4 free paper art techniques explore designs using paper collage, paper mache, handmade paper, and paper

quilting

presented by cloth paper scissors

1

1  2 

step into a story: papier-mch, graphic papers, and stitch

GAIL WALKER

3 4

tty bitty bits i of inspiration: winter blue sweet heart magnets

JODI OHL

grafti paper quilts inspired by street art

CATHERINE NICHOLLS

 nthologies: creating collages a with rescue books

CATHY TAYLOR

Catherine Nicholls was inspired by street art to create Graffiti Paper Quilts. With watercolor paper, photos, transparencies and machine stitching, plus art materials, she tells visual stories in these patchwork projects. Heres a sweet deal: Turn leftover pieces of wood into tiny works of art using decorative papers and text. Jodi Ohls Itty Bitty Bits of Inspiration, Winter Blue Sweetheart Magnets can send a message, prompt an affirmation, or spell out a poem. Gail Walker takes papier-mch mixture and combines it with graphic papers, glitter, and hand stitching to create adorable shoe sculptures in Step into a Story. Her tutorial includes a shoe pattern and tips for making your own graphic papers. We know youll enjoy learning the techniques and making the projects in 4 Free Paper Art Techniques: Explore Designs using Paper Collage, Paper Mache, Handmade Paper, and Paper Quilting and encourage you to use them as a jumping off point for your own adventures in paper art. Warmly,

4 Free Paper Art Techniques: Explore Designs Using Paper Collage, Paper Mache, Handmade Paper, and Paper Quilting
presented by

Cloth Paper Scissors

ONLINE EDITOR

aper is one of the most versatile fibers in the mixedmedia artists repertoire. It can serve humbly as a substrate for mark making or take center stage as a work of art unto itself. You can fold it or wet it and mold it into shapes, cut or tear it, and write on it. No wonder we save every scrap we get our hands on! In this free eBook, 4 Free Paper Art Techniques: Explore Designs using Paper Collage, Paper Mache, Handmade Paper, and Paper Quilting, we offer you four ways of creating art with paper as the main element. In Anthologies: Creating Collages with Rescue Books, Cathy Taylor takes an old book apart and puts it back together in a new way. Rather than destroy the book, her method brings to light all the lovely worn, faded, and tattered parts and arranges them in an artistic way.

Cate Prato

CREATIVE SERVICES
DIVISION ART DIRECTOR

PHOTOGRApHERS

Larissa Davis Larry Stein Korday Studio

Projects and information are for inspiration and personal use only. Interweave Press LLC is not responsible for any liability arising from errors, omissions, or mistakes contained in this eBook, and readers should proceed cautiously, especially with respect to technical information. Interweave Press LLC grants permission to photocopy any patterns published in this issue for personal use only.

Where mixed media artists come to play

Cate Prato Online Editor, Cloth Paper Scissors Today

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step
w

into a

story

papier-mch, graphic papers, and stitch

ithout my sisters, I would be awash in a sea of serious, cursed as I am with a knack for good proportion andrealism and a tendency to overthink, which doesnt always translate into engaging artistic expression. My Worried Shoes came out of a challenge from my sister Nancy to make a pair of shoes based on a song by the same name, featured in the movie Where the Wild Things Are. I doodled up a concept and not much else happened until I messed up a papier-mch egg and discovered I could make a toe box from the scraps. The Smile Bunny Slippers were inspired by that crazy bunny suit in A Christmas Story. No matter what style shoe you choose, this project is all about making the most of scrips, scraps, and stories. Use your shoes as a canvas to tell your very own story.
Adapted from CLOTH PApER ScIssORs March/April 2011

directions
note: Follow these basic instructions to make both the bunny slippers and the Mary Janes. All shoe-specic steps are noted.
1.

BY

Gail Walker

Tear some short narrow strips of newspaper. Dip the newspaper strips in the papier-mch mixture, clothpaperscissors.com
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remove the excess glue, and wrap the papers around the plastic egg tocreate the toe boxes for the shoes. Apply 2 layers of paper, and then place the egg on a nonstick surface and allow it to dry overnight.
note: Youre not building up a heavy piece so there is no need to let the rst layer dry before adding the second layer.
2.

