Paper Making

Thanks Robert, I too have been "thinking" about trying this. I made paper as a kid and thought I'd do it with my scout troop. I'll check out your links. Tell us how it works when you get your set!

-- Amy L.

Hebee Jeebes wrote:

I did paper making in junior high and thought it was a lot of fun. Over the last couple of months I have found myself buying more hand-made paper and embossed hand-made papers. I got one that is white with embossed teddy bears that I am going to use for an album for my dad who passed away in 2003. Everyone called him bear, basically for his size and disposition.

I think hand-made papers are just incredible looking and I am looking forwards to playing. I will keep everyone posted.

Robert

I've never tried paper making...sounds interesting. I remember someone trying it or getting the stuff to. Let us see what you make...I'm sure it will be gorgeous!

Amanda

Will do, still waiting for the kit. I can't believe they are so slow. I only ordered it like Monday. :)

Robert

Hello Robert,

I have a simple paper making kit which I have not used yet - I think it makes A5 size paper only and I thought I would use it to make little scraps of paper for making cards. I like textured papers and I like the idea of customising the papers.

I think there is so much you can do to make your papers individual: add pressed flowers and leaves, pieces of fibres (I have a lot of old embroidery threads which I though would be useful to cut into pieces and sprinkle onto the drying pulp), glitter, maybe even pieces of gold leaf for real luxury feel, add food dyes to change colour, add natural dyes (like onion or henna) to change colour. I am just not sure how stable over time some of these additives would be and how suitable for scrapbooks (though they would probably be OK for cards). Also, how do you achieve a white shade? I imagine the lightest colour achievable would be some sort of off-white or greyish-white?

I am looking forward to hearing how you get on with the paper making.

Klara

Some of the natural colorings are more stable than chemical ones, but not all and figuring out which are could be... interesting. They do sell a de-acifying powder that makes the paper acid free, it isn't too expensive and you don't use a lot at a time. Lignin is another story. That would depend on what you use to make your paper from. My feeling is even if the paper browned from the lignin that as long as it was acid free it would age gracefully.

As for getting white, white paper for that you would use the paper pulp that you can buy in the craft stores. You get like 8 ounces (which is a lot more than it would seem) and it comes in true pure colors including white. I don't know how often I would use white white paper. I like the more natural earth colors myself.

Robert