Skip navigation

Easy paper making

Everyone knows recycling is good for the environment. In this experiment you can recycle your family's waste paper, such as letters, photocopies, cards, tissue paper etc., into beautiful hand made paper. Making paper is a lot of fun and easy too!

Materials

  • Scrap paper
  • Bucket
  • Blender
  • Wire coat hanger
  • Nylon stocking
  • large tub or baking tray
  • Squares of fabric (approx. 30cm x 30cm) or 'Chux' cloths
  • Old towel
  • Wooden/chopping board

What to do

  1. Shred the paper into small pieces and place in a bucket of warm water to soak for at least 30 minutes, or if you can, overnight.
  2. Make an easy deckle frame by bending the bottom of a wire coat hanger out to make a diamond shape. Bend the hook up to make a handle. Carefully slide the frame inside the nylon stocking and pull until tight. Use an elastic band to tie the stocking in place at the base of the handle.
  3. With adult supervision, place a handful of soaked paper in a blender with approximately 2 cups of water. Make sure the lid is on tight then blend the paper for about one minute or until you no longer see pieces of paper. You will then have a paper pulp that looks like a fine porridge.
  4. Place a folded old towel next to the large tub to create a work surface.
  5. Pour about 5 cm of water into the tub and add approximately 2 cups of the paper pulp. Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are evenly dispersed.
  6. Slide your frame into the tub of pulp mixture. Holding the frame underwater, gently move it back and forth to get an even layer of pulp on the screen.
  7. Keeping the frame flat, slowly lift it out of the mixture. Allow it to drip over the tub until most of the water has drained through.
  8. Place a square of fabric/Chux onto the towel. Flip the frame paper-side-down onto the fabric/Chux and press down firmly to remove excess water and squish it onto the cloth.
  9. Lift the frame away at one end and carefully peel it off the paper.
  10. Make more paper by continuing the layers of fabric/Chux and paper pulp, finishing with a fabric layer on top.
  11. Use the wooden chopping board to press the remaining water out of the stack.
  12. Separate the sheets and either hang them on the clothesline or lay them out to dry.
  13. When they have dried peel them off the fabric. Wow! You've made paper!

Be creative! Experiment with different colours and textures. Try adding petals, tea leaves or confetti to the tub just before scooping.

Have fun creating something beautiful from what was once rubbish.