How To Make Paper At Home

Why not make your own paper? It will be great for art, crafts, notes, cards, stationery and writing projects. There are so many reasons to make your own paper. You already have the paper supplies in your house and they’d probably be discarded anyway. You can bring them to life in new exciting ways. You can make paper to add to scrapbooks with mementos, lace, pretty ribbon, confetti and glitter in it. This type of paper is expensive and these lovely paper creations can be made free with things you already have. Children will like to write and draw on paper they’ve made with bits of magic, glitter, confetti, dandelions, roses, ribbons and crayons. There’ll be more space and time for these projects because they don’t cost anything and the finished products look better than those produced by kits. You can add crayons, ribbons, silk and satin to give the paper luster and sheen. You and your family will have fun recycling paper and making lovely unique paper creations.

Make your own personal paper recycling bin and gather any paper in your house, computer paper, envelopes, old newspapers, packaging, cards, notebook paper, photographs, advertisements, tissue paper, napkins, paper plates, foil and receipts for it. You can recycle almost any kind of paper. The paper ingredients may add color to the mixture. You may have to add dye, other colored ingredients or food coloring to change the color.

The ingredient list of this magical recipe doesn’t stop there -- you can add plants, herbs, flowers, dandelions, marigolds, roses, spices, glitter, mementos -- anything that would add sparkle or flair to the finished project. You can use the grass, weeds and leaves in your yard and food. You can add perfume and cosmetics. You can add collage components to the collage paper for a subtle interesting blend. Have leftover pizza you don’t want? Make pizza paper. Remember this is your paper you can make it any way you want to. With this easy paper making recipe you will have pretty unique paper in hours. You can be very creative, the possibilities are endless and you’ll be recycling paper you already have anyway. Here are the supplies you need to make your paper creations.

Paper Making Supplies

Paper

2 Dishpans or Plastic Basins

Blender

Sponge

Wooden Frame

Stapler

Screen

Dishtowel

Cloth

You will need a deckle to make paper from the paper pulp. Staple the screen tightly to a wooden frame. This is the deckle you put the paper pulp on to make paper.

Making the Paper

Tear the paper into approximately 2 inch squares.

Soak the paper in hot water in a dishpan for 30 minutes or more.

Fill a blender halfway with the soaked paper and add warm water to the top mark.

Blend the water and paper at medium until you don’t see the pieces of paper.

You can blend in colored paper to add color or add fabric, flowers or leaves for texture.

Pour this mixture into another dishpan and almost fill it with warm water. Stir the ingredients well so they’re evenly distributed.

Put the deckle in the dishpan with the screen up. Put some pulp on the screen and move it back and forth underwater to get an even layer on the screen.

Take the deckle out holding it horizontally. Let the water drain off by dripping. There should be a uniform layer of pulp on the deckle. Press the pulp to squeeze out moisture. Sponge water off the bottom of the screen.

Put a clean dishtowel on a counter and turn the screen onto it. Then lift the screen so the paper is on the dishtowel.

Cover the paper with a piece of cloth and iron it at a medium dry setting.

When the paper is dry remove the cloth gently, stretching it to loosen the paper. Carefully peel off the paper.

You can add a monogram, pressed flower or leaf to the paper when it is still wet. Lay it on the paper and press to embed it.

After you’ve made the paper put the leftover pulp in a plastic container. Don’t pour it down the drain.