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.
Custom Wedding Invitations
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.
Tip
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.
Bud Vase
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.
&n
bsp; Decision Maker
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.
Spinwheels
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.
Special Seed Card
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.
Wacky Bodies
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.
resources
Arnold Grummer Online
Arnold Grummer’s Paper Making
www.arnoldgrummer.com
Arnold Grummer’s official website offers paper-making supplies, projects, contests, Ask Arnold, lesson plans for teachers, links, and more.
Arnold Grummer’s YouTube Channel
www.youtube.com/arnoldgrummer
Short tutorials with Arnold Grummer include basic papermaking and easy techniques — and he makes it look so easy!
Arnold Grummer’s Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/arnoldgrummer
See and share papermaking discoveries, photos, and activities. Post your paper creation!
Buying Information
Check your local art or craft dealer for paper-making supplies. Mail order resources are listed below. Many sites offer papermaking classes and workshops regularly. Check listings in your local community for a hands-on experience near you.
Kits and Supplies for Home and Classroom
Arnold Grummer’s Paper Making
800-453-1485
www.arnoldgrummer.com
Dick Blick Art Materials
800-828-4548
www.dickblick.com
Earth Guild
800-327-8448
www.earthguild.com
Nasco Arts & Crafts
800-558-9595
www.enasco.com/artsandcrafts
Paper Alice
937-667-0787
www.paperalice.com
School Specialty, Inc.
888-388-3224
www.schoolspecialty.com
Triarco Arts & Crafts
800-328-3360
www.etriarco.com
United Art and Education, Inc.
800-322-3247
www.unitednow.com
Kits and Supplies for Artists and Studio Papermakers
Carriage House Paper
800-669-8781
www.carriagehousepaper.com
Dieu Donne Papermill
212-226-0573
www.dieudonne.org
Magnolia
510-839-5268
www.magnoliaeditions.com
The Papertrail
800-421-6826
www.papertrail.ca
The Paperwright
613-422-5667
www.paperwright.com
Twinrocker Handmade Paper
800-757-8946
www.twinrocker.com
Other Papermaking Resources
Hand Papermaking Chat Groups
Interesting discussion, valuable archives, resources, and links. Beginners through professional artists welcome.
Friends of Dard Hunter Discussion Group
[email protected]
PaperMaking Forum
[email protected]
Organization
Friends of Dard Hunter, Inc.
720-318-6581
www.friendsofdardhunter.org
Dedicated to education and sharing information about the art, craft, history, science and technology of papermaking and related arts. Regional, national, and international meetings include hands-on workshops and presentations.
Special Publication
Hand Papermaking
800-821-6604
www.handpapermaking.org
Advancing traditional and contemporary ideas in the art and craft of making paper.
Interactive Paper Museum
Paper Discovery Center
920-380-7491
www.paperdiscoverycenter.org
Explore the world of paper with a look at its past, its future, and the role paper plays in all facets of our lives. Interactive displays and a hands-on paper lab.
Paper Museums
The Crane Museum of Paper Making
Crane & Co.
Dalton, Massachusetts
413-684-7780
www.crane.com
Exhibits trace the history of American paper-making from Revolutionary times. Crane makes paper for U.S. currency.
Dard Hunter Studios
Chillicothe, Ohio
740-779-3300
www.dardhunter.com
Dard Hunter’s Mountain House home and working studio.
Historic RittenhouseTown
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
215-438-5711
www.rittenhousetown.org
Arnold E. Grummer Page 14