Paper Marbling Crafts
Marbled paper is made by floating pigments on water or another medium, then swirling and marbling them with a tool called a comb or rake before pressing the paper onto the colors. Paper marbling can be used to create decorative papers for your scrapbooking, collage and other paper-craft projects. With a range of techniques from simple methods using wax crayons to advanced variations using more sophisticated materials, adults and youngsters alike can enjoy this craft.
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Crayon Shaving Methods
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For this, you can use water-soluble crayons in warm water or wax crayons in boiling water. With soluble crayons, the shavings should be very fine. Make shavings using a pencil sharpener or a sharp knife. Fill a roasting tray with water. Sprinkle shavings onto the water, where they will melt. Drag a sheet of paper over the surface to pick up the color. Alternatively, place shavings between sheets of wax paper and iron the paper.
Marbling Paint
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You can find paints made specifically for marbling projects. Look for these in specialist arts and crafts stores. Fill a deep tray with water. Add marbling paints in different colors a drop at a time. Using a toothpick or skewer, swirl the paints to make a pattern. Float a sheet of paper on top of the water and pull it away carefully to pick up the marbled design.
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Shaving Foam Marbling
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Use shaving foam to marble paper. Thin down some water-based paints by mixing them with water. Squirt an inch-thick layer of shaving foam onto a flat tray. Paint directly onto the foam. Marble the paints by dragging a toothpick or other tool through the paint. Press a sheet of paper onto the foam and remove. Press a sheet of posterboard onto the paper, squeezing out the excess foam. You'll be left with a marbled design.
Marbling with Carrageenan
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You will need to pre-treat your paper by making a solution of alum and covering the surface of the paper with this. Let the paper dry. Carrageenan is a white powder made from a type of seaweed. It forms a gel when mixed with water, sometimes called size. Mix up the size according to the manufacturer's instructions and pour into a tray. Drop paints --- oil or water-based --- onto the size and rake into patterns. Press a sheet of paper on top of the size. Remove, rinse and allow to dry.
Marbling with Oil Paints and Turpentine
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Fill a deep tray with water. Mix oil paints with turpentine. Test a drop in the water; if the paint sinks, add more turpentine, if it spreads too much, add more paint. Drop paint onto the surface of the water. Rake into patterns. Dip a sheet of paper into the tray, remove, and allow the marbled patterns to dry.
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References
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