How to Make Paper

Have you ever wanted to make paper? Here is a tutorial that will teach you how make paper at home using everyday household items. You can use a number of different products that are lying around your house. Here is a list of some everyday items you may use.

Magazines

Toilet paper

Construction paper

Old birthday cards

Grocery bags

Paper napkins

Paper towels

Newspaper

Tissues

Experiment with your mix. Throw in bits fiber, flower petals, yarn, or seed. Play around with colors and textures. Just have fun!

Here is a list of supplies you will need to make paper:

Stapler

Blender

Large plastic container

Liquid starch

Wood picture frame

Window screen

Sponge

Felt

So now that you know what type of materials you can use. Customize your blend. Gather the materials you want to use to make paper.

Rip your paper into tiny pieces and toss them in the blender. Fill the blender half full. Add warm water. Blend thoroughly a minute should be good enough. Be sure that there are no paper flakes left. You want a smooth consistency.

Now you will make the mold. Take a picture frame and stretch an old window screen over the picture frame then staple it. Be sure it is tight to the screen.

Fill your large plastic container halfway full with water. Be sure the container is big enough for the picture frame to fully immerse in. Add some blender loads to your mix. The more loads you add the thicker you paper will be.

Add 2 teaspoons of liquid starch to your mix. Stir it in well. This is an optional step but it keeps ink from bleeding into the paper fibers.

Put your mold into the mix. You will want to even out the mix on the screen with a little wiggling.

Gently lift the mold out of the mix and hold it above the bin until the water has drained out.

When the mold has completely drained, carefully put one side of your mold onto the felt. Use the sponge to get suck out water.

The keys at this next step are to get most of the water sponged out and to lift the mold very slowly. Hold the felt square down and gently and slowly lift the mold up. Hopefully the paper will stick to the felt. If it does not work the first time do not be discouraged. It takes some practice to master this technique.

If you want more than one sheet, simply repeat the previous steps. It makes it easier if you alternate the paper sheets on felt squares on top of a cookie sheet. When you have your last piece of paper lay a felt square on top of the stack and press out any water that is left in the paper.

After the stack is pressed separate the paper and dry them by laying them on newspapers. When they have dried remove the felt and you are done! Now you know how to make paper.