Once you’re hooked on the process of papermaking, you’ll no doubt be making sheet after sheet from all kinds of interesting materials. What to do with all that handmade paper? The possibilities are endless, as you’ll find with the beautiful projects presented in this chapter. Give your one-of-a-kind creations as gifts or keep them for personal use as home décor, jewelry, or scrapbooking elements.
A bookmark made of paper and words: How appropriate is that? As an added bonus, it clips to your page, so you aren’t losing your spot if the pages of your book fall open. The paper shown was made with the mottled surface technique (see page 62), using old crossword puzzle pages and tissue paper.
Materials
1¼″ × 5″ paper strip (per bookmark)
Scoring tool (bone folder)
Needle and thread
⅛″-wide double-sided tape
Large-sized paper clip
Several handmade paper scraps
Paper punches (we used a small “burst,” medium flower, and simple circle)
Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue sticks or white glue
Rubber alphabet stamps and ink pad(s)
Instructions
1. Use the scoring tool to mark lines on a strip of paper, across its long side (or width), approximately ⅛″ apart. Note: It’s important to score handmade paper before folding, because otherwise it may crack or fold poorly.
2. Make accordion folds along the scored lines.
3. Thread a needle, make a knot, and pierce the middle of folded strip. Pull the thread through, tie a knot, and cut the thread.
Bone Folder
This handy tool, commonly used in bookbinding, is about the size and shape of a letter opener. In a process called scoring, a bone folder is used to make a creased line in paper, to make it easier to fold. Is a bone folder really made of bone? They used to be, and some still are, but they are now more likely to be made of plastic.
4. Open up both ends of the folded stack like a fan. Make a circle by using double-sided tape to attach the folded edges.
5. Position one end of a paper clip on the back of the pleated circle. Secure it with double-sided tape, covered with a flat paper circle that is a bit smaller than the pleated circle.
6. Use paper punches and scrap paper to create decorative shapes or cut them freehand with scissors.
7. Decorate the front by gluing on punched-out shapes and/or stamping with a word or image.
These cute little cards make great gift enclosures. The tops were made with flower-punched origami paper embedded on the surface (see page 64). The paper attached with ribbon is plain and simple, for writing on. Another idea: Make shaped cards using cookie cutters.
Materials
Two handmade paper circles (per card), your choice of size
Standard hole punch
Scraps of ⅛″-wide ribbon
Instructions
1. Match up two paper circles and use standard hole punch to create hole on the left side through both cards. Note: If you’re using plain paper circles without embedded decoration, feel free to cut and glue other paper shapes on the top paper circle.
2. Thread the ribbon through both holes, from back to front, and tie the ends together on top.
Paper Circle Sizes
The round papers you’ll see in some of these projects are all made with the tin can papermaking technique (see page 42). Since the size of the paper circles depends on what you use for your mold, we’ll leave that up to you. Average size is from 2¾″ to 4″. Think of the projects as a jumping-off place for your own creativity. No need to follow instructions to the letter.
Gift wrap and origami paper scraps add a lively decorative touch.
Use round papers with internal or surface embedment (see pages 64–70) for these single-circle postcard-style notes. Decorate one side and write (or simply sign your name) on the other. A more advanced project would be to experiment with sheet layering (see page 110), which produces paper that is a different color on each side.
Materials
Round sheets of handmade paper with embedded decorations
Several handmade paper scraps (optional)
⅛″-wide double-sided tape or glue stick (optional)
Rubber alphabet stamps and ink pad(s)
Crafty Tip
The materials embedded in the notes shown include fabric scraps, bits of string, and pressed bougainvillea petals and clover leaves. Botanicals work great in handmade paper (see page 66).
Instructions
1. If you like, cut out shapes from the paper scraps, and add them to the front of the round handmade paper circles. Attach them with double-sided tape or glue stick.
2. Stamp a personal message on the cards, as desired.
3. Optional: Make your own envelopes (see page 189).
These little cones are handy for party favors, just the right size to fill with jelly beans or other candy favorites. Since you need square paper, you can either cut a longer sheet to size or custom-make square paper, using an old square picture frame as a mold. For the pulp, we used colored napkins, an old paper bag, and a paper towel.
Materials
5½″ square of handmade paper (per cone)
Scissors
Clear tape
Pencil or pen
Hole punch
8″ colored string, ribbon, or yarn
Rubber stamps and ink pad(s) or label maker (optional)
Instructions
1. Trim off the rough edges on two sides of the paper square using scissors; these should be adjacent sides, not opposite one another. If you want the top edge of the cone to be smooth, as shown in the project, trim all four edges.
2. Practice rolling the cone by bringing the two adjacent trimmed sides of the paper together. Unroll the cone and lay a piece of tape along one inside cut edge with half of the tape hanging off the edge (the second cut edge will be attached there).
3. Roll the cone back into shape, carefully pressing the cut edges together and matching up the tip and base of cone. To ensure a strong joint, use the back of pencil, pen, or fingernail to smooth the tape down securely.
4. Punch a hole in the top corner of the cone. The hole should be large enough to accommodate whatever ribbon or string you decide to use as your hanging loop.
5. Tie the 8″ piece of string into a loop, with a knot larger than the punched hole. Pull the looped end through the hole; the knot should keep it from passing through.
6. Optional: Add labels to the front of the cones, depending on intended use.
Crafty Tips
To save time, reuse/recycle the pulp colors. Use the base color from a cone for the decorative colors on another cone.
Blend the pulp to a very smooth consistency for pulp gun painting. Use a pastry icing squeeze bottle or an old honey bottle. The tip should be at least 
in diameter or pulp will clog and come out in uneven spurts.
Blend pulp very smoothly for the square cone paper. Mottled materials don’t curve/bend very well.
