Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Just a Little Bit of Luck

Hearts shapes are so last month, with March just a few days away it time to think of "Shamrocks" and GREEN.

From the last post I wrote, I mentioned how I was playing around with paper pulp.  After making several sheets of handmade paper to be used in cards for embellishments, I decided to use paper pulp to form thicker shapes and thicker pieces of paper to be used for other projects.

The idea of making thick shapes and paper sheets was to show how hamdmade paper pieces like these can be used several other ways.  The texture of handmade paper and shapes adds to any element you can make.

After forming a thick shamrock shape, with a cookie cutter as a deckle, it became a perfect base for a necklace.  It was colored using thinned acryrlic paints of various green hues.  It was applied by tapping the colors onto the surface using a brush or sponge applicator.  NOTE: Do not use too much water in this process. Allow the piece to dry between applications as not to saturate the paper too much.  When the coloring is to your liking, allow the piece to dry very well and it will become very firm once again.

Punch a small hole near the top where desired and add a eyelet. Add a large jump ring for the necklace. I used two different size and colors of crystals to apply to the shape.  Using a thin beading wire, transfer each set of crystals onto length of wire.  Begin wrapping the crystals around the shape, keeping the crystals only on the front of the surface.  NOTE: I began with the smaller sized crystals on the bottom and overlapping the larger ones on top.  I left a small length of wire on the back side from each strand of beading wire to twist and connect the two to hold them in place.

At the bottom of the shamrock a small hole was made with a piercing tool and a wishbone charm on a jump ring was added.

Three different strands cord or ribbon became the necklace.  Cut the same length from a jute cording, and two different ribbons.  Find the middle and lace through the large jump ring.  Each side was braided and then knotted to from the necklace.

After finishing the necklace I thought why not add something else.  So a pair of earrings were created, again with only papers.  To make the base discs and the small shamrocks, I used scraps of other handmade papers that were left from the previous projects.  Punch two round circles for each earring from the paper, punch three flower shapes for each earring from the paper.  NOTE: It may be helpful to place the paper to be punched between two pieces of waxed paper.  This aids in the process of punching the handmade papers.   I trimmed one of the flower petals with small scissors to form the stem of the shamrock.  The flower shapes are glued together to give them a little more stability.  NOTE: As each is glued, I trimmed it to make the stem.  The finished shamrocks are colored using the same process as above. 

 I created two discs for the background using handmade paper scraps also.  I made them to look similar to the metal discs that could have been used.  This was done to show how paper can replicate other mediums.  Again, I glued two layers of the punched circles together for each earring.  Two more circles were punched from a gold cardstock I had on hand for the backside.  NOTE:  Three layers of the paper circles would work fine too.  This was just a preference.   These circles are glued to  the others with the gold facing out.  The front surface was colored with a bronze paint and when dry, I inked over the discs with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.  The results looked very similar to the copper metal discs.  Pierce a hole into the top of each disc for a jump ring and attach.  Add a smaller ring to the earring wire, then attach to the the earring disc.  I coated the discs with Ranger  Glossy Enamel to give them a resin look.

These ideas that I have shared so far are created to show the various ways handmade paper can be used.  It is a fun process to create your own papers or castings.  Paper can be used for many things besides writing on!

This is the COUPON CODE: STPAT20 for the month of February.  Save some "green", 20%, on an order at the Arnold Grummer website.

Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Shades of Green

The winter weather here has been pretty brutal this year.  Though I normally love the snow and can deal with the cold without much of a problem, I have to say I am getting a bit tired of seeing "white" everywhere for this long.  When Spring arrives it will be truly welcomed.  Looking forward to the sight of tiny purple and yellow crocus' and the bursts of green everywhere.  Green, the color of new life.  Here are three cards that I created from a handmade sheet of paper and extra pulp. Shades of green to express "Thanks", Happy St. Patrick's Day and a Celtic note.

The first card above with the Celtic Heart design began with a small square of handmade paper.  I used a brass stencil with the design to transfer the image to the paper.  Hold the stencil in place tightly.  NOTE: It can also be taped down carefully using a low tack masking tape.  Using a small foam applicator, ink over the stencil with a dye based green ink.  I small amount of Peeled Paint Distress Stickles™was carefully spread by a fine paint brush onto the stenciled image.  Carefully  tear the four edges of the square.  The torn square image is layered onto a light green square, cut with decorative scissors, then layered onto a gold square that was textured with a Sizzix Embossing Folder, finally onto a blank card. NOTE: A length of ribbon with a small tailored bow was added for embellishment.

