Paper Palooza: Rice Paper

Rice paper used in crafting and art projects is not the same as rice paper that you eat. Don’t go painting on those spring roll wraps. You will be disappointed.
 
Rice paper used in cooking is basically rice flour and water. Rice paper that you use in arts and crafts is made from materials like mulberry, hemp or rice straw.
 
To make rice paper, the raw materials are soaked in water and then beaten to separate the fibres. The fibres are mixed with water and a formation aid. The formation aid slows down the water flow allowing the paper maker more time to complete the process. The pulp is spread onto a screen and pressed. The sheets are then dried. Texture, colour and design are the last step in the process.
 
Rice paper is used in origami and calligraphy. It’s also used for decoupage, mixed media art, scrapbooking, card making, and art journaling. It is used for printing and painting, as well. A unique and versatile paper.
 
You can cut, tear or water tear rice paper. You attach it using a rice paper glue. Apply the glue to the item to which you want to adhere the rice paper using a soft brush. Don’t put the glue directly onto the rice paper. You can also spread a layer of glue over top of the paper to seal it. If you decide to experiment with other types of glue, make sure that what you are using isn’t too watery or your rice paper will tear.
 
Rice papers come in lots of different colours and designs. Some rice papers are so gorgeous that you just want to look at them, but don’t. You will enjoy them much more by using them to add a unique element to your creative projects. Oh, and remember, they are not consumable.

Paper Palooza: Cardstock

Cardstock is essentially a thick, heavy paper. It is very durable and is used in printing and crafting. Most home printers can handle a 65 lb cardstock, but anything heavier will require commercial printing. Cardstock is used in cardmaking, scrapbooking and other paper crafts.

Cardstock is made the same way that regular printer paper is made. The paper pulp is a combination of hardwood and softwood. Kraft cardstock is made from wood pulp that is unbleached and includes recycled wood fibres.

The paper pulp is spread onto a wire mesh and the water is pressed out of the paper by a machine called a Fourdrinier. Cardstock gets it thickness from more pulp being used than for printer paper. Sometimes, two or more sheets are glued together. Textures and coatings are added to create the finished product.

Cardstock can have a smooth, textured, glossy or metallic surface. It comes in lots of different colours and can have a solid core or a coloured/white core.

Cardstock can have a variety of weights and sizes. The lightest weight for cardstock is 65 lb. The heaviest weight is 110 lb. For cardmaking, an 80 lb weight is perfect for a card base. Your cards will be able to stand up for display. You will also be able to score and fold without breaking the paper. Lighter weight cardstocks are great for mats and as part of your card design.

You can easily use a 65 lb cardstock in a cutting machine (Cricut, Silhouette, etc.). It also takes an impression well and cuts easily in a manual die cutting and embossing machine (Sizzix, etc.).

Cardstock is the work horse of the paper crafting world. There are so many varieties and colours to choose from that you can almost always find what you are looking for. Use cardstock techniques like sanding, scoring, paper tearing or embossing to add a new dimension to your cardmaking. So many creative possibilities!

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Paper Palooza: Washi Tape

Yes, it’s true! Washi tape is made from paper. The paper used can be made from a variety of materials, including mulberry bark and hemp. Washi tape is typically made from Japanese rice paper.
Washi tape was originally a masking tape that was produced by a Japanese company. They received requests for different colours and the washi tape phenomenon took off.
 
The glue on the back of washi tape is made from rubber that has been kneaded and heated. It is mixed with a resin and then applied to the back of the tape. Next, the decorative designs are printed onto the tape.
 
Washi tape is semi-translucent and comes in a wide range of designs and patterns. It is easy to reposition. You can tear it. You can write on it and it works on many different surfaces.
 
Washi tape is used in scrapbooking, journaling, crafting, home décor and cardmaking. Because it is easily repositionable, it’s perfect for your own designs and creations. It you don’t like the look, simply lift off the tape and try it in another spot.
 
Lots of people have tried to make their own washi tapes. Some of them look lovely, but none of them have that “je ne sais quoi” of a true washi tape.
 
A word of warning: Washi tape can be highly addictive. I mean, really, it’s just so gorgeous. Maybe it’s not really an addiction, though, but rather a curated collection. Yes, that’s it!

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Paper Palooza: Watercolour Paper

Watercolour paper was traditionally made from cotton. Today, you can get watercolour paper made from cellulose (plant cells) or synthetic materials, like polypropylene.
 