M AT E R I A L S
note: I used a computer, a atbed

scanner, and a color inkjet printer to make graphic paper components for my shoes, but this technique can be accomplished just as easily with paper collage. Papier-mch mixture (Use your recipe of choice.) Plastic egg (7" circumference) Newspaper Freezer paper or other nonstick surface Craft knife and mat
Figure 2

When dry, cut around the egg with the craft knife, end to end (the long way), and wiggle the 2 paper pieces off of the plastic egg. Its ok to draw a guideline if youre not confident about making the halves even. (Figure 1) Draw a small oval on each egg half, starting at the middle of the egg and going down to the center bottom of the smaller side of the egg. Cut the oval from each egg half and you have toe boxes for the shoes. If youre making the bunny shoes, cut down the middle of 1 of the ovals to make the bunny ears. (Figure 2) Draw, doodle, stamp, color, or collage to decorate your graphic papers, and

Pencil Scissors Graphic papers (See Make your own graphic papers, or use decorative papers of choice.) Rubber stamps and ink pads Shoe patterns Cardstock or poster board Acrylic medium (I like Golden Artist Colors Acrylic Glazing Liquid, gloss.) Paintbrushes: small foam brushes or inexpensive craft brushes Paper tape (I make my own.) Craft glue (I like Aleenes Original Tacky Glue.) Acrylic sealer, clear matte Embellishments: glitter, eyelets and setter, brads, buttons, beads Embroidery needle and embroidery oss

3.

work both sides to create maximum visual interest.

6.

4.

Using the pattern provided, trace and cut out 2 soles from the cardstock, and cut 4 soles from the decorated graphic paper.

note: Remember to ip the pattern for the second shoe or youll end up with two left feet.
7.

5.

Use the acrylic medium to adhere the graphic paper soles and any additional decorative paper elements to the cardstock soles. Coat both sides of the soles with acrylic medium and let dry on a nonstick surface. For the Mary Janes: Trace and cut the shoe side pattern pieces out of the decorated graphic paper. Remember to flip the pattern over to trace the piece for the second shoe. Also, trace and cut the heel portion of the sole pattern 45 times, per shoe, to make heels. Later, you will glue the heel shapes together to form the heels.

8.

optional
Colored pencils Sewing machine and thread

Figure 1

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MAKE YOUR OWN

graphic papers
Arrange your fabric, personal elements, and/or decorative papers face down on a flatbed scanner. Scan and save the images to your computer. Use a photo-editing program to enhance, adjust, or change the colors. I scanned a favorite vintage silk scarf for the body of the Worried Shoes. Print out the new paper.

1.

2. 3.

4.

note: This is a great way to keep on using deteriorating fabrics. You can even reprint the image onto fabric instead of paper, if you like.

1.

Cut some 12" strips of lightweight paper, or use paper tape, and glue 1 side of the tape/paper to the inside of the papier-mch toe box. Allow to dry. (Figure 3) Cut slits along the other side of the tape/paper strip to make tabs. Glue the tabs to the sole, working gently from the inside of the shoe to make the egg shape match the sole shape. The toe box will be distorted somewhat as you make the toe box and sole fit together. Work slowly. This requires patience and persistence. When dry, trim any excess paper, if needed. (Figure 4) For the Mary Janes: Repeat the taping for the shoe body, creating tabs and gluing as you did for the toe box, and then attach the shoe body to the sole. Glue the stacks of cut heels to the soles now. Fold down the back flap and add an eyelet to hold it in place.

2.

gure 4

gure 3

caution

assembly
note: If you want to add any free-motion stitching or embroidery to the shoes, do so now, before assembling the shoes.

3.