The second card used two shamrock shapes that were first colored by applying one or two inks.  Both are embossed using a Sizzix Embossing Folder.  The embossed shapes get one more ink added to the raised areas.  The shamrocks are glued onto a gold piece of card stock. These two layers are placed onto a coordinating card stock that is edged using a decorative border punch.  The card is finished with a length of "St. Patrick's Day ribbon over the layers after being attached to a blank card.

The final card starts with a piece of handmade paper being stenciled with the word "thanks" using a brass stencil.  Both edges are punched with a border punch.  NOTE: A piece of waxed paper is folded over the edges before punching the decorative design. The waxed paper helps with this edge punching.  This piece is glued onto a gold square that has an embossed design on half the piece and corners rounded, then onto a colored piece of card stock with the two edges cut with the same border punch.  Add ribbon onto the three layers (refer to photo), tie a bow and glue the entire piece to a blank card.

NOTE: I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks for the stenciling on two cards and to color the two shamrock shapes.

After making a few sheets of simple plain white paper (one can never have enough of these on hand), I felt like playing around with extra pulp. I made three blender containers of extra pulp.  After transferring all the pulp into a different container, I began adding the pulp into two shamrock shaped cookie cutters that act as a deckle.  Place chosen deckles onto the white grid and screening to allow the water to drain from the pulp.  To add the pulp into the shapes I used an old fashioned baster to collect the pulp and then squeeze into the shapes.  I was able to make several shamrock shapes from the pulp.  I cut a narrow strip from a sponge and used it to remove as much of the water from the deckle shape before removing it.  Once the deckle can be removed follow the steps for more water removal and pressing as you would to create a sheet of paper.  NOTE:  Refer to the card above where a set of these were used as an embellishment.

The last large shamrock I made was fairly thick and this was done by adding several layers more of pulp.  Again I removed as much of the water as possible with the use of the strip of sponge and then continued the process.  An iron was used to start the drying process and then left to dry overnight. The thickness of this shape will find its way into a piece I hope to share with you at a later date.  Any thoughts of how I will use it?

This is the COUPON CODE: STPAT20 for the month of February.  Save some "green", 20%, on an order at the Arnold Grummer website.

Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop - Projects I Love

What other project could I create in the month of February but something that simply says - LOVE.

This little project came about when I was asked to share an idea with the Ladies Group in  the community where I live.  This first photo is the sample "LOVE" banner that I made to let them know what we would be making.  On Wednesday evening of this week I will lead those that are participating in making this banner below.

The pennant shapes, for the base of each banner flag, are made by ironing two fabrics together with a fusible batting in between.  This sweet vintage print is on one side and the other is a red fabric with white hearts.  The fabrics were chosen to give the ladies a choice.  The pennants start with a 4" x 6" rectangle, then the bottom edge is has a "V" cut into it.  From card stock, 3" squares were cut and then the four sides are cut with a decorative scallop scissor. Use a fine point pen to draw "stitch" lines around the four sides to replicate stitching. The letters to spell out LOVE were cut from a black card stock using a digital die-cutting system. NOTE: Letters can be hand-cut, die-cut with any other system, stenciled onto the squares or purchased letter stickers could be used.  The thin strip was punched with a border punch out of white card stock.  The flower embellishment is also made from fabrics fused together with batting in between and coordinating card stock.  The flowers are held together with a small paper brad.  Leaves are cut from green cardstock. Glue all the elements onto the fabric pennants. NOTE: Refer to the photo for placement of components.  The four pennants are then clipped onto a length of jute cording with tiny wooden clothespins.  NOTE: Two smalls holes can be punched into the tops of each or tiny slits cut and then thread cording or ribbon through to hang the banner.  

Another note: To create the pennants, two fabrics can be fused together with a simple iron-on fusible (not batting).  Two coordinating card stocks can be fused together or combine fabric and paper together to make the pennants.  

Create simple short banners to hang around the house for various occasions following this simple idea.

So now go "hop" through the other blogs to see what projects the others love to share with you.

Ann Butler's Stamps Blog Hop

Another opportunity to showcase Ann Butler's Faux Quilting stamps by EZ-De's Easy Design Elements for stamping and her own color line of ColorBox Crafter's™inks by Clearsnap®.  Ann also has another line by Unity Stamps that compliment this newest line.  There are another eight designers that are participating in this blog hop and you will find the list below this post.  You can start by clicking on a link and you can hop your way through the other blogs to find some great ideas.

This time around I used the EZ-De's Hexagon Set A stamps.  I had a few different ideas floating around in my head and finally chose to use them in a simple design to create a placemat, napkin and napkin ring set.

