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A step-by-step guide to hand making paper
- 1. A Project Charlotte Grubbs LIS533 History of the Book Paper Making
- 2. Please note Itook these photos over the course of two paper-making sessions, which is why the how-to portion is not always in chronological order.
- 3. Materials You’ll Need Plastictub Couching paper Sponge Press bar Microfiber cloth and towel Wooden frame for pulling paper Plastic backing piece for frame. Plastic screen Metal mesh
- 4. I used arecycled grocery bag for the paper. Shred paper into small pieces.
- 5. Use warm waterand make sure the paper is completely covered. You can leave the paper to soak anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight. The longer you leave the paper to soak, the easier it will be to pulp. Leave paper to soak.
- 6. You can leavethe pulp as chunky or blend it as smooth as you want your paper. Pulp paper with an immersion blender.
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- 8. Assemble frame withplastic screen inside plastic backing piece. Make sure straps are pulled tight.
- 9. Fill tub withseveral inches of water. Place frame in water using a scooping motion, so that the frame rests with about an inch of water inside of it.
- 10. Use towels ifworking on a non-waterproof surface. Make sure to place a microfiber towel to cloth over any bath towels; the nubby texture of the bath towels will affect the texture of your paper otherwise. Set up paper-making area.
- 11. Use a ½cup measuring cup to scoop pulp into frame.
- 12. Swirl pulp toget an even distribution across the bottom of the frame. Agitate pulp with hand.
- 13. Examine pulp forareas of transparency. If the pulp seems thin in places, place frame back in the water, agitate the pulp again, and repull. Pull frame from water.
- 14. Allow water todrain from frame and pulp.
- 15. Place on towelsif still dripping wet. Remove frame from tub.
- 16. Pulp should beresting on a flat, horizontal surface, not held vertically. Unfasten frame.
- 17. Place wooden frameand plastic backing piece aside. Remove plastic screen with pulp from frame.
- 18. Keeping pulp facingup, place on surface covered by microfiber towel. Place metal mesh over pulp.
- 19. Press firmly downwith sponge, wringing excess water back into plastic tub. Use sponge to remove excess water.
- 20. Make sure couching papercompletely covers pulp with room to spare on all sides. Be careful flipping, and don’t hold vertically for two long – the pulp could slide off the plastic screen. Place couching paper over pulp and flip over.
- 21. Continue to remove waterusing a microfiber cloth. Squeeze excess water out the sides by pressing firmly down and rubbing cloth across plastic screen. Use cloth to remove excess water.
- 22. Press firmly downand pull bar across plastic sheet. This action will help the pulp stick to the couching paper. Use press bar to transfer pulp onto couching paper.
- 23. Gently peel plasticsheet from pulp and couching paper, starting at a corner. Remove plastic sheet from pulp.
- 24. If the pulpis still sticking to the plastic sheet, repeat steps with the microfiber cloth and press bar. Pulp should be transferred to couching paper.
- 25. Make sure theclothes pins touch only the couching paper, not the pulp. Paper will take up to twenty-four hours to dry, depending on thickness and humidity levels. Hang paper to dry.
- 26. Repeat steps forpaper sheet 2.
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- 30. I added micaflakes for a bit of sparkle to sheet 3. Sheet 3
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- 36. I added rosepetals to sheet 4. Sheet 4
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- 41. Sheet 5: AddedMica and Rose Petals
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- 47. For sheets 6-10,I used recycled computer paper as pulp.
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- 72. 10 sheets ofpaper, dried and finished!