From Sacks To Riches

Materials

large paper grocery bags
12 oz. white glue
water
metallic paint
large bowl or plastic tub
2 or more colors acrylic paint
large plastic bags
paper towels
inexpensive 1" paint brushes
iron

1. Cover your work surface with the large plastic bags. In a large bowl or tub, mix 12 cups of water with about 12 oz. of white glue. Stir until glue is completely dissolved. If the water is warm, this will happen faster (figure A).

2. Cut bottom out of paper bag. Cut out center seam. You will have one long sheet of paper (figure B). Crumple paper and uncrumple. Crumple again and partially uncrumple (figure C).

3. Put paper into glue/water mixture for a few minutes or until paper is wet throughout (figure D).

4. Remove paper from water and gently remove excess water. Be careful not to tear the paper.

5. Carefully uncrumple paper and smooth out slightly onto plastic-covered work surface. If there is any printing on the bag, be certain it is on the underneath side (figure E).

6. Paint wet paper with acrylic paints. Squirt some of the paint onto the paper in several different places (figure F), and then brush out with brush (figure G).

7. Repeat with a second color. Add a few brush strokes with metallic paint (figure H). Allow to dry.

8. When dry, iron both sides of the paper (figure I). Some of the sheets you might wish to decorate further by lightly brushing over with a rubber stamp pad (figure J).

9. Cut to desired size for collages, book covers, photo frames, greeting cards, etc.