| Tin
Can Holiday Paper Ornaments |
In one evening you and your
children can create easy, colorful holiday ornaments using nothing more
than a coffee can, window screen, cookie cutters, scrap pieces of colored
paper and a blender. It's a great project that introduces children to papermaking,
will add a special touch to your holiday decorating and is fun for everyone.
Supplies:
| Blender Coffee Can with plastic cover Window screen, nylons or plastic mesh Paper scraps, colored craft paper Handy Wipes or felt pads Sponge |
Towels Small bowls, dishpan or saucepan Plastic cups or dishes Plastic forks, spoons or knifes Iron, Hair Dryer Glue stick, 3-D Gel Pens, Glitter |
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Step One:
| To prepare the pulp we need to tear small pieces
from your sheet of colored paper. The size of a quarter is good. You may put the pieces in a small bowl of water to soften and prepare them for the blender. Next fill the blender about half full of water and add about a half sheet of torn paper. Blend at the lowest speed for 10 to 15 seconds. Then change to medium for another 10 seconds then high speed for another 10 to 15 seconds. By varying the speed of the blender you will help prevent it from overheating and binding up. If the blender seems to be having trouble then reduce the amount of paper you put in. After the pulp is blended pour it into the strainer that is sitting in a large bowl or plastic tub. (B) This helps drain the water so that you can put the pulp into a plastic cup or dish. Do this for each color that you would like to use. |
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Step Two:
| Our next step is to make our"mold and deckle".This would be your coffee can and window screen. Take the plastic cover and punch holes into it. You can use a nail, ice pick or bookbinders awl. Thhis platic cover holds the screen in place on the bottom of the can. Next cut a piece of your window screen about 3 inches larger then the size of the lid. A 8" square is a good size. |
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| Lay your screen over the coffee can. Snap
the lid tightly so the screen stays flat. Next fill your dish tub, baking
dish or even a sauce pan with about two inches of water. Insert your coffee
can - screen side down - into the water and move it around until the water
level rises. Scoop out some paper pulp from the color of your choice. The ideal amount is 4 -5 scoops and stir it around until its evenly spread out over the screen. Lift it straight up and let it drain. Set the can down and gently pull the plastic lid off. Lift the screen out and turn it over onto your felt pad or handy wipe. Sponge the back of the screen and then gently lift the screen off. |
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Step Four:
| Here's the fun part. Take your favorite
cookie cutter and lay it on your wet piece of paper. And begin to fill the
inside with the colored pulp of choice. |
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| Gently lift the shape off and again lay the window
screen over it and press with the sponge. At this point you may use a hair-dryer,
iron or let it air dry. Repeat the process for the second side. |
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Final Step:
| Once the pieces are dry you can decorate
them with 3-D Gels, Glitter or crayons. Using a glue stick coat both sides,
lay your string or ribbon in between and then press the pieces together.
Two phonebooks are good. After it dries your holiday ornament is ready for hanging! |
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