Learn paper making in one evening. Now you and your children can create easy colorful holiday ornaments using nothing more than a coffee can, window screen, cookie cutters, scrap pieces of colored paper and a blender. It's a great project that introduces children and adults to paper making, It will add a special touch to your holiday decorating, personal greeting cards, interests in learning more and is fun for everyone.



Supplies Needed:

Coffee Can with plastic cover, window screen, nylons or plastic mesh,
paper scraps, colored craft paper, Handy Wipes or felt pads, sponge
towels, small bowls, dishpan or saucepan, plastic cups or dishes,
plastic forks, spoons, knifes, Iron, Hair Dryer, Glue stick, 3-D Gel Pens,
Glitter 

paper-making-supplies, darrell ross
Step One:

To prepare the pulp we need to tear small pieces from your sheet of
colored paper. The size of a quarter is good. You may put the pieces
in a small bowl of water to soften and prepare them for the blender.
Next fill the blender about half full of water and add about a half sheet
of torn paper. Blend at the lowest speed for 10 to 15 seconds.
Then change to medium for another 10 seconds then high speed for
another 10 to15 seconds. By varying the speed of the blender
you will help prevent it from overheating and binding up.
If the blender seems to be having trouble then reduce the amount
of paper you put in. After the pulp is blended pour it into the strainer
that is sitting in a large bowl or plastic tub. (B) This helps drain the
water so that you can put the pulp into a plastic cup or dish.
Do this for each color that you would like to use.

 
kids papermaking, darrell ross
 Step Two:
Our next step is to make our"mold and deckle".
This would be your coffee can and window screen.

Take the plastic cover and punch holes into it. You can use a nail,
ice pick or bookbinders awl. This plastic cover holds the screen in
place on the bottom of the can. Next cut a piece of your window
screen about 3 inches larger then the size of the lid.
A 8" square is a good size.

coffee-can-deckle
Step Three:
Lay your screen over the coffee can. Snap the lid tightly so the
screen stays flat. Next fill your dish tub, baking dish or even a sauce pan
with about two inches of water. Insert your coffee can - screen side down
 - into the water and move it around until the water level rises. Scoop out
some paper pulp from the color of your choice. The ideal amount is 4 -5
scoops and stir it around until its evenly spread out over the screen.

paper-pulp
Lift it straight up and let it drain. Set the can down and gently pull the
plastic lid off. Lift the screen out and turn it over onto your felt pad
or handy wipe. Sponge the back of the screen and then gently lift
the screen off.

Here's the fun part. Take your favorite cookie cutter and lay it on
your wet piece of paper. And begin to fill the inside with the colored pulp
of your choice.
Gently lift the shape off and again lay the window screen over it
and press with the sponge. At this point you may use a hair-dryer, iron or
let it air dry. Repeat the process for the second side.

kids papermaking, darrell ross  
Once the pieces are dry you can decorate them with 3-D Gels,
Glitter or crayons. Using a glue stick coat both sides, lay your string or
ribbon in between and then press the pieces together.
Two or more phone books are good for pressing.

After it dries your holiday ornament is ready for hanging!
Please refer to my resources page for more information on various
papermaking projects.
 
For more information on paper making I suggest the following books:

The Papermaker's Companion:
The Ultimate Guide to Making And Using Handmade Paper
The Art Of Papermaking Other Resources: Education.com eHow.com Kid at Art

ArtDeadline.Com

 

 

 

kids paper making project, darrell ross

This project introduces children and adults to the basics of paper making.

Items such as:

Holiday Decorations 

Door Hangers

Book Markers

Mobiles

Greeting Cards

can be made simply and easily.

Other ideas include cards and flower seed paper.

For a Printed Copy click Here and download.

I hope that you have fun with this project.

This introductory class is what I teach groups, kids, adults or can give a presentation on the art of paper making.

If you are interested in having me give a presentation, teach a class or find out more of paper making through the use of re-cycled materials please contact me. I'd also appreciate hearing comments on this project. Was it clear? Was it easy to do? Did it want you to try it with your children?

Also be sure to check out my other classes that I teach. and look at the paper art page.

 

 Rose Wall Art Project  for Children