2021 Topic 12 : Sustainable Crafting with EKC {by Autumn Clark}

   2021 Topic 12: Sustainable Crafting

Creating your own paper might seem a step too far, but Autumn brings an achievable project that seems simple but results in something beautiful. Granted, you might need to carve out a little time, but isn't creating about the cathartic process as well as the end result? 
~ Keren.

Hi everyone, it's Autumn Clark from SewPaperPaint with you today, and I'm here to share with you my upcycled project making handmade paper.  As a stamper, my primary need is for paper!  For this topic I thought back to last year's lockdown when I ran out of white card and ended up taking old scrapbook paper and using the backs for gel printing.  I thought of taking a step further now and making my own paper using shredded paper from the endless supply at my work.  I was very pleased with my paper and have made a journal and several cards from the stash.

I chose this process because I could enjoy a day on my patio soaking in the sun, as a break from creating indoors.  I have been wanting to try paper making for months, after seeing a video by Sharmane Coquilla and her lovely Instagram reels.  She made it look so easy and satisfying and it truly is!  I hope you will be tempted as well... 

I often start a project with a sketch and am always pleasantly surprised when my finished work resembles my starter idea.  My hope was to fill a small journal with my handmade papers with its jaggedy edges showing, coordinating with very textural cover art.  

I have recently developed a love for fountain ink pens, feather pens and glass dipping pens.  I cannot wait to try out my new collection on these rough pages in my new journal.  I always enjoy experimenting with bookbinding and this version was new to me.  I thought it would be neat to have an exposed signature binding to show off the textured pages.  

 

 

A while back our leather sofa broke beyond repair (think four kids bouncing on it).  I cut all of the leather portions away and have saved them.  I firmly believe reusing & repurposing is one of the most sustainable concepts.  For my book, I picked the most worn leather and cut two strips from it to bind my journal.  I folded in half each of the five sheets of handmade paper and made a guide to poke my holes with an awl and stitched the journal as shown.  

To make the handmade paper I simply added one very large handful of shredded paper to my food processor, then covered it with water and blended, adding more water half way and blending more than you would think necessary.  Next, I dumped the pulp into a plastic container of water, larger than my paper screen.  (You can make your own screen following numerous tutorials, but I purchased a very cheap one because I don't have the wood working tools to make one.)  I submerged my screen and lifted the pulp in an even layer.  Then I transferred it to a towel covered with an old cotton pillowcase.  Then I pressed the back with a dry rag to remove as much water as possible and lifted the screen gently.  My mistake was not considering my table surface.  My dried paper had embossed into the pattern of my trellis topped iron table!  Yikes!  To remedy this, I misted the dried paper with water and pressed it with a hot iron.  Next time I will pick a flat surface and also iron my cotton drying surface to avoid creases.  But honestly, handmade paper is supposed to look handmade, so I have no qualms over my first work.  From one batch of pulp you can get maybe 4 sheets of paper, then you repeat the process.  Nearer to the end my paper got thinner (and very easily torn), so I learned to keep adding pulp faster.  

For my covers, I slathered two thick chipboard panels, which were upcycled from the backs of watercolor paper pads (always save those!), with PaperArtsy Grunge Paste.  Because Grunge Paste is so thick, I was able to make impressions into it with stamps.  I picked PaperArtsy Eclectica³ {Scrapcosy} Collection (ESC25) because I thought the ornate leaf stamp would make an incredible repeat pattern and work beautifully behind my chosen flower stamps.  Tip: when you apply moisture to the front of chipboard, try to apply moisture to the back to keep it from warping (Grunge Paste front/gesso back).  

 

I gessoed the backs and let these panels dry for a day, then left them under a stack of books for a day to flatten.  I built layers of color overtop by mixing one dollop of each color of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics with an equally sized dollop of Matte Glaze and sponging with cut and dry foam.  I started with French Roast, then Claret, then Amethyst.  Finally I sprinkled Black Current Infusions onto the damp panels and sponged Matte Glaze on top.  You can see how much difference the Infusions make!  

I used my stamp platform to stamp, then paint, then restamp the flowers from PaperArtsy Eclectica³ {Kay Carley} Collection (EKC48).  I used the above mentioned PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics with the addition of Nougat and Toffee.  I chose a sentiment from PaperArtsy Eclectica³ {Alison Bomber} Collection (EAB21): The Nature Edition.  

Leandra always encourages us bloggers to share our fails, so let me say that I made an attempt at dyeing my first lot of paper by adding a half of a bottle of Violet Storms Infusions to my vat of water, but it did not turn out well (it was more grey than violet).  I've since read about dying handmade paper and it seems that paint is a better alternative.  I can't wait to dump a bottle of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics into my next vat!  Nevertheless, I ended up using the stained paper as a mat for a batch of cards. 

 

 

See how nicely they layer together!  I used some of my handmade paper scraps to test how watercolor and paints worked.  Watercolor was a no-go due to the density and irregularity of the paper, so I used PaperArtsy Smoothy card for my focal stamping and watercolor.  But paint was a total win!  I chose PaperArtsy {Tracy Scott} Stencil (PS210) and sponged Taro Milk Tea Fresco Chalk Acrylic onto my panels.  I chose purple cardstock for the bases that I've had for decades as one final sustainable push.  Purple is usually the last color I use, so it was fun to nudge myself out of my comfort zone for a change.  

 

 

These projects are quite different, but I hope they've shown you just how versatile Kay's stamps can be.  I think they play just as well whether earthy or vibrant, for cards or mixed media...

 

I hope you've thought up a few items you've been saving or have in excess that you can put to work in your own art.  Sometimes you will find the most creative freedom when working with "junk" because it's not so intimidating, being something it won't hurt to mess up.  

It's been a pleasure to share with you today!  xx, Autumn

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