SUPPLIES (for a group of 12 children) water blender 3 dish tubs or buckets cotton linter, 8 1/2" x 11" colored construction paper and tissue paper scraps 6-12 plastic 2 cup measuring cups or containers 6 pie plates 6 large (coffee) cans 6 copper or aluminum screens, 6" x 6" (with the edges wrapped in duct tape) available at hardware stores 6-12 cookie cutters 6 small tin cans open at both ends (watch for sharp edges) 6 sponges 6 bath towels or felts 2 boxes of all-purpose towels (J-Cloths[tm] or Handi-Wipes[tm]; reusable) 60-100 sheets of blotting paper, 8 1/2" x 11" (reusable) 1 roll of wax paper 12 Post-it[trade mark] notes OPTIONAL EXTRAS scissors markers fancy threads sparkles beads leaves comics, stamps, printed paper 1 iron to dry paper (useful if you have a second adult to supervise its use) PREPARATIONS Set up all work stations and prepare some stock pulp ahead of time. We suggest that you begin your class by demonstrating, with the help of volunteers, how to make cookie cutter paper, from pulp preparation to the final piece. After this the children can work at their own pace in groups of two. We have found that twelve is a manageable class size and that one to two hours is a good class length, depending on the age of your students. STATION ONE: PULP PREPARATION This will be the only station set up on a table and will require the most supervision. Place the blender on a table. Remember to keep extension cords out from under small feet and keep the blender unplugged when not in use. Set a couple of plastic containers to hold paper bits, several plastic measuring cups, and a bucket or tub of warm water on the table. Gather your group around the table. This is a good opportunity to ask the children what they think paper is made of and to briefly discuss such topics as recycling, the diverse uses of paper, and the history of papermaking. You may also wish to pass around some samples of handmade paper. Have the children help you tear up bits of cotton linter and colored paper to be made into pulp. Fill the blender half full with warm water. Add the paper bits a few at a time and blend at a medium speed. We recommend that only adults be allowed to operate the blender. Experiment with color mixing by adding combinations of colored construction paper. Have the group predict what color the pulp will be before you blend it. Keep in mind that the pulp will be several shades lighter when dry. The pulp should be thick but not lumpy. A thin pulp will make delicate paper which may be difficult for young children to manipulate. The demonstration batch should be quick and simple; later batches can include sparkles, very short threads, herbs, orange peels, sawdust or even used coffee filters. After you have made a batch of pulp, pour it into a measuring cup (thin with water if necessary) and bring the group to the next station where you will demonstrate how to pour the pulp. STATION TWO: POURING THE PULP An open garbage bag taped securely to the floor serves as a pouring station. Set up one station for each pair of children prior to the class. Keep a central area for two tubs, one to hold extra pulp and one for excess water. At each station place a large can in a pie plate approximately in the center of the garbage bag. Set a screen on top of the can and a cookie cutter on top of the screen. The cookie cutter is the deckle. Small cans open at each end, wire shapes, or fingers can also be used as deckles to create interesting paper shapes. Set out one or two measuring cups at each station as well. To continue your demonstration, invite a volunteer to hold the deckle securely in place while you pour some of the pulp into in. Fill the cookie cutter 3/4 full. When the group can no longer hear the water draining into the can below, gently lift the cookie cutter up to reveal the paper shape. Ask the children what the next step should be and why it does not look like paper yet. STATION THREE: PRESSING AND DRYING Have a basic press set up beside each pouring station. This can be either two stacks of small felts or a beach towel folded so that it can act as both the top and bottom of the press. Stack several pieces of blotting paper side by side on the felts or towel and place an open, damp all-purpose towel across the whole press. Carry the screen to the press. Gently lower the screen onto the dampened all-purpose towel with the pulp side down. Press on the back of the screen with a damp sponge to soak up excess water. Carefully peel away the screen leaving the paper shape on the all-purpose towel. Fold the all-purpose towel over the paper shape and close up the rest of the press layer by layer. Have a volunteer apply pressure evenly on the press with his or her hands or feet, then open the press page by page. Gently lift one edge of the paper and peel it away from the all-purpose towel. If the piece is really stubborn and will not come off, it can be dried on the all-purpose towel. Possible reasons for producing "sticky" paper are thin pulp or a very wet press. Place the paper shape on a piece of wax paper to dry. Label the drying areas using notes with the students' names to avoid confusion. ON-GOING PAPERMAKING Send the children to their pouring stations and fill one of the central tubs with pulp prepared ahead of time. At this point the children can begin to work on their own. When you are confident that each pair is working well, invite one group at a time back to Station I to prepare more pulp. Let the children choose different ingredients and colors. Try recycling comics, stamps, or magazines. Add them last and blend for only a few seconds. This will leave bits of printed paper in the pulp so that letters and words will show up in your paper shapes. Soon you will have a variety of pulps for the groups to share. Visit each pouring station to see the children's creations and introduce new things to try. Encourage the children to share ideas between groups as well. NEW THINGS TO TRY (GETTING FANCY) Here are a few suggestions for decorating your paper shapes and an idea for a group project. Embossing: Place flat objects such as leaves, coins, or lace on top of the paper shape before it is pressed. When you remove the shape from the press gently pull off the objects. The image will be embossed on one side of the paper. Multi-Color Paper: When you pour your paper shape try using two or more different pulps side by side in the cookie cutter. For example, a blue face, a red jacket, and green legs for a paper gingerbread man. Add a dash of sparkles to the pulp just before you pour for a glittering effect. Embedding: Try sandwiching beads, strings, or other flat objects between two pieces of paper. This works well at the end of the class when the pulps are thinner. Lay down the first paper shape on the press. Place the objects on the shape. Lay down another paper shape on top. Now fold up the press and apply pressure. After pressing have the children hold their paper shapes up to the light to see what is embedded. Group Project: Have each child sandwich four pieces of yarn or ribbon between two paper shapes. The yarn should be in a grid pattern, like a tic-tac-toe shape, and extend beyond the paper by five inches. Start the project when you have a large variety of colorful pulps. After the shapes are dry, tie all loose ends together to create a group quilt. What we have described is a practical and rewarding approach to creatively teaching the art of papermaking to children. With these techniques and further refinement through experimentation, children can be successfully and enjoyably introduced to this versatile art medium.
