I get my complete soil test done which included pH for $9 at Penn State so I would do that instead of buying pH paper for almost $9 and then distilled water for another dollar. Your soil pH is not going to change very quickly even if you add amendments so testing once a year is certainly adequate.
The important thing about testing soil that many people ignore is to take a "composite" sample which is 8-10 samples taken from different locations and mixed together and then taking a small sample from that composite.
I would not make the sample as thick as a mud ball, but more the consistency of pudding or a milkshake but not so wet that the soil settles to the bottom.
If you are going to go this route you should buy a fresh bottle of distilled water because the pH can change after it has been opened and it sits for a while, not 5 minutes but maybe several weeks.
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