Papermaking

Image credit

Inclusions

Materials and Supplies

Paper can be created that have flowers and plants floating in them. 
The plants can be added to the vat and will be included in the sheets as they are formed. 
The paper should be dried quickly to the natural dyes from the plant matter does not bleed into the pulp. 

you can also spray the plant items with a spray plastic coating before putting the fibers into the vat. 

Flowers and Foliage 

  • fresh
  • dried

Fresh Flowers 

  • Boil gently for 10 minutes to remove figitive pigments.  Usually fresh flowers are too delicate to boil.
Pressed Flowers 
  • Pick when weather is dry.
  • Use only undamaged leaves, petals.
  • Press immediately
  • Flower press works best but a heavy book also works.
Drying Flowers Yourself 
    Method One: 
  • Pick flowers in bloom.  Tie in bunches.
  • If wet, allow to dry.
  • Dry flowers in warn dark place.
  • Hang upside down in cupboard.  Tying to a coathanger works well.
    Method Two: 
  • Dry in Microwave
  • Heat 3 minutes until dry and osunds paper crisp.
  • Let cool for a few minutes in the microwave.
Commercial Dry Flowers 
  • Ofte contain glycerin and alum which can cause paper to discolor
  • To reduce the content of alum and glycerin
  • boil water for 10-15 minutes
  • soak for several hours. Change water regularly.  Rinse each time.
  • Rinse thouroughly.when weather is dry.
  • Use only undamaged leaves, petals.
  • Press immediately

  • Flower press works best but a heavy book also works.

Hydrated flowers will disperse better through vat

Pressed flowers 
  • pick when weather is dry
  • use only undamaged leaves, petals
  • press immediately
  • flower press works best but a heavy book will also work
Short to medium length pulp is a best for this project 
Try 1/2 Abaca and 1/2 cotton

Drying flowers yourself 

  • pick flowers in bloom
  • tie in bunches
  • if wet let dry
  • dry flowers in warm dark place
    • hang upside down in cupboard off a coat hanger
  • or dry in a microwave
    • heat 3 minutes till dry and sound paper crisp
    • let cool for a few minutes in the microwave
Commercial dry flowers  
  • often contain glycerin and alum which can cause paper to discolor
  • to reduce the content of alum and glycerin
  • boil flowers for 10-15 minutes
  • soak for several hours.  Change water regularly
  • rinse thoroughly
Inclusions  

Paper can be made with flower, threads, plant fibers, hearts or other additives.  Image of a sheet of paper made with floral inclusions.  This paper has been made by dipping the mold into two vats one after the other.  First in a vat with cream recycled mount board, then in a vat of blue recycled paper with dried brown boronia and forget-me-not flowers added but it was only dipped half way in and was scooped out with lots of flowers. 


 

   

Web Resources