Always use spray acrylic sealer in a well-ventilated space

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embellishment
Because I dont like parts to fall off when the shoes are handled, I use stitching with embroidery floss as more than just a decorative element. I recommend stitching any buttons or beads to the shoes, as opposed to gluing them. Youll notice the bunny ears are attached with brads; this is for strength. I use acrylic medium to apply glitter. Once the shoes are dry, spray them with a few coats of clear acrylic sealer. The most important thing to remember is that this is your story to tell. Change it up and make it yours. I am already thinking of fairy princess party shoes, wingtips, hiking bootsstop me!
onenepencil.blogspot.com

sole
OUTSIDE EDGE

cut 2 (mirror)

shoe side
BACK

heel (Mary Jane)

cut 2 (Mary Jane)

upper

BACK FLAP

Interweave grants permission to photocopy these templates for personal use.

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INSIDE EDGE

tips
If you prefer a pristine look, seal your graphics with acrylic sealer before you apply the medium. Save your paper scraps. You can cut out any bits of visual interest and decoupage them onto a larger piece to get the image or effect you want.

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graffiti
Adapted from CLOTH PApER ScIssORs March/April 2010

paper quilts
inspired by street art

BY

Catherine Nicholls
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egends and stories have always inspired me, and usually the stories that attract me most are the old onesthe ancient legends passed through the

generations, the stories that change and grow with every telling. But lately I have been attracted to a new form of storytellinggrafti!

M AT E R I A L S
Photos of your chosen subject (I always take my own photos to avoid any copyright issues.) Computer, scanner, and printer Good-quality photo paper or brochure paper for your printer (I use matte, 812" 11", but gloss nish will work just as well.) Printable transparencies
note: These are transparency

Some people consider graffiti an act of vandalism and I know that removing it is often quite challenging. But to me, it is also a form of street art and the practitioners are just as diverse as regular artists. Where I live, the cladding around a construction site is a favorite spot for graffiti of all types, from tagging to detailed and colorful murals. To make my graffiti paper quilts, I used a combination of goodquality brochure paper and printable transparencies, both suitable for a home printer. Spend some time thinking about the size of the individual pieces you want so you can size your chosen images up or down before you print. I chose to use 3" squares for each of these nine-patch paper quilts so I could include the parts of the image I wanted to show.

sheets specically made to support laser printers. If the box doesnt specically say compatible with laser printers, it isnt. Both 3M and Hewlett Packard make them. Scissors Watercolor paper, one 812" 11" sheet Oil pastels or Shiva Paintstiks Watercolor paints Paintbrushes, including a stencil brush Sewing machine and thread Paper glue with a ne tip (I prefer Scotch quick-dry adhesive. Its acid free, non-staining, and readily available.) Stencil plastic and cutting tools, or pre-made stencils Acrylic paint (I used Jacquard Lumiere 526 Met Olive Green on the blue sample and Lumiere 555 Halo Pink Gold on the pink sample.) India ink Perle cotton, 12-weight Hand-sewing needle Embellishments of choice

Tag on watercolor paper.

directions
the squares
1.

and are usually a name, nickname, or street name. Write the tag out in bold colors on a sheet of watercolor paper. I worked out what I would like my signature to look like in my sketchbook first and then used oil pastel to write it on the paper. I had to practice to get it to look the way I wanted.
tip: I started by printing my name and then trying different thingspulling some letters longer, squeezing some letters together, etc.
4.

Print some of your favorite images onto brochure paper. Cut out squares from your favorite sections of the printed images. I cut five 3" squares and four 112" squares. It might take a little fussy cutting to find exactly what you want in your images. Create your tag before doing anything else; thats graffiti speak for your signature. Tags are used by graffiti artists to mark territory

2.

Paint over the oil pastel tag with a brightly colored watercolor wash to make sure the tag is bold and bright. I let the colors of the 3 different washes run together where they met. I wanted the same free and easy style as the graffiti inspiration. Once the watercolor wash is completely dry, scan your tag into the computer and print a copy on the printable transparency. clothpaperscissors.com
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3.

5.