I cut a 14" x 19" piece from a natural colored canvas for the placemat.  I tore a 14" square from natural colored muslin for the napkin.  Two strips of canvas, measuring approximately 2 1/2" x 5" were cut for the napkin ring.

Before stamping on the placemat, I used wide masking tape to mark off the vertical section for one line of stamping.  Once complete, I again marked off the horizontal section for the other line of stamping.  I alternated the four images of the hexagon stamps, using four colors of inks, into these two sections on the placemat.  On the napkin, I used masking tape once again to tape the area down to keep it from moving. Two hexagon were stamped in the center, then finished with the remaining two stamp images on either side of the center two.  One hexagon image was chosen to stamp onto the center of the napkin ring strip.

A black, permanent fabric pen was used to outline each of the hexagon shapes on all three pieces. Trim the napkin ring canvas piece to measure 2" x 5".  Use Fabri Tac to glue the end to close the napkin ring.

I applied a layer of clear Vinyl Fuse™ by Pellon® to the top of the placemat by following the instructions given on the packaging.

NOTE: A decorative stitch could be sewn around the edges of the placemat and the napkin, if desired.

Now have some fun checking out the other ideas from here.
    Amy Bowerman
    Ann Butler
    Candice Windham
    Cindi Bisson
    Cheryl Boglioli
    Eileen Hull
    Jen Goode
    Madeline Arendt
    Sharon Reinhart

Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Paper Casting on a Card

For this weeks project for the Arnold Grummer Blog, I decided to pull out my paper casting supplies.  With the weather outside being extremely cold and snowy, my eye turned to the flower molds to take my mind off the weather outside.

Making paper castings are fun and easy with the use of Arnold Grummer's Cotton Linter Casting Squares.  I used five or six of linter squares for the castings that I made. I made three castings from the two flower molds I chose to use. The look of the castings can be slightly altered by how you finish the outer edge. For one casting, I carefully pulled the outer edge with the tip of a toothpick to feather the edges after removing the casting from the mold before drying it completely.  Another was left to dry without touching the edges.  The third trimmed by cutting once it was completely dried.  To dry the castings, I placed them on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  I placed them in the oven that was heated to 200 degrees for 15 minutes.  Then I turned off the oven and left them in the oven for and additional 15 minutes.  NOTE:  There are other methods to dry the castings.  I have used the microwave in the past, following directions given for that process, with great results.  Simply drying naturally works well too.

Three castings with another flower mold

To create this card I chose to color the casting. Castings can be colored with a variety of things like chalks, mica powders and paints. When coloring them with paints the main thing to remember is not to use too much water.  Use a light touch when coloring with any medium.  I chose to use Ranger's Perfect Pearls to add color. The powders mix easily with water to create a shimmery paint.  The edge was painted with a little of clear iridescent glitter glue.  The center area was coated with Ranger's Glossy Accents to give the casting a glazed look.  NOTE: The castings can be left natural without coloring.

I cut a background layer of printed paper and trimmed the edge with decorative scissors. This paper was glued to a white blank card.  I added a strip of torn coordinating fabric was added.  Another coordinating solid paper was cut for another layer, making it large enough to add the casting onto it.  On a strip of white paper, I stamped a verse to state my wish and glued it onto the card top.  NOTE: The stamped verse can be added to the inside if desired.

Wishing you a Happy Day!

Be back in two weeks with another project.

This month you can use the COUPON CODE: LOVE20 and save 20% on your entire order, so head over to the website and place an order today so you can create some wonderful handmade papers for yourself or for gifts.

Arnold Grummer's Papermaking - Creating with Handmade Papers

This is my first post for the Arnold Grummer's Papermaking Blog.  I will be posting a project the second and fourth Monday of the month from now through June.  Just a little information before discribing the project I have to share.  I would consider myself very fortunate to have had a little history with the Grummer Family.  Several years ago I was very happy to work at a CHA show with the Grummer Family in their booth demonstrating paper casting along side Arnold himself showing the wonders of making your own paper.  It was a delightful experience to work for them and with them. Learning how to cast paper and make sheets was fun and I used both forms in design work and personal projects through the years.
I am so very happy to have reconnected with Kim and Greg and to help share ideas for paper making and paper casting.  My hope is that the projects I create will give you the desire to try your hand with this medium or help you think "out side the box" with what you can do when making handmade sheets and casting of paper.

While considering an idea to share, I went through my stash of handmade paper supplies.  There I found several samples, that I made a while back, just playing around with different inclusions and seeing what results I would get.  That is where I started this little project.  Handmade papers are unique and beautiful on their own, but, I have this tendency to play around and experiment with other things I love to work with and see what happens.

