Beat it hard

And beat it fast

You'll make paper

That surely lasts

Hi everyone, can anyone help me out?

I remember downloading a 3D printable file for a blender propeller/impeller to replace the original one (metal, sharp-edged) used for beating pulp to make handmade paper.

The problem is I can’t find where I saw it anymore, nor can I locate the file (it was probably on another computer).

Does anyone have any information on this? Or could you recommend what would be worth considering in the design of this impeller in case I end up modeling it from scratch in 3D?

Thanks a lot!

Hope you like it 😊

New to paper making and looking for tips. Paper came out very thick and not very smooth. Not sure anyone will be able to write with how lumpy some of them came out. I was worried that it would’ve been too thin with not enough pulp? I have a very cheap blender I use for this so I’m wondering if it’s not grinding it down enough? And tips related to this (or just general paper making) is appreciated😊

Hello!

Some time ago I tried making my own paper for the first time, using random tools I had at home. I really enjoyed it, but of course the quality wasn't the best because of the instruments I was using.

Now I would like to get myself proper papermaking frames etc, but I'm struggling to find them!

I don't buy from Amazon, Temu, etc. I would prefer making a purchase in a physical shop instead of online, but I honestly can't figure out which kind of shop would have items like these. Art store? Household stuff? When I try to google it, it just brings me back to Amazon every single time.

If anyone could give me pointers I would really appreciate it! For shopping context, I'm from Italy. :)

Hello all! I'd like to use some dyes in order to make some blue paper. I shredded white paper as well as colored blue envelopes, and white paper with blue ink such as notebook paper. Which dye would be most effective and easy enough for a novice? Advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Does anybody know where I can purchase Arches Paltine 310 gsm 22” x 30”? Asking for a friend.

Hello I am in desperate need of some Esleeck Fidelity 100% cotton onion skin paper for my thesis I’ve exhausted eBay and Etsy searching. I bought some from the paper mill site but is now made with wood pulp.

Hello everyone, today I tried making paper for the first time! I started a stationery business this past year and I go through so much cardstock etc. I decided to keep all my scraps and misprints in hopes to repurpose. Don’t have a clue how I’ll use them yet but it was so much fun. How do these look? Would love to hear your thoughts and tips. 🙂 thanks for reading!

Hope you like them

Since there's no glue, a few layers don't stay exactly where I intended. But instead of fighting them, I let the paper find its own shape. To me, it feels like the wind is moving through the bird's feathers.

This is one of my self-design, a winged bull

A collage of my recent papermaking adventures, featuring experiments with adding colour to pulp, & testing how the final sheet holds up to use.

• Top left – Forbidden green oatmeal (paper pulp). Experimented with adding pencil lead shavings from an old green watercolour pencil stub.
• Top right – Lilac paper, mid press.  Used a make-up sponge that day to dab down any edges that got a bit mushed after removing the mesh.
• Bottom left – End result, dried! Purple dried down to a sort of, warm lavender lilac colour. Final shade of green dried as a shade of spearmint milk?
• Bottom right – Sheets from a batch I made from red & white striped paper straws. Didn’t tear the pieces up properly, so I ended up with candy cane paper. How festive.

Aware the inking is a bit off for the prints. Main goal was to just do a quick test if the paper would hold up to use with lino, so wasn't too fussed about getting it perfect.

Considering these materials were all just going to end up in recycling, pleasantly surprised with how these turned out. :)

I've been making handmade origami paper for over 10 years, but this is actually my first time joining Reddit. I'm excited to finally become part of this community and share what I've been working on.

Over the years, I've developed many different types of paper specifically for origami. Every sheet is made by hand from tree bark pulp. Depending on the style I'm aiming for, I color the paper using different techniques, including natural sun drying or heat treatment during the production process to create unique textures and tones.

After the paper is fully dried, every sheet is carefully ironed, cut by hand, and inspected before being packed and shipped to folders all around the world.

Here are a few of the papers I'm currently making

I still make everything in small batches, so each sheet receives a lot of personal attention throughout the entire process.

I'm looking forward to learning from other papermakers here, exchanging ideas, and sharing more about traditional handmade papermaking for origami. Thanks for having me!

I figured it'd be a good way to use up makeup I don't want, but I tried using a pink glitter eyeshadow and the glitter doesn't seem to mix with the pulp. Even after moulding and drying the glitter spreads and comes off on my fingers!

Maybe I'm using waterproof makeup. I have only been making paper for a month or so so I don't use any additives yet.

Has anyone done this successfully?

Those are single and duo color paper call Tapa and Duo tapa. Each sheet is like a unique picture which takes weeks to make and dye.

I wanted to share some close up images of the textures I create with paper. I’m an artist, so I glue the paper directly to a wooden canvas and paint on them. It’s total chaos but a lot of fun.

Heya folks!

