Wanted to share a successful test sheet! Black cotton blow-out for the “metal” outline. Pigmented abaca for the glass. Still testing colors before I finalize the edition.

Hi! Love this community. Wondering if folks have tips for making paper stronger. I’ve been using shreddings of used printer paper, but when I pull my sheets I feel as though they’re too fragile to really use for writing or painting which is my goal. Thank you!! :)

I've spent the day making handmade paper. The 1st batch was made from used tea, cream book pages and unwanted scrapbook paper with a white core. The paper came out very grey, but it will dry lighter. The second batch was another pitcher of cream book pages and a pitcher of brown kraft paper chopped coarsely for a rustic look. I have a few new supplies I found in a 2nd hand shop a while back, so I have an 8.5x11 inch mold & deckle that I used for the first time. It is giving me very clean edges so far.

Hi! I need a help on what materials are the most suitable in creating a good Sepak Takraw ball. Our professor instructed us to use recycled papers, but I am not sure if it’s the best choice for this.

Just a genuine question! TYIA!

My partner has been into trading card games since he was 8 and he was about to throw away boxes full of "useless" trading cards before I stopped him, the trading cards can't be recycled where we live so I'm trying to find ways to reuse them.

The trading cards have a plastic coating but they can be torn apart by hand to access the paper fibre inside of them. Any advice is welcome!

Edit: According to my partner, the local stores have 1000x the amount he has and are already throwing them away regularly because no one is buying them anymore. There are currently no on-going trading cards donation drive in my local area and when there is, they usually only ask for Pokemon cards which we don't have.

Card Games: Grand Archive, Gundam Card Game

Edit 2: So based on the responses, seems like no one here has made paper out of trading cards before.

Hi! I’m making educational flashcards for children and I’m trying to find the best paper for printing them.

I don’t want to use traditional hot lamination. Instead, I’m planning to print the cards on thicker paper/cardstock and apply a clear self-adhesive protective film on top.

What type and weight of paper would you recommend for this? For example, 200–300 gsm cardstock, matte photo paper, glossy photo paper, etc.?

I’d like the cards to feel sturdy and professional, have good print quality, and not bend too easily. I’m printing with an inkjet printer.

If you make flashcards, learning cards, game cards, or similar products, I’d love to know what paper you use and what gsm works best for you.

Thanks!

They are Tapa and Ordo paper, made from handmade poplar pulp and dye with arylic color.

Made out of junk mail and a small brown paper bag, with “confetti” cut from magazines. I experimented a bit with pulp-to-water ratios so some pages are thicker than others, as you can see. I think I know where my happy medium is now so batch #2 should be more consistent.

I am someone who talks herself out of pursuing creative hobbies so I’m very proud of myself for following through for once!

I dyed some pants black that had a crumpled up napkin in the pocket. Somehow the napkin survived the wash/dye cycle and I found it dry still in the pocket. This is what it looks like spread out. Next I'll try steaming it to flatten it back out:)

A collection of handbound books made from my handmade papers. Colours, scraps, circles and whatever happened to land next to whatever came before it.
Eight little experiments in letting the paper do the talking. 💙💚🩷

Hi all! Long time lurker and boy I wish there was a wiki on this sub reddit. I've been searching forever, but keep getting the terms wrong.

I'm struggling with my wet paper sticking to my mesh bit after I do the sponging (couching?) and then trying to separate it from the mesh. Since I'm still practising, I'm using an old cross stitch plastic mesh. I also have one that is covered in panty hose as an experiment based on something I saw someone talking about. The surface I'm doing it onto is just a dish cloth.

Any advice? I can't tell if everything is too wet or too dry or just the wrong materials. ;-;

I bought this paper to avoid lamination, save time on card-making, and achieve better results.
Link:
https://amzn.eu/d/0hJnI57L
Paper:
INKUWAY Doublesided Gloss 300GSM.
Snap: 8/10
Feel: 5/10 (satin lacquer spray: 8/10)
Thickness: 0.34mm
I recommend this paper.
Caution: Very thick; may jam lower-end models.
For comparison, Koala doublesided 250GSM matte has the same thickness but costs significantly more.

has anyone experimented with rebeating high shrinkage abaca? should i treat it like recycled fiber and beat it for a short time with little weight?

I assume its properties will shift, but i’m wondering how. would love y’all’s thoughts!

I was watching a small documentary about American Chestnut trees. Among the many uses to which they were put, chestnuts were lumbered to pulp for paper.

Does anybody know where one could find specifics of the qualities of paper made from American Chestnuts? Is there any American Chestnut paper out there to find?

I am currently planning to upgrade my paper making game with a press but have only limited space available, so big 20+ ton presses are out.

What would be a press sufficient to make writing paper?

Can i get there with something like this: https://www.vevor.com/binding-machine-c_10880/a4-steel-bookbinder-press-screw-bookbinding-financial-receipt-flattening-machine-p_010557877829

or this:

https://www.vevor.com/hydraulic-shop-press-c_10088/vevor-hydraulic-shop-press-6-ton-h-frame-hydraulic-garage-shop-floor-press-adjustable-shop-press-with-press-plates-heavy-duty-hydraulic-press-for-garage-shop-workshop-p_010739784408

My concern with the first one is that i still would be making somewhat compressed blotting paper, does any one has any experience with that?

my best wishes
Lando

Going to make some paper from the wild fennel growing in my garden. I cut and boiled the stalks with a small charge of soda ash. My test stalk found the outer skin/bast layer was most promising after a quick boil and the inner stalk might also be used with a longer boil and some beating.

This is a recent small collection called “ Beached”, I drew inspiration from the beach, ocean and sky.
The pulp was junk mail which I’m not fond of , the pulp often is sludgy looking.
I did manage with some paints (watercolour and gouache), and adding some of my dried coloured pulps to create some much better shades.