Use whatever mottled-surface paper you like for these sweet little critters. Paint on the details (black-and-white eyes, pink ears, orange beak, black dots) with pulp as you make the paper (see page 84). If you prefer, punch circles from paper instead and glue them on after making each critter, then make eye centers with a felt marker.
Fish
The fish can be made entirely with pulp layering (see page 78). Just for fun, embed opalescent confetti into the pulp when making the paper.
1. Start with a large circle of pulp, and layer on heart-shaped pulp for the tail.
2. Add a circle of white pulp for the eye and black for the pupil.
Mouse
Materials
One large paper circle for the body and two for the ears
⅛″-wide double-sided tape
Yarn scrap for the tail
Instructions
1. Fold the larger body circle in half to create a two-layer semicircle.
2. Attach one ear on each layer using double-sided tape.
3. Tuck one end of the yarn tail inside the folded body and attach with double-sided tape.
Materials
10″ bamboo skewer for legs, or two toothpicks for short legs
Utility knife
One paper circle for the body, or two for double-sided bird
Clear tape
⅛″-wide double-sided tape
Bits of feathers
Glue stick or white glue
Instructions
1. Trim off one sharp end of each skewer with a utility knife to avoid poking holes in the body paper. Position the blunt ends on the back of the paper and attach with tape.
2. Optional: If making a double-sided bird, attach the second circle to the back of bird using double-sided tape, sandwiching the leg sticks between the two layers.
3. Glue on bits of feathers as you like.
Ladybug
Materials
One red paper circle for the wings
One black paper circle slightly larger than the red circle
⅛″-wide double-sided tape
Black felt-tipped marker (optional)
Instructions
1. Cut the red circle down the middle, but leave it attached at one end.
2. Cut the black circle into a teardrop shape.
3. Attach the red ladybug wings circle on top of the black teardrop body with double-sided tape.
These cheerful shapes were made using a handmade pie-tin mold for the bird (see page 81) and cookie cutter molds for the flowers (see page 80). The decorations on the flowers were made from origami paper, wrapping paper, napkins, and construction paper embedded in the surface as the paper was made (see page 64).
Materials
Hole punch
Handmade paper bird and flower shapes (two per double-sided topper)
10″ bamboo skewers (one per flower; two per bird)
Clear tape
Pencil
⅛″-wide double-sided tape
Bird
1. Punch a hole for bird’s eye.
2. Affix two skewers to the back of bird body shape with clear tape. Rub down with a pencil or fingernail to ensure a secure joint.
3. Hide the taped skewer tops in a double-sided bird by attaching a second bird shape on the back of the other with double-sided tape.
Flowers
1. Affix a skewer to the back the paper flower shape with clear tape. Rub down with a pencil or fingernail to ensure a secure joint.
2. Hide the taped skewer top in a double-sided flower by attaching a second flower shape on the back of the other with double-sided tape.
Create a floral display anytime of the year with these fun-and-easy flowers. The large background paper circles were made with embedded bougainvillea petals (see page 66), and the inside flower shapes and leaves were made with shaped cookie cutter molds. Centers were made using a pulp gun (see page 27).
Materials
10″ square of newspaper
⅛″-wide clear or double-sided tape
Scissors
Cardboard
One large paper circle with embedded petals and one smaller molded or cut-out flower shape per flower (two each for double-sided flowers)
Two to four leaf shapes per flower
Instructions
1. Roll a section of newspaper on the diagonal into a tight tube to make the flower stem. Tape the end with clear tape or use double-sided tape if you don’t want the tape to show.
2. Cut a ¼″ cardboard square and attach it to the back of a small flower shape with double-sided tape. This is to give the flower a bit of dimension. Note: If your flower shapes are tiny, the ¼″ cardboard square may be too big; cut to a size that will ensure you don’t see cardboard peeking out from behind the flower shape.
3. Tape the flower shape to the embedded-petal circle and then tape the circle to the front of the stem. For double-sided flowers, repeat steps 2 and 3, matching the second circle to the first on the opposite side of the stem and taping the two together with double-sided tape.
4. Lay two leaves together at the points and tape them together on the back. Tape the pair to the stem as desired. For double-sided flowers, repeat this step on opposite side of stem and secure leaf sets to one another with double-sided tape.
This simple garland can be hung on a door or wall, but is just as cute as a personal touch to gift wrapping. Instead of just plain ribbon around a package, create this mini garland with recipient’s name. It uses a variety of shapes, made with pulp poured into cookie cutters and aspic cutters (see page 80). When making the paper, add extra water to the pulp and use a squeeze bottle with a small nozzle, to make pouring into small molds easier.
Materials
Several paper shapes in varying sizes (we used flowers, circles, hearts and teardrops)
Rubber alphabet stamps and ink pad(s)
Strip of ½″-wide ribbon
⅛″-wide double-sided tape
Instructions
1. Decorate the shapes with stamps, as desired.
2. Lay the ribbon out on the table.
3. Put a small piece of double-sided tape on the back of each shape and affix them to the ribbon. Rub hard on back of ribbon to make sure shape and ribbon are joined securely.
4. Tie loops at both ends of the ribbon for hanging.
Name personalization is a popular trend in decorating kids’ rooms, but retail lettered wall hangings can be pricey. Create the same personal flair in your child’s room with this adorable name garland, without the expense. The letters on these circles are made with the pulp painting technique (see page 84). We used very smoothly pureed pulp, in two contrasting colors.
Materials
⅛″-wide double-sided tape
Paper circles that spell out a name
½″-wide ribbon or bias tape (the length will depend on the desired length of the finished project)
Instructions
1. Attach piece of double-sided tape across the center back of each circle.
2. Create a loop on one end of the ribbon or bias tape, using double-sided tape to adhere ribbon end to ribbon.
3. Affix ribbon to back of first letter and work your way over to the last letter, pressing the ribbon firmly to the tape as you go.
