Saturday, November 6, 2010

How To Make Your Own Patterned Paper

This is the old blog from Peony and Parakeet. 
Welcome to follow the new blog at www.peonyandparakeet.com/blog
This post is also found in the new blog, go to: 
http://www.peonyandparakeet.com/how-to-make-your-own-patterned-paper/ 

While preparing moving to a new house I have tried to avoid big projects. So I have done quite a lot of paper crafting recently. One of the easiest and quickest things to do is to make patterned papers. I use Canson sketch paper (90 g in thickness) and whatever paints and pens I possibly have.

I think that sometimes more really is more, so I call these "More Is More" papers! I am going to use these for my art journal pages. Before cutting them I scan them so that I can use the same paper digitally or print a copy of it. That way I have always some papers available.

Now I am going to show you one of the easiest way I know to make really rich and colorful paper. Besides the paper, you will need watercolors, marker pens, gel pens and colored pencils, correction pen and relaxed mind. Don't worry about the mess you make, it will look lovely in the end!

1) Paint the background with watercolors.

Use circular strokes. Don't think.
Dry the excess water with tissue paper here and there to create some lighter areas.

2) Make doodles with markers.

I love to use PITT artist pens here. Any medium marker will do.
I like circles and swirls but you can doodle what ever comes to your mind. Relax your hand and keep the pressure light.

3) Continue doodling with gel pens.

Now change to gel pens and make detailed doodles. I use Sakura gel pens.
Some might think that this is the last step but no way! More is more, remember!

4) Color areas with colored pencils.

If you look closely there might be areas where colors are grayish or not so prefect. Take your colored pencils and work the problem areas. Do not worry overlapping the doodling. The layered look is just what we aim here.

It looks like this now. Finished? Oh no!

5) Doodle with correction pen.

One of the best pens you can buy is a fine point correction pen. After you have colored all the white areas, you can make the white to come back with the correction pen! Now doodle over the paper, here and there...

6) Add contrast and shine.

Take your black marker and make pretty dots near the white areas.
Optional: If you have a gold metallic pen you can doodle mindlessly over everything to add some extra shine.
Isn't more really more? You can stop in any step, of course, I couldn't!

96 comments:

  1. Oooo I LOVE this, going to try it in my art journal tonight. Thank you so much for sharing it!!!

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  2. Thanks, eebeads! Look forward seeing your papers!

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  3. More IS more! Ha! Paivi, I love these papers! So colorful and fun to make too. I think I will do some. I will paint first in the studio and then doodle in front of the T.V. The perfect little artsy project! I already have the kind of paper you used too so I'm set to go. Thank you for sharing!

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  4. Thanks, Jessi! Can't wait to see your papers! Doodling when watching tv is great idea, thanks!

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  5. Awesome! I can't wait to see pictures of your new place too! I love the cabin, and especially that interesting piece of bent wood on the door....

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  6. Thanks Kyra! I will be sending few more pictures in the future via Peony And Parakeet Specials newsletter.

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  7. Finally got my post done where I show my pages I made from your directions. Thanks so much they were soooo much fun to make!
    http://carolynsnehring.blogspot.com/2011/02/colorful-doodle-backgrounds.html

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  8. I love your doodle style. I make painted papers from old phone book pages. When I have leftover paint, I'll brush or spread it on. Sometimes I add extra paint to finish the page.
    Cheers,
    Mary

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  9. Mary, great tip using the old phone book! Thanks!

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  10. Love this! I would not be able to stop either! I will have to try!

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  11. Jeanette, I am glad the post inspired you!! Happy doodling!

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  12. That's it, I'm a follower now! Thanks for this!

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  13. Thanks, Scatter!! I just added instructions of how to make paper flowers from the hand decorated papers, check it out too! http://peonyandparakeet.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-make-paper-flowers.html

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  14. I featured you on my blog, facebook and twitter feeds today.

    The post challenges my readers to attempt to emulate your style. I didn't do it (your style) justice with my page... but I love the busy funky cool stuff you do!

    Tee
    http://www.greenislescrafts.com/2011/04/in-style-paivi-eerola-prompt-and-page.html

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  15. Teressa, thank you so much! Your sample page looks great!!

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  16. Beautiful! I am so making one of these today :)

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  17. I just found your blog and it wonderful. Your papers are just fabulous. Thanks for the tutorial on them.

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  18. Magickal Housewife and Kate, thanks!!

