Too Much Paper

I’ve run out of room to store my paper. This happens every so often, usually when I’m in a paper-creating mood. Currently, I’m working on my scroll project on Instagram where I add marks to a roll of player piano music and create a Reel. I’ve got two practice rolls and my final version drying in the studio. I’m also doing lots of eco-dying on paper and fabric, so my studio smells like vinegar and the drying rack and my spare table are packed, and there are more outside in a new dye pot. I’ve got stacks of Gelli prints, and book pages I’ve marked using my handmade tool.  Does this sound like your studio space? 

A view of the studio before I added even more paper

I could keep making more papers forever and be happy, but that’s just not practical. Here’s my list of things to do with some of that stash: 

  1. Make more collages

  2. Overprint existing papers with marks

  3. Donate the ugly papers to my son’s school to use for scissor practice and art projects

  4. Make some journals or sketchbooks

  5. Junk journaling (I don’t really understand what you do with the final product, but they do seem to use a lot of paper)

  6. Do some really fancy things to some of the papers:  hand stitching, machine stitching, or type on them

  7. Take the scraps of really thin papers and tissue and glue them together in layers to make a new sheet of paper

  8. Momigami

  9. Burn holes in some of them to add some interest

  10. Overdye some

  11. Turn some of the textured papers into collagraph plates

  12. Cover some of my cigar box collection with papers for gorgeous storage

  13. Use them on my letterpress and add type over the Gelli prints

  14. Throw some out (just kidding)

I’m going to keep updating this blog with ideas as I get them, so bookmark this page for future reference.

I’d also really appreciate it if you’d add your ideas in the comments!

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Rust Dyeing

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Citra Solv Paper Experiment