Helen Hiebert's Blog, page 57

Snowflake Pop-Up Card

25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 16

I have a confession and a challenge for you. The paper I picked for this project (Iridescent Ice Blue from GPC Papers) isn’t quite right. You have 4 small squares of it in your paper pack, plus the navy blue card stock. 

I made the original model (pictured above) by printing out the template onto regular white office paper.

The problem with the iridescent is that the back side is white, and I didn’t anticipate how it would show in the pop-up (see the white sections in the middle left and right). So you have a choice – pick the paper you prefer!

For this project you will need: 

This template
Four 4″ squares of Iridescent ice blue paper (if desired)
Navy blue card stock (5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″)
Ruler
Scissors (yay, no craft knife today!)
Bone folder
Cutting mat
Tape (to adhere template if using iridescent paper)
Glue stick

Step 1: Cut Circles, First Two Folds: Cut out the four circles and fold each one in half along one of the heavy dashed lines with the printed pattern face out. Crease the fold and then unfold. Don’t turn the paper over. Fold the circle in half again, on the other heavy dashed line.

Step 2: 3rd Fold: Now turn the paper over and fold the circle in half along the lighter dashed line with the printed pattern on the inside. Unfold and turn over so that the blank side is face up.

Step 3: Press & Tuck: Press firmly in the center where the folds meet. This will guide the folds and they will start to take the shape you see above right. Flatten into a quarter-circle as shown. The printed pattern will be on the outside (see below left).

Step 4: Final Fold: Fold the quarter-circle in half, with the printed pattern face up.

Step 5: Cut Shapes: Cut along all solid lines and remove bits and pieces. Repeat steps 1-5 for all four circles.

Step 6: Unfold One Step: Carefully unfold each segment so that it is a quarter-circle again. Make sure that it is still folded as in Step 3. 

Step 7: Score the navy card stock in the middle.

Step 8: Apply glue to the outer layer of each snowflake quarter and stick two petals on either side of the centerfold.

Step 9: Carefully apply glue to the top layer of all four petals and close the card so that they stick to each other. Carefully open the card to reveal the pop-up snowflake.

I’d love to see what you create! Share your ideas in the comments box below and show us what you made in the 25 Days of Paper FB group.

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About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!

Madeleine Durham Paste Papers

25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 15

© 2015 Madeleine Durham, Christmas Cards

Madeleine Durham creates innovative paste papers. She enjoys working in a painterly fashion using a brush technique to create a contemporary flair for fine bookbinders, collage artists and crafters. Pigmented pastes allow her to vividly express the colorful and fluid abstraction of the style which defines her work.

Place an order for Durham’s paste papers on Etsy and enter the code PastePaper11 to receive a 15% discount through the end of December 2015.

© 2015 Madeleine Durham, pink wavy paste paper

Lively shapes and bold patterns are a central part of her rich imagery. Durham’s papers are 100% archival made with Golden acrylics and Jin-Shofu wheat paste. Currently, she is working on Arches Text Wove. Her papers are grain short and are slightly larger than 13” x 25” which is a third of a mother sheet of Arches.

© 2015 Madeleine Durham, green wavy paste paper

Durham is experimenting with new patterns on kozo which will be available soon. She is also creating larger papers for binders who require more than a 13” short grain, and smaller kozo papers with intricate designs specifically with miniature book binders in mind.

© 2015 Madeleine Durham, 1″ Strips and 4″ Squares for collage

Durham currently has a line of greeting cards and printed silk scarves are coming soon. In the upcoming weeks check Etsy for her new line of 1″ strips and 4″ squares for artists who wish to use a range of smaller pieces in collage and crafts.

© 2015 Madeleine Durham, Paste Paper Quilt Square

About our sponsor: Madeleine Durham works out of her home studio in the high desert of Santa Fe New Mexico where the magical light and rich colors of the vast landscape influence her art. She is happy to work with artists and bookbinders who have special requests and is able to deliver patterns in multiples of just a few to several hundred as needed. Visit her in her Etsy Shop, on FaceBook or drop her a line at madeleine@madeleinedurham.com.

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About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!

Watermarked Luminaria

25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 14

I spent many a Christmas during my childhood in Northern New Mexico, and I always loved seeing the rooftops and drives lined with paper bag luminaria. Once I learned to make paper and discovered the watermarking technique, I combined the two ideas. 

Most of you have the watermarked white paper, but a couple of you got a green version. These look great at night with a tea light, but they also look nice under the light of a lamp or during the day on a window sill. By the way, I’ll be offering this exact paper (in white and two colors) in my upcoming on-line paper sale in late January. 

For this project you will need: 

This template
Leaf-watermarked paper from your kit
Ruler
Craft knife
Bone folder
Cutting mat
Tape
Glue
Battery operated tea light

Step 1: Cut & Score: Cut out the template and tape it in place on the handmade paper OR you can simply place the template on top of the handmade paper and cut both out together (save the template for making future luminaria). Use the bone folder to score along the dashed lines prior to removing the template. 

