Eco Printing on Paper with Leaves and Flowers

Learn how easy it is to make unique, ecoprint papers with this natural printing technique.

Have you heard of Eco Printing or Eco Dyeing on paper? It is a fairly new printmaking technique that also works on wool, cotton, leather and even ceramics.

Here, I am going to show you how to ecoprint beautiful papers and cards using leaves and flowers eco printed on watercolor paper.

Last year, I started my venture into eco printing with plants, leaves, stems and flowers gathered in my garden which I then printed onto silk chiffon and cotton fabrics.

Those prints turned out to be so amazing that I even eco printed some t-shirts for friends.

In This Article

• What is Eco Printing?
• Supplies for Eco Printing on Paper
• Eco Printing Safety
• Iron and Copper Mordant/Modifiers
• Mordant the Paper and Soak the Leaves
• Lay Out the Leaves and Flowers
• Steam the Eco Print Papers
• Reveal Your Eco Printed Papers

This time, I experimented with Eco printing on Paper. I used bright white cardstock paper which I soaked in Alum to mordant.

I also used iron and copper (modifiers) to shift or ‘sadden’ the color. Both worked really well to strengthen and bring out the color of the leaves and flowers.

(Note: You can use this Iron Powder as a modifier or you can make your own liquid iron which takes about 2 weeks to make.

Mordant the Paper and Soak the Plant Materials

Mordant the Paper

The night before you want to ecoprint, soak your sheets of paper in an alum/water solution. (Some dyers use them right away)

How much alum you use depends on how much paper you wish to mordant. I soaked 10 – 8 1/2″ x 11″ pieces of paper in water mixed with 1 Tablespoon of Alum.

That is probably more than the recommended amount but I didn’t feel like weighing each sheet of paper lol.

First, dissolve the alum powder in some very hot water and then mix that with enough water to almost fill the cookie sheet.

Next, you will place the paper in the water, one sheet at a time, making sure the paper is covered with water on both sides.

Some eco printers use their papers right away but I prefer to let mine soak for a few hours.

Note: I folded my paper after soaking but you can also fold it when dry.

Soak the Plant Material

If you are using fresh leaves and flowers, you will want to soak them in water right away to keep them from drying out.

Also, if you are going to ecoprint with dried leaves and flowers, you will need to reconstitute them by soaking in water.

Note: some eco printing tutorials call for presoaking their paper and plant materials in vinegar. Personally, I have not tried this so I can’t speak to its effectiveness.

Lay out the Leaves and Flowers

First thing you want to do is cover your table, if necessary. If using, pour the iron solution in one container and the copper solution in another. Now, remove one sheet of paper from the alum water and fold it in half (optional).

Next, you want to place the leaves and flowers on your paper, dipping them in one of the modifying solutions first, if you’d like.

I dipped half of leaves in copper and the other half in the iron modifier. Fold the paper to close it or place another sheet on top of the first.

Continue laying out the plant material on each of your sheets of paper.

When you have placed all of your plant material, you will take your stack of folded papers and press down firmly to get good contact between the paper and the leaves or flowers. Secure the bundle with clothes pins.

Steam the Ecoprint Papers

To steam your papers, place a rack inside the roaster pan and lay your bundle of papers on top. Add some water to the roaster and set it on your stove or hotplate.

Turn the temp to ‘high’. Once the water begins to boil, lower the heat, cover and simmer your prints for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Now, turn off the heat and let your papers cool but don’t allow them to dry out. If you can, leave it to set overnight. The longer it sits, the better your prints.

Reveal your Eco Prints

Here’s the fun part! Opening up your printed cards. I like to take photos of them before removing the leaves so that I have a reference. You would be surprised how many times I can’t accurately identify a print.

Pay close attention to your leaves as you remove them. Did they print better on the front side or the back? Do you notice any negative prints?

The bottom part of my stack of cards – the iron dipped part – partially slipped into the water so they are much more saturated with color. Overall, though, I’m pretty happy with the result of both the iron and the copper prints.

Eco Printing on paper or fabric is a wonderful way to make some stunning and unique pieces of art.

Pop a piece of eco print paper in a frame and hang it in your foyer or give it as a Christmas gift! They also make wonderful homemade Journals.

And don’t forget to check out my Eco Printing on Fabric tutorial. Eco Printed Silk Scarves make fabulous DIY gift ideas. I hope you will give this amazing process a try.
Enjoy!
Annette
FiberArtsy

Eco Printing on Paper with Leaves and Flowers

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