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Showing posts from April, 2013

Invitation Made with Handmade Paper

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Take advantage of Arnold Grummer's 20% off during the month of May!! Use code: SpringXX. What could be more special than an invitation made with handmade paper? A special invitation for a special occasion. The base of this invitation and the heart are handmade paper using the techniques shown here . I used Arnold Grummer's Papermaking Kit  to make these papers. The base paper was tinted with tissue tints . The heart was colored with the same tissue tints with Angel Wings Botanicals  inclusions added. I transformed the heart into resin paper. Here are the instructions for making your own resin paper . I attached the resin paper heart to the lower corner of the base piece, and printed the invitation on vellum.I attached the vellum with Great Tape from USArtQuest . I particularly like to use Great Tape when working with vellum because it doesn't leave a shadow and show through the vellum—it is complete undetectable. After the vellum was attached, I threaded

Make Your Own Seed Packets

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Nothing brings out our inner gardener like springtime. And whether you're planting acres, or just putting a tomato in a bucket, it's all joy. Once you have consumed your glorious bounty, you can save the seeds for next year. And have I got the perfect place to put them : ) Making your own seed packets is a fun and easy project for kids and adults alike. Making your own seed packets with  handmade paper  is not only practical, but you can turn your seed packets into fabulous gifts. Stack four or five together, tie them with a pretty ribbon, raffia or baling twine and you've got Mother's Day knocked out. If you're feeling ambitious, make up salad packs, or herb garden packs and sell them online as wedding favors.  As luck would have it,  Arnold Grummer's Paper Making Kits & Supplies  is offering 20% off during the month of April and all you have to do is use this code at checkout " APRIL20 ." Here's what you'll need to get started:

Textured Background

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Hi everyone Monica here and I want to share a tag I made with a textured background.  I grinded up some papers the same I would if U were to make some paper but instead of making the paper I let the pulp dry and used some modge podge and layered it on a tag for a awesome textured background. After I layed all the paper down I sprayed it withe glimmer mist  Then i took some distress ink for the edges and rubbed it over the top  This is the end look  Side angle look you can see all the different layers   Finished tag Hope everyone enjoyed my piece.  Be sure to check out my blog for some tutorials: Simply Monica

"Life Happens..... Smile! "Arnold Grummer Design Team Post-April

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"Life Happens... Smile" A funny thing happened on the way to creating this project! It got ugly... I had this great idea I wanted to try~  using embossing powders on the handmade papers created with Arnold Grummer's Handmade Paper kit  and unfortunately, it didn't turn out the way I had hoped. The paper was just too porous to get a good shiny embossed finish. So.... I improvised and how funny that the "cover up" I chose turned out to be just what the situation  at hand was! "Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans"... It couldn't have been more perfect for this project! Allot times as artists, we might have a plan in mind but because of one thing or another,it changes into something more interesting and unique ~ even better than you might have planned! So I have just learned to go with the flow and let creativity take over and lead me wherever! Art should be fun.. not stiff and try  not to be attached to the

Birds on a Wire: Handmade Resin Paper

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Take advantage of Arnold Grummer's 20% off during the month of April!! Use code: April20. The birds in this piece are all rescue birds!! All of these birds were made from scraps that any normal crafter would have discarded. I rescued them from the trash bin and a life spent in a landfill. I never throw away ANY of my handmade paper—no matter how small the scrap. The papers were handmade using Arnold Grummer's Paper Making Kit and  following these basic directions . The birds and their wings were cut with the Sizzix Tim Holtz Caged Bird die. Making resin paper is easy, but definitely requires some advance work station preparation. Cover your entire work surface with plastic trash bags. Next, cover a cookie sheet with food storage bags. Strive for a flat, wrinkle-free surface. (NOTE: I used plastic film and it wasn't strong enough. Not a tragedy, but next time, I'll use the food storage bags.) Assemble your supplies— Amazing Clear Cast , measuring and mix