Step 2: Fold: Carefully fold along all of the score lines in the same direction (all mountain or all valley folds, depending on the way you look at them! Mine are valleys here).

Step 3: Glue Side Panel: Apply glue (or double-sided tape) to the one side tab and adhere the panel.

Step 4: Attach Bottom Panel: Apply glue to the three bottom tabs and adhere the bottom panel.

Step 5: Press Glued Areas: Set the luminaria right-side up on your table-top and use a bone folder or another blunt implement to make sure that the tabs are stuck in place. 

Insert a tea light and watch the watermarks glow. 

If you like collapsible paper objects like I do, you can fold this lantern up like a brown paper bag and store it. I just pinched the sides and then collapsed the bottom.

I can envision this lantern design in all kinds of papers, and I hope you’ll try it out! Share your ideas in the comments box below and show us what you made in the 25 Days of Paper FB group.

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About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!

Arnold Grummer’s® Celebrates 40 Years

The Sunday Paper #85 + 25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 13

Arnold with Tim Barrett, Kathryn & Howard Clark meeting at the Institute of Paper Chemistry

Arnold Grummer’s® is a company which honors its’ founder by continuing to make excellent papermaking kits and supplies. Arnold lived and breathed papermaking, and he loved its’ blend of science, art, history and creativity. And he loved doing it frugally. He loved recycling and re-purposing the magic fibers which are all around us.

He made it look easy. But his position as editor of communications at the Institute of Paper Chemistry gave him a broad understanding of the science of paper. He gained a historical perspective when, for 6 years, he had sole responsibility for the Dard Hunter Paper Museum, housed at the Institute. He shared the art of papermaking with others. This favorite picture shows him with a very young Kathy and Howard Clark and Timothy Barrett at one of the first gatherings he arranged at the Institute for hand papermaking’s pioneers.

And the frugal part – he was a writer and performer who showed thousands of people how to make darn good paper – often from Sunday funnies with two tin cans.

Arnold Grummer’s 88th Birthday Sheet – he liked to commemorate special events in paper, even his own!

Forty years later, the family business celebrates his contribution, and moves on despite changes. Greg Grummer retired this year. Kim (Grummer) Schiedermayer moved the business back to Appleton, in the heart of Wisconsin’s Paper Valley. Mabel, 90, still works in the business every day. Her cards are sometimes included in customer packages, but mostly benefit the local hospice as sympathy notes.

The product line remains much the same. The main audience is educators, but Arnold Grummer’s® provides basic paper studio supplies: Arch Shred, unbleached abaca from the Philippines and the company’s signature birch book and paper presses are favorites. And Arnold loved a good book, so he would agree with our new simple book making sets for the classroom.

Old papermakers never die, they just press on.

To kick off the 40th year celebration, Arnold Grummer’s® will include one of Mabel’s handmade cards and a sheet of paper made by Arnold for Sunday Paper readers. Use promo code CARDME to receive an add’l 10% off both sale and regular priced items and these special gifts.

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Tara Donovan uses common materials (sometimes paper) to create incredible massive sculptures. Her most recent is in the newly renovated Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum of Art in Washington, D.C. Here’s a lovely video and an interesting article about her work.

 

Check out this pop-up book that turns into a pinhole camera! 

American paper artist Jane Ingram Allen is in Turkey on a Fulbright as the guest of Ege University. Over the years she has created many maps from local plant fiber papers and in Turkey she has redrawn İzmir’s map with local plants as part of the 6th International EgeArt Art Day.

 

That’s all for this week folks. Enjoy your Sunday!————————————————————————————————————–––––––––––– 

If you enjoyed reading The Sunday Paper today, why not sign up to get it delivered to your in-box each and every Sunday? Click here to subscribe (it’s free), and you’ll receive my nifty pop-up alphabet template as a thank you gift! 

If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Click on that cute paper button (I made that paper) to see how you can provide support.

And if you run a paper-related business, you might be interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.

Thank you to those who have pledged your support, and enjoy your Sunday!

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About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!

Snowflake Gift Tag/Ornament

25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 12

I love pockets and have developed several projects which utilize envelope “pockets”. When you cut out through the layers of the envelope and slip another paper inside, you get a cool gift tag or ornament that catches the light! Grab the small blue envelope (from envelopes.com) and the square of Ginwashi (from GPC Papers). 

Okay, fair warning here. If you are not adept at using an craft knife, this project is a bit tedious, and cutting through the layers of the envelope requires a sharp knife and some umph. You might consider simplifying the design by cutting out the 6 triangular pie-shaped pieces and leaving out all of the ornate little bits.