Watercolour paper is heavier than regular papers.  It is made in four weights: 90 lb, 140 lb, 200 lb and 300 lb. The heavier the paper, the thicker it is. You choose the weight based on the amount of water that you will apply with your paint. The more water that you use, the heavier you will want your paper. 
 
Sizing is added to the paper fibres to make the watercolour paper stronger and to help it to keep its shape. The fibres are then beaten to help them interlock. Next, the pulp is pressed and then dried.
 
Pressing is usually done by a machine. A cold press means that the sheets of pulp are pressed between rollers that are covered with felt and it is done at a cold temperature. The felt gives the paper a texture. Hot press paper has been rolled between smooth heated rollers; hence, it has little or no texture.
 
For cardmaking techniques, 140 lb cold pressed watercolour paper is great, especially if you like that awesome texture. You can use a paper trimmer to cut it and it won’t get stuck in a decorative punch. It will also handle moderate amounts of water without buckling or stretching. If you need more time to play with the paint, use hot pressed watercolour paper. Either way, watercolour paper will create new and interesting possibilities for your cardmaking. Give it a try!

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Reference: https://jenniferbranch.com/PaintingWatercolor/Art-Supplies/Art-Paper-Basics.html

Paper Palooza: Mulberry Paper

Mulberry paper is a type of handmade paper made from mulberry trees. I had never seen a mulberry tree until a couple of weeks ago. It was covered in small blue-y purple-ish berries that looked a lot like blackberries. You can eat mulberries and apparently you can use them in recipes just like any other berry. I’m thinking mulberry jam. Yum!

Mulberry paper is made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree. The long fibres of the paper mulberry make it ideal for paper making. The bark is boiled to soften it, soaked and then beaten to a pulp. The pulp is spread out onto screens and allowed to dry. Mulberry paper can also be machine made in a paper mill.

Mulberry paper was first made in China about 2000 years ago. It was the beginning of paper as we know it today. Up until this point, people wrote on hides, papyrus or clay tablets.

Almost all mulberry papers are made in the far east where the paper mulberry tree is native and grows abundantly. The paper mulberry tree does grow in North America and mulberry paper is made in Canada and the U.S. as an art or craft.

Sheets of mulberry paper have a deckled edge which can be used as is. You can cut mulberry paper with scissors or a paper trimmer. You can easily tear mulberry paper to get a lovely, feathered edge. If you wet the paper where you want it to tear, you can create lots of different shapes.

Mulberry paper comes in lots of different colours and designs. Some of it is so pretty that you could frame it! You buy mulberry paper in sheets, but you can also buy flowers that have been made from mulberry paper. These little gems are a great for cardmaking.

You can stamp on mulberry paper. You can use if for printmaking. It can be used for decoupage and origami. Calligraphy looks amazing on mulberry paper. Need a unique gift-wrapping paper? Mulberry paper might just be what you are looking for. You can even use mulberry paper in your Sizzix or Cuttlebug embossing folders.

Mulberry paper is as beautiful as it is versatile. If you’ve never used mulberry paper, it’s time for an experience that will leave you wanting more. Mulberry paper is a little bit of luxury that leaves a lasting impression. 

Paper Palooza: Paper Weight

Ever wonder what cardstock weights mean? Paper weight doesn’t refer to the individual sheets of cut paper or even the package of paper. Paper weight is determined by how much a ream of uncut paper weighs. A ream is 500 sheets of paper, and it is weighed before being cut down to smaller sizes. A ream of 17” x 22” paper would usually be cut down to 8.5” x 11” sheets. 

Higher weights are thicker sheets of paper or cardstock. I can put 65 lb and 80 lb cardstock through my inkjet printer, which is very handy. If you are looking for a good weight for mats for your cards, go with 60/65 lb. I like to use 80 lb for the perfect card base. It will easily handle glue and embellishments, plus your finished card will stand up for display. It’s also easy to score and fold 80 lb cardstock.

My absolute favourite cardstock is Neenah Classic Crest 80 lb Coverstock (Smooth Finish; Solar White). I started using it after a search for the perfect cardstock for colouring with my Copic markers. I soon discovered that it was also the perfect card base. It comes in 8.5” x 11” size. This easily cuts in half to make two 4.25” x 5.5” cards, which will fit into an A2 envelope. Neenah is definitely worth considering as you make your way through the world of paper weights. 

•Paper Palooza is a series of posts for those who Rest•Relax•Restore by playing with paper. Whether you are into cardmaking, scrapbooking, origami, creating your own handmade journals or just interested in learning something new, Paper Palooza is for you.

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