Paint, Paper and Paste

I've been playing with making paste paper.
First I used acrylic paint to paint a background.

Once the backgroundwas dry, I added a second layer of paint mixed with paste (I used plain wallpaper glue - next time maybe I'm trying something else)

Using a spatula made from cardboard or some other instrument I scrapped some of that paste away again, revealing the underlaying background.

 And then I let it dry again.

For my first attempts I'm very happy with the outcome.

It is a bit of a messy process, but it is also a lot of fun to do.

I also experimented with carving my own stamps.

I'm very much in love with that stamp (a made three papers based only one that one stamp so far). To add something extra, I used silver embossing powder on that last stamp layer.

Other then just playing with color (which is a goal in itself, because fun you know) I also have some other goal in mind. Which leads back to bookbinding.

The paper I used in this booklet is in fact money (5 Euro notes). They are lightly glued together on one side, so you can easily tear a note off anytime you want to pay for something.
I made two as presents.

Binding Books

I love books and I love to craft, so it was inevitable that at one point I'd try my hands on book binding.
First technique I've tried my hands on was the Japanese binding.

Fun technique and I certainly will try it again, but the disadvantage is the book doesn't lay flat once opened. I'm using it as a sketchbook, so no big problem, but something to keep in mind.

Next technique is the more classic coptic binding, were you sew your pages through the fold and then glue the back to secure it. For the cover I used the last of my Rome fabric.

Last book (for now) is a leather bound journal I've made as a little surprise for my role playing group. I had fun figuring out in which way to print the pages inside so they can be read in the proper order once they are bound.

 For the spine I used a cross stitch binding. I very, very much love it.

I do have a few more ideas, so those won't be the last books I'm binding ...