If necessity is the mother of invention, then I need to churn out quite a few more inventions.
Last summer, I took up papermaking and it really wasn’t out of interest in pursuing a new craft at first. It was more like guilt. I made a load of cards and albums. The scraps were piling up and I felt horribly guilty about just tossing them into the trash. So I bought a papermaking kit that I found on clearance at Michael’s and, after watching a few tutorials on YouTube, I started learning the papermaking craft.
I spent the summer turning out all kinds of paper. Some were victoriously beautiful, while others were flops. But the flops were never complete flops because I could always just recycle those. I experimented with adding fibers, dried foliage, and even dime-sized pieces of vintage paper scraps. After getting past my trial-and-error phase, I began listing my paper in my Etsy shop.
Little did I know that my tiny effort to be eco-friendly would be one of my best sellers.
It wasn’t long before my handmade paper started appearing in treasuries. Then came the inquiries about the paper, the colors, and availability of larger numbers of sheets. Then the orders started trickling in. At first, it was just a sheet or two per customer. Then the larger quantity inquiries came rapidly followed by large quantity orders.
Then came the berry-colored paper.
By Christmas, my paper was being purchased as gift wrap and for holiday crafting projects. I started developing a small, local following for my paper. A larger following on Etsy then paralleled my local fan club. More and more treasuries happened and then one day, my black handmade paper graced the front page of Etsy. I was floored. I’m not sure if it was because it was my creation on the front page or the fact that it was my creation priced under $2 per sheet that was on the front page. Frankly, I didn’t know Etsy picked anything under $10 for the front page, let alone $2.
Since then, handmade paper sales have been growing steadily. I’m now at a point where I have five gallon buckets of paper pulp and making very large batches of paper at a time. My materials and supplies have taken over all of our kitchen counter space, and I barely have room to dry so many sheets. Is it possible that I could have a store just devoted to paper? Hmmmmmm……
As someone who seeks ‘the next big challenge’, I’m wondering what I can do next with my paper to take it up a notch. I just introduced metallic speckles in white paper. Other colors will soon follow.
I challenge you to creatively challenge me. Would you like to see floral elements? What about long strands of fiber, confetti, or pressed flowers? What about marbled patterns? I invite you to brainstorm with me. Suggest an unconventional material just so I can keep it out of a landfill and make it useful at the same time. I also challenge you to find a way to upcycle or recycle some of your own everyday materials into something functional, just like my fellow Kansans did here!
One word – AWESOME!
I see this as creative altruism at its finest! Creativity, beauty, eco-conscious – win-win every where – now that’s divine inspiration. I love it! You could place flower seeds in your paper and that way once someone was done, or as a mini ritual, it could be planted and flowers would grow! I could see this being big for love letters (an old art) weddings, releasing the old during the new year etc. What do you think?
Thank you for all your hard work. Paper making isn’t fast nor is it as easy as it seems. I tried my hand at this when younger and made a hot mess out of the upstairs bathroom. Your paper is inspiring + your shop is my new favorite!
Cheers! stephey
these papers are truly gorgeous! i had not idea you even made them jen. my head goes to not what you put in the paper but what you put on the paper. have you thought about stamping designs on them and making your very own patterns? just a thought.
@stephy – I really have toyed with the idea of plantable paper! I also keep having these ridiculously comical visions of letting paper dry overnight and then waking up to a field of morning glories sprawling all over my table. It is a messy process, which makes it a perfect craft for me. I’m not exactly Ms. Neat & Tidy, but I admit that space is my biggest issue. I should just figure out a way to build a drying rack with fine mesh screens for my paper so I can take advantage of the warm summer months and dry my paper outdoors!
@Wendy – My bad! I never even really thought to mention that I made paper. (oops) I haven’t crafted with my own paper yet, but I made the white metallic speckle paper for the sole purpose of having material for eco-friendly options for tags, cards, and invitations. I haven’t tried stamping, either, but I *do* know that it goes through my printer with no problem and they do dry emboss very nicely!
LOVE LOVE LOVE — your handmade paper is gorgeous! I challenge you to experiment with including junk mail in your papers. Until now, I was only familiar with you cards.
I make useful items from magazines, catalogs, and junk mail,
I love to see others with passion about eco-cycling and creativity!
Well Done!!
That is so incredible cool! And inspiring.
I love the idea of confetti. I know next to nothing about papermaking (I did it once when I was 9)…but is it possible to make designs in the paper. I don’t know why but some loose, semi-abstract vision of a mermaid came to mind.
@Alicia & @Jo Anna – Ok, what about this – confetti made from junk mail in paper?
I’ve also seen cards with woven designs in a couple of “stash-buster” challenges on a blog somewhere. I think it was d*s (?)
@Jo Anna – I’ve seen papermaking kits with screens that have shaped thingies in them. Haven’t tried it yet, but that may be one way to make designs in the paper.
Great post! I loved reading your process of how a product became your best seller. Love the photos, your paper is beautiful. I haven’t made paper, since high school, so i don’t remember what is or is not possible. My suggestions to challenge you would be fabric scraps, mesh, or netting. I love your idea of confetti, that would be very pretty and unusual.
I learning how things came to be, especially when they are accidents. How about adding food–rinds, peels, skins? Or sand, soil, feathers, clay? I don’t know if any of that is really viable, but thought I’d add to the brainstorm!
I love your handmade paper! Yes, yes, yes to all of your suggestions. I’d love to see sparkles, flowers, (the seed idea is great too) and all sorts of things in it.
@Patsy Kay – A few years ago, my mom gave me a 20 x 30 sheet of decorative paper that had little fraying chunks of fabric in it. It looked like it was denim that had been dyed in various hues of turquoise, coral, and royal blue. My hubby goes through his jeans like there’s no tomorrow, so I can definitely work from that angle. Ooo….and what about lace?
@Amy – I’ve got some peaches on hand, so I may try that. The rinds and skins idea is a pretty good one. Different fruits are in season at different times throughout the year, so it would be pretty fun to have “seasonal” availability. Don’t know about the earthen materials, but I’d like to give those super-soft fluffy feathers a try. Luckily, I know someone with cockatiels.
@Lori – thanks! I definitely have many more sparkles to add, although I may try adding chunks soon.