How to Marbleize Papers
You need a container larger than the size of the paper you will marble. It
doesn't have to be deep, just an inch or two like a cake pan and you're on
your way to creating your own beautiful, one of a kind marble papers.
Add a drop of
dishwashing liquid to the water so your paper takes the color better. The
idea here is to have the color float on top of the water rather than being
mixed in.
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Cover your work
surface to control messes.
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Pour water into pan
with a drop of dishwashing liquid.
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Paints should be
very liquid, so thin if needed. Gently drip colors onto the surface of the
water so they float.
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Gently swirl the
colors with a straw, stick or anything that won't be harmed by the paint.
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Hold a piece of
paper horizontally with both hands and bring ends together so that the
paper is curved into a "U" shape.
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Lay the paper on top
of the painted water surface by placing the center of the paper (bottom of
the U shape) on top of the water and lowering both sides onto the top of
the water.
Handling the paper this way prevents air bubbles between the
paper and the water.
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Immediately remove
the sheet.
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Set with painted
side up on an absorbent, flat surface to dry. If needed, paper can be
ironed flat by placing between sheets of paper and then press with an
iron.
Try different types of
colors on small paper samples to see what works best for you and don't be
afraid to mix these together. Here are some ideas:
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Acrylic Paint
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Oil Paint
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Watercolors
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Tempera Paints
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Chalk Shavings
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Pearl-Ex
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Ink
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Dyes
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Spray Paint
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Wood Stain
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Latex Paint
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Easter Egg Coloring
Make sure you let
this paper dry completely before using it for your pressed flower art.
Methods of making
Marble and Jasper Paper using techniques popular in the 18th and 19th
centuries.
