Making Paper:

How to Make Your Own Paper in 10 Easy Steps

Making paper by hand is a great fun project for the whole family. I had a good time making my own paper with my kids and they really got into the process. After the paper was dry they thought it was really cool using the paper they made. I like this project because it’s new and educational, but it also teaches the value of recycling and its effect on the planet. Try this for yourself as an artist or teach your kids something new--either way it’s a lot of fun!

The simple papermaking recipe that follows is just a basic guideline. Feel free to experiment with different materials, textures, and colors. Keep in mind that some of your ideas will work and some won’t. Just remember to have fun and express yourself making paper.

1.Select the pieces of paper you want to go into the mix. If you mix different types of papers or colors you’ll create your own unique mixture for making paper.

2.Rip the paper into small bits, and place them into the blender to about half-full. Fill the blender with warm water. Run the blender on a slow setting at first and increase the speed until the pulp looks smooth and well blended. This should take about a minute Now check the blended paper for flakes of paper remaining. If there are any, blend the mixture a little longer.

3.Now you need to make your papermaking mold. The mold I find easiest to build is made by stretching fiberglass screen over an old wooden picture frame and staple the screen tightly over the frame.

4.Fill a basin that’s larger then your mold to about half way up with water. Add 3 to four blender loads of pulp. (The more pulp you use the thicker the finished paper will be.) Stir the paper making mixture in the basin.

5.If you’re going to use your paper to write on then the next step is to add liquid starch as a sizing. The starch will prevent inks from socking into the paper fibers keeping your letters crisp and sharp. You should stir in 2 to 3 teaspoons of the liquid starch into the pulp mixture. Now place the mold into the pulp and level it out while it is submerged in the basin. Gently wiggle the frame side to side until the pulp on top of the screen looks even.

6.Slowly lift the mold up as level as you can until the frame is above the level of the water. Wait as most of the water drains from the new paper sheet at the bottom of the frame. If the paper is too thick to suit you remove some of the pulp from the basin, If the paper is too thin, add pulp to the basin and stir the paper making mixture again.

7.When the mold stops dripping, gently place one edge on the side of the felt or flannel square. Gently ease the mold down flat, with the paper directly resting on the fabric. Use a sponge to press out as much water as you can. Wring out the excess water from the sponge back into the basin you’re using.

8.Now this next step gets a little tricky. While holding the fabric square flat, slowly lift the edge of the mold. The wet sheet of paper should remain on the fabric. If the paper sticks to the mold, you may have pulled too fast or not pressed out enough water. It takes a little practice. You should gently press out any bubbles and loose edges at this point.

9.Repeat this for each piece of paper you make and stack the paper and fabric squares on a flat wooden board. Save one fabric square to place on the top of the stack to cover the last piece of paper on top. Now comes the fun and very messy step. Over a bathtub or go outside and take another board and press the stack to remove any remaining water out of the stack.

10.After pressing the water out of the stack, gently separate the sheets from the stack. You can dry the paper by hanging them on a clothesline or lay them out on sheets of newspaper. When they have dried, peel them off the fabric and you’ve got paper!

Things you’ll need for making paper include:

• Sponge
• Fiberglass window screen
• Wood frame (can be an old picture frame)
• Plastic basin/tub (needs to be large enough to totally immerse the frame)
• Blender/food processor (for making paper pulp)
• White felt or flannel fabric
• Staples or tacks (for tacking screen to frame)
• Liquid starch (optional)

Some choices of paper that can be used:

• Unprinted computer paper
• Newspaper (if you want a grayish color paper)
• Magazines
• Egg Cartons
• Toilet paper
• Paper shopping bags
• Non waxed cardboard boxes (pre-soak in warn water first)
• Office copy paper
• Tissue paper
• Napkins
• Construction paper
• Envelopes
• Junk mail

I hope you have fun making paper. There are as many ways to use the paper you make, as there are ways of making it.

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