4. Finish the garland with another closed loop for hanging.
The circles for this garland were made with the mottled surface technique (see page 62). Pulp made from old tissue paper, paper napkins, and old wrapping paper was poured into cookie cutter and tincan molds (see page 80). Some decorative elements were added with pulp layering (see page 78). The instructions that follow are for a one-sided garland about 3 feet in length.
Materials
Twelve 4″-diameter shapes (we used circles and flowers)
⅛″-wide double-sided tape
Ruler or measuring tape
Approximately 6 feet string, ribbon, bias tape, or fabric
Instructions
1. Plan out the order of the shapes and lay them out on a long table. Carefully turn over each shape, keeping them in the correct position.
2. Cut 4″ strips of double-sided tape (the width of each shape) and affix them down the center backs of the shapes.
3. Lay out the ribbon or other connecting strips on the table. Fold it in half to make two long strands. The top folded end will become the top loop for hanging. Affix the ribbon to the back of each shape, one at a time. Spaces can be left between the shapes, or shapes can be butted up next to each other.
Crafty Tips
To save time, prepare four flowers at once.
Instead of three layers of paper on each shape, simplify to two layers.
Remember to rinse the molds you are reusing each time you change colors.
When using certain colored papers, color may run onto the paper towel (used for blotting) and may transfer onto other colors if the paper towel is reused.
Pour the base (first) color a little heavier than subsequent layers, to ensure sturdiness.
When using smaller molds, mix a little more water into the pulp for ease of pouring.
Hot glue gun can be used for a more secure attachment, if required, instead of double-sided tape.
Just as with the Simple Mini Name Garland (see page 158), this project dresses up typical gift wrapping. It’s also a good project for using up scraps from other projects; use circular paper or cut or punch circles from scraps.
Materials
Small and medium paper punches
1″ handmade paper circles (10 shapes per 1′ length)
String
Clear tape
Glue stick or white glue
2½″ to 3″ handmade paper circle
Instructions
1. Use paper punches to make interesting shapes inside the 1″ paper circles. Set aside paper punch-outs for use in decorating the tag, step 4.
2. Lay out the paper circles in desired order, with about ¼″ between them.
3. Attach string to the back side of the circles using clear tape.
4. Glue paper punch-outs from step 1 to the large paper circle to make the coordinating gift tag.
Decorate one side of the tag and keep the other side blank for a personal message.
This charming wreath can be made in colors to match any season: red and brown for autumn, red and green for the holidays, or pastels for spring. The sample shown here was created primarily with mottled paper, made from a brown paper bag, gold origami paper, and a paper-lined candy wrapper, with glitter thrown in. Most shapes were molded in shaped cookie cutters, with the oak leaves cast in a custom-shaped pie tin (see page 81) and embedded with pieces of metallic string.
Materials
Pencil or pen
8″-diameter mixing bowl
8½″ square cardboard
7″-diameter mixing bowl
One paper clip or equivalent length of wire
1″-wide masking tape
18 red handmade paper circles
18 white handmade paper circles
Stapler and staples
11 brown leaves
Four brown oak leaves (optional)
Instructions
1. Place the 8″ mixing bowl onto the cardboard, trace around it, and cut out the circle.
2. Center the 7″ bowl inside the cut circle, trace, and cut out to make the ring backing for the wreath.
3. Bend the wire or paper clip into a loop with two tails and attach the loop to the back of cardboard with masking tape, as shown, to create the wreath hanger.
4. Position the white and red circles around the cardboard ring to plan placement. Staple them in place, one at a time, to the cardboard ring, curling the shapes at one end to give them a bit of volume. Overlap each row of red and white circles as you go around the ring to hide the staples in the previous row.
5. Staple the simple leaf shapes on top of the circles in the same way.
6. Optional: Tape the oak leaves to the back of the cardboard ring or tuck them behind other leaves and staple them in place.
Here’s a great project for letting your imagination go wild. It’s also a good way to use up scraps from other projects. You can custom-make shapes to fit the scene you have in mind for your card.
Materials
Ruler
8½″ × 11″ sheet of thick handmade paper or commercial cardstock
Scissors or utility knife
Scoring tool (bone folder)
Handmade paper scraps
Glue stick
Instructions
1. Measure the halfway point of the 11″ side of the paper/cardstock sheets and cut them in half to make 5½″ × 8½″ sheets.
2. Measure and score each paper/card-stock piece to make two cards that will be 5½″ × 4¼″ when folded.
3. Plan your design. You can make templates to use for cutting out the pieces from the handmade paper scraps, or cut them out freehand.
4. Lay out your design on the card. When you’re satisfied with the arrangement, secure the pieces with glue stick.
Mailing Your Cards
These instructions are for cards that will fit a standard envelope size. To make your own custom envelopes, see the suggestions on page 189.
What a great way to personalize your homemade creations! Use the tin-can papermaking method (see page 42), with a mold that is at least ¼″ larger than the lid you want to cover. These were made by adding cut-out shapes, ribbon, and rickrack to the pulp, using the surface embedment technique (see page 64).
Materials
Handmade paper circle (slightly larger than jar lid)
Glue stick
Canning jars and lids
Utility knife
Instructions
1. Lay the handmade paper circle face down on a flat, protected surface and coat with glue stick.
2. Center the jar lid, top down, on the paper. Turn over both lid and paper and use your finger to smooth the paper over the lid. Press firmly.
3. Trim the excess paper from around the circle, using a utility knife.
Other Label Ideas
Some of these labels were cut from handmade paper, and some were made to fit, using cookie cutter shapes. If you are making paper to fit, measure the label surface and keep in mind that paper tends to “grow” an unknown amount when it’s flattened and dried. You can embed white paper in the surface as you make the labels (see page 64), or glue on white paper shapes after the paper is dry. Finished labels can be attached to most any surface using glue stick.
