Paper-making is a rewarding hobby and pastime, but it’s also a very enriching and exciting creativity for the classroom.
Whether the subject is art, with the paper serving as a canvas for inspiration, or science, with the topic being recycled paper, or history, the paper demonstrating the lengthy process of creating papyrus, making handmade paper can enhance the lesson into a tactile and moving experience for both the teach and the students. (more…)
Even if you don’t want to make your own paper, you can still enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of handmade paper. There are many places to purchase it for all of your paper needs.
Some of these stores specialize in paper exclusively; these are the stores where you may be able to find a wide variety of paper, from batik to mulberry to almost any kind you might want or need. (more…)
Here are several more uses for your new collection of handmade paper. Remember that these are only some ideas, and that your only limit in using your stockpile is your own imagination.
6. Album or CD Art: Homemade CDs are fun, but their case covers can be rather boring without some fantastic art. The same goes for photo albums. Selecting a special scent or pattern, such as glitter or grass-embedded paper, can make a personal CD mix an even more special gift. (more…)
Now that you’ve had some experience making your own paper, you probably have a small collection of it accumulating. Have you tried making paper in different colors, scents, or even with your own photo yet? How about making paper out of grass–or adding in your own seeds to make it plant-able? We’ve also learned about aging paper chemically to make it look older. (more…)
Whether you want to write a loved one something romantic with an aged flair, impress an English professor with an old-style sonnet, or simply add a bit of archaic edge to a pirate-themed party invitation, making antique paper is a great way to do it.
You may have already dabbled in trying to make your paper age quickly before. (more…)
Given that the ancient Egyptians used plants to make papyrus paper, it’s only natural that we consider various plants, as well as other creative sources, in creating our own modern paper today. Here are a few tips in creating a look with your own homemade paper that’s personal, beautiful and unique.
Give it a little color. Add some dye, powdered paint, liquid paint, tea, food coloring… (more…)
The Handmade Paper Institute (HPI) of Pune, India was once a glorious testament to the beauty and power of handmade paper. An idea conceived by none other than Mahatma Gandhi, it was meant to serve as a source of both eco-friendly paper as well as employment for the Indian community; and serve it did, exporting 500 varieties of beautiful, elegant handmade papers to at least 75 countries.
But today, the Institute is struggling. (more…)