How to Make and Recycle Paper

Step 6: Conclusion!

Once dry, peel the paper off the blanket. You will notice that the paper is wavy. To straighten it, put it in a thick book or in a phone book and press it down with more books. Leave it there for a few hours and you'll have some nicely home made paper to write on, print on, and make all sorts of crafts!

I use paper recycled this way with my photography to make nice greetings cards that I mail to friends etc. I also sell them through my website! :)

Be creative with your new hand crafted paper and tell me what you've done with it!

Comments

[hankyknot]

This is just the inspiration I need to get back into making paper, thanks for a great instructible. I made a small clamp using 2 pieces of 1 x 4 timber 6 inches long with four thumb screws, one in each corner and clamped 3"x3" pieces of handmade paper into blocks as long as the screws would allow then painted one edge with glue to create memo blocks. Maybe I'll do an instructible for that one day.

[Muzhik]

Does the paper look better / absorb ink better if you put a smidge of cornstarch or other sizing into the pulp? How about if you added some bleach to make the pulp whiter?

[spydyr]

Bleach doesnt quite work for this. Sun faded got it a shade lighter.

[wizzel]

Has any one come across how to make paper with out starting with old paper! Obviously it can be done but it’s been difficult to find info on.

[lorrwill]

Yep. Google "cotton linter". That's one of the main things you can use when you aren't using paper. Cotton linter, pulps and fibers. But some of them are pretty tough to work with and need a cooking and/or a special machine to break them down enough to make paper. Oh I saw some cotton linter at Michaels.

[craftsman]

i've done this before it makes very nice paper just i added leaves for sents

[Davesp]

Hi, Great and clear instructable, thanks. The only stage I found a little hard to follow was the when you used the second frame. It is not quite clear in the photo but I figure from the text the second frame acts as a kind of 'mask' which contain the paper pulp and give you straight -ish edges.

I plan to try a rough version using builders mesh and really chunky pulp, cardboard boxes and so on. Maybe with a little clay in as well. I'll report back.... I

[Chopsteeq]

You can add the leaves to the tub with paper pulp, I think this would be the best way. If you try to put them on the paper when the pulp is on the mould (on the net) you'll mess up the paper.

[EtherealZaftig]

I've wanted to make paper for a while now. Thanks. How or when would you add whole leaves if you wanted to give it a different look?