The paper for these little cuties was made with aspic molds and the pulp layering technique (see page 78). You can also custom-shape your own molds from aluminum pie tins (see page 81).
Materials
Rubber stamps and ink pad(s) (optional)
Handmade paper circles
Heavy-duty double-sided tape or craft glue
1″ or smaller magnetic disks
Instructions
1. Use rubber stamps to decorate the paper circles, if desired, and then flip the circles face down.
2. Press squares of double-sided tape or place a dot of glue on the back of each magnet.
3. Center the glue side of the magnets on the back of each paper circle and press hard to attach.
This project has a lovely result without a great deal of effort. Use paper that is thick enough to be sturdy, but thin enough to fit in the paper punch. The paper shown here was made with phone book pages and wrapping paper. The pretty colors came from recycled tissue paper and party napkins that were crumpled and no longer fit for entertaining.
Materials
1½″ flower-shaped paper punch
Eight circles of paper, at least 3″ in diameter
-hole paper punch
Scissors
Colored cotton string or topstitching thread
12″ stick
Instructions
1. Punch out flower shapes in the center of each handmade paper circle.
2. Lay out the circles and the flower shapes in three rows, alternating the shapes as shown in the project photo.
3. Use the hole punch to make small holes in the top of each paper piece, for attaching the string.
4. Cut 1¼″ pieces of string and run them through the holes one at a time. Tie off with knots.
5. Position the stick horizontally at the top and tie on all three embellished strings. Since the papers are all about the same size and weight, the mobile should balance.
6. Tie another string at the top, with a knot at each end, and long enough to make a loop for hanging.
Mobile Imagination
Find an interesting rod or stick, and use simple shapes to make up your own design. Keep experimenting until you find the right balance.
This mobile is a sweet addition to the wall décor of a baby’s room. The pulp for these papers was made with gift wrap, newspaper, and construction paper. The cloud was assembled and pressed all as one piece, using the pulp layering technique (see page 78), but you can glue individual dried paper circles together. The raindrops were made with homemade pie tin molds in three different sizes.
Materials
Pulp-layered cloud shape (or an assortment of 3″ and 4″ circles taped or glued together)
Scissors
80″ colored cotton string or topstitching thread
12 paper raindrops in varying sizes
Needle and thread or hole punch
Short length of flexible wire (optional), if hanging on the wall
Clear tape
Instructions
1. Begin with an evenly balanced cloud shape, whether pulp-layered or created from individual circles that are overlapped and taped or glued together into a cloud shape.
2. Cut three pieces string or thread, each 24″ long.
3. Lay out the raindrops on a flat surface in varying positions along the three strings.
4. Use a needle and thread or a hole punch to make holes in the top of each raindrop, as well as three holes equally spaced on the bottom of the cloud shape.
5. Knot string/thread to keep each raindrop in place.
6. Attach a string to the top of mobile, with one end on each side and enough to make a loop for hanging. (Another option is to attach a wire loop to the back, if the mobile will be hung against a wall.)
7. Test the balance of the mobile by temporarily taping the three raindrop-embellished strings to the back of the cloud and then hanging the mobile. Adjust the position of the strings as necessary. When satisfied, permanently attach strings to the cloud by creating three holes with hole punch or needle and knotting the raindrop strings in place.
This shelf edging is adorable in a child’s bedroom or perhaps on a small kitchen shelf full of cookbooks. The circles were made using the surface embedment technique (see page 64), with very thin fabrics made of natural fibers.
Materials
Three 4″-diameter handmade paper circles for every foot of shelf edging
Ruler
Utility knife
1″-wide double-fold bias tape
¼″-wide fusible tape
Press cloth
Iron
Instructions
1. Cut handmade paper circles in half down the middle, using a ruler and sharp utility knife. Be sure circles are completely dry before cutting.
2. Open up the bias tape, lay a strip of fusible tape across the bottom edge, arrange the half-circles side-by-side with the tape underneath. Place another strip of fusible tape on top of the circles, and fold down the top edge of bias tape (with the circle edges and tape sandwiched within).
3. Place press cloth over sandwiched edging and press with a hot iron to adhere all layers together.
Crafty Tips
Circles can be smaller or larger or spaced out differently, depending on the desired effect.
The banding can be narrower or wider, if preferred. If you can do some basic sewing, you can make your own double-fold bias tape, with a center fold and the edges pressed under. When planning the length, remember to leave enough on each end to tuck them under neatly.
You also can use a sewing machine to secure the circles to the fabric, instead of the iron-together method, but some tape will be needed to hold everything together for sewing.
The paper for the center wrap was made with cut-up crossword puzzles, embedded in pureed newsprint (see page 64). The pulp was poured a bit on the thin side to help with molding and shaping of the paper.
Materials
Flexible measuring tape
Several pencils
1¼″ × 5½″ strips of handmade paper
Scissors
⅛″-wide double-sided tape
Utility knife
Instructions
1. Measure the circumference and height of the pencils you will be covering. A standard pencil requires about 1¼″ × 5½″. Trim paper strips to fit.
2. Cover the back of the paper with double-sided tape; two tape strips will usually do it. (Use tape instead of a glue stick for better adhesion.)
3. Press the pencil down along one edge of the paper, keeping the pencil and paper aligned. Tightly roll the rest of the paper around the pencil, pressing against the table surface to help it stick.
4. Trim off any excess paper, as needed, with a utility knife.
Here are two very easy ornaments to make for your own home during the holidays. They make great gifts for others, too! The star shapes are made with cookie cutter molds (see page 80).
Star
Materials
Scoring tool (bone folder)
Two handmade paper stars per ornament
White glue
Heavy books or weights
Small hole punch
3½″ length of 21-gauge beading or craft wire per ornament
Instructions
1. Score both stars down the middle (from the top point to the bottom indent) and fold.
2. Glue them together at the folds, outer fold to outer fold. Lay them flat and weigh down as needed to hold them together while they dry.
