Arnold Grummer's Design Team Blog

I made a card for my niece’s Bridal Shower with an Origami Butterfly. Start with Arnold Grummer's Paper Making. Use a square piece of paper. I used handmade paper 5 inches square to fit my 5 x 4 inch card. Only a few steps involved: 1. Fold diagonally both ways using a bone folder. 2. Scrunch the middle together: poke in the center, like this: 3. Fold flaps down to center point - on one side only. 4. Turn over & fold up past the edge - as on the right below. 5. Fold top flaps down & create corner folds - at bottom. 6. Turn over and fold in half - looks like this: 7. Use an awl or needle tool to punch holes for adding a tiny brad to the nose to puff it out.  For the card: Put through  Sizzix  for embossing the flowers;  added the butterfly  (without the brad) and flattened it. Ribbon from  Target  says: “Happily Ever After” - taped that on the card. See directions ...

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016 I wanted to combine handmade paper with a Zig Zag book plus my carved images to make a gift for a friend going through health issues. I wrote some encouraging words alongside the printed images for her. Supplies: Arnold Grummer Paper Making Handmade paper - 5 pieces: 1 x 7 inches, (2) 4 x 5 inches, (2) 2 1/2 x 6 inches  Arnold Grummer Mini Zig Zag Books PVA or Mod Podge glue Bonefolder, scissors, ruler Carved images or rubber stamps The Zig Zag book has 6 sides, begin by cutting slits on the 2nd and third side, then the 4th and 5th side, cut into one and 1/8th inches, leaving a half inch on the top and bottom, as pictured: Fold in where you made the cuts to form your window, as pictured: Paint the Zig Zag inside the covers and top and bottom with Tim Holtz Distress stain: Peeled Paint. Adhere both 4 x 5 inch paper pieces to each cover. Glue two pieces of 2 1/2 inch by 6 inches handmade paper together forming a long ...

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016 I wanted to give some suggestions to my friend who was  traveling  this summer. My envelope accordion book was fun and most appreciated ! Supplies: Arnold Grummer Paper Making Handmade paper - 2 pieces 4 x 5 inches Arnold Grummer Mini Zig Zag Books Ribbon, 18 inches  PVA or Mod Podge glue, and Scotch tape Bonefolder, scissors, ruler Magazines or calendars Begin by folding the inside of the four accordion pages in half, so now you have eight sides plus the two covers which are not folded. Making the envelopes: I used flower pictures from Martha Stewart’s Living magazine. I made my template to fit the 3 1/2 inches accordion page. Before gluing up the bottom and sides, it is 4 1/4 inches tall by 5 inches wide. After you have four envelopes, place glue on half of the front of the envelope and glue each envelope to the half accordion page. Instead of writing my own travel advice, I...

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016 I love these Origami Kimonos - I have used them on greeting cards for birthdays, anniversaries, thinking of you plus bookmarks and place cards at dinner parties. Supplies: Arnold Grummer Paper Making kit Handmade paper 2 inches by 7 inches Bone folder, scissors and ruler  The handmade paper I used - from a 5 by 7 inch screen - I cut off the lovely deckle edges since the Kimono looks better with straight edges and is enough for two Kimonos. Fold top 1/4 inch and fold over again - this is the start of the all important collar. The middle of the top - where you folded - is 1 inch and fold down from this mid point to make the collar. 3.    Measure 2 1/4 inches from the top and fold back. 4.   Measure 4 3/4 inches from the top and fold back again as in photo. 5. Fold sides up to collar areas, as pictured. 6. Tricky part! Fold top of each side to make a hood as pictured, helps if you put your finger in...

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016 After I received the Make Your Own Book kit from Arnold Grummer I was pleasantly surprised. First of all, I loved the size, 5 1/2 by 10 inches! It had all the basic pieces, 2 cover boards, 2 pre-drilled end boards, 2 sets of hardware, instructions, but also really heavy weight paper - 35 pages pre-drilled! I could make the book with duct tape, which was OK for this book-binder, or use paper or cloth. I use a spacer bar when I use boards that need a hinge, makes gluing so much easier. Found these brass spacer bars at Home Depot near the wood aisle. I found this lovely paper at Paper Source . When I have end boards that are pre-drilled I make sure I pop in an awl so I don’t lose sight of those holes down the road. Of course I used a bone folder to smooth out the paper after gluing the boards. Pinch the ends to glue the covers over the book boards. Place the finished covers in my Arno...

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016 While I was making paper, I found there are many uses for paper pulp which results from tearing up paper and putting it in the blender. Unlike paper making, the pulp goes through a strainer to get more water out of it before it is put in the mold. Supplies: Arnold Grummer Paper Making Kit Handmade paper - 4 1/2 by 3/4 inches Frame - 6 x 8 inches Green paper - 5 x 7 inches Marbled paper piece Mold for Paper Casting Wire - 2 inches, hole punch So after blending re-cycled paper in the blender during the process of making handmade paper, you have pulp.  This pulp can go in any mold: a jello mold, or even an ice cube tray. I happened to have this mold where I could cast a fish. I sprayed the mold with a little bit of cooking spray - I used Pam very sparingly. I pressed the pulp into the mold and waited for it to dry overnight. Luckily it popped out in one piece, although it can take some practice. I painted the fis...