Make it: Handmade Paper

On the set of Creative Juice making paper!


Handmade Paper Embedded with Flowers

Recycle scrap paper and create your own fancy papers. Perfect form making custom stationary, invitations, gift tags etc.

Supplies:
10-15 sheets of scrap white or ivory paper (do not use glossy or magazine paper)
Dried flower petals and/or leaves
Papermill- Complete Papermaking Kit - Arnold Grummer
Blender (dedicated to paper making)
Plastic vat (medium-sized storage tubs work well)
Cookie sheet or other tray
Blotting/couching paper (purchased as part of a kit at a craft store)
Press bar (purchased as part of a kit at a craft store)
Towel
Sponge
Parchment paper
Iron
Cotton cloth to use as a pressing cloth

Steps:
1. Tear the scrap paper into 1x1” squares. Include colored paper or cardstock to add colored chunks to your paper.

2. Put a few handfuls of paper squares in the blender. Fill the blender with 3 cups of water. Liquidize the paper, operating the blender only in 10-15 second pulses. Continue until the paper is broken down into a pulp.

3. Unlatch the box frame portion of your paper making kit and lay the screen on top. Cover with the plastic drainage tray. Latch the screen and tray onto the frame.

4. With the plastic drainage tray down, submerge the box frame, screen, and drainage tray into a small tub of water. Be certain that the water level is not higher than the box frame.

5. Pour half of the liquidized paper pulp into the water-filled tub. Lift the box frame out of the water, but keep it over the tub.

6. Add any additives, such as dried flowers, leaves or confetti. Push into the pulp.

7. Use your fingers to press the paper pulp into an even layer.

8. Over a cookie sheet or other tray, release the screen and plastic drainage tray from the box frame.

9. Top the pulp with the topper sheet that is included in the papermaking kit. Press down on the sheet and pulp with a sponge to remove the excess water.

10. Invert the paper onto a towel and remove the screen. Using blotting paper, or couching paper, absorb any additional water by pressing the blotting paper with a press bar.

11. Lay the handmade paper on a piece of parchment paper to dry for at least 8 hours.

12. To flatten the paper, after it's dry, sandwich the paper between two pieces of cotton and iron gently with a dry iron.

More ideas!