A PowerPoint presentation showing the step by step process of how to create hand made paper.

1. by Hand
by
Bernard E. Richardson
Master Teacher & Art Educator
© Bernard E. Richardson | 2022

2. How paper making started
Paper making is one of the oldest crafts.
• It was discovered in China around 105 AD during the Han dynasty.
• Its discovery is credited to a man named Ts’ai Lun, an Imperial Court
Official.

3. Equipment & Materials
Almost all the equipment and material needed for making paper can be found
around the home, except for the mould and deckle.
The items needed are
• Used paper (printed, scrap – pages from old magazines, old telephone books,
pieces of coloured paper etc)
• Newspaper or absorbent paper
• Shallow square/rectangular plastic tray
• Kitchen cloths (smooth, reusable ones
• Sponge (to remove excess water)
• Food blender
• Water in a container
• Mould and Deckle

4. Making the Pulp
Paper can be broken down into tiny fibres by blending it into a pulp with water in a food
blender.
During the paper making process the paper fibres are rejoined to form new sheets of
paper.
1. Tear the paper into long
narrow strips. Then tear
the strips into smaller
stamp-sized pieces.
2. Place a handful of paper into
the Blender. Fill the blender to
two-thirds full of water. Blend
the mixture for approximately
10 seconds.
3. Half full a washing-up bowl with
clean water. Pour the blended
pulp into the bowl.
Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 five
times more.

5. Making a couching mound
A couching mound is a base on which you make your paper. It can be made
using a pile of wet newspapers. It is the base on which the paper is rested
flat.
1. Fold up 5 – 6 whole
newspapers so that they
can fit in the shallow
plastic tray. Lay them on
top each other in the tray.
2. Pour water in the tray
over the paper until the
newspapers are
thoroughly wet. Make
sure the surface is
smooth.
3. Place a damp couching
cloth or clean kitchen
cloth over the couching
mound to cover it.

6. From pulp to paper… making the sheets
1. Stir the pulp
vigorously with your
hands.
Now that you have prepared the pulp and made the couching mound, it is time to make your
paper.
Stir up the pulp mixture vigorously so that the paper fibres do not settle at the bottom of the
tray or bowl.
2. Hold mould with the
mesh side facing
upwards and place the
deckle in top.
3. Insert the deckle and mould into the tray with the pulp
mixture starting from the back of the tray until the entire
mould and deckle is below the surface.
Then keeping it level, pull them up out of the pulp mixture.
Gently shake the mould from side to side, backwards and
forward to make the pulp level and make the fires settle.

7. 4. Carefully lift the deckle
off the mould. Be
careful not to let the
water drip onto the pulp
or your paper could be
damaged.
5. Transfer the mould
and deckle to the
shallow tray and
with the pulp facing
the mound, rest the
mould on the edge of
the couching cloth
while holding the two
sides.
6. In one continuous
movement firmly roll the
mound down on to the
top of the couching
mound and transfer the
wet paper fibres on to the
couching cloth/kitchen
cloth.
7. Holding the edge of the
mould closest to you
firmly down on the
mound, roll/lift the other
edge of the mould up and
back to remove it from the
wet paper fibres.
From pulp to paper… making the sheets

8. 8. The pulp should adhere to the
mound. Place a couching cloth on
top of the sheet of pulp. Make
sure it is completely flat. Gently
smooth out any wrinkles.
9. Your first sheet of paper is now
complete. Repeat the steps 1 to 8
and continue stacking the damp
cloth and sheets of pulp on top of
each other.
Make up to 10 sheets at a time.
From pulp to paper… making the sheets

9. Pressing and drying the sheets
1. Place a flat piece of wooden board on the table. Cover the final sheet
with a couching cloth. Carefully transfer your newly-formed sheets of
paper with the couching sheets on to the flat board. Cover with
more dry newspapers and place another piece of board on top of
the layer.
You now have sandwiched the papers in between the two pieces of
pressing boards.
2. With the papers in between
firmly press the two boards
together to expel as much
water as possible. (you could
carefully stand on the
boards).

10. 3. Remove the top board and newspapers,
then carefully peel off each couching
cloths, keeping a sheet of newly-made
paper in between.
4. Leave the sheets to dry within the
kitchen cloths on flat dry newspapers. You
could hang them to dry on a rack if one is
available or on a clothes line.
Pressing and drying the sheets

11. 5. When your paper feels dry and rigid,
carefully remove the top couching cloth (it should
peel off easily). Carefully push your thumb under
a corner of the sheet of paper and slide it along
one edge to begin to remove it from the bottom
couching cloth.
6. Repeat step 5 on the adjacent edge.
Hold the free corner of the paper in
one hand and carefully peel the paper
away from the couching cloth.
Pressing and drying the sheets

12. 6. You may prefer your paper to have a
rough surface, therefore leave the
sheets to dry out completely before
removing them from the couching
cloth. If you want a smooth, even finish,
iron each sheet using a hot iron while it
is still slightly damp.
A complete set
of
Handmade paper
Pressing and drying the sheets

13. Handmade paper

14. Scrapbookers and book artists use handmade paper for its unusual inclusions,
delicate weight, unique texture, and value as a one-of-a-kind piece.
They use handmade paper to create:
Uses
• Gift cards, gifts and gift boxes
• Diaries and photo albums
• Wrapping paper,
• Envelopes, announcements and wedding invitations
• Picture frames and collages.
• Paper boxes

15. Resources
• Dawson, Sophie, 1992. The art and craft of paper-making: step-by-step
instructions for creating distinctive handmade paper. NC: Lark Books
• Watson, David. 1991. Creative handmade paper: how to make paper from
recycled and natural materials. Kent: Search Press.

16. The End