How to Make Marble Paper With Liquid Starch

Buying scrapbooking paper and stationary can be costly. Making your own marble paper, however, not only helps you save money, but also allows you to create paper designs with any color scheme you prefer for your project or stationary. Using a process that floats acrylic paint on liquid starch, this technique allows you to create your own specialized paper inexpensively.

Things You'll Need

• 2 dishpans
• Liquid starch
• Water
• Acrylic paint
• Paper plates
• Paintbrush
• Construction paper
• Newspaper

Instructions

1. Fill one dishpan with enough liquid starch to cover the bottom.

2. Fill the other dishpan with enough water to cover the bottom.

3. Combine 1 tbsp. of acrylic paint with 2 tbsp. of water on a paper plate and set aside. Do this for each color you wish to use.

4. Drop, splatter or spoon the paint and water solution onto the liquid starch. Avoid muted colors by using a maximum of three colors. Create a bull's-eye by dropping one color on top of another. Form a heart by making a bull's-eye, then drawing the paintbrush directly down the drop.

5. Swirl the colors in the liquid starch by gently moving a clean paintbrush across the top of the starch. Do not mix the colors thoroughly as this will cause the effect to be lost.

6. Grab the corners of the paper and place it gently on top of the liquid starch, making sure the entire surface of the paper is touching the starch.

7. Remove the paper from the starch when the ends begin to curl, which will take approximately one minute. Hold the paper over the starch while the excess drips off.

8. Place the paper, painted side facing down, onto the surface of the water in the tub to remove the starch.

9. Remove the paper from the water bath and place it, painted side facing up, on newspaper to dry. For best results, allow the marble paper to dry overnight.

Tips & Warnings

• For brighter colors, allow the marble paper to dry slightly before the water bath.

• Marbling can also be done on fabric or any other porous surface.

• Wear protective clothing such as an apron to prevent stains.

• Cover the work surface with newspaper or paper towels for a fast and easy cleanup.

References

• Craftster: Liquid Starch Paper Marbling
• Meininger: Decorative Marbling
• Frugal Family Fun Blog: $5 Friday -- Paper Marbling -- This is awesome!
• Rex Art: Marbling: Applications & Techniques