Ephemera - Paper based
Paper Embellishments
Paper embellishing paper is not as boring as it
sounds. We aren’t simply talking about adding another layer of paper
to your piece but manipulating paper into something more dimensional and
creative and adding the resulting decorative item to your work in progress.
One simple form of paper embellishment can be the use of
paper die cuts. These can be purchased pre-punched and coloured, homemade from
purchased metal dies, or purchased hand punches, and designed and
cut using innovative technology such as electronic cutting
machines. In fact, the term “die cut” has been expanded to cover
most extras that are pre-cut from cardstock or paper included tags, dimensional
stickers and chipboard elements.
Manipulating Paper
Paper can also be manipulated to make
embellishments. As mentioned in an earlier class, weaving paper can be
done on a large scale to make a background or as a way of making layers, but it
can also be done as a form of embellishment. Partially weaving into a
piece can enhance your artwork. A smaller, woven item can be used as an
embellishment.
Paper, in the form of cord or string, can be knitted, to
create an interesting texture. This can be firm in its own right if the
paper cord/rope is thick, but it can also be made firm by using a textile
stiffener if that is what your piece requires.
In addition to paper, cardboard, particularly corrugated
cardboard, can provide texture and dimension to paper art. The top layer
of the cardboard can be torn or cut away revealing the corrugation beneath.
This provides interesting opportunities for stitch.
Tips
for Exposing Corrugation
Paper Beads
In addition to die cuts, there are other categories of
paper elements that can be added to your work. One such element is a
paper bead. Paper beads can be made out of a wide variety of papers in an
equally wide variety of shapes and sizes. Templates for various bead
shapes are easily available.
The thickness of the paper and the length and width of
the template will determine the size of the bead.
The following video covers just about anything you would
ever want to know about making paper beads – it’s long but good. She
has also put time codes in the description so you can go to the sections you
are interested in without watching the entire video. (though it is well done
and easy to watch)
{MASSIVE} Fancy Paper Beads Tutorial - YouTube
This next video shows some wire wrapped beads made out of
book pages. I included this video because the book page beads are
long, have quite a different feel to the regular paper bead and include glass
bead/pearls as well as wire. They would give a distinctive look to
your piece.
How to Make BOOK PAPER BEADS for Junk Journals! Ep: 74
Step By Step Tutorial Paper Outpost! :) - YouTube
Paper casting
Paper casting is the forming of paper from fibre or pulp
using a dimensional mold. The experimenting we are going to be doing will be
with recycled paper or with layers of napkin or toilet
paper. Typically, the paper would be soaked overnight or longer if
you have the patience (this is definitely needed for recycled paper) to break
down the fibres into pulp. . Heating the water can also help break
down the fibres.
It helps if the soaked paper can be blended using a
household blender or immersion blender to further break down the fibres. It is
appropriate at this time to add a binder to the pulp. A bit of
watered down PVA or methyl cellulose or wheat or rice starch paste can be
added. A lot is not needed. The finer the pulp, the smoother the cast paper
DO NOT throw the excess
slurry water down a household drain when you are finished – it will cause
problems – the bits of fibre still in the water will harden when they dry.
Dispose of it outside or let it evaporate and save any dried fibre for next
time.
You can use almost anything as a mold. I have
used deep cut rubber stamps. Carved wooden blocks have been used,
clay cookie stamps have been used. Silicone molds, chocolate molds, and molds
for polymer clay are just a few other examples. Anything that has depressions
in it can be used. If it is a rubber or plastic surface, the paper
won’t stick but it might to a porous surface so in that case it is wise to
spray the mold with a release agent – like a silicon release or a cooking
spray.
Scoop some of the pulp and pat it into the
mold. It is good to protect your work surface because you will be
removing the excess water and the surface could get wet. Put enough
pulp into the mold to fill it and press down to compact the pulp and more if
necessary. You need to press the pulp into all the depressions. You
don’t want any air bubbles. When the pulp fills the mold, you can use a sponge
or soft cloths to press down on the surface of the pulp to continue to compress
it and to help remove some of the excess water. When you have removed as much
excess as possible, leave the pulp to dry in the mold, naturally, in a warm
place. Use the point of a knife to gently release the paper from the
mold when dry.
Any excess pulp can be put in an air-tight container and
frozen until you want to use it again.
Using pulp is the best way to do paper casting but there
is a quick a dirty way that doesn’t involve the fuss and mess or making the
pulp but still gives satisfactory results. This involves using layers of toilet
paper or the extra plies of napkins. Yes, that’s right, toilet
paper. These casting are a little more delicate than the pulp
variety and you have to take a bit more care to bond the layers together, but
you do get reliable results.
