Cotton Press designer Renee Sparks demonstrates an inexpensive way to create Victorian-style Christmas tree ornaments using linter paper, common kitchen utensils and a blender.
Paper Ornaments
Materials:
terra-cotta cookie molds
blender
water
cotton linter paper and paper additive
strainer (hand-held wire mesh strainer works well)
nonstick cooking spray
kitchen sponge
scissors
acrylic paint or eye shadows (if desired)
Steps:
- Fill blender with approximately 2/3 cup of water (exactness is not important in this case).
- Submerse one sheet of linter paper in the water.
- Pour one rounded teaspoon of paper additive into the blender.
- Blend the water, linter paper and additive for one minute creating a watery paper pulp mixture.
- Prepare the cookie mold by lightly coating the inside surface with a non-stick cooking spray, using a paper towel to blot off excess.
- Pour approximately 1/4 of the paper pulp mixture into a strainer, draining off the excess water.
- Pat the strained paper pulp into the mold, spilling a small amount onto the outside edges. Fill in any blank spaces with small, additional pieces of paper pulp from the blender.
- Press on the pulp with a kitchen sponge to blot excess water and to compress the pulp into the intricate details of the mold. Squeeze out the sponge and repeat as often as necessary to remove most of the excess water.
- Select any of the following methods to dry the design: a) Microwave on high for two minutes, then open the microwave door for one minute. Finish drying by microwaving another two minutes on high. b) Dry in a 350-degree oven for 30-60 minutes. c) Air-dry for three or more hours.
- After drying, pull the design from the mold and trim the edges with scissors. The unpainted design is now ready to be used or it can be stained with acrylic paints or eye shadows. Punch a small hole in the top edge of the design and thread with ribbon for hanging the ornament.
Tips:
- Recycle unwanted finished designs and edge trimmings by reblending with water.
- One sheet of linter paper will make four to five ornaments.
- Refrigerate unused blended paper pulp until needed.
Floral Ornaments
Materials:
pink artificial rose
pink ribbon
baby's breath
floral tape
small gold doily
Steps:
- Fashion a bow from the ribbon and tie it to the rose.
- Secure baby's breath to the rose by wrapping the stems in floral tape.
- Punch a small hole in the center of the doily and place the tape covered stem through it.
- Pinch the back of the doily upward, surrounding the rose, and secure with floral tape.
Resources Cotton Press Handmade Paper Kits, terra cotta molds, linter paper, paper additive
Cotton Press
Layton, UT
US
Toll Free Phone: 800-530-3410
Email:
info@cottonpress.com
URL:
www.cottonpress.com
Also in this Episode
)