3. Punch a hole through both layers at the top of the star.
4. Thread wire through the hole and twist the ends together to make a loop for hanging.
Circles
Materials
One molded paper circle shape per ornament (the example has embedded foil shapes)
Paper punches (various sizes and shapes)
Small hole punch
3½″ length of 21-gauge beading or craft wire per ornament
Instructions
1. Use paper punches as desired to embellish each molded paper circle, punching around the embedded foil shapes, if applicable.
2. Punch a small hole at the top of the paper circle.
3. Thread wire through the hole and twist the ends together to make a loop for hanging.
This ornament makes for an interesting three-dimensional handmade paper addition to your cherished family heirlooms. The pulp for this project sample was made with a brown shopping bag, paper towel, cream construction paper, and glitter (see page 76). The mottled look is great, but the more mottled a paper is, the harder it is to curve and bend. To compensate, the pulp was blended until very smooth.
Materials
Scoring tool (bone folder)
One 3″, 4″, and 5″ handmade paper circle per ornament
Scissors or utility knife
Clear tape
Colored cotton string or topstitching thread
White glue (optional)
Two brown ½″ × 3″ handmade paper strips per ornament
Instructions
1. Score each circle down the middle, fold in half, and cut along the fold.
2. Roll each half-circle into a cone shape, joining the cut edges on the inside with clear tape. Make sure the tape comes as close to the point as possible.
3. Take 10″ piece of string or thread and knot one end, leaving at least a 2″ tail (for attaching the trunk later). Thread unknotted end through largest cone, from the inside out through the tip.
4. Tie a new knot 1″ up from the top of the large cone and thread through the medium-sized cone.
5. Tie another knot 1″ up from the top of the medium cone and thread through the tip of the small cone.
6. Tie a loop at the top for hanging.
7. Place small dots of glue on the knots for reinforcement, if needed.
8. Take the two strips of brown paper and glue them together, sandwiching the 2″ tail at the bottom of the ornament between them. Make sure that plenty of the trunk is visible at the bottom of the tree.
Throwing a party? Make custom name cards for your guests with this surface embedment idea!
Materials
Colored yarn, string, or very thin strips of fabric
Papermaking supplies (see page 25)
4″ × 6″ mold (for instance: a picture frame with the glass and backing removed)
Scoring tool (bone folder)
Instructions
1. Wet the yarn and test-write the desired names to ensure each strip is long enough.
2. Prepare the pulp and make a sheet of paper (see page 52). Remove the mold, but do not press out any water yet.
3. Dip the yarn into pulpy water to coat it with paper fibers. Working on one half of the paper sheet (to allow for folding later), apply the yarn to the poured pulp. Make sure to press it in, so it adheres to the pulp.
4. Process and press the paper as usual.
5. When the paper is dry, score it along the center line, where you plan to fold it; otherwise the paper may crack and fold unevenly (see Bone Folder, page 148). The folded finished card size will be 3″ × 4″.
Fun to make and even more fun to play with, this little puppet could brighten many a rainy day!
Materials
Variety of handmade paper scraps, including a circular piece for the head
Yarn or string scraps as desired, for hair or other details
Small scrapbooking brads for the joints
Bamboo skewer or wooden craft stick
Masking or fabric tape
Instructions
1. Make up a pattern for the puppet and use it to cut out the body parts, or cut out the parts freehand. Arrange the pieces together as you like.
2. Using a brad for each joint, attach the head, arms, and legs to the torso. Then attach the hands and feet.
3. Attach the skewer to the back of the torso with tape. Depending on the size of the puppet, you might need two or three pieces of masking or fabric tape to secure.
Try this method when kids want a quick, personal project to make with recycled paper. There are at least two ways the journal can be bound, and you might think up new ways!
Method 1
Materials
Scoring tool (bone folder)
Thick handmade paper for cover, 5½″ × 8″
Several sheets handmade paper for interior pages, same size
Binding material (cord, string, yarn, ribbon, raffia)
Instructions
1. Score a thick handmade paper sheet down the center and fold it in half to create a book cover.
2. Fold thinner same-sized papers for inside pages. Tuck them inside the folded cover.
3. Open the pages and wrap binding material around the spine of the book to hold the pages in place. Tie the binding material on the outside.
Method 2
Materials
Scoring tool (bone folder)
Thick handmade paper for cover (see Tips)
Several sheets handmade paper for interior pages (see Tips)
Yarn or string
Large-eye needle big enough to thread the yarn
Instructions
1. Score a thick handmade paper sheet down the center and fold it in half, or select two sheets for the front and back covers.
2. Select a stack of thinner same-sized papers for the inside pages, and line them up between the cover sheets.
3. Use a pencil to mark stitch holes, evenly spaced along the left edge of the cover.
4. Thread the large-eye needle with yarn, and use the diagram as a guide for the blanket stitch. Be sure to pierce through the front cover, all pages, and the back cover with each stitch.
Crafty Tips
Add longer life to recycled paper pieces by following these tips:
Add acid-free additive (calcium carbonate) to pulp to neutralize acid in paper. Acid in paper tends to cause yellowing.
Use spray sealer with UV protection or a frame under UV filtering glass.
Display out of direct sunlight.
Tips
• The personal decorations and text were added as the paper was being made, using the surface embedment technique (see page 64). The patterned letters were made from the paper inside security envelopes.
• The size of the notebook is up to you. It can be bound with one large cover sheet folded in half, or with two separate sheets for the front and the back. With the second option, you can use larger sheets of paper to produce a larger notebook.
• The example uses a total of 16 interior sheets. More sheets can be used, but if the stack becomes too thick, you may need a hole punch to pierce holes for the binding.