Another warning: you might be tempted to cut the design with a punch, which is a great idea. However, most punches will not cut through the double layer of envelope paper, and I speak from experience – I’ve ruined a punch trying! 

For this project you will need: 

Blue envelope
White flecked Ginwashi paper cut to 2″ x 3-1/4″
Ruler, optional (I cut freehand)
Craft knife
Cutting mat
Tape

Step 1: Cut Snowflake: Cut out the template and tape it in place on the envelope, making sure that you will not cut through the envelope flap. Cut out the dark parts of the template. 

Step 2: Insert Ginwashi & Prep Hanger: Slip the sheet of Ginwashi into the envelope pocket. Cut a piece of thread or string approximately 18″ in length and double knot one end.

Step 3: Attach Hanger: Slip the un-knotted end of the hanger beneath the flap and seal the flap. Hang your ornament in a window, on a tree, or use it as a gift tag. It is tricky to photograph these types of things with light behind them! There’s a snow storm brewing over here in Colorado.

Share your ideas in the comments box below and show us what you made in the 25 Days of Paper FB group.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!

HMP Deckle Shapes from Oblation Papers

25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 11

When I moved to Portland, OR in the late 1990’s, I worked part-time at Oblation Papers & Press, a gorgeous stationery store in the Pearl District with a production paper mill and a full-blown letterpress shop – a must-see when visiting the Pacific Northwest!

Dove-shaped flat note with gold envelope, 3.5 x 5 inches, cream recycled Oblation handmade cotton paper

Oblation Papers & Press produces handmade paper stationery, custom wedding invitations and these pure cotton full-deckled handmade paper shapes, fashioned one-at-a-time, where they employ traditional 19th century techniques to make sheets of cotton paper by hand using recycled remnants from the garment industry. These papers are strong, acid-free and perfectly suited for letterpress printing.

By using the promo code deckle, paper lovers will receive 20% all handmade paper found in the handmade paper section on their website. Offer ends Dec. 26th, 2015.

Evergreen-shaped flat note with gold envelope, roughly 3.5 x 5 inches, cream recycled oblation handmade cotton paper

About our sponsor: Oblation Papers & Press is an urban paper mill, a letterpress printing studio, and a retail boutique in the Pearl District of Portland, Oregon. 

Heart-shaped enclosure card with glassine envelope,
size 3 x 3 inches, cream recycled oblation handmade cotton paper, full deckle

Here’s a lovely video about Oblation Papers & Press:

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About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!

Ball Ornament

25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 10

Before I had children (BC), I used to make at least 50 handmade cards every December. This was one of them – I made it with four strips of paper. Later I perfected the design for the letter “O” in my artist’s book Sound Blocks, making the form out of one sheet of paper. 

For this project you will need: 

Golden Ogee-Purple paper from GPC Papers 
Download the template
Ruler
Craft knife
Cutting mat
Glue
Thread/hanger
Tape
Scissors (optional for cutting circle and pointed ends)

Step 1: Cut Ornament: Tape the template to the Golden Ogee-Purple paper and cut out the ornament shape. I use small scissors to cut the circles and points.

Step 2: Glue Strips, one by one to the dot that is attached to the ornament. The pointed ends means that they do not need to overlap – they will all fit together to form one smooth layer of paper. Glue the paper dot on top of the gathered strips to make sure that everything stays together.

Step 3: Attach Hanger: Slip a thread or string through two opposing sides of the ornament to create a simple hanger.

Here are a few variations: try cutting the template out using deckled scissors or pinking sheers; flatten the ball and crease the strips to make a floral shape. What else will you come up with?

Share your ideas in the comments box below or over in the 25 Days of Paper FB group.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!

Decorated Papers & Products from Kristoferson Studio

25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 9

© Kristoferson Studio, Combed Paste Papers

Susan Kristoferson has specialized in hand-painted and dyed papers since 1990, including the traditional Japanese fold and dye technique of itajime. At her studio in the foothills of Southern Alberta in Canada, she works on many innovative designs as well as historic reproductions.

© Kristoferson Studio, Stamped & textured paste papers.

Paste papers have been made since the 1700s, though it’s unsure who first worked with this technique as detailed records weren’t kept. Over the past few decades, Susan has traveled to many rare book libraries and paper collections in order to learn more about the techniques she works with.

© Kristoferson Studio, Paste paper covered products, photo by Dan Kvitka

In addition to creating individual and unique papers, Susan is also able to work from parent sheets to create colour accurate editions of a few to hundreds of sheets. She also uses paper created by herself and other artists to make different forms of art; such as abstract and landscape collages, earrings, bound books, and many other items.

© Kristoferson Studio, Early Moring Light collaged paste paper diptych, 10 x40”

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About Our Sponsor: Susan Kristoferson works from her studio in Turner Valley in Southern Alberta, Canada, creating decorative papers. She also makes products and artworks from those papers.