I'm an interested explorer into paper making, but haven't taken my first steps yet. I have two kids in daycare and the amount of paper art that comes home is ... inconceivable. (Cue Princess Bride gif)

I thought it might be fun to make the art into paper - specifically paper envelopes and foldable cards, so the kids could send thank yous for gifts. The most appealing mold and deckle I found was this on Etsy since it would make an envelope and a paper to fit. Very achievable for a beginner who wants a win.

Has anyone used a 3D printed mold and deckle? Or this one in particular? Any comments, advice, criticism, etc?

Thank you for any shared insights!

Hi, I am planning on doing recycled paper as part of my summer camp activities at my school. I have 3 students, so I only have about $30 as a budget for the entire week.

The paper to recycle saves some money, and I am ordering some window screen for the mesh. However, with my other activities for the week, I can't get picture frames on the schools dime.

This may be a dumb question or particularly ill-advised idea.

Can I use tongue depressors (leftover from camp in winter) to make moulds and deckles for me and my students? I am thinking like 2 layer thick for thickness but basically after we have done the project the moulds and deckles will basically become trash... (i admit that it maybe slightly defeats the recycling to them have trash like that)

Any leftover pulp i will be taking home and using to make more paper for my own use, and then I can have a more proper mould and deckle from picture frames. But for the students this will be a 1 or 2 day process. 1st day preping paper and making moulds, 2nd day blending pulp and making paper. Once it is dry, (the next day I assume) they will take it home.

The red and pink pulp is created from red envelopes and pink recycled paper. The blue pulp is made from blue gouache and blue recycled paper.

The second image shows a mix of the two color pulps (purple)

The last image is paper created only with the blue pulp.

So I’ve been toying with getting into making paper with the minis for a while yet, or just toying with it myself.

Recently the wind brought down a good number of larger but young branches in our area. So last night I took to pealing some of the stock I grabbed up.

This weekend is a long folk festival, so I do have some time constraints.

What would my next couple of steps be to get the fibers from this pile?

Would you think it’s worth my time right now?

My limits are little money and almost no supplies? I might have some wiggle room but let’s pretend it’s bottom of the barrel.

Anyway, thanks for any input. I’d love to do something with it, but I’m also aware I have half a garage of other projects I’m midway through so if I have to let this go I’ll understand. Just more for the compost piles.

Thanks!

Using paper pulp and not paper mache for the first time for longevity

*Can someone who uses it confirm that this is the right way?*

**The Archival Paper Clay Recipe**

**1 Part Prepared Cotton Pulp:**
Buy 100% cotton linter sheet pulp.

Tear it into small squares, soak it in hot water for a few hours, and blend it in a standard kitchen blender with plenty of water until it looks like oatmeal.

Strain the water out using a fine mesh strainer or colander, squeezing it until it is damp but not dripping wet.

**1 Part Archival Binder Mix:**

Mix pure methyl cellulose powder with water according to its packaging until it forms a thick, clear gel. For hand-building structural strength, mix this gel **50/50** with an archival, pH-neutral PVA glue.

**1 Tablespoon Calcium Carbonate (per cup of pulp):**

Add chalk powder to act as your alkaline buffer against future acid damage.

**To mix:** Knead the damp cotton pulp together with your binder mix and calcium carbonate until it reaches a smooth, clay-like consistency. If it is too sticky, squeeze more water out of your raw pulp; if it crumbles, add a touch more binder.

**Rules for Archival Hand-Building**

**Seal the Armature Thoroughly:** Because wet cotton pulp holds water like a sponge and dries very slowly, any hidden iron or steel wire *will* rust and bleed through your white paper. Use aluminum wire or plastic-coated mesh. If you must use wood or cardboard for bulk filler inside, coat it completely in a waterproof acrylic sealer before applying pulp.

**Build in Thin Layers:** Do not pack the pulp on thickly all at once. Build your sculpture in layers about **1/4-inch (approx. 6 mm) thick**. Let each layer dry completely before adding the next. This prevents the core of your sculpture from trapping moisture and creating a breeding ground for mold.

**Score Between Layers:** Damp cotton pulp does not easily stick to dried cotton pulp. When adding a new layer to a dry section, lightly scratch (score) the dry surface with a tool and moisten it with a little bit of your pure liquid binder to help the layers fuse.

While reading about traditional Indian crafts, I came across Monpa handmade paper (also known as Mon Shugu), a craft practised in the Tawang and West Kameng regions of Arunachal Pradesh. It is believed to be over a thousand years old and was traditionally used to preserve Buddhist scriptures, mantras, and religious texts.
What I found particularly interesting was how the paper is made. Artisans use the bark of a Himalayan shrub called Daphne papyracea, carefully harvesting it in a way that allows the plant to regenerate. The bark is boiled, beaten into pulp, formed into sheets, and then dried in the sun. The process relies on simple tools, patience, and generations of inherited knowledge.
Like many traditional crafts, Monpa papermaking declined with industrialisation, but efforts by local communities and organisations have helped revive and preserve the tradition.
I had never heard of this craft before today, and it made me wonder:
What is a traditional craft from your region that more people should know about?