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  19. This looks like so much fun. Kate had you on her blog, so here I am and glad I came. Mary, Idaho

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  20. Such wonderful ideas! I can't wait to do this, it looks like such fun and colors are beautiful. Thank you, thank you for sharing.

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  21. Thanks, jacquerose! Making these papers is so much fun, I hope you'll feel the same too!

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  22. non vedo l'ora di ricevere le tue carte^^
    grazie
    Martina

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  23. This is absolutely GORGEOUS! I love stuff like this but much prefer making things myself.. thanks for the great guidelines.

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  24. Found you through Pinterest! I think this is great and anybody can do it really if they've got the materials! Thanks for sharing! Patsy from
    HeARTworks

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  25. I too found you through pinterest! I really want to try something like this. Very inspiring :)

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  26. Patsy and Uniflame, I am so glad you found the instructions useful! Happy doodling!!

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  27. I found you via Pinterest too. I LOVE this! I need to get back to painting, I used to do so much when I was younger.

    Thanks for the inspiration. I'm your newest follower. :)

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  28. Thanks, Kelly! It is so nice to have new followers! Happy painting!

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  29. I'm unclear on what a "fine point correction pen" is. Could you provide me info on the brand you prefer, and I can then look it up online? Thanks!!
    Wendy

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  30. Thanks, Margaret! Wendy, I often use Pentel but there are also other brands. You can also use bottles but they are not so handy.

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  31. They are so pretty! Thank you for showing how to do this and inspiring my creativity. I can't wait to give it a try. :-)

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  32. What a fantastic idea!! Going to get my daughter to 'help' and use for cards etc for presents. Thanks!

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  33. Thanks, Cheryl and Christine! It is so nice to hear that the instructions inspired you! Happy doodling!

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  34. Hi Paivi, your papers are gorgeous!!!!

    Tracy

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  35. Woah! Thank you very much for this tuto! Your page is magnificent! Sorry for my poor english.

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  36. Thanks, Yolande!! Nothing wrong with your english, I am not native speaker either!

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  37. I just love this! Thank you for sharing your talent with us. I love to make paper beads for my store and I am always looking for something different. I can't wait to try this. I wish I could show you my beads so you could see what I want to do. I am new here, are you allowed to post links in a comment?

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  38. Thanks, Deeann, thanks also contacting me at Etsy so I could see you fabulous beads!!

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  39. SHARE your papers! JOIN DECORATED PAPERS FLICKR GROUP! Would love to see what you have made according to these instructions! http://www.flickr.com/groups/decoratedpapers/

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  40. Such a pretty process. Must try it. Already pinned to my Pinterest under "Art Journal" : http://pinterest.com/coleenfranks/

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  41. I'm going shopping tomorrow to buy the supplies to do this. Thanks so much for the inspiration.

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  42. Thanks, Coleen and Renee! Renee, if you do not have any fancy supplies, see my frugal version: http://peonyandparakeet.blogspot.com/2011/10/frugal-crafters-guide-to-hand-decorated.html

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  43. I use old romance novel pages... I have over 400 books right now...lol
    I'll be posting some pictures next week sometime... I've got 6 hair clip son order and don't have enough time to do both...lol

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  44. I love your blog and your ideas! Am now following you. I just started a blog, actually re-started it. Made my first post yesterday.

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  45. Johana (Crafty Texas Chick) what a great idea to use old romance novels for patterned papers!

    Bohemian Mamaw, thanks! Have fun blogging!!

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  46. Oh I'm so happy to stumble upon you, your blog, your designs...everything is just beautiful

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  47. Thank you, Martha! Welcome to follow my posts!

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  48. wow that's pretty! I have to try it :)

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  49. Lovely, messy playtimes - just my cup of tea! Great samples x

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  50. Thank you, Cath! Have fun with the colors! Speaking of color, see my tips for choosing them http://peonyandparakeet.blogspot.com/2012/03/5-tips-to-choosing-colors.html

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  51. Just found you through Pinterest. WONDERFUL paper! Thanks for the instructions. This will be a great gift to make and give to my scrapbooking, card making friends. Love it.

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  52. Thanks so much for sharing this! It looks like so much fun! I just need to get out my art supplies and PLAY! I added your website to my pin board on Pinterest. Too good not to share!
    Fran

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  53. Thank you!! I appreciate all the Pinterest love!

