How To Make Herbal Papers

I have to admit that I came to making herbal papers at a late stage in life. The first time I came home to my step-daughter using my new blender to prepare plant pulp, I wanted to beat her to a pulp for the mess in my kitchen. I was immediately convinced that she'd ruined my blender. So it took me awhile to come around to the charm of making herbal papers.

We ended up compromising that day -- making herbal handmade paper is a job best reserved for doing outdoors, on a porch, or in the garage -- not a kitchen project for many many reasons.

Maybe it was the chamomile paper she was making that calmed me, or just all the endless possibilities the more artistic part of my brain found intriguing -- because today, I'm very devoted to this as a hobby, along with making recycled paper pulp and scented paper.

Now, paper making has been around since the days around 2400 B.C. when the Egyptians made it from papyrus by slicing super thin strips of the flower stem and pressing them. Technically speaking, papyrus is not a true paper. The same thing for rice paper.

Paper made closer to what we today would think of came into use by the Chinese who invented paper-making around 105 A.D. In fact, paper making is one of China's four greatest inventions. They used flax with tree bark, and they still traditionally make that kind of paper from the cellulose fibers of many plants. They were big on beating the plant fibers to a literal pulp.

Paper making took a lot of dramatic turns over time as many other ways of making it emerged. It took over six hundred years for paper making to spread from Asia to Europe. It wasn't until the 12th century before paper was common in parts of Europe.

It was very common for paper to be made from rags up until the early part of the nineteenth century.

By the 19th century, paper making ceased to be a handmade operation and became a mechanical one, allowing it to become less expensive for use in sending letters, newspapers, and books.

Charles Fenerty, of Canada, in 1844 is credited along with F. G. Keller (of Germany) for inventing machines to process pulp wood for use in making paper. Their inventions began the era of newspapers and the shift towards all paper being made out of pulp wood.

I'm not so sure that this is something that we should celebrate, because surely it contributes to the demise of earth's precious trees.

Having made paper, not only from herbal plant fibers, but also by recycling -- it is labor intensive and while fun, not something I see everyone turning to. This is a great skill to teach your children, and a great summer or holiday project if you don't mind a lot of mess.

There are many different methods besides the one that I have included a recipe for, and for some of them the videos show more than words can illustrate.

1. Blender
2. Caustic Soda (See below for precautions)
3. Metal sieve
4. Pestle and mortar (or mallet)
5. Three (3) gallon bucket
6. Twelve (12) quart stainless steel or galvanized pan
7. Rubber Gloves
8. Safety Glasses
9. Strong net bag (usually nylon)
10. Wooden Spoon

You need to be very careful using caustic soda. Since caustic soda is highly corrosive and reactive, precautions should be taken to minimize potential harm to people, pets and the environment. Such precautions include using appropriate personal protective equipment when handling caustic soda and following all label instructions and warnings on consumer products.

It's the main ingredient in certain household products, such as oven cleaners and drain cleaners.

If you should spill it or get it on you:

Immediate first aid is required, including flushing the area with running water, having the exposed person drink plenty of water or milk (DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING) and contacting a local medical facility or emergency response center for further treatment.

• Fill the three (3) gallon bucket with your choice of herbs. This can be a mixture or just one.
• Be sure to cut or tear them into one to 2 inch square pieces.
• Crush thicker pieces of plant with a rubber mallet or a pestle and mortar to speed up the breakdown process.
• Place one (1) quart cold water into your stainless steel pan.
• Add two (2) tablespoons of caustic soda, making sure that you only use a wooden spoon.
• Be sure to avoid breathing the fumes, working in a well ventilated space.
• Be sure to wear rubber gloves, safety glasses, and rinse off any splashes with cold water immediately.
• Mix well.
• Thoroughly rinse the plant material to get rid of all the caustic soda.
• Drain and strain through the metal sieve a couple of times.
• Place the reduced pulp into your net bag and rinse again in cold water, while squeezing the plant fibers constantly for at least ten (10) minutes.
• Place a couple of tablespoonfuls of the plant fibers in your blender with three cups of cold water for about twenty to thirty seconds.
• The finer your blend the plant fibers, the better grade of paper will be produced.
• Finally, add 1/3 teaspoon cold-water laundry starch with a little water into the pulp and stir thoroughly. This will help your paper to be more receptive to ink.
• Simmer for one and a half (1 1/2) to two (2) hours, or until the plant fibers feel very soft.

• Fill your plastic basin with pulp, to near the top of the tub.
• Put your empty wooden frame over the the screened frame. While holding both together, dip them vertically into your tub.
• Tilt to being horizontal below the water line, and raise slowly, while keeping the frame horizontal.
• Lay them out on newspaper to drain.
• Remove the top frame.
• If desired, add petals or leaves for decoration.
• Allow to dry
• When completely dry, slide an artists palette knife beneath the sheet of paper to loosen it from the frame.

NOTE: Always be sure to clean the frame for reuse.

There are lots of ways to scent your freshly made herbal paper. Some of my favorites are:

1. Storing the newly made paper in a tightly closed box with aromatic complimentary herbs. I use lavender or roses. Store for at least three weeks.
2. Placing thin cloth bags of potpourri mixed with essential oils between each layer of herbal paper. Then, roll the paper up and place inside plastic bags. Alternatively, use cling wrap. Store for at least three weeks.
3. Add essential oils to the pulp right before laying it on the frame. Do so with a sprinkler or spray bottom. Be careful to not add too much scent.

Note: Do not add essential oils to your pulp making process. The caustic soda will eliminate your oils and also dilute them to a point where no scent can be detected. It just ends up being a waste of time and money.