Design Context Year 2: November 2010

Monday, 15 November 2010

Making paper

1 Shred scrap paper such as unwanted copy paper, old magazines and newspapers as finely as possible. An old blender gives the best results but the blade can become dulled. Scissors or hand tearing will produce the same result in a longer amount of time.

2 Soak shredded paper in a bucket of warm water to soften the fibers, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Water should completely cover the paper and should continue to soak until the paper has become mushy. If you want to dye the paper with food coloring, add a few drops at this point.

3 Drain the paper mix by straining out the water using a flat sieve and a bowl or sink to catch the water. Allow as much water as possible to drip from the paper mixture. Squeeze out additional moisture by pushing on the paper mix as it rests on the sieve.

4 Take a small amount of the paper mix and place it on a nonporous surface. A couple of handfuls of mix is enough to make one sheet of notepaper size.

5 Push down on the paper mix, molding it into a flatter and uniform rectangular shape. Be sure not to push too hard as you flatten out the paper mush. Small gaps increase as the paper dries and contracts. Use a flat nonporous object such as a spatula, rolling pin or a plastic ruler to make the paper mix as smooth as possible.

6 Add additional novelty to the paper at this time. Leaves or a petal pushed into the corners of the constructed page adds a nice detail.

7 Allow the paper to dry completely before gently peeling it away from the nonporous surface.