Homemade Paper – Ultimate Paper Recycling
“Paper… pure paper!” I think that crazy guy in the epic film “Waterworld” said it best when he uttered those immortal lines about paper. But how can the people in “Waterworld” make paper when there ain’t no trees? Easy. They recycle paper, and now you can to. Here’s how to recycle paper into homemade paper.
First, you gots to make your paper frame. Use some leftover wood and make a rectangle; whatever size this frame is is the size your homemade paper shall be.
Staple some old window screen across the frame, stretching it tightly. There, your frame be done. Now you’re ready to make you some homemade paper, hot dang!
First, get a bunch of scrap paper (some call it scratch paper, whatever floats your boat). Also, feel free to add some of the following:
- newspaper
- lint
- toilet paper (gently used)….. just kidding on that one!!
- paper bags
Remember, whatever you put in will affect the color and texture of your finished paper, so for the love of Pete, be careful in selecting your ingredients for your homemade paper.
Tear up the paper into lil’ pieces.
Put the torn-up paper into a blender, filling it about halfway. Fill the rest of the blender with warm water.
Blend the mess out of that paper, starting with short burts, and finishing with a 20-second blend that purees the paper into a pulpy soup.
Do this about three times, each time pouring the blended paper soup into a basin or tote.
Afterward, put in some more warm water, filling the basin about halfway. Add about two tablespoons of corn starch, too.
Stir the pulp around, then dip your wood frame into the pulp all the way to the bottom. Slowly raise it up, keeping it level. Your screen should be covered with pulp now.
Let it dry somewhere. Once the frame stops dripping, sort of peel the paper around the edges.
Next, gently peel the very wet paper away from the frame. Slap that bad boy on some felt. Fun fact: I got my felt for 20 cents, and it’s made from recycled plastic. Ta-dow.
Use a sponge and try to squish excess water out. Once you’ve done that, let it dry on the felt.
Let all the paper completely dry on the felt or some newspaper.
Voila, recycling old useless paper into new homemade paper is just that easy. If you want to get fancy (and these days, who doesn’t?), try embedding some crazy mess in your paper (feathers, leaves, pictures cut out of a newspaper). Your friends will be TOO jealous of your customized paper, maybe even jealous enough… to kill?
Loving it! Found you at the Carnival of the Green. Brilliant stuff!
Many thanks yo. Glad you like it. Once you get the paper frame made, it's easy as poo to make CUSTOMIZED recycled paper yourself.
[...] now, GetWithGreen presents this week’s submissions: Mr. Joe would like everyone to check out A photo-essay showing how to make you some homemade paper. Not too hard to do. Tiffany presents How To Choose Non-Toxic Paint and Wallpaper posted at Eco [...]
I was planning to try this with my kids, so I discovered your post at just the right time! Thanks.
Hey, that is great! Good luck, let me know how it goes.
dude u realy got us there send some more
info about this.
Alright… what kind of information do you want?
Too cool. Who knew making paper was that easy. Love that you can repurpose paper into…. paper! Plan to send some link love your way on this post.
Jawsome. Good luck trying to make some paper, it ain't too tricky.
[...] 7. Make homemade paper. Here’s a cool tutorial. [...]
Thank you for your directions. I appriciate the plain way it was written. I like to keep things as simple as possible.
This sounds wonderful. I work with special needs children and we are looking for a hands on project to add to our recycling lesson plan. This sounds like a a great way to work in our fine motor skills (tearing and collecting paper) and following instructions into a lesson plan that will make going green relevant. LALA
[...] Joe would like everyone to check out A photo-essay showing how to make you some homemade paper. Not too hard to [...]
I happen to have a bunch of papers that were messed up by my cheap printer a few days back. Was going to dump them all away but now that I have read this article I might just give making my own recycled paper a shot!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I am interested inp packaging my homemade soaps in my own home made recycled paper. Your instructions were the simplesta, cheapest, and funniest, I love your style of writing. I can feel your enthusiasm! My company is called pinkhouse soaps, we at pinkhouse are now your biggest fans!!!
Awesome, I am glad you enjoyed it! Let me know if you end up making some boss paper, I would not mind seeing that one bit. I'll have to check out your soap, it sounds cool.