Use the surface embedment technique (see page 64) to personalize a birthday card, with the name of the month and the birthstone. Or mount the paper on a heavier board with a small loop for hanging on the wall. Paper made from a shopping bag provides a nice backdrop for embedded foil origami paper. (Tin foil doesn’t work for embedment, because it contains no paper fiber and will not adhere properly.)
Materials
Papermaking supplies (see page 25)
Foil origami paper and other colorful patterned paper scraps
Instructions
1. Plan your image in pencil, and cut out paper letters and shapes as desired. You might want to lay them out as a trial run to make sure everything will fit.
2. Prepare recycled paper using your mold of choice (rectangle, square, or circular). While the pulp is still very wet, lightly dip each piece of your design in pulpy water to coat them with fibers, and then press them into the paper.
3. Blot and dry the paper as usual.
It helps to sketch out your design and to use white or very light-colored sheets of recycled paper to make the lampshade more luminous. Make six to eight different-colored sheets of recycled paper in the usual way. Include at least two light colors. Hold finished papers up to lamp light to see which will look the best on your lampshade.
Materials
Several sheets handmade paper in assorted colors
Peel-and-stick adhesive lampshade
Lit lamp
Glue stick
The Torrent should be constructed on lampshades that come with peel-and-stick adhesive on styrene liners for fire safety (see Resources, page 196).
Instructions
1. Tear thin, long strips from various sheets of handmade paper. Because of the curvature of the lampshade, strips will slant diagonally, instead of running straight across.
2. Remove film over adhesive on the lampshade. Place strips on the adhesive, lining up curves and keeping the colors varied.
3. Cover the entire lampshade with torn strips, holding it up to a lit lamp to look for cracks between strips. Disperse light-colored strips throughout for a luminous effect. Tear smaller strips and use your glue stick where multiple pieces overlap.
The coiled bowl is a popular project in green magazines and the handmade paper version is a lovely variation. This bowl uses 30 sheets of 5½″ × 8½″ paper made from recycled wrapping paper, library newsletters, security envelopes, receipts, magazine pages, and tissue paper. The basic steps are papermaking, cutting, folding, and gluing.
Materials
Papermaking supplies (see page 25)
Scissors
Large spoon or bone folding tool
Low-temperature hot glue gun and glue sticks
Paintbrush (optional)
Decoupage glue (optional)
Instructions
1. Make 30 sheets of 5½″ × 8½″ paper in the usual way. The papers for this bowl were ironed dry, though they could be pressed dry.
2. Cut each paper in half lengthwise to make 60 pieces (2¾″ × 8½″).
3. Take your first piece of handmade paper and fold it in half lengthwise, using a spoon or bone folding tool to make a nice straight edge. Then fold the strip in half (lengthwise) again. Fold in half lengthwise a third time, using the spoon to press the newly folded edge, until the strip is approximately ½″ × 8½″.
4. Repeat step 3 for the remaining 59 pieces of 2¾″ × 8½″ papers.
5. Lay folded strips out on work surface in the order you want to use them. Have the fold open to the table (if it were an alligator mouth, it would be trying to eat your table); this is how the strips will be glued into the bowl, with the single fold up and the opening of the fold down. Vary the colored strips in a way that is interesting, and save two of the nicest looking strips for last, as they make the outer rim of the bowl and will be prominently displayed. Note: The first two strips are the hardest to coil.
6. Use a low-temperature hot glue gun to put a 1″ line of hot glue on the left edge of the first strip (put the line of glue in the middle of the strip).
7. Coil the strip onto the glue, trying not to get your fingers in the hot glue. Also, try to keep the coil straight, so it will sit flat on a table.
8. Continue gluing and coiling in this way until the first strip is completely rolled.
9. Coil the second strip the same way, laying its left edge flush with the end of the first coiled strip. The paper strips in your bowl should not overlap; rather, begin smoothly where the previous strip ended, making a continuously smooth circle. As your coil grows larger, you should be able to put a line of glue much longer than 1″.
10. Beginning with the third strip of paper, place a line of hot glue on the outside of the coil, instead of on the inside of the paper strip you are attaching. Wrap the paper strip around the glue and try to keep your coil level and round. Keep in mind that you don’t need to use excessive hot glue, as you don’t want beads of glue to stick out in your finished project. Remember, the subsequent coiled strips will hug and hold these strips in place.
11. Repeat step 10 until you have coiled about a third of your total strips (20 strips) into a colorful roll. This will be the base of your bowl, the part that sits flat on the table and holds things like keys, cards, or candies.
12. Begin building up the sides of your bowl by positioning and gluing the next folded paper strip (and each subsequent strip) so the single top-folded edge is slightly (about 2 mm) above the one before it. Continue to line up the left and right edges of strips and gradually build the sides. This very slight rise seems tedious, but will give your bowl a lovely shape. Note: To make a taller, narrower bowl, simply increase the rise from your previous strip to ¼″ or more.
13. Continue to glue, coil, and build up the sides of your bowl in this way until the last two strips. Use a bit more hot glue on the last two strips to secure them firmly to the bowl. Pay special attention to adding more glue to the right edge of the last folded paper strip, as nothing will come after it.
14. Optional: Use a paintbrush to apply decoupage glue to the inside and outside of your coiled bowl to protect it. Let dry and enjoy!
Pop-up cards deliver a surprise along with their message. Tin can paper (see page 42) carries springy enthusiasm. Handmade glitter sheets (see page 76) unfold with joyful holiday greetings. To make your envelopes, see page 189.
Spiral
Materials
Scissors
Handmade paper circles
Blank greeting cards or folded recycled paper (the size is up to you)
Rubber stamps and ink pad(s) or markers
Glue stick
Instructions
1. Cut paper circles into a spiral by starting at the outside of each circle and working toward the center.
2. Draw or stamp on the greeting card.
3. Put the spiral face down on the work surface. Cover only the outside (largest) ring of the spiral with glue.
4. Press the spiral onto the right inside panel of the card, so the “tail” is closest to the card’s center fold.
5. Cover the “head” of the spiral with glue.
6. Close the greeting card and press. The spiral will automatically attach itself in the correct spot to pop up when the card is opened.
