Making Decorative Paper (Write On!)

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Lorraine Shannon

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Photo Credit: Lorraine Shannon

Imagine getting a letter made on this beautiful handmade paper!

Imagine getting an actual letter in the mail written on lovely handcrafted stationery. In these modern days of e-mails and text messages, it would be a real treat! And what could be better? Being the giver of such a letter!

The good news is that making beautiful homemade stationery is easy – not to mention a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle. So do your part to save the environment, get the kids involved, and have fun in the process. Then send a handwritten note on your handmade stationery to family and friends for a surprise letter they won’t soon forget.

Materials:

Shredded paper or paper torn into 1-inch squares (You can use just about any non-waxed paper. Just remember the color of the paper you begin with – including any inks – determines the color of the paper you make.)
Blender with lid
Old picture frame without the glass and backing (The stationery will be the same size as the glass you remove.)
Window screen cut to fit the space where the glass would normally be in the picture frame
Staple gun or tacks
Washbasin or large foil pan (This container should be larger than the frame.)
Water
Small sponge
Clean, old towel
Glue (optional)
Plant material from the garden (Fresh leaves and flowers/flower petals should be small and relatively thin. You can also use dried leaves, herbs and flowers, or plant materials that have been pressed between the pages of a heavy book.)

Procedure:

Step 1: Immerse shredded paper or torn paper pieces in water and store in a container or closed baggie overnight.

Facts

Papermaking was invented in China by Ts’ai Lun around 104 A.D. Until 1804, when the first modern paper machine was invented, all paper was made one sheet at a time.

Tips

Consider adding fragrant lavender, rosemary or other aromatic herbs to your paper pulp for a truly memorable letter! And if you’re trying this project in winter and there’s not much available in your garden, crumble dried leaves into the paper slurry or right onto the wet paper.
Another way to decorate your paper is to create plain stationery and then glue pressed tree leaves or flowers onto it after it’s completely dry.

Faqs

Q: What can I do with the leftover paper pulp?
A: Put the extra pulp in a sealed container or baggie and store it in the freezer until you’re ready to make more stationery.

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