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Figure 1

The tag on brochure paper (left) and on a transparency (right).

of glue to the knots. But dont use the glue just yet; you dont want it getting into your sewing machine.
note: Do not use the automatic x function to start out your seam or the automatic tie-off to nish it. The paper will fall apart if the needle repeatedly enters the same spot.
5.

6.

Cut some squares from the printed transparency. I selected a part of the transparency that included a color that worked with my chosen images and cut out three 3" squares to use in my quilt.

3.5 and stitch length 1.5. I selected a bright color rayon thread that combined the colors in my chosen images and transparency.
note: I used the same color thread on the top and in the bobbin of my machine. When you add stitching to transparencies the bobbin thread is visible, so you want to use a bobbin thread that looks good.
3.

note: Quilters will recognize this little paper quilt as a simple nine-patch block, nine pieces of paper all the same size. I subdivided one of the 3" squares using four 112" squares. I like the detail and interest that this square added. I used smaller pieces from the same images to create a pieced square, but the assembly is the same.

Join the 3 rows of squares together. You now have 2 long seams joining the rows. Tie the thread ends as before. When all the stitching is finished, add a dab of glue to all of the thread knots on the back of the work. Allow to dry overnight, and then trim the thread ends.

6.

construction
1.

Arrange your cut squares into a nine-patch layout (3 squares by 3 squares). Prepare your machine for zigzag stitching with a machine-weight thread. I used the standard zigzag setting on my machine: stitch width
4.

Sew 3 rows of 3 squares as follows. Butt the edges of the paper squares up to each other (Figure 1). Make sure the edges do not overlap at all. Take your time and keep the edges tight. Make sure the needle is swinging from one side of the butted line to the other and leave long tails at the beginning and end of every seam; a 4"5" tail will do. Knot and then fold each tail to the back of the finished piece. When all the piecing is done, I add a tiny touch

embellishing
7.

2.

Take a good look at your source photos and you will probably find a few shapes apparent in the graffiti designs. There are some abstract stars in one of my favorite images so I decided to use that shape for a bit of stenciling. Draw your shape onto the stencil plastic and cut it out, or use a clothpaperscissors.com
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8.

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Above: 3 Graffiti 9" 9" Right: Figure 2

pre-made stencil of your chosen shape. It doesnt need to be an identifiable shape, but the sharp angles of a star gave me just the look I was after. I drew my star stencil freehand. I didnt want the star to be too perfect. I think its unevenness suits the graffiti inspiration better.

note: I made my large star stencil about 4" from tip to tip at the longest point and the small star stencil 3" at the longest point. I like the arms of my stars to be on the long side.
9.

Using a stencil brush, apply a very light coat of paint inside the stencil.

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Paris in Winter 734" 1134"

I let the color fade out towards the center of the star (Figure 2).
tip: I used a mixture of Lumiere paint and a drop of black India ink to stencil the stars. The black ink tones down the sparkle in the Lumiere. But if sparkle suits your images, omit the drop of black ink.
10.

Add some stitching to draw attention to your stenciled shapes. I added a simple running stitch, by hand, in black perle cotton, around the edge of each star. My stitches are about 14"12" from the painted edge of the star. I like the look of the hand stitching with the graffiti theme; it draws attention to the details in the images I have chosen for my paper quilt.

note: Hand stitching into paper takes a little more patience than stitching into fabric. The paper has no give to it, so you need to work one stitch at a time. If you bring your needle up in the wrong location the hole will show. To make sure I have all the stitches in the right place, I mark the stitch holes by rst piercing the paper with the needle from the right side of my work. Once I have a few holes in place I begin stitching, working a small section at a time.
11.

tied off the thread ends at the back, again adding a touch of glue to keep the thread in place.
13.

Tag it! The last thing to do with this little paper quilt is to add your tag. Creating it was great fun and it makes an interesting signature for my work.

Once the outlining is complete, carefully tie off the thread at the back of the piece and add a touch of glue so the knot doesnt fray and come loose. Add embellishments of choice. I added a few buttons, but beads would be a nice addition as well. I used the same thread with which I outlined the stars, and I carefully

tip: Keep your oil pastel/watercolor tag. You can scan the original and print copies onto any nish paper and in any size you like.

