Arnold Grummer's Design Team Blog

I Love to emboss on handmade paper! I love recycling too and the base paper is made from my huge stash of Netflix mailer covers. The blue paper was made from cardstock scraps. I'm so happy I joined up with the Arnold Grummer family and made recycling paper a part of my life style. Usually, I am pulling from my stash of handmade paper so I misted the dry paper very slightly before running it through my embossing machine. The details of the embossing folder just come out so sharp and clear, and it...well...it just makes me happy! And don't you just love a deckled edge? I hand cut my bird and branch since I don't run my handmade paper through my electronic die cutting machine so here is a template if you want it. Please feel free to download it and use it :) So at least if I am going to miss someone's birthday they are going to feel special getting a card made out of handmade paper!

...and if you know me, you know I love to use my stamps in unusual ways! Being on this design team has opened my eyes to discovering new ways to utilize my stamps like I never thought of before and having great resources like the Trash-to-Treasure book by Arnold Grummer motivates me to a whole new level! On p. 102, Mr. Grummer discusses using a "rough or patterned surface to use as an embossing plate." Keep in mind that this technique uses a freshly formed wet sheet of paper to emboss with versus using a dry sheet of paper along with a embossing plate.  This is my card I created using a stamp from Paper Smooches, Timber , to emboss with. I took my wet sheet of paper, ( go here for the steps to make your own paper ) couched it, and then laid the paper over the wood grain stamp. I then placed them both in between the boards of the Garden Press  using the adjustable straps to tighten the pieces together. Figuring I might need a little more pressure, I ...

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014 You probably get lots of mail this time of year asking for donations for this or that cause. I sure get my fair share and have to pick and choose who to support. Often the requests come with “free” cards (you already know what I do with some of those) or stickers that I don’t always want to just toss. These 4 cards are another example of what can be done with some of the “stuff” that others think of as junk or trash, in this case Christmas stickers. Supplies: Any of the Arnold Grummer™  paper making kits Microwave, heat gun or a sunny window Blender, small strainer, cello sponges Iron and pressing cloth Westcott™ personal paper cutter, scissors Scor-Pal ™ Spellbinders ™ Grand Calibur    Grand Calibur Beacon ZipDry™ Adhesive, double sided foam tape or dots Scraps of white and red paper or cardstock (think junk mail, etc.) Remember: ALWAYS...

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014 Some dear friends’ anniversary crept up on me and I had to get a card in the mail right away, and once again Arnold Grummer’s handmade/cast papers come to my rescue! I am so happy that I had a great selection of papers already made. It is such a delight to be able to create papers ahead of time and then just grab a sheet or two when you need a quick but exceptional card! Save that junk mail, it is an endless supply of pulp! Take some time today to make papers and castings for your future projects. Supplies: Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits Scraps of white and grey or black paper (think junk mail, etc.) White or pearl grey text weight paper for message approx. 4 x 5” Clear envelope to fit card 8 ½ x 11” Butterfly rubbing/texture sheet or stencil (kids school supply) A sunny window Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, scissors, craft knife and cutting surface Score-Pal ...