Guest Author - Sandy Laipply

Even if you’ve never made your own paper, here is a way to do it that is totally different and so fun! The product used is called SoySilk® Fusion and it feels like real silk, and comes in a variety of yummy colors. It looks like wool roving but you will know it’s not as soon as you touch it! I made the paper for this journal, and I also have enough left for another project- I think I see some jewelry in my future…….Here is the journal.
I think what I like best about making this kind of paper is the serendipity of it-you’re never sure exactly what the finished product will look like! The soysilk comes in a kit that includes the soysilk fibers, instructions, the fabric medium and a piece of netting. Here is the kit.


To make the paper you will also need freezer paper, water, pencil and ruler, disposable gloves and any inclusions you want to add.

To get started, lay a sheet of freezer paper on your work surface. Use a pencil to make a shape at least 1” large than the desired finished size. Pick up your soysilk and gently separate it into long strands. Lay the strands on the freezer paper, overlapping as you go. This is where the fun comes in-you can mix the colors any way you like to make unlimited colors. Continue pulling the fibers apart and layering until you have a pile about 1 inch thick. Cover with a piece of nylon netting.


For the next part, disposable gloves are recommended. The fabric medium won’t hurt your hands, but it will ruin a nice manicure. Mix 1 part fabric medium to 3 parts water. Pour over the pile of fibers. Now the REAL FUN! Squish and mix to wet all the fiber. Gently pull up the netting. If the fibers stick to the netting, you need more liquid.

Place the netting into water to wash now or later. At this point, you can add glitter or other inclusions into your creation. I added light green glitter, iridescent flakes, and copper flakes to mine. Set aside and allow to dry.


When ready to use the paper, you can leave it on the freezer paper for a sturdier paper, or gently peel it off for a lighter, wispier look.

I cut 2 pieces of self adhesive chipboard each 41/2” x 61/2”. Remove the liner from 1 piece. Cut a piece of your soy silk paper 5 ½” x 7 ½” and cover the chipboard. Remove the liner from the other side. Flip the piece over, and cut a triangle off at each corner. Fold the remaining paper up smoothly. Cut a piece of co-coordinating cardstock 4 ½” by 6 ½”. Apply adhesive and cover the back of your chipboard. Repeat to make a second piece.

Cut several sheets of paper 4” x 6” for your pages. Use a ruler to mark 5 spots evenly spaced along one long edge of the chipboard. Punch a hold in each, and use this as a guide to mark the other chipboard piece and all of your pages. Insert an eyelet in each hole in the chipboard.

Punch a fancy square from the cardstock you used inside your journal. Doodle along the edges with a fine tip marker. Punch a crown from a piece of mirror card. ( I used yellow cardstock and copper mirror card.) Add a heart stick on gem to the center of the crown and 2 4mm stick on gems to the outer sides.

Adhere the crown to the fancy square with a pop up dot, and this embellishment to the front of the journal.
Place the pages inside the journal, lining up all the holes. Starting at the top, thread a 36” piece if ribbon up from behind and down the second hole. Thread up the third hole.
On the back of the journal, pull the ribbon down and thread up thru the bottom hole. Thread down thru the next hole up, and back up thru the center hole. Tie a bow and trim any long ends.

This is a great place to record your secret thoughts, or a special gift to have on hand. Now, what to do with all the rest of my gorgeous paper……….