Materials
5½″ × 8½″ sheet of handmade paper
Cutting mat
Tin can
Pencil
Template on page 199
Ruler
Utility knife
1 blank sheet of paper, 1” or so larger than the handmade paper (optional)
Glue stick
Instructions
1. Fold the finished handmade paper in half to create a guide line. Unfold and place the paper face down on cutting mat.
2. Center a tin can over the fold guide line and trace around the can with a pencil.
3. Using the template as a guide, draw an even number of straight lines with a ruler. With a utility knife, cut along the lines only. Cut exactly to the circle’s edge for automatic pop-up action.
4. Refold the paper so every other strip of the design folds inward (away from the card’s folded edge). If you like, you can stop here, and display the card as a stand-up piece, as shown in the photograph. If you want to make a folded card with a message on the front, continue with the following steps to add another sheet of paper to the outside.
5. Place the folded cut paper on a work surface with the folded edge on the right and the back facing up. Use the glue stick to cover the paper sheet back with adhesive.
6. Fold the blank sheet of paper in half, then open it up. Place the glued paper over the open paper, aligning center folds. Press the glued half into place.
7. Turn the inside sheet to expose the unglued back side. Cover it with adhesive, as before. Close the outer sheet onto the handmade sheet, and press the card onto the adhesive. Place the folded cards under a stack of books until the glue sets.
8. Decorate the outside of the card as you like.
It’s not just about economics, the environment, or a certain interest in creative expression. Handmade paper invitations are personal, in a way that commercial invitations can’t be. Use any papermaking technique you like best, and keep in mind that if you are doing a lot of invitations, you might want to keep it simple!
Materials
Handmade paper for the backing (see Tip)
Printouts of the wedding information (see Tip)
Fastening options
Hole punch and ribbon or string
Needle and thread
Scrapbooking brad
Instructions
1. Center the printout on top of the handmade paper, and attach the two pages using one of the following methods:
To attach with ribbon, find the center point along the top edge of the printout where you want the ribbon to be. Punch two holes, one on either side of that center point, through both layers of paper. Thread the ends of a ribbon from the back through the holes and tie them into a bow in front. Once you know how long the ribbon needs to be, you can precut the pieces for the remaining invitations.
Stitch the top edge of the printout to the back paper using a needle and thread. You might want to design the front papers to print with tiny stitch hole markings that can be used as a guide during assembly.
Use a scrapbooking brad to pierce the top layer, then the bottom layer, and open up the brad ends to secure.
The paper size is up to you, but we recommend handmade paper that is 5½″ × 8½″, for several reasons:
This size will fit nicely into a standard 6″ × 9″ envelope without any need to fold the paper. If you prefer a fold, there are other standard envelopes that will work; just be sure to score the handmade paper before folding (see Bone Folder, page 148). Of course, you can make your own envelopes, but when planning a wedding, will you have the time?
The wedding information can be printed efficiently, two side-by-side on a 8½″ × 11″ paper. When planning the text, be sure to allow a generous margin on the top and sides, as you will need to trim about an inch off all sides to be able to see the handmade paper behind it.
Planning for Success
Things to keep in mind when planning recycled paper wedding invitations:
It takes time to make paper and assemble invitations. Plan ahead.
Look through bridal and card-making magazines for invitation ideas. Many popular styles and layouts are easily adapted to paper you make yourself.
Keep designs simple. A simple torn edge can be beautiful. Stick to one sheet of handmade paper (or less) per invitation set.
Make a “paper recipe.” No two sheets will turn out exactly the same, but a recipe will simplify production.
Choose a wastepaper base fiber that’s easy to come by. Junk mail envelopes are ubiquitous and recycle into quality pulp.
Add-ins can incorporate wedding colors or sentiment. Vary blender time for a wide range of results. Some possibilities are dried flowers, botanicals (see page 66), ferns (plumose fern available at craft stores), party napkins, used gift tissue wrap, gold or silver threads (old tassels work well), glitter (see page 76), or something old, something new (a sentimental add-in; only you have to know what it is and why it’s there).
Print text on vellum overlays unless the surface is consistently smooth and uninterrupted by addins (see page 63).
Send invitations in designer envelopes. It will look like you spent a fortune, but you’ll still save a lot of money.
See Resources for cardstock and designer envelopes from suppliers that cater to brides.
Make Your Own Envelopes
Since envelopes need to be larger than your folded handmade paper, in most cases you won’t make the envelope from handmade paper — unless your note card is small (see page 59), or you make handmade paper with a larger mold.
But with all the recycled paper out there to choose from, you’ve got plenty of alternatives. First find an envelope pattern. If your card is a folded sheet of handmade paper made with a standard 5½″ × 8″ mold, you can use the template on page 202. Enlarge the template on a copier, then trace it onto an 8½″ × 11″ sheet of paper. Cut out and fold as instructed on the template.
Another easy option is to take an existing envelope apart at the places where it is glued together. Lay the dismantled envelope flat on a sheet of paper and trace around it. With all of the printed sheets in the world, you have a great selection for making envelopes.
A handmade vase and handmade flowers — what a great way to show off your handmade paper! The project combines paper casting (see chapter 7) with pulp painting (see chapter 5).
Materials
Mold for the vase (example uses a tall shot glass)
Papermaking supplies (see page 25)
Enough pulp to cover your mold
Vegetable oil for a release agent (spray or apply with a paper towel)
Handmade paper scraps for flowers
Flower-shaped paper punch
Wire for flower stems
Clear or double-sided tape
Dried rice or beans
Instructions
1. Determine how much pulp you will need to cover your mold. For example, if your shot glass is 4″ tall and 3″ around, then you will need a pulp shape that is 5″ tall and 3½″ wide (it must be a little larger to allow for overlap).
