Japanese Maple Card

Gather and press Japanese Maple leaves to use all year long, like for making this card from Arnold Grummer's Paper Making Kits and Supplies. Few leaves are as dependable as these for deep red color! 

Supplies:

• Arnold Grummer's Field, Flower & Stationery Press
• Arnold Grummer's 20 Soft White Cards & Envys
• Arnold Grummer's Papermill Complete Kit
• Wastepaper to recycle
• Cardstock: coordinating color, 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece
• 6 Mini brads
• Trimmer, ruler
• Optional: Decorative edge scissors
• Gluestick
• Japanese Maple Leaves

Steps:

1. Follow the usual steps for making paper.
    
2. Float Japanese Maple leaves in the pulp before forming the sheet. Press leaves into pulp as the last bit of pulp is draining so fibers catch the edges, locking leaves onto the sheet.
    
3. Choose a section of the finished sheet that shows off the leaves. Trim or tear a 3 1/2" x 3 3/4" piece, and a 1 1/4" x 3 3/4" piece for the message block.
    
4. Cut or trim cardstock to 3 3/4" x 4", and 1" x 3 1/2". Optional: Use a decorative edge scissors on cardstock edges.
    
5. Write or stamp a message on the smaller cardstock strip. Layer message onto handmade paper strip.
    
6. Layer 'leaf' paper piece onto trimmed cardstock, attach to card with 4 mini-brads. Attach message strip to card with 2 mini brads.