How to make handmade paper with confetti and glitter – it’s one thing to make handmade paper, but it is a whole other level to add in sparkle and texture!
I’ve always wanted to make handmade paper but I thought it was a huge, scary process. Turns out, it is really fun! My shortcut to nixing the fear was to buy a kit that had everything I needed.
My reasoning was I didn’t want to make the deckle, etc. but there are all kinds of other methods you can try if you want to really start from scratch.
How to make handmade paper with confetti and glitter
Here are the supplies I used to make this paper!
Supplies:
Kit comes with:
Mould and deckle: A set of two frames, one with mesh (the mould) and one without (the deckle).
Felt sheets: For transferring and drying the paper.
Sponge: To press out excess water.
Confetti.
What you need outside of the kit:
Handheld blender: For pulping the paper.
11×14″ plastic tub: To hold the pulp and water mixture.
Drying rack or trays or a towel on a table or flat surface or boards: For drying the finished paper sheets.
Plastic bag: To hold pulp.
Strainer: To strain pulp from the water.
Scissors or paper shredder: To cut down paper. NOTE: You can do this by hand if you want.
Choose your paper:
Anything that is not coated – glossy magazines or glossy paper will not bond. Stick with uncoated paper like junk mail, egg cartons, paper bags, used sketch paper, scrapbook paper, old greeting cards, newsprint, etc.
Adds in: Confetti, gold leaf, small flower petals, glitter – anything lightweight.
Directions:
Clear off a large working space, either in the kitchen, garage, patio, or even the kitchen table.
Prepare the paper pulp:
Use a plastic container, like plastic shoe box or large plastic cup. Tear or shred the recycled paper into small pieces and soak for a few minutes in warm water. This is will soften them up.
In the same vessel, use the hand blender to break down the soaked paper until it reaches a smooth, pulpy consistency.
Working over the sink, set a strainer (with small holes, not big!) over the drain and pour the pulpy water over it. Don’t let any of the pulp go down the drain. Scoop the pulp out of the strainer and place in a plastic bag or bowl.
Set up the vat and felt:
Fill the large plastic tub with water.
Add the blended pulp to the water, mixing well to distribute evenly.
Wet the felt sheets that come with the kit, or use any kind of wet cloth, like a dishcloth or even cotton fabric.
Tips for adding embeds
Don’t add too much glitter/confetti inside the vat
It may sink, clump, or make your paper fragile. Always stir well if adding directly to the pulp, or better yet—sprinkle on top after pulling your sheet.
Adding flowers
Use pressed, dried petals for best results. They can bleed, mold, or discolor.
Keep embeds at a minimum (ack, I went overboard!)
Too many bits can keep the pulp from bonding. Keep it minimal so the paper stays intact and dries evenly.
Go light
Stick to fine bits of thread or string. Heavy fibers can tear your sheet or create thick lumps.
Adding color
You can easily tint your paper by dyeing the water in your vat. Add a few drops of liquid watercolor, acrylic ink, or even food coloring to the pulp mixture before dipping your mould and deckle. Make sure to mix the color thoroughly in the water.
Think about a spray dye too, you would do this before it dries.
The more pigment you add, the deeper the hue. And the water may feel a bit thicker.
For softer, pastel shades, use less color or add white paper scraps to dilute. You can also sort your recycled paper by color—blending only blues, pinks, or yellows—to get beautiful organic tones.
Just remember, colored pulp may tint your embeds too, so test a small batch first to make sure everything looks harmonious!
NOTE: You can choose the color of your paper by the paper you use.
Form the paper sheet:
Place the screen onto the mould frame.
Position the deckle (frame without screen) on top of the mould.
Sprinkle the confetti and glitter, a small handful of each. Use your hands to swish everything around in the water.
Quickly submerge the mould and deckle into the pulp mixture, then lift it out horizontally, allowing the pulp to settle on the mesh.
Shimmy it back and forth and then side-to-side and then back and forth again until the pulp lays flat against the screen.
Couching the paper
Place a piece of couching felt on the board (or flat surface).
Let your sheet sit for a few seconds before couching (flipping onto cloth) to prevent tearing or warping.
Remove the screen from the frame. Carefully flip it over and place down on the felt.
Gently lift the screen, leaving the wet paper sheet on the felt.
Use the sponge to lift excess water. Press down on the paper sheet, removing as much water as possible.
NOTE: You can spread out each sheet one-by-one and let them dry separately or
REPEAT the paper making process to make three sheets of paper, layering them with wet felt in between.
Press out excess water
If you are following the directions from the kit, you will place a second board on top of the three sheets handmade paper, and take it outside and step on it to remove all the water.
Dry the Paper
Remove the top board and very carefully peel away the felt to reveal the first sheet of handmade paper.
Lift the sheet of paper by the felt that it is resting on and place it on a flat surface to dry. I put them on boards.
Allow the paper to dry completely, either by air drying on a rack or using a flat surface.
Make sure your paper is 100% dry before peeling it off your felt or cloth. Rushing it can cause rips or curling.
Store dried sheets under a heavy book to flatten them.
Here are my finished papers!
I used one of my Crafty Chica Art Foamies stamps to one of the sheets!
Which I then turned into a handmade journal!
Clean up – important!
Once you’re done making your handmade paper, you’ll likely have a bit of pulp and some murky water left over.
Instead of dumping it all out, save any extra pulp in a lidded container or Ziploc. It’ll stay fresh in the fridge for a few days, or you can freeze it in small portions for future crafting sessions.
If you used embellishments like glitter, flower petals, or confetti, skim out the leftovers with your hands or a mesh strainer before cleaning the vat.
To safely dispose of the water, avoid pouring it straight down the drain!!!
Instead, line a colander with an old T-shirt or cheesecloth and pour the vat water through it. This will catch any remaining pulp bits, which you can compost if they’re from clean, natural paper—or toss them in the trash if you’re unsure.
Rinse your mould, deckle, sponge, and tub with plain water, no soap needed. Let everything air dry completely before storing to prevent mildew from creeping in.
It helps to keep a dedicated tub and sponge just for papermaking, so everything stays organized and ready for your next batch of beautiful, recycled paper art.
Pink paper with glitter.
Ideas of what to make with your handmade paper with confetti
Greeting cards.
Bookmarks, punch a hole and add a tassel or bead for flair.
Journal pages or inserts, especially for art journals or mixed media sketchbooks.
Framed art pieces—add a quote, a doodle, or a pressed flower on top and pop it in a small frame.
Affirmations or intentions on each sheet and place them in a jar for daily inspiration.
Handmade tags for gifts, product packaging, or party favors.
Custom confetti or embellishments or paper sceraps for junk journaling.
Sew a stack together with a pretty thread to make a mini zine or creative booklet.
Layer it with other papers to create collage art or vision board elements.
Print or stamp for textured stationery, invitations, or even business cards if it’s thick enough.
Thanks for checking out my post about how to make handmade paper with confetti and glitter
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