Working Draft Pulp Culture Recipe

Prepare shredded paper

Tear or shred 2 cups of office/printing paper into small pieces (about 1/2" to 1"). Smaller pieces break down faster and more evenly.

Soak paper

Place shredded paper in a large bowl or bucket and cover with 4 cups of warm water. Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar to help break down inks and act as a mild preservative. Let soak for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours for very fresh paper).

Make flour paste (binder)

While paper soaks, whisk 1 cup all-purpose flour with 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 cups of the remaining warm water in a saucepan until smooth. Heat gently over medium-low, stirring constantly until it thickens into a loose paste (about 3–5 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Blend to pulp

Transfer the soaked paper and its soaking water into a blender in batches (or use a hand blender in the bucket). Add additional warm water as needed so the blender is no more than 1/2 to 2/3 full. Blend until a smooth, even pulp forms (30–60 seconds per batch). Combine all blended batches into a large mixing container.

Combine pulp and binder

Strain excess water from the combined pulp until the mixture is wet but not watery. Stir in the cooled flour-cornstarch paste to the pulp. Add 1 teaspoon glycerin and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix thoroughly with a spatula or gloved hands until homogenous.

Adjust consistency

If the pulp is too wet and runny, add up to 1/4 cup more shredded/dried paper or 1–2 tablespoons of additional flour to thicken. If it is too stiff, add 1–2 tablespoons warm water. Target consistency: a malleable, clay-like mass that can be spread and formed but holds shape.

Optional add-ins

Fold in 1/4 cup plant fibers or textile scraps for tensile strength and texture, and up to 2 teaspoons acrylic paint or pigment for color. If you want stronger, less porous sheets, stir in 2 tablespoons PVA glue now. Mix evenly.

Prepare drying surface

Cover your work surface or a rigid board with non-stick parchment or lightly oil with the mold release. If making thin sheets, place a fine screen or piece of cheesecloth on top of the non-stick surface to help achieve uniform thickness and breathability.

Form sheets or sculpted pieces

Scoop pulp onto the prepared surface and press or spread to the desired thickness (2–5 mm for sheets; thicker for sculpted pieces). Use a rolling pin or flat edge to smooth. For textured / 'working draft' aesthetic, leave tool marks or embed paper scraps/handwritten fragments in the surface.

Remove excess moisture

Cover the formed pieces with another piece of parchment and press with a flat board, or stack boards with gentle weight to press out water for 20–30 minutes. For larger or thicker pieces, place them on a screen to allow drainage for 1–2 hours, replacing wet towels or collecting drained water as needed.

Dry slowly

Move the pressed pieces to a well-ventilated, warm area out of direct sun. Dry thin sheets 12–24 hours; thicker pieces may take 2–5 days. Flip sheets after the first 12–24 hours to dry both sides evenly. If drying too fast (warping or cracking), mist lightly with water and allow slower drying under weights to flatten.

Finish surface

When nearly dry but still slightly flexible, sand edges and surfaces with fine sandpaper to refine. For color sealing or added strength, brush a thin coat of diluted PVA (1 part PVA : 4 parts water) or matte acrylic medium on both sides and allow to dry completely.