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Have you ever wondered how to make paper? It's much easier than you might imagine; in fact, it's the perfect activity for families, educational groups and clubs! We've laid out a basic recipe for you to follow, so all you have to do is use your imagination and have a great time.
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Paper Making Tips
- Set aside plenty of time to make homemade paper; the steps cannot be completed too quickly.
- Be creative and add different textures and fabrics to your paper.
- Try different paper making methods, as one is likely to appeal to you more than others.
- Homemade papermaking is a terrific activity for kids, but they need adult supervision.
- Use your homemade paper as unique, memorable greeting cards. Friends and family will be sure to keep them.
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Introduction
- In the modern era of recycling, numerous eco-conscious people make homemade paper to give their old paper new life. Other people simply wish to dabble in making paper to express creativity or conduct scientific experiments. Whatever the reason, making paper in one's home, office or school is relatively easy, though it does require preparation and processing time.
- The basic recipe below details how to make paper from scratch; where applicable, optional ingredients and steps have been noted.
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Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
- Most of the items needed to make paper are both inexpensive and readily available to individuals, families, educational groups and clubs.
- Scraps of Paper and/or Cardboard
- Magazines, paper bags, tissue paper, greeting cards (unwaxed), toilet paper (unused), napkins, newspaper (printed newspaper may turn your new paper an unattractive shade of gray), catalogs, dryer lint, etc.
- An Electric Blender or Food Processor
- Sponge
- Wooden Frame
- Window Screen Material
- Tacks, Waterproof Glue or Staples
- Tub or Sink (large enough to fit wooden frame)
- Several Pieces of Felt, Clean Rags or Flannel (cut to be slightly bigger than your mold)
- Liquid Starch (optional)
- Wooden Spoon or Stick
- Cookie Sheet
- Something Heavy That You Can Get Wet
- Another Cookie Sheet, Stack of Older Books, Bricks, Etc.
- Iron (optional)
- Glitter, Threads, Leaves, Seeds, Flowers, Flower Heads, Yarn, Dried Onion Skins, Lemon or Orange Zest (optional)
Step 2: Make Your Mold
- In order to make your own paper, you'll need to first construct a mold that consists of a frame covered with some kind of screening material:
- Choose a large picture frame.
- Remove glass and any inserts. (You should have a rectangle or square made from wood.)
- Attach a straining material (such as fiberglass window screening) to your mold using tacks, waterproof glue or staples.
- Make certain the screening is taut, as it will need to be firm in order to work.
- Molding Tips:
- If you want to make homemade paper but don't have the time or inclination to make a mold, you can purchase one online or at a local craft shop.
- Instead of a picture frame, you can always use an embroidery hoop, though your pieces of homemade paper will be round and not rectangular. Art Supplies: Paper Making Tips
Step 3: Prepare Your Homemade Paper Ingredients
- To begin, you must prepare your homemade paper before entering the blending process:
- Remove any foreign objects from your scraps of paper, including paper clips, staples, tape and glue.
- Shred paper into tiny pieces by hand or using scissors. Though the paper pieces do not have to be miniscule, they should be quite small.
- Place into electric blender or food processor until the container is filled about halfway.
- Add enough warm water to the blender to cover the paper bits.
- Allow the paper and water to sit for 30 minutes so water soaks into paper pieces.
- After 30 minutes, turn on blender and pulse for about half a minute.
- Check on status of paper; if any large shreds remain, blend and pulse for another half minute and re-check. Repeat process as needed.
- At this point, there should be no paper bits left, only a large "mush" comprised of paper fibers and water.
- Ingredient Tips:
- If you want your paper to have a hue, add a few drops of food coloring, coffee, tea or paint and turn on blender or food processor until the color is mixed.Art Supplies: Paper Making Tips
- If you want your paper to be white, add about half a cup of liquid bleach to the blender mixture.
- If you do not have a blender or food processor or simply wish to "authentically" make paper, you can soften the pieces of paper in a large pot and then manually pound them. This will take a longer amount of time, but may be a good way to show students how involved and physical paper making originally was.Meta Cafe: How to Recycle Paper
Step 4: Prepare the Paper Mush
- Now that you have your basic "mush":
- Fill your tub, sink or basin about halfway with cool water.