12.

I love the colors and the bold strokes of graffiti and often wonder how it gets in the places it does. Im sure the urban graffiti whiz would be amazed to see graffiti inspired paper quilts!
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itty bitty bits of

winter blue sweet heart magnets

inspiration
i

asked my friend if he had any paint

stirrers. No, but I can get you some. Well, you dont have to offer twice with me. I said, That would be great. Can you cut them into 2" lengths? Now I was pushing my luck, but you cant get anywhere in this world unless you speak up.

BY

Jodi Ohl

Adapted from CLOTH PApER ScIssORs January/February 2009

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Flash forward a couple of weeks; my friend didnt cut up the paint stirrers. Instead, he had something better: leftover molding strips made from a recycled wood and paper material. Perfect. He handed me a big box of cutup strips and the next question was what to make with all these bits of wood. I was inspired by Traci Bautistas collage work and Karen Michels Spread the Love series (CLOTH PApER ScISSORS, January/February 2008) to transform this timeless symbol into my own statement of affirmation in the form of a sweet magnet. The beauty of this project is that you cant make a mistake. Once completed, you will have a variety of mini masterpieces.

tip: I like to use coordinating papers for the base and hearts, but you can also use vintage papers, bingo cards, sheet music, or other scraps of paper you have in your arsenal.
3.

Use gel medium to adhere paper to the unpainted side of the wood. Cover all your wood pieces with the base paper at the same time. Smooth out any air bubbles with your fingers or use an old credit or gift card.

M AT E R I A L S
Wood trim, paint stirrers, or scrap wood Black gesso (I used Liquitex.) Sandpaper Plastic gloves Decorative scrapbook paper Gel medium (I used Liquitex) or Mod Podge Acrylic paint (I used Golden Carbon Black and Titanium white.) Paintbrushes (assorted sizes) Foam sponge brush Scissors Pencil Ruler Typed text on regular copy paper

directions
1.

Cut your wood pieces to approximately 112" 2". Sand all sides and corners and then paint the back and sides with black gesso. Let dry.

4.

Cut more strips of paper to use for your hearts. If desired, use a variety of paper strips. Cut each strip into 2" lengths and fold in half lengthwise. Starting at the bottom of the folded edge, cut almost to the outer edge and then circle back towards the center to get an angle. When unfolded, the paper forms a heart. Trim the heart, if necessary, to fit on the wood base.

Charcoal pencils, black and white (soft or medium works best) Strong magnets (I used magnets from ProMAG.) Krylon Workable Fixative or clear acrylic spray varnish Hot glue gun and glue sticks

5.

optional
Stencils, such as drywall tape or sequin waste, or rubber stamps Gel pens Paint pen Sheet music Credit card or old gift card (to smooth your papers onto the wood pieces)

2.

Using a ruler, cut a long piece of scrapbook paper into 2" strips. Dont worry if the strips are not perfectly sized; you can trim or sand them down later.

tip: I like to cut the heart slightly smaller than the full width of the wood piece so I can add decorative elements to each piece.

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6.

Glue a heart onto each wooden base. Print several inspirational words in a favorite font and cut and glue one or more words to the center of each heart.

8.

After the magnets have dried, decorate them using charcoal, paint, and stenciling if you choose. Outline the text and the hearts with a charcoal pencil in black or white.

9.

Spray your magnets on all sides with clear acrylic spray or workable fixative to seal. Allow them to cure for several days. by hot gluing a strong magnet to the back of each wooden base.

10. Finish

sweetrepeats.blogspot.com

tips
tip: If you use an inkjet printer, spray clear acrylic spray onto the paper to seal the ink so it wont smear with the gel medium.
7.

