Paper pulp paste is a thick, heavy medium that hardens into a solid mass. It can be spread on a page, or formed into a design and stuck to the page. It gives your pages a textured, three dimensional look.
To make paper pulp paste, you will need to start with– you guessed it!– paper. For scrapbooking it is best to use paper that is acid and ligning free, or to spray paper with an acid neutralizing spray before proceeding. If you want paper pulp paste of a particular color, you will get a better result if you use that color paper to make it. You can also make colored paper pulp paste by using white paper and adding colorants, such as paint or chalk.
Take several sheets of paper and tear them into strips. Place them in a blender. Add enough cold water to cover the paper. Put the blender on and puree the paper. Pour it through a fine strainer. Gently press out excess water.
Take the pulp you have left in a strainer and put it into a disposable container. If you are coloring your paper pulp, add paint or chalk to acid free clear gel glue and mix well. Add the blend, or the uncolored glue if not using color, to the pulp with a spoon, until the glue coats the pulp and it makes a pasty, clay-like substance.
Remember that the pulp will be several shades lighter when dry. If you add paint or chalk to the pulp after adding the glue, the pulp will have a streaky or marble look to it (which may be desired, depending upon the effect you are seeking). Of course, you can always simply color the paper pulp after it is dry. Paint it or, for a more subtle shaded effect, rub scrapbooking chalk on it with a sponge-tipped make up applicator or cotton swab.
Now that you have your paper paste, you are ready to use it in a layout. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Take paper paste and spread a very thin layer with a plastic knife over the paper. Let it dry. This will give your background paper an interesting texture and hand-crafted look.
Use templates or stencils to make 3-D paper paste letters, numbers or designs. Simply place the template or stencil where you want the figure to go, and fill the empty space in with paper pulp paste. Think of it as spackling a hole, just press it in and smooth off the top. Carefully pull the stencil or template straight up so you don’t smear the figure. Let dry. The figure will look like it was plastered onto the page.
Add a line of paper pulp paste around the border of the page or photograph. Spread it out with your finger or a plastic knife, making it as smooth or as rough as you want. When dry, it will look like a 3-D clay frame.
Spread a layer of your paper pulp into shallow molds made for soap or chocolate making. Don’t make it too thick or it won’t dry properly; just spread enough on so that the pulp is pressed into the design and coats it. Allow it to dry. Pop the dried pulp out of the mold. Trim or paint if desired. You will have little 3-D paper embellishments to glue on the page.
Use a biscuit tin or round cookie cutter to pile up a small circle of paper pulp paste on wax paper, approximately 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch thick. Or, if you prefer a rough-edged, aged look, simply make a freehand circle by piling it up lightly on wax paper with a plastic spoon or craft knife. Press a rubber stamp into the center of it. Allow it to dry. Pop it off the wax paper. For a great look, gently rub some paint or chalk over the top of it with your finger. The color will bypass the impression, leaving it much more pronounced. Glue these seals onto your layout.
Paper pulp can take a bit of practice to get the hang of working with it, but can be worth it. The look is so unique that it will be a great addition to make your layouts stand out.
