking - Simple Casted Ornaments

These little paper casted ornaments are truly easy to create.  Process  five cotton linter squares for each ornament.  The art molds used were: Snowman #707, Bird #712, Three Trees #706, Snowflake. Check out this link for instructions on "how to cast paper".

After casting the designs and before drying the casting completely, I used a straight pin to pull away pulp from the edges to give them a feathered look.

Using balsa wood, because of its light weight and easy of cutting, make four squares that measure 3" x 3".  Sand the edges smooth and sand the four corners to make them round.
Cut squares to the same size from a glitter cardstock.  Use a corner rounder punch on each corner.  Adhere the glitter cardstock to the balsa wood squares with a double sided adhesive, like Therm-o-web PeelnStick. NOTE : Water base glues could warp the balsawood.  Glue the paper casting onto the center of the glittered covered squares using Beacon 3-in-1 glue.  Attach ribbon for hangers.

Visit the Arnold Grummer website to view videos showing the paper making process.  Place an order and use the coupon code THANKS20 for a discount.

Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Christmas In July

Is it too soon to give any thoughts to Christmas?  When days are hot and steamy why not!  Actually I have been into a couple of craft stores in the area and "holiday" items are already on display.

It was time to play around and experiment again.  Going through the casting molds and other things items to use as deckles for shapes, I found a Wilton cookie mold and some plaster molds.

 Here is a snowflake casting, using the Wilton cookie mold and cotton linter squares.  I used enough of the squares that would cover the size of the mold and processed them in a blender as suggested for making pulp.  I included  "Iridescent Flakes" into the pulp before making the casting.  Once the snowflake casting was dry, I used some glitter glue to add dimension on some of the raised lines on the casting.  I small hole is punched and a narrow ribbon hanger is added.   Just for a few ideas, the snowflakes would make a nice additon to a Christmas tree or could be used as decorations in a sway over a doorway or along a mantle edge.  NOTE: I created over 100 of these snowflakes several years ago as a favor at a friends "winter wedding".  I had brushed the raised areas with white glue and sprinkled them with iridescent glitter.  A decorative, silver ornament hanger was attached.  Each was packaged in a cellophane bag along with some artifical snow, with gift tag attached from the bride and groom.

These two package tags were created with recycling thin, kraft colored packing paper pulp.  Process the pulp in a blender and strain.  Press the pulp into molds of choice.  I used two molds that are meant for plaster casting.  Remove as much water with sponges or rags.  Allow the casting to dry. NOTE:  I help the drying process along by placing the  pieces on a microwave safe surface and use 30 secong intervals to dry pieces. Use this method to dry slightly and then leave overnight to dry completely.  

Once the pieces are dry, they can be painted if desired or embellished in any way.  Use a purchased tag or die-cut a tag shape.  Add a strip of torn holiday fabric and glue the casting onto the surface.  Add a ribbon or cord for attaching the tag to a package.

For a 20% savings, use SAVE20 code after visiting the Arnold Grummer website for any purchase this month.

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 - Remembering Mom

With Mother's Day just a couple weeks away, this special day became the inspiration for my latest project, using handmade paper and some casted elements to create a keepsake for a mother or grandmother or any special lady.

A variety of previously formed sheets of handmade paper were used to construct a mini album.  Three dimensional flowers are die-cut and colored from plain sheets of handmade paper and leaves are caste in a mold used for clay.

The base of the album was die-cut from tan chipboard. NOTE: I used Sizzix Scoreboard XL - Album Photo die, (#657122). The front cover uses a sheet of paper made from a mix of a brown paper lunch bag and white copy paper.  This mixture of paper creates a nice mottled look to the paper.  NOTE: This sheet is also die-cut to match the chipboard cover.  Glue this sheet to the chipboard cover.  Paint the back cover and binding piece with Vintage Photo Distress Paint.  Use Distress Inks to shade the edges of all pieces.  Use a strong double faced tape like "red tape" to put the album together, by attaching the front and back covers to the binding strip.  Create a page anchor by accordion folding a piece of paper 4" tall paper every 1/2".  NOTE: My piece was 4 1/2" wide, this will hold four pages.  Add one inch more for each additional page wanted.  Apply double sided adhesive to both ends of the accordion folded piece.  Adhere the ends flaps of this piece to the front and back covers.

