How to make homemade paper dyed with watercolour

1 Tear the paper pulp into small pieces, soak it in water, and let it soften.

2 Whisk the mixture with a hand whisk or an electric mixer.

3 Pour the paper pulp into a tub large enough for the frame, and add colour. Since red and green are complementary colours, a few drops of green in the red bath will create a more muted shade, and vice versa.

4 Stir the mixture just before use. The thickness of the finished paper depends on the amount of pulp.

5 Hold the frame upright at the back of the tub. Face the side where the paper is to be cast towards yourself.

6 Pull the frame horizontally down under the pulp, and tilt it slightly back and forth until the mesh is covered. Lift the frame up and let the water drip off. Tip: Strain excess pulp from the water, let it dry, and save it for another time. Never pour it directly into the sink, as it can block the drain.

7 Fold a piece of felt and rub it across the underside to absorb the water. Press out the water, and repeat until most of it has been absorbed.

8 Turn the frame over and place it with the pulp facing down onto a piece of felt.

9 Absorb more water, but just dab gently.

10 Carefully lift the frame and make sure the pulp sheet releases from the frame first. Drying time depends on room temperature, but is approximately 1–2 days.

11 Example of pink and soft green, hand-cast paper.