2. Set up the papermaking screen and support screen over a tray or other container for drainage (see page 79). Pour the pulp onto the screen and use pulp layering or painting techniques to create a design. Use a frame for straighter edges, if desired.
3. Apply the release agent to the glass mold, and lay it on its side on top of the pulp. Pull up the screen to roll the pulp around the glass. With the glass upside down, join the pulp on the side and bottom of the glass.
4. With the screen on top of the pulp, use a sponge to blot all the way around the glass. Do not press too hard, as paper may slip on the greasy surface.
5. Once the shape seems quite secure, remove the screen and allow the pulp to air dry, or dry in a 150°F oven for an hour or two. Note: Drying in the oven only works if the mold is glass, ceramic, or metal, not plastic!
6. Using scraps from other projects, punch out some paper flowers, tape wire on their backs, and place them in the bud vase. Another option is to use double-sided tape to attach a second flower on the back, to hide the wire. Use dried rice or beans in the bottom of the bud vase to stabilize it and to hold the wire stems in place.
This could be a fun birthday party game — use the Decision Maker like a fortune teller. Kids can ask the spinner questions and see what it says! The project uses a combination of pulp layering (see page 78) and surface embedment (see page 64), with a circular mold (see Tin Can Papermaking, page 42).
Materials
Patterned paper scraps for embedded letters
Papermaking supplies (see page 25)
Circular mold, about 6″ across
Handmade paper scraps for arrow and spacer
Straight pin with a decorative tip
Pliers
Masking or clear tape
Scrap of stiff paper or thin cardboard
Variation
This project is easily converted into a toy paper clock. Cut out the numbers 1 through 12, and cut out two arrows (of different lengths) instead of one.
Instructions
1. Cut out the letters for YES, NO, and the question marks. Test them for size to make sure they will fit well onto the circle you will be making.
2. Pour pulp into the circular mold and remove the mold. Do not press out any water yet.
3. One at a time, dip the letters into pulpy water to coat them with fibers, and then press them into the circular sheet.
4. Process and press the paper as usual.
5. When the paper is dry, make an arrow shape and a circular spacer (which will help the arrow spin more freely).
6. Push the pin through one end of the arrow, the center of the spacer, then the center of the large paper circle. Use pliers to bend the end of the pin 90 degrees. Make sure the unbent portion is long enough to allow the parts to move freely. Secure the pin tip with tape, and tape a piece of stiff paper over the pin tip, for safety.
This classic kid’s toy is even more special when made you make it yourself. Just be sure to use handmade paper that is sturdy enough to take some action! The paper can be made with a square mold (an old picture frame with the glass and backing removed), or with standard molds and then cut to size. The instructions are for one pinwheel, but make as many as you like!
Materials
Handmade paper, 5″ or 6″ square
Handmade paper scraps
Flower-shaped hole punch (optional)
Straight sewing pin with decorative tip
Colored straw
Pliers
Masking or clear tape
Instructions
1. Trim the edges of the handmade paper as needed to make a perfect square.
2. Using the diagram as a guide, draw two diagonal lines to form an X, from corner to corner across the paper. Draw a circle (about ¾″ across) in the exact center, or trace a penny there. Cut from each corner to the edge of the circle; do not cut inside the circle.
3. From paper scraps, punch a flower shape, or cut out a decorative shape that you like for the center of the pinwheel. Using the straight pin, pierce a hole in the center and set it aside.
4. Use the straight pin again to pierce holes in the exact center of the square, and in every other tip on the square (as marked by small holes on the diagram).
5. Thread the straight pin through the flower shape. Fold the pierced tips of the square into the center, and thread the pin through the holes, from front to back.
6. Push the pin through top of the straw. Use pliers to bend the pin 90 degrees, and secure the pin to the straw with small piece of tape.
Seed Cards are a fun way to expand your papermaking experiments. These cards can be sent to your friends and then planted in the ground. With luck and the right conditions, the seeds will sprout and grow! For more about seed papers, including which seeds work best, see Frequently Asked Questions on page 63.
Materials
Dried flower (the example uses a California poppy)
Papermaking supplies (see page 25)
String scrap for the stem
Seeds (the example uses poppy seeds)
Crafty Tip
If you want a folded card to fit in an envelope, be sure to place the flower on one half of the card to leave room for the fold. Use a bone folder to score the card before folding (see page 148).
Instructions
1. Prepare the flower by ironing it between two pieces of paper towel. This will remove moisture and make it nice and flat, enabling you to better control how it looks on the card.
2. Make a sheet of paper. While the pulp is still very wet, press the flower into the paper. Lightly dip the string in pulpy water to coat it with fibers, and press it in place as well.
3. Sprinkle the card with seeds.
4. Blot and dry the paper as usual.
If you like collage, here’s a sure-fire way to have a lot of fun with surface embedment (see page 64). Grab a stack of magazines and some scissors, and go crazy!
Materials
Papermaking supplies (see page 25)
Body parts cut from magazines
Instructions
1. Plan your wacky body by laying the pieces out on a table. Make sure the body will fit on the size paper you will be making.
2. Make the pulp for a sheet of paper, but save a bit of the pulp in a small container. Make a sheet of paper, through step 5 (see page 54), leaving the sheet very wet for now. Dip each of the cutouts into a thin slurry of the pulp you saved, then drop them one by one onto the surface of the wet sheet. Fibers picked up by the dipping, plus the natural absorption of fibers, will securely tie the cutouts to the sheet.
3. Blot and dry the paper as usual.
4. When the paper is dry, use it as a greeting card or gift artwork.
