Arnold Grummer's Design Team Blog

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here with a new set of Christmas Shaker cards using Arnold Grummer Papermaking kits. I've used left over papers from other projects.  For each card, I used the remaining die cut panels and frayed the edges. I adhered a plastic sheet to each panel, and  Using my MISTI, I stamped phrases in the lower corner with StazOn ink.  Using the MISTI ensured that if I had to restamp the phrase that it would line up correctly. I placed foam tape around the panels and placed dew drops in the cavities before adhering the backing. Finally I added flowers and leaves to the corners. Thanks for stopping by. Steph

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here with Christmas cards.  Christmas is not too far away so it's never too early to start creating. Selecting  red and green handmade papers, I decided to create a Christmas card using Stampendous Stamps and dies. The truck and phrase were stamped and die cut from red paper.  The tree and packages were stamped and die cut from green paper. The background paper was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then lightly inked with VersaFine Clair green ink. A large green circle was added to the card and the car was adhered on top.  The packages and trees were colored with markers and added to the truck with foam adhesives.  The phrase was stamped and die cut and added to the card with foam adhesives. Thanks for stopping by.

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here to show you just how easy it is to create amazing cards using assorted papers created with the papermaking kits. You can stamp and die cut your handmade papers just as easily as any other types of papers.   Using VersaFine black ink I stamped the images and then heat set them.  Then I used the coordinating dies to die cut the design. Using a different die, I die cut another handmade paper - look at all those details. I chose another paper for the background of my cards, then assembled the cards using Scor-Tape. I used Glue Dots to adhere the center elements to the cards to give them a little dimension.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with a set of cards using handmade papers created with the Arnold Grummer Papermaking Kit. Using several sheets of previously made handmade paper, I chose a pink toned paper and a blue toned paper.  These were prefect for creating both feminine and masculine cards. For the feminine card, I used the pink toned paper.   I inked a background stamp with brown ink and stamped it onto the handmade paper. I tore the background and adhered it to a cardstock panel. Stamp a sentiment with black ink on a scrap of the same handmade paper.  Emboss it, then die cut it and lightly ink it.  Mat it with a larger die. Wrap ribbon around the stamped panel and adhere the panel to card base.  Add the sentiment with foam adhesives for dimension.  Adhere Robin's Nest dew drops about the card making it more feminine. A masculine version follows using light blue handmade panel with a stencil ...

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with a set of tags using handmade papers created with the Arnold Grummer Papermaking Kit .  I recently created an assortment of handmade papers using one of the Arnold Grummer Papermaking Kits .  Each kit makes different sized papers.  With the variety of papers I had previously made, I selected 3 papers from which I could create my tags. I selected 3 papers - one with shades of purple, one with touches of blue and one with flecks of green.  Next, I selected corresponding inks and inked the edges of the tags.  Then I used a script stamp to create texture on each tag with the same inks. A phrase was stamped with black ink and then die cut.  After matting it with a scalloped circle, the phrase was added to the tag.  Dew drops were adhered to the bottom of the tag and twine inserted at the top. Twine was wrapped around the tag.  2 different phrases were stamped in blac...

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with a butterfly canvas using handmade papers created with the Arnold Grummer Papermaking Kit . Using a 5" x 7" canvas, spritz top 2/3 with several colors of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists. Using hand made papers, die cut butterflies and their shadows from the assorted handmade papers.  Assemble the butterflies. Use molding paste randomly through a brick stencil.  Allow to dry.  Ink the edges of the butterflies in assorted colors and place them about the canvas. Add dew drops on the butterflies.  Add more dew drops for the butterfly tails. Using a left over scrap of hand made paper, stamp the phrase in black ink.  Tear around the phrase and ink the edges before adding it amongst the butterflies. Thanks for stopping by. Steph

Can you believe it is already two weeks into November?! I can't, where did this year go! Christmas will be here far too soon for me because I am the QUEEN of procrastination LOL  Weeks ago I made some soap and needed cigar bands to put around them and then thought how nice they would look with something on them. So, I grabbed my paper pulp (I always have some made up) got one of my soap molds, just one of the guest size ones and put paper pulp into them, let them dry and just like that I had a pretty paper shell to put on my soaps. Here is what you will need to make paper pulp: Blender Junk mail or any paper that you are going to throw out water If you want to make something from molds, Arnold Grummer paper products has a lot of very nice ones you can get here . If you are looking to make your own special paper, check out Arnold Grummer's videos on Youtube and you can purchase the handmolds that look like  this . Hint, once you start, you will want them all! I...

Hello all, I made an ATC for my post today. It is the size of a playing card. On it I drew a pumpkin and painted it all in with Twinkling H2O's. I then made a couple casts, from paper pulp, of leaves and adhered them to the front of my ATC using Helmars glue. I then painted those in with Twinkling H2O's also. You could also make these using your smaller scraps of handmade paper. Making your own handmade paper and making castings from paper pulp is so much fun. Really, you need to try it. You can check out all the info  Arnold Grummer's Paper making shop.  Get yourself a kit and see how much fun you have creating your own handmade paper.

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...

Happy Wednesday folks!  Have you ever sat down and felt like you wanted to make something but you had no idea what?  The not knowing what isn't what stops you.  It's you!  Sometimes you really have to play and INSPIRE yourself.  My project today I had no idea what direction I was going, but it didn't stop me from looking at what I had in front of me and creating something gift worthy.  That gift can be to myself , friends and family or even a perfect stranger. Today's project is an accordion or zig zag book to INSPIRE. I first grabbed a few pieces of handmade papers.  You too can create your own paper you can be proud of here, at the Arnold Grummer site.  On the site you will notice a plethora goodies, some in which I used today (smiles) Supplies: Any of the Arnold Grummer Paper Mill Kits Square Zig Zag Book Arnold Grummer Heart Template Scissors Helmar Premium Craft Glue Tim Holtz Idea-ology Chit Chat (word sticker b...