Laura A. Jackett

65 North Drive • Rochester, NY 14612 • (585) 225-0065 • laurajackett@yahoo.com • laurajackett.net

Program Title: Papermaking

Program Format:  Workshop

Length of Program: minimum 1.5 hours, can be extended 

Audience limit: 15

Space Required: open room with worktables, sink

Set up Time: 15 minutes 

Equipment Needs: provided by institution: paper towels

Equipment Needs supplied by instructor: blender, large trays, screen, wood picture frame pieces/canvas stretcher bars, staple gun, various papers, duct tape, cloth scraps
supplied by students: cookie sheets/cutting boards or another surface on which to transport home wet paper

Course Description: Roll up your sleeves as you’re going to get wet. Make your own paper in any color and thickness, adorned with flowers, beads, ribbons, even insects. It’s amazing how simple it is. Rip up bits of existing paper, from newsprint to watercolor paper, put into a household blender with water and grind into pulp. Using the nifty frame you’ve built from wood, duct tape and window screen, the pulp is sloshed on top, forming a wet layer of paper mulch. We flip this onto a sheet of cloth and allow it to dry, forming a whole new sheet of paper from your torn bits. Add any sort of embellishments such as string, sparkles or butterfly wings to make it uniquely your own.

Your new dry sheet of paper can be used for scrapbooking, bookmaking, drawing or any other artistic treatment. It may be so beautiful you’ll just want to display it as is.