Pulp Fiction: DIY papermaking
Hey, want to get creative and eco-friendly? Try making your own paper! It's, affordable, and super fun! Make place cards, journal pages, unique scrapbooking and collage inclusions, and even use small seeds for plantable cards or bookmarks. Left over pulp can be used in small molds too, for unique holiday ornaments. Papermaking is a kid friendly activity, and is also a fascinating international renaissance with deep roots.
Tools
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blender and cookie sheet
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big sponges, tea towels
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catch basin for sink*
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colander and bowls
Materials
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WATER
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big bag of paper, torn or shredded
tip: Tear paper into 1 inch pieces and soak it overnight for easiest results. If you forget this step you may pre soak your paper for 10 - 30 minutes while you set up.
Set Up your Workspace
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Soak paper for 10 minutes or longer if you didn't pre-soak it.
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Place cookie sheet on counter, near sink and near outlet.
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Put blender/food processor on cookie sheet and plug it in.
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Place basin in sink, bowl in basin, and strainer in bowl
5. Half fill the blender with wet paper.
6. Slowly add water to about 3/4 full
and blend for about a minute.
* Timing depends on how small the pieces are, and how long it was pre-soaked
This is where your big basin comes in - your vat!
Fill it half way with (comfortably warm) water, and pour the blender mix in. Mix it up: flatten your hand with open fingers, lower it about an inch into the water and agitate the mix back and forth until the fibres seem evenly distributed, like an even cloud cover.
Then place the top frame, the deckle, over the screened frame, the mould, and slide it at a 45 degree angle into the floating pulp. Gently agitate it from side to side. When it seems evenly filled, lift straight up. The water will drain out, leaving a film of fiber on the screen. At this point, you can rest the mould on the vat to drain a bit before COUCHING it.
Fill the vat!
Fill the vat!
This is where your big basin comes in - your vat!
Fill it half way with (comfortably warm) water, and pour the blender mix in. Mix it up: flatten your hand with open fingers, lower it about an inch into the water and agitate the mix back and forth until the fibres seem evenly distributed, like an even cloud cover.
Then place the top frame, the deckle, over the screened frame, the mould, and slide it at a 45 degree angle into the floating pulp. Gently agitate it from side to side. When it seems evenly filled, lift straight up. The water will drain out, leaving a film of fiber on the screen. At this point, you can rest the mould on the vat to drain a bit before COUCHING it.
Mould and deckles may be purchased here from ArnoldGrummer or gather supplies and make your own from two identical wooden dollar store frames. Remove all glass and staples & flip the frames face down. Staple window screen taut across the back of one, starting with a staple at the center of each edge. Trim screen edges and seal with duct tape. Apply weather stripping tightly around the second frame to create a tight seal. VOILA!