How to Make Paper from Recycled Paper
You can make your own paper from recycled sources by following the steps outlined below.
Up next in Paper Crafts (44 videos)
Transform boring sheets of paper into simple and fun craft projects.
You Will Need
- Recycled paper
- A blender or food processor
- A basin or stopped sink
- A mold and deckle
- A flat surface
- A damp cloth
- An iron
- Two wet pieces of fabric
- Two flat picture frames (optional)
- A screen
Steps
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Step 1
Tear up the recycled paper
Tear up several sheets of the recycled paper. Tear it until the pieces are postage-stamp sized, and then place them in the blender or food processor.
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Recycled paper sources include tissue, computer paper, paper bags, and envelopes. Newsprint contains too much ink.
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Step 2
Blend the recycled paper
Add water to the blender, and then blend the mixture for 30 seconds, or until you see paper fibers evenly dispersed in cloudy water.
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Step 3
Add the pulp to a basin
Pour the pulp into a large basin or stopped sink. Continue blending and adding pulp until the sink or basin is half full.
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Step 4
Dip the mold and deckle into the pulp
Place the deckle on top of the paper mold. Dip them into the pulp at a 45-degree angle and draw them toward you.
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If you can't find a mold and deckle at a craft store, construct your own from two flat picture frames with a screen attached to one of them.
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Step 5
Remove the mold and deckle from the pulp
Raise the mold and deckle to the surface a continuous motion, and then remove them from the pulp. Allow the water to drain away.
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Step 6
Transfer the paper to a flat surface
Remove the deckle and transfer the layer of pulp to a flat surface covered by a damp cloth by placing the mold upside down on the surface, and then raising it up.
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Step 7
Dry the paper
Let the paper dry. If you wish, you can iron the wet piece of handmade paper between two sheets of fabric.
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Did you know? In China, paper was invented in the year 105 by a Chinese eunuch.