- Add about three blender loads of the "mush" to the water and stir with a wooden spoon, stick or your hands. (Don't use your hands if you've included food coloring or bleach to the blended mixture or you'll wind up with discolored skin.)
- Tip: If you're using liquid starch (recommended if you'll use your homemade paper for writing or drawing), add two teaspoons of it into the tub/sink/basin mixture.
Step 5: Submerge Mold in Mush
- Using your mold, you'll now collect enough mush to create a unique piece of what will eventually become paper:
- Hold your mold level (and steady) with both hands.
- Very slowly, submerge the mold into the water making certain it's completely covered by the mush.
- When you reach the bottom of the tub, move the mold slightly from side to side and lift it slowly. The paper mush should start to gather on the top of the screen; make certain your mold is even, as you want the mush to distribute evenly.Pioneer Thinking: Making Handmade Paper in 10 Easy Steps
Step 6: Drain the Molded Paper Mush
- The secret to the next step is maintaining patience and self-control:
- Slowly lift the mold until it is no longer submerged in the water.
- Allow the majority of the water to drain from the pulp through the screen of the mold and back into the tub.
- At this point, you will be able to see if your paper is too thick or uneven; if it is, go back to Step Four and try again. A thin layer (but not see-through) of paper "mush" will dry faster and more evenly than a very thick layer.Pioneer Thinking: Making Handmade Paper in 10 Easy Steps
Step 7: Remove the Drained Paper Mush from the Mold
- Removing the paper mush from the mold takes a steady hand:
- Place your mold paper-side-up onto a flat surface and lay one of the pieces of felt or flannel on top of the mush.
- Carefully, turn the mold upside down and, felt side against a firm surface, use a sponge to press the paper pulp onto the felt or flannel. (Water will collect in the sponge; as needed, wring it out back into your sink/tub/basin.)
- Working slowly, lift one edge of the mold and "peel" the paper (using the felt or flannel to assist you) from the mold.
- Press on the paper with another piece of felt, flannel or clean rag to flatten it slightly or remove any bubbles.
- Note: If you're making paper with young children, this is a step that is best handled by an adult.
Step 8: Redo Steps 4-7
- Continue to make pieces of paper, stacking each new felt or flannel square onto the last one. Depending upon the size of your homemade paper, you can plan on needing about one blender-full of mush per sheet.Everything2: Papermaking
Step 9: Prepare the Sheets of Paper for Drying
- When you've finished making a stack of paper (it should be just high enough so it doesn't sway or fall over):
- Add an extra felt or flannel piece on top.
- Using another cookie sheet, a series of heavy books or even a number of bricks, press down on the stack of paper and felt/flannel. More water will escape during this process; drain it or use a sponge to remove it. This can be particularly messy, so be prepared with rags and newspapers or, better yet, complete this step outside.Pioneer Thinking: Making Handmade Paper in 10 Easy Steps
- After you've pressed the water from the stack of paper sheets, carefully peel off each one with the felt/flannel backing still attached. This can be tricky, especially if your paper sheets are extremely thin. Be patient.
Step 10: Dry and Finish the Paper
- It's time to dry your new sheets of paper:
- Hang each sheet of paper (along with its felt/flannel backing) on an indoor or outdoor clothesline or lay the sheets on clean rags or newspapers to dry.
- Depending on how thick the paper is, how warm the area is, and/or how much humidity is in the air, your homemade paper could take as short a time as an hour or two to dry or as long as a week.
- Once all of the water has evaporated from your batch of paper:
- Peel your new paper off the felt backing.
- Spraying starch on the sheets will also make them easier on which to write.Make Stuff: How to Make Your Own Recycled Paper
Conclusion
- Congratulations! You're now ready to use your paper for writing, decorations, cards, homemade bowls and Paper Making Tips virtually anything else you can imagine. Art Supplies: Paper Making Tips
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