sponge and as you lift with one hand press the sponge onto the net behind the paper and help it to ease off. This will come with practise. If it all goes pear shaped scrape it all back into the bowl and start again. To get it off the mould hold the mould over the bowl and let the paper touch the water where it will fall back in. This is known as kissing off! 

  1. Place another wet cloth on top of the paper on the mound and repeat.
  1. Form a post of wet paper in this way making about 10 or 12 sheets at a time.
  1. Place post on pressing board and place 2nd board on top of post.  Press either with weights or by standing on it. I do this outside as a lot of water comes out! So I never make paper when its raining! But you could have a larger tray or a plastic sheet and newspaper to catch the water.
  1. Separate paper on cloths and hang to dry.  This will take from 1 to 24 hours depending on where the paper dries.
  1. When dry gently separate from cloth. If necessary use a flat bladed knife to ease the paper away from the cloth.  Can be pressed with iron between 2 cloths or left between pressing boards with weights on top to flatten.
  1. To waterproof spray with furniture polish and press using silicone paper.


Notes:  firmer paper can be achieved by adding starch to the pulp; this can be commercial starch or water from boiling potatoes.  Also threads about 1" long can be added to the pulp to strengthen it.  This can be utilitarian by using same colour threads or decorative using fancy threads; mix them using silks, wools, cottons, etc.  Also old pot pourri or flower petals can be added to the pulp or placed on the paper when it is first turned out before the next cloth goes on.  This is not as good as putting into the bowl as it doesn't get as integrated into the paper. You can also emboss the paper in this manner by putting leaves or coins etc on the paper at this stage. 

The pulp can be washed to remove any traces of printing ink and achieve a whiter finish.  Use a colander and piece of netting for this.  It is very important NOT to let loads of pulp go down the drain as it will set solid and block the pipes!  After washing it can be processed again to get a finer pulp if you want a very smooth paper.  Ironing while still slightly damp will also help to get a smoother finish to the paper. 

Colour can be achieved by either using coloured paper.  A piece of highly coloured sugar paper added to the waste will colour the whole batch.  Or use coloured paper to begin with. Tissue paper is brilliant!  Or use dyes in with the pulp.  Dylon and Procion dyes are ideal, though Dylon is not as strong. Also dry sheets can be sprayed with paint. Car spray paints are good.  Another method is to dip the dry sheets of paper in a dye bath and hang up to dry or stretch dry as for water-colour paper. They can be marbled as well. Remember the paper is weak until it is dry so it must always be hung up on its couching cloth!

Good natural materials to use are; tea bags, onion skins, beetroot, blackberries, and bracken.  It is worth experimenting as many plants leech

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