Sunday 17 August 2008

Paste papers

A few people have asked me over the past few months if I've ever made paste papers, never one to knock back a challenge, I decided to give it a try. The recipe I had called for three parts water to one part flour. You mix the water and flour together so that there are no lumps, then gently heat it in a saucepan on the hot plate until it thickens, being careful not to let it burn.

Well, I thought, I'm sure I can do this easier than that. So, I mixed cornflour with the water and cooked it in the microwave for one minute, stirred it, then cooked it for another minute, voila, flour paste.

I then added three different colours of acrylic paints, applied it to the paper with a brush and then gave it some texture with cardboard tubes, wooden skewers, anything that was on my table top. These are the results. It takes at least twenty four hours to dry completely.

You can keep any that's left over in the fridge for a few days. I added a few drops of water to it as I worked to keep it to the consistency of thick paint.






I also managed to squeeze in some time to finish this 'chunky' necklace. I now have to get back to finishing the invitations for the show, by the way you're all invited to the opening night.

29 comments:

Sam Marshall said...

Ro those paste papers look fabulous-love the effects. The necklace is divine.XXXXX

Amy a.k.a. dragonryder4 said...

Oh my word I'm in love with the necklace !! The papers are just wonderful !! I'm gonna have to try this really soon, what kind of paper did you use ?

Jamie said...

Ro, I love your necklaces! This might be my favorite one yet.

Judy Wise said...

Your paste papers are great and make my fingers itch to make them myself. It's a great cool weather project for me - when things slow down so I can make a lot. Gorgeous necklace as always. So much inspiration! xo

Anonymous said...

The papers are awesome, my fav has to be the orange or red. Great pieces.

kate said...

Making paste papers has been on my to-do list for awhile and seeing your vibrant and juicy papers with all that lovely texture is pushing it closer to the top of the list! Thanks for sharing your technique!

sharon young said...

The paste papers are wonderful, Ro, many thanks for the method, will have to try this one.
Lovely necklace.

Judy said...

And what did you do in your spare time deary. Looks wonderful - good luck for the show Ro.

juliaD said...

Hi Ro,
Love your work too...I am definately coming to your exhibit and bringing friends...had already put it into my diary!...
Thanks for the compliments re my work..
xx

Susan Tuttle said...

Love this recipe for paper -- I can't believe it can be done with flour and water, and in the microwave no less! I love what you have done with them -- the colors and designs!

The necklace is perfect!

Susan
xo

Anonymous said...

Hi Ro: neat, neat, neat - I am soo glad you posted your papers, they are just beautiful : ) love your chunky necklace, it's beautiful : )

Love & Blessings, Sandra in AZ

Heather, paperfollies.typepad.com said...

they are all lovely...do you ever sleep? xo heather

Gaby Bee said...

Your new necklace is amazing, Ro!
The paste papers are just beautiful. Thanks a lot for the method, I will have to try this one next time.
Have a creative week!
Gaby xo

Mary lin Huskamp said...

The paste papers are FAB!!! The colors and designs really give a great effect. The necklace is BEAUTIFUL!!! I ALWAYS am fasinated by your work.

Hugs

marylin

Julie H said...

I'd never heard of paste paper - but your results are fantastic!

Jen Crossley said...

Ro your paste paper your awesome and you know it would look great in Sepia!!!
Love your necklace your such a busy bee at the moment.Whens the gallery thing on?
Jen

Kari Gibson said...

Love them! Must admit to not doing them myself, either. No.3 is my fave. Oh and that necklace - gimme, gimme!

Hugs,
Kari x

TracyB said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the red piece!! (I'm a swirl lovin' girl!)
And your necklace is fabulous!!

rivergardenstudio said...

I love your new papers, and the way you changed the recipe to fit you! Beautiful colors and textures and your necklace is amazing... roxanne

Vanessa said...

The paste papers look like painted fabric. Very nice!

Karen Cole said...

Very cool, Ro. What a great idea.

Fabulous necklace.

Wish I could really come to your show.....sigh

ArtPropelled said...

Oh wow, that's a stunning necklace! I'm sure I used that paint technique in kindergarten with my fingers, then later we made book covers for our first exercise books. Looking through my moms keepsake packet I found one of those old exercise books and wondered how we made the paint....so now I know!

mcdc3s said...

Another beautiful necklace. I tried to make paste paper once - for a handmade paper trade. What a trip that was for me! It was God awful and the pages did not turn out as lovely as yours! I had to do the recipe twice, and then finally, they were "okay". It may have been the thickness of the paper I used in the process too. Love the outcome... and really, really love the necklace.

Seth said...

Fantastic job on the paste papers!

Kel said...

They turned out great, and I love the necklace. I was playing around with past papers a couple of months ago and, confession time, the paint flour mixture is still in my fridge - I'm scared to open it now. It was so much fun mixed up that flour and water glue I had completely forgotten since childhood.

Anonymous said...

What an awesome necklace! Beautiful!!

Chris said...

Ro, I'm catching up on my blogs, and yours is so filled with color and beauty. I love that necklace. I want to make the papers! There's so much inspiration, here.

Chris said...

Well, I know I already told you how awesome this necklace is, but now I have to admit that I've put it up as my desktop background. It's really yummy!

(I'm taking credit for it, of course. The people I work with are very impressed. Oddly, however, I can't really explain to them how I did it.)

Jeanne Rhea said...

Love those papers!