Scrapbooking using paper pulp

   One of the flexible and easy to use craft medium is the paper pulp which is thick and heavy and hardens into a solid mass. This can be used in various ways like forming into a design and sticking it on to the page, which gives the page a textured look or just spreading it out on the paper.

You of course need paper to make this paper pulp paste. Before using the paper you have to make sure it is acid free by spraying the acid neutralizing spray.

Using colour paper will give you coloured paper pulp. Alternately, you can also use white paper and add colorants like paint or chalk.

Making paper pulp is very easy. You have to puree the paper by putting strips of it in a blender and adding cold water to it. After blending it, you will have to pour it through a fine strainer and gently press out the excess water.


Use a disposable container to take out the pulp from the strainer and put it in. In case you want to colour your pulp, you will have to add chalk or paint to gel glue which is clear and acid free and mix them well.

A  dd this blend to the pulp with a spoon till the pulp is fully coated with the glue to make clay like substance which is pasty.

Of course, you can simply colour 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:

* Spread a thin layer of paper paste with a plastic knife over the paper. After it dries the paper will have a hand crafted look and an interesting texture.

* 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. 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 centre 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 colour will bypass the impression, leaving it much more pronounced. Glue these seals onto your layout.

Paper pulp gives your product such a unique look that you will tend to use it again and again. It is very thrilling to create crafts and scrapbooks using paper pulp.

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