I recently treated myself to a paper making kit (from Stamps Away/CleverCut here in the UK
here.) I used scraps of copy paper from various printing projects and cut them down to make very small squares. I added warm water to the scraps and mixed them up to create a pulp. The kit has a hand-held paddle to which you attach a piece of netting with clips. You then pour the watery paper pulp over it (making sure it is over a bowl or the sink) and then flip it onto some woollen material and remove the clips. You press the water out using a sponge, then carefully remove the paper from the netting and let it dry. It is certainly easier than having a netting in a frame which you dip into a vat of paper pulp. The paper has come out quite thick in places, but I like the rustic effect! Above was one of my first attempts.
I have tried again, incorporating dried hydrangea flowers and gilding flakes. I was pleased with this one.
Then I added gilding flakes and words which I had cut out of a book page. This one is my favourite so far.
I have used some of the paper which I inked up and added some gilding polish to make an anniversary card for my sister and brother-in-law. The texture comes through beautifully. I am looking forward to more experiments using junk envelopes etc. Watch this space...