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About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!

Tyvek Accordion Lantern

25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 8

Technically, Tyvek® isn’t paper, but it folds really well, is super strong and water resistant. It’s that stuff they use in construction, protective apparel and packaging (no wonder I like it – it has qualities of paper and cloth). It comes in white (and black) and I use watered-down acrylic paints to pigment my sheets, brushing the paint on with a foam sponge and wiping off the excess. The staining picks up the texture in the Tyvek®, which creates a lovely pattern. I bought this Tyvek from Material Concepts.

For this project you will need: 

Tyvek (the white fibrous sheet in your paper pack)
Acrylic paint (or other coloring medium, optional)
Cutting Mat
Craft knife
Ruler
Bone folder
Battery operated tea light (I ordered mine from 100candles.com – they even have colored lights)
Double sided tape, glue or velcro

Step 1: Staining the Tyvek®: I stained my Tyvek with one color of acrylic paint on each side. It’s simple (if you have paint – the Tyvek actually looks nice without paint, too). Add a small amount of water to thin the paint so that it rubs on easily with a sponge. Wipe the excess moisture off while rubbing the pigment into the sheet with a paper towel or the sponge. I recommend doing a small test first to see how your medium handles. Also have a piece of scrap paper underneath when staining, so that you can stain the edges.

Step 2: Cut & Fold in Half: Cut a piece of Tyvek to 8-1/2″ x 3″. If you know how to fold an accordion, you can skip to step seven. Fold the strip of Tyvek in half as pictured, creating a mountain fold (as opposed to a valley).

Step 3: Fold in Quarters: Place the folded sheet on your work surface and first fold one end towards the center fold, then flip the piece over and fold the other end into that center fold as well.

Step 4: Reverse Folds: Unfold the entire sheet and reverse the valley folds so that all of the folds are mountains, as shown. 

Step 5: Fold in Eighths: Start at the left-most fold and fold it to meet the left edge of the sheet. Bring each mountain fold over to that same edge, until all sections are the same size.

Step 6: Fold in Sixteenths: Repeat steps 4 and 5 – reverse all folds and then accordion fold into 16 sections. Phew, you’re done!

Step 7: Remove Section: Cutting off one of the small panels (you’ll have 15 remaining) seems to make the star pattern on the top of the lantern look better. 

Step 8: Apply Adhesive: Attach a strip of double sided tape or glue to one of the end sections of the accordion, remove protective strip and adhere the other end to it.

I made several variations: cut the ends; gather one end; add tessellations; use velcro dots instead of tape. You can also punch holes through the double accordions for another effect.

Share your ideas in the comments box below or over in the 25 Days of Paper FB group.

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About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!

Vintage Cards Depict Papermaking

25 Days of Paper 2015, Day 7

Crane & Co., based in Dalton, MA, has been manufacturing cotton-based paper products used in the printing of national currencies, passports and banknotes as well as for social stationery since the late 1700’s. Crane remains the predominant supplier of paper for use in U.S. currency. The Crane Museum of Papermaking recently opened The Garage Center for the Paper Arts – a makers’ and enablers’ space for papermakers, artists and educators.

I’ve taken a tour of Crane & Co. and saw piles (actually mountains) of rags in one room and workers hand gilding the edges of fine stationery with gold leaf and pigment in another. 

Check out (and purchase) this set of five cards depicting papermaking scenes at Crane & Co. during World War II. Note that the ladies in the rag room are elderly and would not normally be in the workforce. The guys are at war, the young women are doing the Rosie the Riveter thing and Grandmoms came back to Crane to do what they did as young women. Another rare image is that of the beater engineer “panning stock” from the beater. By diluting the stock and pouring from one pan to another, the engineer could determine if any knots or clumps remained and get a good idea of fiber length. These images are believed to have been created by the artist Nat White.

Purchase a set of 5 papermaker’s cards for $10. These cards are printed on 90# Crane’s Ivory Woven and come with 32# Crane’s Ecru Kid Finish envelopes.  

Here’s a beautiful and informative video about the company. Watch to the end to hear Crane & Co. historian Peter Hopkins talk about how the company’s products are central to long lasting relationships.

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About Our Sponsor: The Crane Museum of Papermaking recently opened about 3,500 square feet of space for The Garage Center for the Paper Arts – a makers’ and enablers’ space for papermakers, artists and educators. For information, email peter.hopkins@comcast.net

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

About the 25 Days of Paper 2015: It’s a great time to celebrate paper, and I’m delighted to share my ideas for using this amazing material with you. Throughout December, I’ll be posting a paper tutorial on even days, and every odd day will bring news about paper artists, stores, distributors and more! Receive updates via e-mail by adding your address in the upper right hand corner of this page. Enjoy the season, and feel free to leave a comment below and check out what people are making in the 25 Days of Paper FB Group!