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30 Comments

  1. Sharon
    July 22, 2019 @ 3:28 pm

    Wow, Ali! This looks wonderful. I’ve been wanting to try this for awhile and this is the perfect inspiration. My garden is in full bloom so there’s lots to work with. Can you tell me what Rives BFK paper is? What type of papers work best (weight wise]. Thanks for the video reveal. Beautiful.

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      July 22, 2019 @ 8:58 pm

      Hi Sharon – Rives BFK is a printmaking paper. I used a white version with a weight of 175gsm. It’s available at all the big online art supply stores. Be sure to share what prints you can get from your garden!

      Reply

  2. Patricia Schulz
    July 22, 2019 @ 4:17 pm

    Yes, BFK paper is new to me too. It looks like it comes in different weights – 280 gsm down to 115 gsm? What weight would you suggest? Also, did you use white, cream or cream-white (colors available at Blick’s). Approximate size that you tore a sheet into? Are the sheets wet when you do the layering or do you need to dry them before adding the flowers? Love the look! Thanks for this great video!

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      July 22, 2019 @ 9:00 pm

      Hi Pat – great questions. I used the white BFK in the 175gsm weight. I tore into strips that measured approximately 4″ x 11″ and the paper needs to be wet when you add the botanicals. Hope that helps.

      Reply

  3. Judy
    July 23, 2019 @ 8:28 am

    Thanks so much for posting! Aluminum sulfite can be bought in a hardware store? An art store? Secondly, I have those big lobster pots and a portable electric burner. Coudn’t I use the lobster pot and the burner? Eager to try this and hope what I have will work!

    Reply

  4. Pat
    July 23, 2019 @ 8:40 am

    Yes, I was wondering if I could steam on oven too.

    Reply

  5. lgpaperarts
    July 23, 2019 @ 9:53 am

    Thanks so much for the info and the inspiration. I will give it a try! Your generous heart and sharing spirit make this world a warmer and better place.

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      July 25, 2019 @ 2:13 pm

      Thank you for your kinds words 🙂

      Reply

  6. Victoria Gray
    July 23, 2019 @ 10:48 am

    Thank You!

    Reply

  7. Gina
    July 23, 2019 @ 12:31 pm

    This is very interesting. You have a lot of dedication to this process and it has wonderful results!

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      July 25, 2019 @ 2:12 pm

      Thank you Gina!

      Reply

  8. Mary Ann Hickey
    July 23, 2019 @ 5:02 pm

    I like your video, the steps are very clear. I’ve tried this before, once by submerging and simmering in water with alum and another time by painting the solution on the paper first and then steaming in a kettle over a hotplate. I like the second method better, less mess and the paper doesn’t tear when you peel the layers apart.I do not understand what gsm stands for. I am accustomed to using paper with pound rating, such as 140 lb. watercolor paper. Can you enlighten me? Thanks, Ali. I always enjoy your posts.

    Reply

  9. Marina
    July 24, 2019 @ 6:20 am

    This looks like a heap of fun. Thank you for sharing. Will have to have a think what I could use to steam some paper in.

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      July 25, 2019 @ 2:15 pm

      Hi Marina – you could use a large saucepan with a steamer basket but don’t use it again for food.

      Reply

  10. Carol Flisk
    July 29, 2019 @ 10:09 am

    Ali, thank you for the helpful video. Your prints are lovely! How many papers do you put in one bundle? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      September 20, 2019 @ 5:54 pm

      Hi Carol – it depends on how much plant material I put. I need to be able to get the clips around the bundles, so I use that as my guide.

      Reply

  11. Jean Goza
    August 1, 2019 @ 4:37 pm

    Wonderful tutorial. Can this process be done safely in my kitchen with a roaster pan dedicated to art stuff only?

    Reply

  12. Jill Wood
    August 2, 2019 @ 9:32 am

    Does your bundle of papers and vegetation actually sit IN the water or above it?

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      September 20, 2019 @ 5:55 pm

      The papers sit above the water and steam. Although I know some folks submerge the bundle in water. Great question!

      Reply

  13. Diane Parkin
    September 18, 2019 @ 8:32 pm

    I have two areas of questions.
    1. Once the paper has been soaked in the alum solution, can that be kept a few days or a week to soak more paper for prints? Or can the wetted paper be allowed to dry? Will the steaming still work if the papers are dry or can they be sprayed/misted before using?
    2. My eco prints seem to be wavey/bumpily all over; yours looked smooth. What’s the problem?

    Reply

    • Jill Wood
      September 19, 2019 @ 11:31 am

      I have tried this method several times now and have had results that i am happy with…i followed the original instructions to the letter the first time, then kind of went free lance with things. I used more of the alum in the solution.( I used aluminum sulphate that i got at the gardening center) I made a tray of that solution and put my paper in it for only a few minutes before adding the vegetation. I put some of the solution in a spray bottle and just sprayed the vegetation when i put it on top of and between the papers. My papers were pretty wet when i put them in the roasting pan to steam and in fact the last time i did it, the papers more or less boiled as i had the heat up a bit higher than a simmer. The results are not that much different from time to time and it is all a matter of finding out what vegetation works and what does not. Ali is right….purple sand cherry works well, as do other dark purple leaves. Choke cherries are good…(the actual berries) as are elderberries…they are beautiful. I put in the whole head of berries complete with stalks. Things that go in as bright red foliage (especially at this time of the year…..don’t come out that way. I have had red maple leaves turn blueish green which is still pretty. I find that layering things that don’t have much color, with things that do (purple leaves) makes the weaker ones show up so much better.
      I don’t know that leaving your wetted papers to dry before adding veg. would matter, especially if you spray them with more solution before steaming.
      My papers also come out wavy and bumpy and I have been ironing them before using them in books. I have posted a few results on Instagram if you are interested…

      Reply

    • Ali Manning
      September 20, 2019 @ 5:59 pm

      Hi Diane – great questions. Here goes:
      1. You can soak papers in the alum solution, allow them to dry and then use them at a later date. I would keep them out of direct sunlight while being stored. But you must rewet the paper before you add the botanicals and steam it. I would soak them not spray them.
      2. The will be wavy if you put in thick leaves and berries. Once they’re dry, iron them between two sheets of copier paper with the iron’s steam setting on. Or if you don’t need to use them immediately, you could press them under heavy books.
      Hope that helps!

      Reply

  14. Hilarie
    April 21, 2020 @ 5:38 pm

    Is it possible to get similar results without using aluminum sulfite?

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      April 22, 2020 @ 1:25 pm

      I’m afraid you do need to pre-treat the paper with something to get the leaves to leave an impression.

      Reply

  15. Pat
    April 22, 2020 @ 10:19 am

    I have used aluminum sulfite. It’s what I had on hand. Worked well.

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      April 22, 2020 @ 1:24 pm

      Good to know Pat!

      Reply

  16. Victoria Gray
    June 23, 2020 @ 6:31 pm

    Do we use the aluminum sulfate water that we’ve soaked the paper in to steam; or fresh water for the steamer?

    Reply

    • Ali Manning
      June 23, 2020 @ 7:39 pm

      I soak my papers in a plastic tub similar to a cat litter tray. And I use fresh water for steaming. I know some folks reuse the alum soaking water but i don’t. I just pour it away in the garden

      Reply

  17. Linda Kamp Waugh
    July 6, 2022 @ 4:13 pm

    Ali, I have an electric fry pan that’s 2 inches deep. Will this work? Also what else besides a brick can I use?
    On another topic, where can I get the triangular ruler with round circular holes that you use for making and measuring stitching holes? Thank you.

    Reply

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