Arnold Grummer's Design Team Blog

Hi, it's Ann here today with a quick tip about making your own very special handmade paper.  SAVE those wrapping papers, cards, envelopes, gift bags, etc. that you may be getting during the Holidays.   For those of us who celebrate at this time of year and give or receive gifts we are often left to deal with extra gift wrap and more.  Recycling all these paper goods is better than throwing them away for sure.  However, it is even better to save some of those luscious pieces of gift wrapping and make your own pretty papers! That's right, last year I saved most of the gift wrapping and extras that came through our house and I even got to save some from our visits to family!  So, by removing all pieces of sticky tapes, and staples I gathered a lot of materials.  I filled a big storage tub with shiny papers, ribbons, cards and so much more.  I still have a lot left in that bin by the way.  The fun came when I started ripping and shredding my stash ...

Hi, Ann here today, with a paper poinsettia that you can make for your Holiday Decorations.  Here it is: To begin make several sheets of handmade paper in the Arnold Grummer Paper Making Method using the Arno;ld Grummer Paper Making system.  To make these sheets I used recycled wrapping papers, some tinsel, and some envelopes. To make the petals and centre of the flower a steel metal die was used to speed up the process. Following the cutting of the flower parts, cut a big circle out of some cardboard. Add some glue to the circle.  Begin laying the larger petals around the circle.  For the next layer add some more glue and repeat.  The centre is made by layering two different coloured enters over one another.  The stamens are represented with some clear dimensional glue and glass beads. Finally to use this poinsettia as a tree ornament, glue to the back of a large clothes pin. I hope that you enjoy recycling papers ...

Hello, Ann here today with  my small tribute to the people of Paris, France.  A few days ago the world was shocked to see and hear of the sad events that took place there.  My intended project and post was very different, but on Friday evening when I saw on television what was happening in my cousins' homeland I was compelled to make this: It is a small piece that I will insert into my art journal in the next coming days, but for now it is a small vigil to remind us of the fragility of life. To make this project I used one sheet of handmade paper I made using the Arnold Grummer Paper Making Method.  The actual pulp comes from some international (Europe) packaging I had in the recycling bin and I thought it befitting the situation. With a stamp of the Eiffel Tower and inks I stamped the image onto the paper.  I let it dry thoroughly. Then I cut out the image leaving a frame around it which I inked in Black.  Because I already had the Red, Whit...

Next week Let's Remember all the men and women who have fought , and fight for our freedom.  This is my very small gesture to show my appreciation.  It is a small mixed media canvas with the Poem In Flander's Field with a paper poppy. This project is being shared on the Arnold Grummer Paper Making Blog and on my blog at : http//annmakes.blogspot.com, here . The instructions : 1.  Using a handmade sheet of red paper (made per the Arnold Grummer method of paper making).  Make a template of a petal from any paper or cardboard. 2. Trace the petal about seven times, and cut out. 3.  Fold each petal and glue to a small circle like shape that you cut out from some scrap of paper. 4. Create the centre by making two small green hearts.  Overlap and glue them. 5.Make the stamens with a black coloured piece of handmade paper.  Fringe the strip, roll it and glue to the centre of the poppy. 6.Paint a small canvas with acrylic...

Hi, it's Ann here today with a simple project for you.  For those of us who still enjoy reading paper versions of books, we never seem to have too many book marks.  Today I am sharing with you how you can make these Page Corner type Bookmarks to use or give as a small gift. First, start off with a sheet of handmade paper.  Of course the best way to recycle some junk mail is to use the Arnold Grummer way of making handmade paper with the pour and mould method.  Recycle some more by using a piece of thick paper or cardboard and make yourself a handy little template that you can use over and over again. You will need a five inch square to begin.  Section off into four equal squares, and section two squares into triangles. (see picture) Cut out the remaining piece and you have a template to make the bookmark Place the template over the sheet of handmade paper, trace, and cut. Using a bone folder or the back of a spoon score and fold the pape...

Hello, it is I, Ann , from the blog over at :  http://annnmakes.blogspot.co and the Design Team here at Arnold Grummer.  Today I am excited to share with you my review and experience with the Regular Microfleur®, available here at the Arnold Grummer Paper Making store/site.  The Microfleur® (micro for Microwave and Fleur is french for flower) is a Microwave Flower Press which makes the process of pressing and drying flowers and other specimens so easy.  In a matter of minutes you can use the Microfleur® to preserve some of your own garden's beauty beyond its blooming season. The point of pressing, drying , and saving these flowers as crafters and artists is so we can add these to our projects.  Pressed flowers and leaves added to pulp in the paper making process creates interesting pieces.  The dried specimens can be used in a wide variety of creative applications.   Every microwave oven varies in power and therefore will dictate how lo...

Hello,  Ann here today from the Arnold Grummer Design Team and Annmakes .  I have been enjoying making paper castings lately with some new moulds that I received.  Paper casting can be done in several ways.  Today I am showing you some examples of using moulds and Cotton Linters. Cotton Linters are a wonderful fiber to create with as the end product results in a very white and delicate finish. However, the Cotton Linter fibres create a very strong natural bond while the fineness of the fibres takes on any details in the moulds almost perfectly.  Of course the moulds can also be used with a regular paper pulp or clay. To make the pulp all you need are a few squares of Cotton linter, some water and a blender.  Mix it all up and pour through a sieve reserving the cotton pulp and draining the excess water.  Then pressing the cotton into the mould of choice, packing it firmly, and letting it dry.  It is also possible to speed up the drying ...

Hello, it is me, Ann, from the Arnold Grummer Design Team and the blog at http://www.annmakes.blogspot.com.  Today I want to share with you a really fun and easier than it looks project that you can make for yourself or for someone else.  This is also a great project to do in a group setting as the supplies come in a convenient kit to make 12 books! Here is one that I put together using many different techniques I have acquired while on the AG team. First I cut strips of handmade paper I  had made using the Arnold Grummer technique ( video link ).  The strips are slightly longer than the 4 1/2" covers and the widths vary.  I wove the strips of paper and glued them down to one cover with some Elmers clear paper glue.  For the other cover i used equal size squares which I also glued down. I painted the covers with some acrylic paint in an Antique White.  Once the paint was dry I painted on a coat of Crackling Medium.  After the medium...