You need to have some watered down PVA, or
PVA/methylcellulose mix ready in a small container because you are going to use
this will a small, stiff paint brush to tamp the layers of paper together to
bond them. When your mold is ready, tear a piece of toilet paper or
napkin and lay it at the bottom of the mold. Dip your
paint brush into the glue/water mixture and tap the paper into the crevices of
the mold. Lay the next piece of paper into place and repeat the process. Keep
adding paper and using the glue/water mixture on the paint brush to tamp the
layers together. The first layers will seem to dissolve because the paper is so
fragile, but gradually you will begin to see the layers begin to build
up. This is something to do while you are listening to music or
watching TV. It is much slower than using the pulp, but it doesn’t
require the advance preparation, and you don’t have to guess at how much pulp
you are going to need to make.
Once the mold is full, you will use the sponge or cloth
to press down on the paper to remove any excess water from the paper. When it
is as compressed and dry as possible, leave it to dry completely in the mold
and then remove carefully. If the layers have been completely
saturated with the glue mixture, they should be bonded. The one
weakness of this method is that if not completely bonded, the layers can
separate if handled too much. That is not a problem if the piece is mounted and
does not experience too much handling.
3D Embellishments from Toilet Paper and Glue - YouTube
TOILET PAPER EMBELLISHMENTS | JUNK JOURNAL DECORATIONS -
YouTube
My
Attempts at Paper Casting
Paper Clay
You can create your own dimensional embellishments using
paper clay. This is also readily available from most craft and art
supply stores. Paper clay is an air-dry
product that does not need any special tools or equipment to produce your
embellishments. You need to protect your work surface – I use my
Teflon mat which wipes down easily. I use a piece or plastic/acrylic
tube as a roller to roll it out flat and you can use anything to make a mark or
impression. I used the same molds that I had for paper casting as
molds for paper clay. My molds are flexible, so it is easy to get the dried
clay out without damaging either mold or clay. In fact, it was
possible to remove the damp clay from the molds. The dried clay can be painted
and sealed. If you are planning to stitch your embellishment onto
your piece, don’t forget to make the stitching holes before it dries – that’s
why I tried removing the clay from the molds while damp. ¼” is a
good thickness for flat pieces.
There are recipes on the internet for making your own
paper clay.
Paper Mache Clay Recipe - The Easy Original Recipe -
YouTube
New Smoother Air Dry Clay Recipe - YouTube
Note: You can’t use DAP brand
joint compound in these recipes – that brand doesn’t work for some reason.
Paper Pulp
A bit like paper mache but more liquid, paper pulp is
what handmade paper (and paper clay) is made from. In this case we are talking about recycled
paper that has been torn into small pieces and has been soaked in water, blended
with a machine, had the bulk of the water removed, and PVA glue and possibly
other ingredients (cornstarch, vinegar and glycerin added). Colour may also be added in a variety of
ways. When the desired consistency has
been reached for the purposed desired (there are a number of ways to use paper
pulp), you squeeze, pour, press or mold the pulp into the desired shape.
Pulp can be placed in squeeze bottles and then used like
a thick paint to create a drawing or outline on a fine mesh or screen. This needs to be left to dry for several days
and then can be removing by releasing it from the screen/mesh. This must be done carefully because the paper
pulp, though dry, will be somewhat fragile.
A palette knife or thin blade inserted between the paper and the mesh to
release the edge of the paper will aid the process.
Quilling
Paper quilling is the rolling, pinching and gluing of
thin paper strips into shapes and designs.
It is also known as paper filigree. It is believed to have originated in
the Renaissance period in Europe as a form of religious decoration and in the
18th century become a pastime for gentlewomen. It has experienced a
resurgence of popularity in the 21th century in both traditional and
modern design applications.
Beginners can start with little investment in tools – a
few toothpicks, scissors, some strips of paper, and glue are all you really
need to get started. Wax paper to cover
your work area will prevent your work from sticking to your pattern. Typically, the strips of paper are 1/8” to ¼
“ wide (you decide what width you are comfortable working with unless you are
creating from a pattern that specifies).
You can purchase the paper in precut strips or cut your
own. There are many places online that
will sell it. (just search quilling strips)
Basic Shapes
Image from : Basics
of Quilling - Decorative Crafts - Aunt Annie's Crafts Use this link for directions on how to make
each of the shapes shown. There is also
a cutting guide for make your paper strips. Quilling
strip cutting guide - 1/4 inch Quilling
strip cutting guide - 1/8 inch
Aunt Annie’s Crafts also provides a Snowflake
template: Basics
of Quilling Project Sheet - Snowflakes Even though it says it is done with 1/8”
wide strips, it can be done with ¼” wide strips just the same.
Artist Links
Kelly High School Art
Jennifer Davies
Stitched Paper Society Instagram of
group that follows stitched paper artists
Yulia
Brodskaya
Phillipa
Reid
Griffin
Carrick
Kukhwa
Studio
Paperpan
