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Showing posts from 2018

Botanical Sticky Note Books

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It’s that time of the year when people’s attention is focused on the holiday ritual of gift-giving.  I actually started making my Botanical Sticky Note Books back in July, mainly because my paper making studio  aka my garage is not heated, so all my paper making is done during the summer.  And if you want a great gift to give to someone or even to gift yourself then purchase an  Arnold Grummer  Papermaking kit . I used Arnold Grummer's  Angel Wings: Multi Color Mix  to create my botanical paper for my  Sticky Note books.   I love the bright colors which won't fade and the fact that the Angel Wings tear into long thin strips and will give a mulberry type paper effect. I love the different effects you can achieve by varying the amount of botanicals that you add for each batch of sheets in the blender.  If this was to be used as stationery then I would have used less and blended more but I knew I was going to use it for the Sticky books so I loade

Vintage Christmas Cards

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These vintage Christmas cards took less than 5 minutes each to complete. Of course that is after the sheets of paper are created….smile. Remember I make extra sheets every time I make paper so I have an amazing amount of different colors and weights of handmade paper on hand to choose from. Just a few sheets of handmade paperaption torn and ready to create beautiful Vintage Christmas cards. Supplies: • Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits, AG paper/book press • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels • A sunny window • Ruler • Scraps of white/ivory paper (think junk mail, etc.)  • Ivory pre-folded cards and envelopes (I purchase pks. of 50 5 x 6.5” from Hobby Lobby) • SpellbindersTM Platinum™ die cutting and embossing machine • Westcott™ paper trimmer • Beacon ZipDryTM adhesive • ColorBox™ DYSTRESS Blendable Dye ink: Palomino • DecoArtTM  Metallic Luster™: ML18C Burnished Bronze • Crafters Companion® 3D Gemini emboss

Wintry Mix "Collage"

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We are hunkering down, here in Maine tonight for the first blizzard of the season.  This project is absolute Winter. I used quite a few of the castings I made from paper pulp last month. Mixed Media Collage is my favorite! Layers upon layers, my camera doesn't do the shimmer of this piece justice, at all. SUPPLIES:  Arnold Grummer Hand Made Paper Kit Arnold Grummer pre-shredded Cotton Linter  Arnold Grummer Paper Additive Acrylic Paint - 2 shades of blue, white Perfect Pearls gold and white pigment or other pigment powders, distress ink; brown Canvas board 11x14", light blue marker, spray sealant INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Create paper cast shapes with molds (3 stars, 1 flourish and 2 snowflakes, one trimmed. 2. Dry brush the snowflake casts with white acrylic paint, dust the stars and flourish lightly with gold pigment, set the pigment per the product instructions.  3. Paint the canvas board with 2 shades of blue acrylic paint, blend into each other.

"Oh Christmas Tree...."

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My wonderful neighbors will have all their kids and grandkids here for the holidays. With so many family members coming I thought an early Christmas gift was in order. And of course to make the gift even more special I created a Christmas tree paper casting to decorate the container. Supplies: Any of the Arnold Grummer  paper making kits Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels     A sunny window Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.)  Scraps of white card stock to die cut Die: Quiet Fire Designs ™ Elizabeth Crafts #1235 "Merry Christmas" Spellbinders ™ Platinum die cutting and embossing machine Beacon Adhesive : Fabri-Tac and ZipDry adhesives DecoArt  Americana paints :DA048 Holly Green, DA020 Calico Red and DS17 Multi-Purpose Sealer, 1: sponge brush Tree shaped wood carrier with 3 Mason Jars Three yds. #40 wire edged Christmas Ribbon Two yds. each DMC embroidery thread: variegated red, metallic gold  One yd. each DMC meta

How to create unique Christmas Cards

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Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with Christmas cards using handmade papers created with the Arnold Grummer Papermaking Kit . If you are like me, you've got a stack of handmade papers just waiting to be used.  With Christmas on the horizon, I selected papers with pink and green tones for my cards. Cut handmade paper to fit an embossing folder, then run through an embossing machine. Add color to the embossed design using assorted colors of inks. Mat the embossed panel with cardstock and place on a green card, then tear a strip of paper and add it across the card. Die cut a wreath and, while still in the die, ink it up. This gives part of the design more color. Die cut a large ornament shape from handmade paper and place the wreath over a stamped phrase in the center of the ornament.  Add dew drops around the wreath. Add the ornament to the card with foam adhesives for dimension.  Emboss a second panel with a different e

"And There's More"

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I always need more encouragement cards then I have on hand, and I liked the “Quotes” cards so much that I created several more sheets of similar color palette handmade paper backgrounds. Paired with 4 different stamps from Impression Obsession, a great die from Joy and some green cardstock, I now have some beautiful cards on hand when needed.             Supplies: • Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits  • Blender, cello sponges and soft towels • A sunny window • Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.)  • Impression Obsession stamps: D14603 “This….”, D14742 “…. Beginning…..”, D14592 “Too          Often”,  D9990 “Sometimes” • Tonic Studios™ paper trimmer and tangerine die cut machine • DIES: Joy #60020958 “Circle with Leaves”, Spellbinders small circle set • Embossing folder: Crafters’ Companion “Organic Veined Leaf background”  • Two each of different green cardstock: cut and folded to make 6 x 6” cards • Scraps of Kr

Paper....Paper....and More paper

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Paper....Paper....and More Paper  I recently had a whole day free and chose to spend that day creating some handmade papers. Thanks to the wonderful AG Paper Press I was able to stack, press and dry all of the sheets in a small space. I have not decided what creations will be made with the batch of papers but just having them on hand inspires me! Supplies: • Any of the Arnold Grummer® paper making kits  • AG Paper Press • Blender,  cello sponges and soft towels • A sunny window • Scraps of white and colored paper (think junk mail, etc.)  • INCLUSIONS: Dried herbs, spices, plants, flowers, coffee grounds, tea leaves, AG Iridescent          Flakes Instructions: 1. Follow the instructions found in any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits to create          white slurry. 2. Add tiny amounts of any inclusion and blend for a couple of seconds. 3. Create a sheet of paper. 4. Place the sheet between two couch sheets and the