Ever marvelled at the sight of a piece of handmade paper? From its mottled texture to its earthy hue, handmade paper looks and feels like a work of art, and a craft worth investing your time in. Making handmade paper may seem intimidating at first, but thanks to its low cost and accessible materials, anyone can make it easily in their own home.
In this article, I'll explain how to:
make basic handmade paper step-by-step
explore the best materials for the job
uncover the secret behind achieving that unique mottled look!
** You can even get FREE ACCESS to my Mixed Media Papermaking online course and hundreds of other Skillshare courses by using this link. Get a 1-month free trial of Skillshare and discover all sorts of crafts including film making, watercolour painting, art promotion and photography. **
What you need for handmade papermaking
Tools and materials:
Scraps of paper (recycled or new)
1 large bowl and 1 smaller bowl
Mould and deckle (essential papermaking tool)
Cloths and sponges
Somewhere flat to lay your handmade paper while it dries
Steps to create basic handmade paper
Tear up paper into little bits and put in a bowl
Pour water in to same bowl (cover the scrap paper fully with water)
Leave paper/water mixture to soak for at least 3 hours
Use food blender to mix the soaked paper and water all together: this creates your paper pulp
Pour paper pulp in to larger bowl containing water
Use mould and deckle (see video) and lay sheets of new paper on absorbent cloths. Gently absorb the excess water with cloths.
Leave paper to dry (can take 2-3 days depending how thick the paper is)
Peel off your dry, crisp and beautiful handmade paper (the most satisfying bit!)
Flatten with books if you want a smoother look or to use your paper for stationary
Watch quick outline of the papermaking process:
Create the unique mottled look of handmade paper
By adding various natural materials, such as dried grass or flowers, you can change the appearance of the paper and give it a totally different and unique look. Adding different materials during papermaking enhances the beauty of the paper. This gives it a natural pattern and a mottled taint to it.
My online course goes demonstrates this mixed media process in a lot more detail. For basic papermaking just leave the wet paper sheets as they are or blend the paper pulp with any of the following organic materials before using the mould and deckle:
dried herbs
dried grasses
tea (stain the finished paper by sponging it with tea bags - regular and herbal to give different colours)
View this video to see some pretty paper examples!
How to use mixed media in papermaking
With the use of mixed media in papermaking, artisans have the opportunity to create something that is both aesthetically pleasing and environment friendly. The result is a personalised and unique product that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. So if you are looking for something special for your next craft project, then consider exploring what mixed media in papermaking can offer.
To find out more about papermaking and how to create absolutely stunning effects using mixed media, access my Skillshare course.
I'd LOVE to see your results so don't forget to leave a photo on the Skillshare page and tell me which mixed media combination you used!
What can you do with your handmade paper?
Once you've made your pretty handmade paper you might catch yourself wondering, what now?! There are lots of things you can use your paper for including:
handmade cards
wedding invitations
wrapping gifts
pretty carrier bags
writing paper
make gift items
frame and put on wall
use as collage materials for......... (drumroll) mixed media art!
Final thoughts
We can see that handmade papermaking has several benefits. Firstly, it is an eco-friendly process that uses recycled materials and reduces waste. Secondly, handmade paper is unique and has a textured feel that cannot be replicated by machine-made paper. Thirdly, handmade paper can be customised with different colours, textures, and designs. I hope you have fun giving this beautiful craft a try!
Click the image below to try mixed media papermaking!
