Handmade Paper
Mold or Pour Method
by Maria Nerius, Craft Concierge

As heard on Inspired at Home Radio - September13, 2009 - GO>>

<<Return to 9-13-09 Radio page

Supplies Needed

Paper (also called waste paper): Almost any paper you can tear easily and recycle including: scraps of paper, envelopes, copier paper, and even mail order catalogs.
Blender: Filled 3/4 full of water
Couch sheets: Highly absorbent paper used to remove excess water from hand made paper. You can substitute plain newsprint.
Pour Mold: This is a 3-part mold made up of a wood frame, ultra fine screen, and a platform for the fine screen. The three pieces are held together with a tie.
Sponge: Again, to absorb excess water.

Large tub or kitchen sink: Pour mold is placed into water covering about 1/3 of the mold.
Fine screening: An optional supply, but can help with removing excess water from newly made paper so not as many couch sheets are needed.
Ironing board and iron or paper press

Instructions

1. You’ll need the equivalent of 1 sheet of waste paper to make an equal sized sheet of handmade paper. After making your first sheet of handmade paper, if you find your paper too thick then use less recycled paper and if you find it too thin to work with add a touch more recycled paper.

2. Tear up recycled paper and place in blender. Blend at medium speed for at least 20-30 seconds. You want Pour Mold all pulp with no bits of paper left.

3. Pour pulp into pour mold that is in tub or sink. With hand, mix the pulp for even distribution. Lift pour mold straight up out of the water allowing excess water to dip off.

4. Remove wood frame from pour mold. Place fine screening over handmade paper and use sponge to remove more excess water. Remove fine screen when done.

5. Place couch sheet over top of handmade paper. Lightly press down and remove more excess water. Flip over and gently remove ultra fine screen. Place second couch sheet on top. Flip over and remove the first couch sheet. An additional couch sheet may or may not be needed to remove more excess water.

6. Place handmade paper onto an ironing board and iron on medium heat until dry.

7. Place handmade paper between two couch sheets and place heavy object over it for a few hours. You can speed up the drying process by ironing your sheet of paper on the cotton setting. Your handmade sheet of paper is ready to use!

More on Handmade Paper As heard on Inspired at Home Radio - September 20, 2009 - GO>>
(<<Return to 9-20-09 Radio page)

Things to add while blending waste paper to pulp:

Dried or fresh flower petals; experiment with different times of blending*
Dried or fresh spices; adds color and scent
Dried or fresh leaves; adds color and texture
Scraps of colored papers; add a little at a time to adjust color hue
Ultra fine glitters, mica, or leaf foils

Things to add to paper pulp once blending is done (also to embed):

Small lengths of threads and fibers
Tiny bits of plastic or vellum
Postage stamps, cigar bands, movie tickets
Small lengths of fine craft wires
Seed beads or tiny holeless beads
Bits of fabric or lace
Tiny paper punched shapes
Shredded or fine strips of colored paper

Things to avoid adding to paper pulp:

Large amounts of tissue or toilet paper
Excessive amounts of papers with black ink
Large amounts of newsprint
Large amounts coated or shiny papers (like catalog pages or magazine covers)
Plastics or matters that can't be beaten or blended into pulp
Anything abrasive or that is a common allergen
Anything that might bind or clog your blender

* You'll get different effects depending on how long you blend or pulp an additive. For example: place the equivalent of a sheet of waste paper in your blender for 60 seconds and you should have paper pulp. You only see pulp or fibers, no bits of paper. Add some rose petals to the pulp. Blend for 15 seconds and you have large bits of color; blend for 30 seconds and you have tiny bursts of color; blend for 45 seconds and the rose petals are almost microscopic color within the pulp. Use this for anything you add to your pulp. Times vary with different blenders so you'll have to experiment, which is half the fun!

Additional Information

Have fun by adding flowers, flower petals, seeds, spices, herbs, leaves, grasses and other botanicals to your paper pulp.
Embed memorabilia in your handmade paper by adding postage stamps, ticket stubs, cigar bands, and other paper items into the mold as you pour in the pulp.

Sources: www.ArnoldGrummer.com

Handmade Paper Mold or Pour Method by Maria Nerius, Craft Concierge

Supplies Needed

Instructions

Additional Information

Handmade Paper
Mold or Pour Method
by Maria Nerius, Craft Concierge