How To Make DIY Recycled Paper

Check out this awesome guest post from Brigette at Free People Blog

Homemade paper tugs at my heart like no other. It’s delicate, beautiful, and thoughtful. I love the time and effort that gets put into making such a simple object; an object that we often take for granted.

It actually is not at all difficult to make paper. It just takes a bit of time, but each moment spent on any project is another opportunity to pour some love into the creation process!

Materials:

Fine-gauge screen (I purchased a window screen from a hardware store)
Wooden frame (I used an old picture frame)
Basin slightly larger in size than the wooden frame
Medium bowl
Nails or staples
Paper scraps
Food processor or blender
Liquid starch (optional)
Pressed flowers, seeds, pieces of thread, or anything else you’d like to add into your paper (optional)

Directions:

1. First, make your framed screen. Attach the screen to the back of the frame using nails or staples. Trim away the excess screen.

2. Next, tear your paper scraps up into small pieces, about 1×1 inch each. Soak these in warm water for at least a half hour. Thicker and stronger paper may need a full 24 hours before they become soft enough.

3. Combine a handful of soaked paper and about 2 cups of warm water into a blender and pulse until you reach a relatively smooth consistency.

4. If you’re planning to use your paper for writing, add in the liquid starch to your pulp at this point and mix.

5. Fill your basin with at least a few inches of water. Press the framed screen into the basin so that it’s submerged. Pour the pulp onto the screen, and smooth out evenly with your hands. Lift up the frame, and arrange any pressed flowers or other items into your pulp. Continue to hold the frame above the basin to allow the excess water to drain back into it.

6. Place the frame onto a counter or table, and press evenly on top using a towel or sponge to collect additional excess water.

7. Allow your paper to dry fully — this could take anywhere from a few hours to a full day, depending on the thickness of the pulp and how much water it has absorbed. Setting it in a sunny spot can help speed up the process!