Make Your Own Paper & Send Beautiful Cards That You Designed

Give scrap paper a new life by blending it with water to make decorative paper. You will need a fine screen and a tub larger than the screen to do this project.

Instructions for How to Make Your Own Paper

STEP 1: Gather a pile of scrap paper and tear it into small bits.

STEP 2: Boil water, remove it from heat, and soak the paper bits in the hot water for 2 to 3 minutes. The ratio should be two parts water to one part paper.

STEP 3: Blend the water and paper bits in a blender. Run the blender for a few seconds at a time until the mixture is a very fine pulp.

STEP 4: Pour the mixture into a large plastic tub (a baby bathtub works well) or a large baking pan.

STEP 5: Use a large spoon or your hands to stir the mixture until the pulp is evenly distributed in the tub or pan.

STEP 6: Repeat with more scrap paper until the mixture in the tub is deep enough to dip the screen into.

STEP 7: Add some glitter to the tub and stir again until the glitter is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

STEP 8: Submerge the screen in the mixture, dipping it below the mixture at a shallow angle and then holding it in a horizontal position.

STEP 9: Use your hands to distribute the pulp on the screen evenly and then slowly lift the screen up and out of the tub, keeping it horizontal.

STEP 10: Hold the screen over the tub until water stops dripping from the bottom (this should take less than a minute). Gently turn it from side to side to make sure all excess water drains out.

STEP 11: Quickly flip the screen over and lay it pulp side down on a short stack of lint-free towels.

STEP 12: Gently lift the screen off the layer of pulp so that the pulp remains on the towels in one piece.

STEP 13: Place another stack of towels on top of the pulp layer to blot the pulp.

STEP 14: Press firmly on the stack with your hands or use a rolling pin to squeeze out the water.

STEP 15: Carefully transfer the pulp to a new, dry stack of towels if the original stack becomes soaked. Continue blotting until hardly any water comes out when the stack is pressed.

STEP 16: Gently remove the sheet of paper and place it on a flat, dry surface to air-dry overnight.

STEP 17: Once the paper is dried, use scissors to trim the edges as desired. Some people prefer to leave the edges naturally rough.

Tips & Warnings When Making Your Own Paper

• If the mixture is too thick, add more water to thin it out. If your mixture is too thin, add more paper bits. Then blend again.
  
• In place of glitter you can add sequins, slivers of aluminum foil, flower petals or waterproof ink to the pulp. Add these items to the pulp mixture in the tub before you dip in the screen.
  
• You can use stacks of newspapers to blot the paper instead of stacks of towels; however, the ink in the newspapers may run into the pulp.
  
• Young children will need help when using the blender