Paper and Book Making


In class we learned how to make paper and how to make books. We learned a few different methods of paper making. The first method we learned was from recycled paper and water. We had two different buckets, one we filled up with white recycled paper which we tore apart into tiny pieces and let soak in water for a few days. The other was filled with multicolored recycled paper which we also tore into tiny pieces. After the paper soaked we drained the remaining water and took the paper and blended it with a blender. once the paper was nice and mixed we poured it into a large bin on water. we used deckles and screens and dunked them into the large bins. Once we pulled the deckle out of the water there was a think sheet of the blended paper on the screen. We then shook it out over the water to ensure that the sheet was evenly spread. We used sponges to get any of the excess water off and then added whatever dried flowers or sparkles we wanted and let them dry out. We each had to do both a multicolored piece of paper and a white piece. Below are my finished products, I think both turned out pretty well.



Another method of paper making we used was papyrus paper. We started by taking the papyrus plant and using potato peelers to cut it into very thin strips. Once we had a good amout of pieces we hammered them until they were nice and flat. After that we had them soak in water for about a week. once they were nice and soaked we laid the pieces out next to each other and once one layer was finished we layed a second layer going the opposite way. I enjoyed the process but I don't think my finished product is very workable as paper.

The last method for paper making we used was using cornhusk. We used a pulper to mix the cornhusk and water mixture and used the same method using the deckles as we did for the first paper method. once we were done we let it sit out to dry. We also used strips of cornhusk to lay out similar to how we did with the papyrus paper. below are the finished products.



Once we finished with the paper methods we went on to make our own books. We each studied different methods of book making and chose one we liked, to try ourselves. I went with a method I found called the dragon fold method. Basically you cut out squares of paper and fold them in half then fold them in half the opposite way. After that you fold it diagonally and then fold the two triangles in to create another perfect square. once you are done with folding all your pieces of paper you glue them together in alternating directions and let it dry. While its drying, take a piece of book board and cut it into a perfect square a tiny bit bigger than your pieces of paper. Then choose a piece of fabric or cloth you like and cover the book board with it. Then cut out two pieces of paper that are the same size as your other papers and glue one side of it to your book boards and once side to the end of your pieces of paper. do this to both sides. I know the description is kind of confusing since I don't have pictures to demonstrate, but below is a few pictures of my finished product.


After finishing these books we were to create another book using the different papers we made and the paper treatment methods we tried. We were supposed to create a Japanese stab book, but since I had already done one of those in a previous class I decided to use the same book method I used above to create a new book with papers that I had created. Overall I really enjoyed paper and book making, and I look forward to teaching some of these methods to my future students
















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