Happy recycling! Paper Art by Martha Starke

Wow do I have an a Fantastic Tutorial for you guys today.
Martha Starke is a super talented designer who is going to show us how to create plantable paper.
These can be used in so many ways and have grown popular as gift in weddings and any special event.

Martha says:
Making paper by hand is a simple and fun way to use up paper scraps from card making, scrap booking and all kinds of paper crafts. Card stock and high-quality scrapbooking papers make wonderful handmade paper because they are made of high-quality fibers and have nicely saturated colors. A piece of handmade paper is only as good as the paper you start with – use high quality scraps to end up with high quality paper.

You can add various inclusions to make your paper more exciting: spices such as paprika and curry add gorgeous color to your paper; spearmint or patchouli leaves add fragrance; bits of confetti make for a cheerful piece of multi-colored paper. The project outlined here uses perennial seeds in to the pulp to make a plantable paper that can be recycled by planting in the garden.



1.) First, gather everything you will need: a blender, a packet of seeds, a cookie cutter, paper scraps and a mold. A mold is a frame with a screen pulled across it. While it is possible to make your own (you can find directions on the internet), I recommend buying one from a papermaking supply company. You need a mold that has a very tight waterproof screen so that there are no sags where water might puddle and create uneven thickness in your handmade paper.

2.) Begin your papermaking adventure by tearing paper stock into small pieces and tossing in a blender dedicated to papermaking. Because papers are made with toxic chemicals, you will want to buy an inexpensive blender at a yard sale that will never be used for food preparation. Rip your paper in small pieces and soak them to soften so that the blender motor doesn’t have to work too hard. Fill the blender with water and pulverize until you have a fine pulp. Once the pulp is the consistency you like, add a handful of seeds to the blender. Give the mixture a quick pulse or two so that the seeds are dispersed but not chopped up by the blender. The seeds are covered with a natural gooey substance that will eventually dissolve into the water and clog up your screen. The sooner you make your handmade paper, the less of a problem you will have.



3.) Place the cookie cutter (I used a butterfly shape) on the screen and place in a sink. Gently pour a little pulp from the blender into the cookie cutter, allowing the water to drain off into the sink. Use your finger to push the pulp around and disperse it evenly in the cookie cutter. When most of the water has drained, lift the cookie cutter off, leaving the pulp on the screen. As the water leaves the paper, the fibers of the paper will start to lock together and get strong and stronger. You can place your mold over a heating vent or in the sun until the paper is completely dry.


4.) Once dry, lift the paper off the screen. Use your handmade plantable paper for place cards at an Easter dinner, for a favor at a birthday party, as gift tags or for a card-making project. These tags are a light peachy-pink color for spring.



5.) Make sure to give everyone directions on how to plant your wonderful new paper: place it into raked ground, cover with ¼ inch of soil and then keep moist until germination, which takes 6 to 8 weeks. Take a look at the last photo to see seedlings popping out of some white plantable paper!



Thank you so much Martha your tutorial was very clear and sounds so easy that I can't wait to give it a try ! If you aren't up to making your own homemade paper, you can purchase it already made at Martha's etsy shop--PulpArt.

Keep in mind that we have a Great sale currently on :
15% off EcoFriendly 8.5x11 Cardstock & all EcoFriendly Envelopes
We have a large selection to choose from.....
100% cotton cardstock & envelopes & 100% recycled Cardstock & envelopes
Have a Blessed Creative Day & Happy recycling!