Starting with three different papers, I then used inks, paints and cutting dies and embossing folders to cover a plain paper mache box to make a one of a kind container.  Using two of the plain sheets of paper I used embossing folders by Sizzix to make the impressions.  Then I lightly applied Ranger Distress Inks in different colors to the flowered sheet to make the design stand out.  The handmade papers made nice embossed designs.

I then took another sample and brushed it with green inks and spritzed it lightly with water to made the inks bleed together. (NOTE: I used a small mister to spritz on water and then dryed the paper by pressing with a craft iron. It is important to use water sparingly in this process so not to make the papers fall apart.)  Leaves were die-cut.  The edges of the leaves were highlighted by applying a darker shape of green to the leaf shapes.

To create the flowers, I used the lavender tinted papers.  Again two colors of Distress Inks were applied with a foam applicator randomly to the papers.  Here I took some Distress Paints and spritzed them with water to thin them out.  Using a foam applicator and a tapping motion, the paints were applied randomly also.  The water thinned paints caused the inks and paints to mix together, giving the paper a mottled affect.  (NOTE: The dampened papers with need to be dryed using the same method as mentioned above.)  Flowers are die-cut from these papers and the edges are also highlighted with ink.

Strips were cut from the "dot" embossed papers for the bottom of the container and applied with glue. A circle for the top was cut from the "flowery" embossed paper and glued to the top cover.  A length of decorative trim was glued around the edge of the lid.  Put the flowers together with paper brads.  Glue the flowers to the lid in any desired arrangement, add a button or other embellishment to the center of each and finish by glueing the leaves into place around the flowers.

I feel that the embossing, inking and painting added some nice affects to the paper, while still allowing the textures and inclusions and base color of each paper to show through.

What better way to give a gift to someone you care about then by creating a special container!

NOTE:  I saved all the small leftover pieces for another time of mixing up some pulp for more sheets of paper.  You never know what it could create!

This month you can use the COUPON CODE: LOVE20 and save 20% on your entire order, so head over to the website and place an order today so you can create some wonderful handmade papers for yourself or for gifts.

Blog Hop - Stamps and Inks by Ann Butler

How lucky I am to have been asked by Ann Butler, once again, to be a part of this blog hop using her stamps by Kelly Crafts and her inks from Clearsnap.  This is the first of two "hops" showcasing these products.  (I'm keeping the other new set under wraps till the next blog hop in January.)

My idea was to use this wonderful EZ-De's Flourish 2" Alphabet stamp set for personalizing gifts.  Here I made a sweet pillowcase for one of my granddaughters.  (I will be making another for her little sister too.)  I love the size and the style of the letters.  They are so versatile and can see them used over and over in any variety of projects.

I also used another set of Ann's stamps from her line of "faux quilting" stamps in this project to show how easy they can be used to make an fun and interesting design.  By changing ink colors you can create your own personalized look. This project uses both of the color of Colorbox Crafter Inks by Ann Butler.  I decided to add a few more embellishments to make the pillowcase a bit more decorative.  I went to another of my favorite tools - Sizzix Big Shot and Dies.  I fused fabric to a iron-on interfacing and then die-cut some flower shapes and some flourishes.  Completed the flowers with small, smooth buttons and some fabric ties as pillow closures.

This alphabet set is easy to use and line up.  I can see using it to personalize any wearable or other object with a name or monogram.

Here is another easy project I was able to make this afternoon.  This little banner will be a nice addition to my many handmade Christmas decorations and would make a sweet gift.  For this project I used a double-sided fusible batting, that I sandwiched between two pieces of fabric.  Then rectangles 4" x 6" were cut from the fabric.  The bottom of each was cut into a "V".  Using regular card stock, I cut 3" x 3" squares and stamped with ink the letters.  The edges of the paper were trimmed with pinking shears and "dashes" were made around the square to look like "faux stitching".  The letter squares are glued onto the fabric rectangles, then finally embellished with die-cut holly leaves and red shiny berries.  They attached to a simple red cord with tiny wooden clothespins.

I love banners and I can see using these Alphabet stamps in many different banners.

Now you can simply start or continue to hop through the blogs and find some wonderful ideas for these wonderful new stamps.

Here is the list to follow:

Ann Butler

Cindi Bisson

Lisa Fulmer

Cheryl Boglioli

Madeline Arendt

Plucking Daisies

Lisa Rojas

Candice Windham

Sharon Reinhart 

Theresa Cifali

Just A Thought Or Two...: Holiday Decorations - Designer Craft Connection December

Just A Thought Or Two...: Holiday Decorations - Designer Craft Connection December