Making My Own Paper

Sundays seem like the perfect day to post—quiet, sunny, and full of relaxation.

This morning, I woke up with the determination to share my latest experiments with paper. More specifically, I’ve been playing around with the pulp I saved from the paper clay I’ve been working on. The pulp is soft and fluffy, so I thought I’d try making my own paper with it. The only problem was, I hadn’t yet built a wood frame for the process. So, I took a trip to JoAnn and picked up a couple of frames.

At first, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing. The set came with instructions, but they were just pictures, and it took me a few tries to get an even surface. Then, a new question crept into my mind: Where am I going to put all the wet sheets?The set came with a mat, but I was quickly running out of space. Plus, I couldn’t just use any towel—no, it had to be something with fuzzy fibers to keep the wet paper from sticking, but also thick enough to absorb the moisture. Luckily, I remembered a baby cloth I found among my husband's old clothes from his childhood. It did the trick!

Once the paper had dried, I carefully stacked the sheets and spent a few moments admiring the results. I was genuinely pleased with how it turned out.

Today marked the next chapter of my paper adventure. I had made the paper with a specific purpose in mind—curious to see if it would hold up during the linocut printing process. So, I created a design on a linoleum block, rolled on some ink, and did my first test print.

I’ll be honest—I’m not thrilled with the print, but I think it just needs a few more adjustments. Perhaps ironing the paper and experimenting with a slightly more liquid ink could make a difference. What do you think?

Handmade Halloween 2024