For the insert pages I used other handmade sheets.  The pages are random widths.  I ran these through the Big Shot using the same album die, only trimming away the edge that will be attached to the binding.  The right edge is left with the deckle as formed when making the sheet of paper.  Glue each page onto a binding fold.

Flowers are formed from die-cuts. NOTE: I used Sizzix Bigz - Flowers, 3-D die.  Each flower is lightly inked with Distress Inks.  NOTE: I used Tattered Rose and Festive Berries.  Twist the flowers using tweezers to form and glue with hot glue to hold in place.

Leaves were caste in a Makin's Clay Leaves mold.  Trim away any excess paper and color each leaf with green Distress Inks.  With a small fine brush, paint the stem and veins with a green paint.

Form a bow for the edge binding with ribbon.  Glue the leaves and flowers in place in any pattern on the cover.  Die-cut letters to spell M-O-M and glue onto cover if desired.

Add photos or personal messages onto the pages.

Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Making Seed Papers

A suggested theme for this month was making seed papers.  Since this is one thing that I had never tried before I decided to give it a whirl!

The results are these seed packets using the seeded sheets of paper.  Along with those I included a paper casting "plant poke" to add in a garden or a flower pot.

I did a bit of research on making seed papers and found a couple different approaches. The process began just as if making any sheet of paper.  Create the pulp and add it into a vat for dipping.  Choose a mold to form your paper.  NOTE: Either use the dip method or the pour method.  Add a template before proceeding if desired for a shape.  Use cookie cutters for creating unique shapes.

The samples of the finished papers show two different methods for adding the seeds.  The sheet on the left had the seeds added as the paper was lifted from the water vat.  Most of the seeds stay on the top of the sheet.  The opposite side is fairly smooth.  The sheet on the right has the seeds added to the mold of pulp before lifting.  They are mostly embedded into the pulp.  I used a mixture of seeds that are meant to attract butterflies and are of various colors.  Larger seeds are more difficult to embed into the papers.

Use the packet from the seeds to create a template to form the "seed paper packets" or draw your own. The sheet on the left was used to make the larger packet.  NOTE: Any seeds that became loose from the sheet were placed inside once the packet was formed.

Inside of Packet

Outside of  Packet

The seeded paper sheet on the right was used to make the smaller version of the seed packet.

To finish off the packages, I used an image from the original seed packet that was scanned and printed from the computer to create bands, plus the band describing the seeds.  A small label was placed on the back with directions.  Just a small ribbon and a punched paper butterfly finishes the look.

Make these as shower favors for a wedding or baby.  Think of using "baby's breath" for a baby shower.  Use them for wedding favors with flower seeds that the bride likes.  Make them for sending to friends and use "forget-me-nots" seeds.

Along with making the papers, I found some molds in my crafting room that are used for other various mediums.  It was time to experiment a little more.  From a mold that was made for making plaster casts, I made the coordinating butterfly shape from paper pulp, to create the plant poke.  A bit of paint and a coating of varnish is all that's needed before placing on a "Sticky Stick" to finish the plant poke.

For my first attempt at making seed paper I was pleased at the results.  This process would be fun to do with kids.  Make several sheets and allow them to cut it in various shapes, by hand or using a simple die-cutting machine.  Then plant some paper that grows!

Earlier this month there was another post on this process.  Refer to this previous post about making wedding favors from seeded papers for another example:
http://arnoldgrummer.blogspot.com/2014/03/recyclable-wedding-favors.html

For savings this month at the Arnold Grummer website here is a link and use the code - EARTH20 for savings.  There you can find a fun kit for kids (or any one wanting to have some fun) on how to make paper that grows.