HOW TO STRETCH PAPER

I think stretching paper is one of those "need to know" things - but nobody talks about how to do it! So here you are.

Cirque 1 skinny book page by Susie Jefferson


SO, why would you want to stretch your paper?

Whenever you want to work with wet mediums (watercolour, acrylics, collage - anything involving paint, glue etc) and you don't want the paper to buckle. Very useful for ATCs, skinny books, fat books, deco books, as well: you can do a whole series, then cut them off the board when you have finished.

You can also leave stretched paper on the board for months (I left one board I forgot about for around 2 years) with no detriment! Stretched paper gives a great professional finish to any artwork - watercolours especially are spoilt if the paper has buckled.

I learnt this method when I was at art college, back in The Day, and having seen other methods (soaking with sponges etc) I think this is still by far the easiest way.

This is an A1 (parent-sized) sheet of heavyweight watercolour paper, by the way.





Dunk a sheet of paper in a bath or sink (depends on the size of the sheet of paper) with around an inch of water in it.

To do this, take the paper at the corners with your thumbs and forfingers (short edge) and dip into the water at one side, guiding the paper along the curve at the bottom of the bath and up and out at the other side.

Take the paper out straight away, shake the excess water off and then lay the paper straight onto your board (plywood, MDF etc). Smooth out roughly with your hand so it lays flat(ish) but not too much: let it lay how it likes.






Use gummed brown paper tape, dip into the water, then place over the wet paper, long sides first then short sides. Don't worry about wrinkles in the centre of the paper as long as the edges are smooth. It'll sort itself out when it dries.









Place half the gummed tape on the paper and half on the board, making sure you overlap the edges.









LEAVE IT ALONE until completely dry. You can stand it up on end to allow the water to drip off, if you prefer. When dry, you will see a beautiful expanse of absolutely flat paper!






Do all your work whilst the paper is still on the board. This means all paint, paper, glue etc. Allow to dry thoroughly. You can see here that I drew my guide lines on the board, leaving small margins for excess collage work. This was a series of 16 skinny pages, each 3 inches x 6 inches, all of them different.

When it's all dry, and your work completely finished - THEN you cut it off the board (use a metal ruler and craft knife). If you need to do more wet work, leave it on the board or you may still get buckling.



Cirque 2 skinny book page by Susie Jefferson







The poodle was from a packet of tissues (I tore off the top layer). Who could resist a poodle so PINK?



Cirque 3 skinny book page by Susie Jefferson







All these pages were perfectly flat, and bound beautifully!