While this is an easy project, it is time consuming. Consider doing 20 or more magnets at once to be more efficient. Black gesso covers the wood wonderfully and provides a perfect seal for your acrylic paint, but it stains easily. Be sure to wear gloves during this process. Trust me on this one. Watered-down super-heavy gel medium can be used instead of regular gel medium or Mod Podge; test different glues with your papers. You may find one works better, depending on the paper you use and what you are adhering it to. Instead of scrapbook paper, try using old letters (copy or original depending on your preference) or copyright-free images. Create a Word document with your favorite affirmation words. This can be used in future projects quite easily. Simply change the font if you want a different look. Cut up a variety of words to adhere to the magnets that can be arranged into a found poem later. Pop the magnet into a card for a friend as a sweet treat, or use the magnets for gift swaps or as stocking stuffers during the holidays.

Paint the sides and bottom of the magnets with a black acrylic paint and let dry.

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anthologies
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Adapted from CLOTH PApER ScIssORs November/December 2007

creating collages with rescue books

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was working on a particularly stubborn mixed-media painting

when, in a moment of inspired exasperation, I grabbed a battered old book from my pile of OPJ (other peoples junk) and ripped off the cover. As I was turning back to my mixed-media mess, I did a double take on the tattered old book: its lovely mottled pages, its water-stained cover, and the crusty, old binding with loose threads hanging askew captivated me. I never did nish that mixed-media piece.

I love a good Aha! moment, and creating fine art collages from rescue books has become my latest obsession. Using battered, torn, and unwanted books, memorabilia, and OPJ, you can create wonderful collages that can be framed. These expressive, textural collages are the perfect way to showcase old photos and antique postcards that might otherwise be tucked away in a shoebox, while rescuing unwanted books from the junk pile.

M AT E R I A L S
Watercolor paper, 22" 30" sheet, preferably 200- or 300-lb. Old books Acrylic matte gel medium Palette knife Old photos, copies, postcards, letters, decorative papers, memorabilia, copyright-free images, and OPJ Scissors X-acto knife Brayer or metal spoon White glue Brushes Water-based pigments Spray xative, matte

directions
1.

Cut watercolor paper to your desired working size. One standard 22" 30" sheet divides evenly into four 11" 15" pieces that will fit a standard mat and frame. Select old books based upon size, shape, color, and texture. Some of the

optional
A good, strong cup of tea

BY

Cathy Taylor

2.

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caution
10.

most forlorn books produce the most beautiful features in your collage.
3.

7.

Pull the front and back covers from the books and stack them to the side. Remove unprinted pages and any pages with interesting images, and organize them into separate stacks. Arrange several book covers, blank pages, printed pages, and decorative papers to create a pleasing background. Be sure to leave room around the edge if you plan to mat the collage. Glue these background pieces to the watercolor paper with the matte gel medium. Use a palette knife to smooth a layer of gel on the back of each piece, like frosting a cake.

Choose a spot for the binding piece and glue it into place with the gel medium. Add other book and paper elements in layers, creating pleasing textures and shapes. Use a brayer or the bowl of a spoon to smooth the layered pieces into place. Decorate your collage with found treasures such as antique photos, old postcards, copyrightfree images, fibers, and other embellishments to create a focal point in your collage. Use matte gel medium for thicker elements and white glue for thinner pieces.

Use spray xative outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.

8.

4.

5.

9.

6.

When your collage is complete, spray it lightly with a matte fixative to keep small bits and pieces from flaking off during or after the framing process. I added this step after framing my first magnificent masterpiece only to find a frizbit of undetermined origin smack in the middle of my clean white mat!

building a binding piece

To highlight an old binding and create a vertical design element, select a book with a thin, stitched binding. Remove the front and back covers. Using matte gel medium, glue the pages of the book together next to the binding. When dry, carefully cut through the pages about 12" from the binding with an X-acto knife until just the binding remains.

note: Photos or other elements may be tinted with watercolor pigment if desired. Also, papers may be antiqued by soaking them in a tea bath for a couple of hours prior to use. Allow them to dry on a paper towel and then glue to your collage.

Rescue book collages make fantastic gifts for friends and family. Personalize each collage with favorite quotes, music, photos, and other meaningful memorabilia. Each collage is its own journey with a unique message at the end!
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