Paper and Stitch

(Tutorial) Alternative Printing Process for your Photographs: Use Mulberry Paper

 
Guest post by Helen Stead of The Creative Diarist.
 
I miss the days of having a film camera and being able to hold the photographs in my hand rather than clicking through hundreds on my computer. This technique allows me to pick out my favourite digital images and print them in a special and unusual way. The delicate and soft texture of the paper appear so much more beautiful to me than printing images on to regular glossy photo paper.

Another great thing about this technique is that anybody can do it!

Supplies You Will Need

  1. 1. Inkjet Printer
  2. 2. A sheet of A4 Mulberry or Handmade Paper
  3. 3. Glue Stick
  4. 4. Printer Paper

Instructions for Photo Printing on Paper

1. Firstly scan your image into the computer and save it as a digital file. 

2. Next, using a glue stick lightly glue a piece of normal printer paper to the back of your A4 mulberry or handmade paper (both work nicely).

3. Print the image as you would normally but so that it prints on to the sheet of mulberry paper instead.

4. And lastly carefully peel the backing paper off and you will be left with your image on a lovely semi translucent sheet of mulberry paper.

If youre feeling really adventurous you could even add stitch or use it as part of a college.

I also really like layering images or text underneath it to add another element to the piece. The possibilities are endless!

Have fun experimenting with printing your photographs on to different surfaces. And for more examples you can visit my blog at www.thecreativediarist.com. I’d love to see what you come up with.

About Helen. Helen Stead is a Mixed Media artist who enjoys experimenting with alternative photography and printing processes. She is inspired by poignant family photographs and creates work that captures the mood and atmosphere of these nostalgic images. You can follow her on her blog The Creative Diarist and on twitter @CreativeDiarist.

For more ideas for quick and easy projects, click here to visit the craft tutorials and diy page  filled with more than 50 diys. If you like this project, please help us spread the word by using the twitter and facebook buttons below. Thank you so much.

27 comments | Click here to reply

Oh my! This is such an ingenious and incredible way to transfer photographs! Does it work only for inkjet printing, or can I use laser printers too?

Avery

Hi Folks…For all those who are asking if a digital printer would work? …. No….it has to be an Inkjet because that’s the ink that transfers! For all the crafts where you want to transfer a pic onto any surface like this or like the modge podge version etc…..you HAVE TO USE INKJET! It’s VERY IMPORTANT. If you don’t own one, most copy stores like Staples etc have them….and copies are cheap!!! Have fun!

Diana Pincombe

Hey everybody, just after a bit of help as I bought some mulberry paper of the internet and I am confused because its quite thick and orange coloured. I am wondering if i could still get the same effect? Thanks!

Rashad

Thanks Dyenamik, that is a good alternative. I will try that.

Linda

Great suggestion Dyenamik. Thanks for the tip! I’ll have to try that.
-Brittni

papernstitch

Instead of glue, iron your specialty paper to the shiny side of freezer paper, being careful not to touch the iron to the freezer paper. Us textile artists have been using freezer paper to feed treated fabric though our printers for years. Sometimes a fold of tape at the bottom edge helps too.

Dyenamik

oh…. that is just gorgeous… thanks ;-)))))

ruth

Interesting that you say that you miss holding your photographs, but then you say the first step is to scan your photos?

Sam

Nice! cannot wait to try this!

Kelly

I like the look and the idea, however, I’m not crazy about running glue through my printer. If it jams then there’s glue on my rollers. Maybe it would look good if I used vellum. At least if it jammed there wouldn’t be any glue to stick to moving parts in the printer.

Linda

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What a great idea, I love the textures of the paper and the translucent effect.

Amber Kane

such a cool effect! i think the little boy standing in the water is my fav

alexandra keller

great technique.
thanks so much for sharing.

making minis

I love the effect this gives. Such a great idea, thanks

Lisa

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Wow, Thank you for all your lovely comments! It’s still so nice to see my work up on papernstitch! Yoopergal, I’ve never tried it using a laser printer. I’m sure it would work, you would just have to be careful to make sure it didn’t jam up inside the machine!
🙂 xx

Helen Stead

Amazing technique.. I love the results!

Karen

Not weird at all Camberley. I feel the very same way!
-Brittni

papernstitch

Shut the front door! These are so cute and easy. I want to do this to all of my photos. Is that weird?

-C

Camberley, Fancy House Road

Good question Yoopergal. I am not sure. Hopefully, Helen will stop back by to answer your question. And if not, I’ll hit her up on twitter and ask.
-Brittni

papernstitch

Have you ever tried this out with a laser printer…? do you think it would work?

Amazingly beautiful!

YooperGal

beautiful technique! i want to try this.

angie

Aw thank you so much Mai. 🙂

Helen Stead

Whoa!! This technique is so beautiful! I’m so impressed. Helen’s work is lovely too! 😀

Mai
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