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  54. beautiful!!! and thank you for the instructions, I already used them :)

    (here you could see the results: http://craftingcoco-nut.blogspot.com/2012/08/kreski-koka-kropki-i-takie-tam-inne.html )

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  55. Thanks, Coco! Your papers look wonderful!

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  56. Thank you for the beautiful inspiration and detailed instructions! I would like to try this on a large canvas to make a big piece of wall art. Will it work well on canvas you think??

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  57. Bear Bear, thanks! Will work on canvas if you replace the watercolors with thin layer of acrylics!

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  58. thank you so much for your reply, I have some acrylics ready to use, so I just need the rest of the goodies. I am excited to try this, thanks!

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  59. Wow! These pages are beautiful! Thank you for the helpful tips, too.

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  60. Have fun with the acrylics, BearBear!
    Thanks, Samyuktha and Erica!

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  61. Your papers are AMAZING! I am going to have to try this! Thanks for the inspiration!!

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  62. Thank you, Dawn! Have fun with your art supplies!

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  63. WwoooWW..Thank u sooo much...Amaezng idea....:-)

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  64. I'm going to take a wild guess and say I found you through Pinterest {I'm addicted to clicking links}.. lol .. So glad I ended up here .. I love your tutorial .. Growing up I was very artsy .. but lost the passion along the way .. Thank you so much for sharing this .. I feel very inspired by your blog .. Can't wait to do this with my kiddos 8-}

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  65. Ohhh! Its so beautful!You helped me with my art work! Thank you! I will use this background in my sketch book.

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  66. I love you backgrounds.... thanks for the inspiration.

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  67. Thanks all! Be sure to check my blog at the new address: http://www.peonyandparakeet.com

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  68. Love your papers. Gave me some ideas. Thanks for sharing.
    Jogry/bali

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  69. I love this! I have to add a tip for those using super cheap watercolors, like I do. They tend to be very chalky, and I have destroyed many nice pens trying to write on it. If you put a coat of matte medium over the watercolor before using your pens, not only will you save them, the watercolors become much more vibrant.

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  70. Awesome... thanks for sharing... am always looking for ways to make gift wrap/xmas paper. I usually use the cut out potato stamp and paint method. Im going to try to incorporate the both for this years xmas paper... This looks so much more interesting and gives so much more depth. thanks :-)

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  71. Thank you for sharing this, i have a few little projects on the go but have come to a halt due to how expensive papers can be, i shall create like mad :) xxx

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  72. Thankyou for your generous tutorial, I have been on disability with depression and anxiety for over two years and just this January found your tutorial! I have been having so much fun taking your instructions and doing my own "art therapy"! You have unknowingly helped me through some really tough months...I have really neglected my wordpress site but I am heading over there right now to post a few so you can see what I have been up to! Thank you, once again!
    Terri in Surrey, BC, Canada

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  73. Thanks so much again all! Welcome to follow my new blog at www.peonyandparakeet.com!

    Terri, especially your comment touched me. Art has so much to give to us. I am so glad I have been able to help. Check also my other tutorials at www.peonyandparakeet.com Happy artful journey!

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  74. Very nice, Paivi. Found you on Pinterest. Posted this to the site for my art students and decided to try it myself. Didn't do just one, but 3, so fun.

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    1. Thank you! Great to hear that you had fun with making the papers! Follow my latest creations and instructions at www.peonyandparakeet.com!

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  75. What a great work !! I love your tutorials very much !!

    What kind of correctionpen you use? I bought one Stabilo white but it doesnt do anything to my paint. Or can I use only a simple white marker?

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    1. Hi Petra, thank you! Welcome to follow my new blog at http://www.peonyandparakeet.com
      I have had stabilo correction pens as well other brands but see my pretty comprehensive guide on supplies at http://www.peonyandparakeet.com/what-art-supplies-do-i-need/

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  76. Abandon the washing up and leave my laptop ,thanks for the inspiration!

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  77. Hi l just found you and love your paper Art it's been19 years since l painted and l gotta get back to something kreative. Heading over to your Website. Thanks for the Tutorial. Bye for now! Sandy

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    1. Thanks Sandy! Welcome to subscribe to my weekly newsletter: http://etsy.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c231f33dfe2b3d7b5a39e0c20&id=b671ff26e8

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  78. thank you so much, you are an excellent teacher, I tried this last night and it turned out super good.

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  79. Lovely. I make art papers, however I like your step by step with all of the detailing. Thanks!

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