Paste Papers

Look what I've been up to! 

I was busy making paste papers that will end up as covers for future hand bound books.

Instead of making my own paste from flour I decided to take the easy way out and use wallpaper paste instead. 

pretty paste paper sheets hanging in a row

The results are pretty much the same and the consistency of the paste is also pretty much the same as flour paste, only this is the quick and easy method and saved me cooking over a hot stove - so to speak:-)

 

blues, purples, greens...

The paper I used was just ordinary A3 copier paper. Though next time I would use a slightly heavier paper as I found this too thin and some of the papers tore.

oranges and reds...

You wouldn't believe it, but a pigeon actually pooped on one of my papers - cheek of it!   The little blighter could've just told me he didn't like the colour instead of  showing such literal distaste for it!

greens, blues, lilacs...

I just mixed up the paste according to the manufacturers instructions in a margarine tub and then divided the mixture into separate boxes and added acrylic colours into each box.  I had an assortment of  tools to leave impressions into the paste - you'd be amazed at how many ordinary household objects can be used to leave impressions.  Fingers are the best for making impressions though and much more fun!

greens and blues

Making paste papers, though thoroughly enjoyable, is extremely messy, so I made sure my work surface was covered in newspaper and had extra sheets to constantly change as they became  tacky and started sticking to the paste papers. 

Mixing the paints into one another on the paper and folding the paper onto itself and then dotting all over the reverse with my fingers resulted in a very pleasing pattern.

The patterns and colours that can be created are endless and before I knew it I'd ended up with a huge stack of patterned sheets that I know I'll be able to use in my art.

It's really important to allow the paste papers to dry thoroughly before using them, otherwise all that hard work and time put into creating them will go to waste if they've all stuck to one another and torn.

I liked the idea of my colourful sheets flapping in the breeze.

PASTE PAPERS READY TO USE

Whilst drying, the papers will naturally curl around the edges and crinkle slightly but once dry they can be ironed  between sheets of baking parchment with an iron set on dry not steam. This will flatten and smooth them and then they can be put under a pile of heavy books for further flattening if necessary.

So, this is what my stash of paste papers looked like after they'd been dried and ironed flat.  I'm so pleased with them all. 

a colourful assortment of paste papers....

...with a variety of patterns...

...and stamped impressions.

Here's what I made with my last batch of paste papers

coptic bound books

 

Austrian bound books

Stay tuned for what I'll make with my new batch of papers! :-)