Making paper from Bush Materials
Focus: 2-D Product
WHAT
At the completion of this activity card, you will know: -
How to take materials from our natural environment and process the fibre to make paper for cards and 2-D frame prints.
WATCH
https://youtu.be/FOb34_s-K1M?si=Vb29sY8dVXRJzVVD
READ
https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/making-paper-from-plants-zm0z17jjzqui/
Learn the processes of paper making from your reading of the article above and the Making Paper Cheat Sheet.
DO
Follow the Instructions and process your material for your project.
REFLECT
Assess what went right and what went wrong and what improvements can be made to the processes and product.
Each type of grass creates a different texture and feel in the paper, whether it be spinifex, oat grass, Woolly Butt, kangaroo or kerosene grass. The different seasons also produce differences in the papers. Therefore, each and every production run makes a quality paper that is unique and individually made.
Tools and Materials Needed
1
Leather Gloves and Safety glasses for gathering materials (Suitable clothing and footwear).
2
Scissors, pruning shears, mulcher.
3
a large, non-food, nonreactive pot (stainless steel, glass, or enamel-coated); a scale; potholders; non-food, nonreactive stirring utensils; a mesh strainer; a bucket; and rubber gloves. For beating fibre, you’ll need a non-food blender.
4
Wear rubber gloves, goggles, or a face mask when working with an alkali.
5
Washing soda and vinegar to neutralise the solution and Okra for a binding agent.
6
Blender
7
Mould and Deckle
8
Buckets to hold pulp
9
Sponges and Roller to roll out moisture and suck out moisture/
10
Plexiglass
11
Layers of Felt
12
Table Press
EXAMPLE PICTURES OF MATERIALS AND PRODUCT
PROCURE-PREPARE-PROCESS
PROCESS TO PRODUCT
PRODUCT
Additional Sources
https://www.incredibleart.org/lessons/middle/Elizabeth-paper.htm
https://www.lostincolours.com/kagaz-the-process-of-making-handmade-paper/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollander_beater
Appendix 2: An Additional Help Sheet for the specific processes of the Task
How to Make Handmade Paper from Materials sourced from the Bush
STEP 1: CUT UP THE NATURAL FIBRES
Mulch up the material sourced from the bush or cut into smaller pieces and boil with washing soda for at least two hours. Wash the fiber thoroughly after this process.
Washing Soda links to Woolworths
https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/263093/lectric-inwash-soaker-washing-soda
STEP 2: BLEND IT & MAKE A VAT OF PULP
Fill up a kitchen blender with water. Throw in a good handful of the cut material. Blend until it’s a pulp.
STEP 3: MAKE YOUR FORMATION AID
1. Cut the okra stems into 2- to 3-inch pieces and soak in water for 2 to 3 hours.
2. Fill a large stainless steel cooking pot with water and add the stems. Add 1 tbsp. of soda ash for each quart of water in the pot and stir to combine using a wooden spoon.
3. Put a handful of the stems into your blender and fill with water. The stems are tough to blend, so be careful not to put too many stems in at once, as you can burn out the blender's motor. Pulse for 12 to 15 seconds at a time, until the stems are thoroughly blended with the water. Repeat with the rest of the stems.
4. As you blend each batch, add it to your plastic bin.
STEP 4: ADD YOUR FORMATION AID TO THE PULP
Fill your tub or vat with the pulp, about 1/3 to 1/2 way. Add more water to the vat. The more pulp to water, the thicker your paper will be.
STEP 3: PULL SOME SHEETS
· Stir your vat of pulp.
· Hold the mould screen side up, and place the deckle evenly on top.
· Holding them together at a 45 degree angle, dip the mould and deckle to the bottom of the vat and scoop up, holding the mould and deckle horizontally.
· As you lift it out of the slurry, give it a quick shake back and forth, and left to right to align the fibers and make a more uniform sheet. Stop shaking before the sheet is fully drained.
· Let the water drain to a drip.
STEP 4: COUCHING
AKA transferring the wet sheet from the mould to a a flat, absorbant surface. Set up your dampened felt or absor- bant materials with a board underneath.
· Remove the deckle from the mould.
· Place a long edge of the mould on the felt.
· In one smooth motion, place the mold face down, press down, and lift from that initial edge.
Note: Think of this like a close the door, open the door, motion.
STEP 5: PRESSING
Option 1: Hand Pressing
· Place pellon or paper towel on top of your freshly couched sheet. With a sponge, press gently at first, then press firmly with as much pressure as possible. Have a rolling pin or old paint roller? Use that to press your paper more.
..................Column Break..................Option 2: Board Pressing
· Place another felt on top of your freshly couched sheet. Continue to couch another sheet, layer another felt, and repeat. Layer one final felt and another wood board when you’ve made a stack. Take the post outside to a concrete or stone surface. Stand on it!.
STEP 6: DRYING (1-2 DAYS)
Option 1: Surface Drying
· Find a flat, non-porous surface. Smooth wood boards, plexiglass, windows, and formica surfaces work well.
· Take your wet sheet and gently press onto the flat sur- face. Make sure the edges are pressed down well.
· Let the paper dry. Peel it off.
Option 2: Exchange Drying
· Get blotters, towels, or other absorbent, dry, flat material.
· Layer the material and then your wet paper on top.
· Repeat. Create a stack.
· When you’re done, place a wood board or a book on top. Weigh it down with more books or something heavy.
· Check it once every day and exchange the damp materi- al with dry material until your handmade paper is dry.
Option 3: No Restraint Drying
· Take your wet sheet and throw it on a shelf, table, count- er…and let it dry. The paper will be very bumpy.
Option 4: Dry on Pellon or Cloth
· Peel and hang up the cloth or pellon (with the wet paper still stuck to it), and hang on a clothesline with the top edge of the pellon. Peel when dry. Your paper will be slightly wavy.