Arnold Grummer's Design Team Blog

©Michele Emerson-Roberts    2016 Valentines’ Day has come and gone but this card isn’t just for that holiday. It would be great as an any day reminder that someone is in your thoughts and is loved. Using some left over red handmade paper and one of the new Tonic dies  made it so easy to create this card.....it almost created itself. I made 6 of the cards in less than 1 hour! I know the recipients will enjoy getting them as much as I enjoyed creating them. Supplies: ·        Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits ·        A sunny window ·        Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels ·        Scraps of red paper (think junk mail, etc.) ·        Envelopes to fit cards (or make your own with the AG envelope template) ·        Medium gray card stock fo...

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2016 Mixed Media” is the “buzz” word in the art world these days. Some people think that means just throw a bunch of stuff onto a substrate and call it done! Sad to say, that is exactly what it looks like too!  You still need to follow the basic elements and principles of design. The Grummer company has always championed making handmade paper using stuff that would have ended up in the trash. They have taught millions of people to make beautiful things adhering to this philosophy. Follow along to create your own piece of art. Mine is a Mother's Day gift for my mom. Supplies: ·        Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits ·        A sunny window ·        Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels ·        Scraps of white or off white and tan paper (think junk mail, etc.) ·      ...

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2016 Even though we just got an inch of snow, the temperatures are starting to warm up and buds are starting to form on the fruit trees. It is time to start thinking SPRING! I'm looking forward to warmer weather. I really do not like to be cold! This all occasion card can be used for many different occasions and can easily be made by the dozen! The addition of the handmade paper makes it special. Supplies: ·        Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits ·        A sunny window ·        Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels ·        Scraps of ivory or white paper (think junk mail, etc.) ·        Dies: CheeryLynn TM B194 "Lace Hummingbird" and Tattered Lace: D564 "Dance" ·        Spellbinders TM Grand Calibur™ Machine ·  ...

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2016 Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and love is in the air! I have so much to be grateful for, with my husband Charles is at the top of the list. I have had this set of stamps for several years and have always loved the verbiage--but one keeps calling me. I knew it would be perfect paired with the swirly heart die and a new embossing folder for his Valentine’s Day card. Supplies: ·        Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits ·        A sunny window ·        Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels ·        Scraps of white or off white, light and dark pink paper (think junk mail, etc.) ·        Beacon ZipDry TM Adhesive ·        Envelopes to fit cards (or make your own with the AG envelope template) ·     ...

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2016 I love journals and handmade books, and I add several new ones to my collection each year! My favorites are handmade books with "content". You may remember the “Knots Prayer” book from my Jan. 1 blog project which was filled with quotes.  This "ribbon bound" journal is one of the easiest books to create and making multiples is a breeze.  Match the quotes to the paper theme. They make marvelous gifts! I often create books a certain size because I have odd size papers etc. I had a stack of long skinny scraps of handmade paper, mat board scraps and some wallpaper pieces that were perfect for the covers. I will list the measurements for my book, but please do not be stuck with this size - make your book whatever size you want. Even though my book is "landscape" oriented, it can also be made "portrait" oriented. Remember if you don’t have handmade paper to use for your book you will need to make as many pages as you...

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2016 January in Southeastern Arizona sometime is a little grey and dreary. Plants are resting and dreaming of sunshine and new growth. It is a good time of year to reflect back on the past year and start making plans for the current year. Creating the paper cast butterfly and small potted silk ivy is a breeze and makes a great gift. I keep several of these on hand as “cheer up gifts. It is a perfect gift for someone who is ill or in the hospital…….. the last thing they need to worry about is watering a plant! Supplies: Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits Casting mold: CP Butterfly A sunny window, heat gun or microwave oven Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels Scraps of white paper (think junk mail, etc.) Beacon QuickGrip TM adhesive Silk Ivy plant, moss, flower foam, small terracotta pot, white plastic coffee stirrer 24 gauge green wire, Coiling Gizmo™ Two ½” flat backed white pe...

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2016 Faces are so wonderful. Each one is different (even though they say that we all have a “doppelganger” out there). Face molds are one more thing I collect. This one is actually a metal jewelry finding. It makes a great mold for paper casting and polymer clay. She is a bit exotic, maybe from Tahiti?       Supplies: Any of the Arnold Grummer™ paper making kits Microwave , heat tool or a sunny window Blender, strainer, cello sponges and soft towels Face mold (I used a metal jewelry piece) Scraps of off white, tan & brown paper (think junk mail, etc.) Spice in a brown color (great way to use up those outdated spices and it smells good too!) Beacon QuickGrip TM Adhesive Envelopes to fit cards (or make your own with the AG envelope template) Scor-pal TM (Love the new 1/8 ” version) BowEasy™ Approx. 24” of brown 7/8” Grow Grain ribbon Craft knife and cutting surface Sci...

©Michele Emerson-Roberts 2016 This is one of my all time favorite handmade books. I make a least a dozen a year to give as gifts to loved ones who need something special to remind them that they are loved. I like to use handmade paper for the pages to make them even more special. You can make these any size; mine are 4 ¾ x 6”, only because I had matboard scrap pieces that size - and so that each folded page will be ¼ of a sheet of handmade paper.     Supplies: ·         Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits ·         A sunny window, heat gun or microwave oven ·         Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels ·         Scraps of off white or cream paper (think junk mail, etc.) ·         Spellbinders TM Grand Calabur™ cutting and embossing machine ·  ...