Homemade paper scrolls of The Gettysburg Address

Since becoming cubmaster of my son's cub scout pack, I have tried to find ways to reward the scouts for stepping up and doing things that perhaps other kids wouldn't do.   Recently we chartered a bus to Washington DC for the cub scouts and their families.  One of the activities I planned out for the scouts was to have scout volunteers read part of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial of course.  Each scout had to willingly accept the role of public speaking albeit I believe a few were pushed by their parents (which is good).  As a reward I made the scrolls you see below. 

I made the paper out of a cotton and linen blend similar to our paper currency, and to a few pieces I added in some cattail fiber.  I used the cotton and linen blend not only because it looks and feels cool, but also because paper was primarily made out of cotton and linen in the U.S. until around the 1880's when the paper industry started using more wood pulp.  This adds a touch of historical accuracy to the Gettysburg Address scroll that I made for the kids.  It also means that this paper should last quite a bit longer than your average newsprint or even office paper.  If these scrolls are taken care of, they should be around long into these kids' adult lives and possibly beyond. 

Finding a place willing to print on homemade paper was another challenge in itself.  My HP printer would not accept a 7.25" x 18" piece of paper, so I was forced to find alternate means.  I first tried Kinkos, to no avail.  I called a local printer....nothing.  Finally I stopped in a different local print shop with my paper, explained the project and what it was for.  The print shop owner hesitated, looked at my paper and agreed.  In the end he even gave me a really great deal.  So now I want to shamelessly promote Spahr-Evans Printers.  They did a great job.  Click on their link.

I hot glued 3/8" and 1/4" wooden dowels to the ends of the paper and used jute twine for the hanging as well as to tie the scroll together for giving to the scouts.  This is a really neat addition.   



Hope you like the project.  I made a couple of extra copies, and if I can force myself to part with them I may post them on Etsy. We'll see, because I have grown quite attached to them. 

Comments are always welcome.