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…)
Everyone experiences the conundrum of post-holiday, birthday, and other seasonal greeting card blues. What are we supposed to do with these lovely cards after the occasion passes?
While we might save a few for sentimental value, most are fairly generic. Sometimes we can use them in scrap booking, or creating cool origami crafts or boxes; but for the most part, we’ve got an extra box of recycling to turn in.
Fortunately, this is a problem that can be easily remedied with plant-able paper. (more…)
We’ve learned how to make paper, and even how to add a bit of grass to homemade paper to give it some texture or a nature look. But did you know that you can actually make paper out of plain old grass? While the smell from making paper out of grass isn’t for people with weak stomachs, it can still be a fun way to use up your grass clippings.
First, gather up all of your grass clippings. (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…)