Things You'll Need
Fruit
Dish detergent
Kitchen towel
Knife
Pot holders/oven mitts
Tissue paper
Newspaper
Microwave safe platters
Textbook/heavy books
There is something special and personal about receiving a note written on a handmade item. With the revival of paper making, the craft has become a form of artistic expression, from the production of paper for a fine print book to the one of a kind piece hanging on an art gallery wall. Using the same technique originally used to make papyrus, you can make handmade paper from fruit or vegetables. Your end result will be something far beyond any stationary you can imagine.
Step 1
Clean your fruit with dish detergent and warm water to remove any dirt or residue. Dry the fruit with a clean towel. Cut your fruit into thin slices using a sharp knife. Make each slice the same size, approximately 1/8 inch thick. If you are using an orange or another fruit with large seeds remove the seeds.
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Step 2
Place a piece of tissue paper on a flat microwave safe platter. Overlapping each slice of fruit, arrange the slices on top of the tissue paper. Cover with another piece of tissue paper.
Step 3
Put your platter into the microwave. Apply weight to the fruit using plates or other microwave safe dishes. Using heavier dishes is better because the extra weight will help press the water out of the fruit.
Step 4
Heat the fruit on the highest setting for one minute. Remove the platter from the microwave using pot holders or oven mitts to protect your hands from the heat. Allow the fruit to cool off to the point you can handle it safely. You will notice your tissue paper is wet. Change the tissue paper and repeat this step until the tissue paper is nearly dry.
Step 5
Remove the damp tissue paper and replace it with dry tissue paper. Place the fruit and tissue paper in-between several layers of newspaper and lay it out on a flat surface. Use a table or an area of your floor that is not high traffic, as this will need to set for a few days. Put a large textbook or a few large books on top of the fruit to weigh it down.
Step 6
Change the tissue paper and newspaper once a day to prevent mold from building up. It is best to do this on cool days since heat aids in mold production. If this is not possible, you will have to change the surrounding paper more often. After two to three days your paper will be ready. Some fruit may take longer to dry than others, depending upon the density of the fruit
Tip
You can also use a cotton sheet to dry your paper, change the sheets often so they are not wet. You can also do this with vegetables, cucumbers are an easy way to start.
Warning
Use caution when working with heat and sharp objects. If you do not get the results you expect try again, maybe using a different fruit.
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