Making Homemade Paper

While homemade paper may not seem like an every day craft idea to try with your kids. You can purchase a paper making kit or get the kids to help you make a screen, either way this is a great way to extend their learning and authentic experiences on many subjects.

This is an activity that can be used to enhance learning about pioneer times, recycling, and even careers in the pulp and paper industry.

Consider doing this activity with children who are in upper elementary school and even middle school (grades 3-8). Younger children might think it was fascinating, but you would be doing most all of the work! And, the drying time might be a little long for their patience level.

Begin the activity with an explanation of what you are trying to accomplish and a demonstration of how to make your own paper. Warning, you may want to practice ahead of time. Working with wet pulp and transferring it can be a delicate process that takes time to perfect.

Making Homemade Paper

You can use virtually any type of paper with any thickness that you can get your hands on.

Materials:

• Selected Paper
• A Large Sponge
• Window Screen with a frame attached (You can make your own if you need to)
• Plastic Storage Tub (Must have solid sides and be big enough to totally submerge frame)
• Kitchen Blender
• White Fabric (Felt or Flannel are recommended)
• Liquid Starch (Available in the laundry isle of your grocery store).

Instructions:

1. Select the paper to be used. If you want to be creative, mix different types to create your own unique paper blend.
2. Rip the paper into small pieces and store in a paper bag or container with a lid. If you have a paper shredder this will make the process much faster.
3. Drop some of the torn paper pieces into the blender until it is about half full.
4. Top off with warm tap water. Blend the mixture until the pulp is smooth and well blended. Stir to check that there are no bigger bits of paper hiding out.
5. Put enough water in the plastic tub to fill it halfway. Start with 3 blenders of the mixture and stir. The amount of pulp will affect the thickness of your finished paper.
6. Add 2 tsp. of liquid starch and stir. This is what makes the homemade paper useable, as it prevents ink from soaking into the paper.
7. Lower the window screen into the plastic tub and then level it out while it is submerged.
8. Slowly lift the screen up above the water level. Allow most of the water has drained from the paper sheet. You may have to adjust the amount of pulp in your plastic tub to get the right consistency for your paper. Consider the amounts here a starting point.
9. When the screen stops dripping, gently place one edge on the side of a fabric square. Gently lower the screen down flat with the wire side up and the paper directly on the fabric.
10. Press out as much water as possible with the large sponge.
11. Hold the fabric flat and slowly lift the edge of the screen. The wet sheet of paper should remain on the fabric. This step may take some practice to perfect.
12. Your homemade paper can be dried laying it flat on a sheet of newspaper. Once dried slowly peel the fabric away and use your paper for a creative project.