A Guide to Making Paste Papers

Paste papers are a fun and delightful way to combine art, texture, and color in a single creative process. Originating in Germany in the late 16th century, this traditional technique was used to decorate book covers and endpapers. Today, paste papers offer endless opportunities for crafting and personal expression. Here’s my guide to making your own stunning paste papers at home!

What Are Paste Papers?

Paste papers are created by painting or spreading a paste-based mixture onto paper and then manipulating the surface with tools to create patterns and textures. The result is a vibrant, textured design perfect for bookbinding, greeting cards, mixed media collage, or standalone artwork.

Materials You’ll Need

Paste paper is a great chance to use up supplies you have hanging around, so please use what you already have.

1. Paper: A stack of smooth paper that can withhold getting a little bit wet, such as drawing or mixed media paper. If you plan to make covers, pick thicker printmaking or watercolor paper, but make sure the surface isn’t too textured.
2. Paste: The paste mixture for paste papers is made by combining some type of flour or starch, water, and pigment (recipes below).
3. Acrylic Paint: Any brand of acrylic paint to color the paste. The more pigmented your paint, the less you will need to color your paste, i.e., you’ll use less of an expensive paint and more of a cheaper one.
4. Tools for Texture:
   • Variety of paint brushes—sponge, bristle, silicone, etc.—nothing fancy
   • Found objects to create texture and draw lines
   • Pieces of thick cardboard
   • Old credit or gift cards
5. Mixing Bowls and Brushes: For blending colors and applying paste.
6. Pair of Sturdy Scissors
7. Spray bottle of water or sponge and bowl of water
8. Paper towels or rags for cleanup
9. Plastic Drop Cloth or Garbage Bag: Making paste papers takes up a lot of space. Have a piece of plastic on your work surface to protect your workspace, such as a tablecloth, a piece of plexiglass, or even a garbage/rubbish bag. Set aside a large area to allow your papers to dry for several hours, like a large table, a drying rack, or the floor.

How to Make Paste

Paste recipes are like apple pie recipes—everyone has their own special variation. If you do a Google search, you will find dozens upon dozens of different recipes using plain flour, rice flour, corn starch, wall paper paste, and methyl cellulose. It can be made in a double boiler (i.e., place a heat-proof bowl over a pan of boiling water like you were melting chocolate), in the microwave, or with cold water.

Some choices for your paste are:

• Pre-cooked bookbinding paste (I still make it in a double boiler)
• Methyl cellulose (this doesn’t go off)
• Plain or all-purpose white wheat flour
• Cake flour
• Corn starch
• Rice flour

Tools to Make Paste 

• Sauce pan (if making on stove)
• Heat proof bowl (if making on stove)
• Measuring cups
• Whisk
• Spatula
• Fine mesh sieve/strainer, cheesecloth or old pair of tights/pantyhose
• Empty plastic pots, such as yoghurt containers, to hold different colored pastes

My Favorite Recipes: 

I make my paste in a double boiler using pre-cooked wheat paste or Jin Shofu wheat paste from Talas in a ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part powder. See my video tutorial on How to Make Wheat Paste. Recently, I’ve been using this method with methyl cellulose.

Playing with Paste Papers

Check out these free tutorials for tips on creating paste papers.

How to Make Paste Papers

Paste Paper Project Ideas

Making paste papers is a wonderfully tactile and rewarding craft that blends traditional art with modern creativity. With a few simple materials and a willingness to experiment, you can create beautiful, personalized papers that add a touch of handmade charm to any project. So grab your tools, mix some paste, and let your imagination flow!

I’d love to see what you make! Tag me @vintagepagedesigns with photos of your work on Instagram!

Free Book Project

---