Arts & Crafts Workshop: Paste Paper Book

Do you love the look of marbled paper but dislike how complicated and expensive it can be to make? If so, you'll love paste paper! This traditional surface design technique, which dates back to the 16th century, uses simple tools and materials to create endless, stunning patterns on paper.

Your beautiful designs can be used to decorate books (as we’ll be doing in this workshop), make collages, add interest to objects, or just displayed on their own.

On Day One of this two-part class, local book artist Joyce Tromba will take you through the paste paper making process. You’ll learn how to make paste, pigment it, and apply it to paper. Then, you’ll spend the rest of the afternoon creating patterns and textures with your paste using a variety of tools, such as combs, plastic forks, and even your fingers!

On Day Two, Joyce will show you how to make a multi-signature book which opens flat and has exposed “Coptic stitches” on the spine. You’ll also discuss other ways to use your one-of-a-kind papers.

You’ll leave the workshop with a sweet, Coptic bound book suitable for journaling or displaying, as well as multiple pieces of paste paper for future projects.

For more information, visit the Purple Crayon website.