How to Make Paper

Gather your tools. To make paper, you'll need to blend paper pulp with water, then pour the mixture onto a mesh screen. Here are a few different options to get started:

• Frame Method: Stretch a mesh screen onto a wooden frame (an old picture frame will work, or you can build your own) and secure the edges with nails or staples. Any small-mesh screen or filter with holes about 1mm wide will work. The screen should be pulled taut. Make sure the frame is large enough to create the size of paper you want. Additionally, you'll need a container like a basin, tub, or tray large enough to fit the frame.
• Tray Method: Purchase a deep, disposable aluminum tray from the store, or a deep ceramic tray. Then, cut a piece of mesh to fit the shape of the bottom of the tray, but make it slightly larger.

Find Old Paper. The easiest option is using newspapers, but you can also use old printed paper, notebooks, or any kind of paper without wax coating. Keep in mind that the color of the paper and the amount of ink will affect the "grayness" of the final product. Avoid glossy paper as it will not work well.

• Paper can also be made entirely from grass and leaves; in fact, that's how paper was made before the 20th century! You'll need to chop up the grass or leaves, soak them in lye to create a corrosive reaction, then filter and blend into pulp. Afterward, pour the pulp into a mold. Once it dries, you can proudly say, "This paper didn’t require cutting down trees to make!".

Clean the Paper. Remove any plastic covers, staples, or non-paper parts. Be careful when using junk mail, as envelope flaps often contain a small piece of plastic. Try to separate the non-paper elements from the paper itself.

Tear the Paper into Small Pieces. Don’t spend too much time on this; simply tear the paper into smaller sections. Tear each sheet a few times.

Soak the Paper in Water. Place the torn paper pieces into a bowl or basin and add water to soak them. Let the paper soak for about 30 to 45 minutes.

• If you want to create firm, colored paper, use paper with minimal heavy ink, add more "pulp," and include food coloring. Your final product will have a dark side and a lighter side. Both sides of the paper are usable depending on the intended purpose, but the lighter side is better for writing.
• If you want to make white paper, add half a cup of white vinegar to the pulp mixture.

Transform Paper into Pulp. Now that the old paper is wet and soft, you can begin the process of turning it into pulp – a thick mixture with some water that will form the base of your new paper. Here are two ways to make pulp:

• Blend the Paper. Tear the paper into small pieces and place it in a blender, filling it about halfway. Add warm water to the blender. Start blending on a low speed, then increase the speed until the pulp is smooth and even – this should take around 30 to 40 seconds, ensuring no large pieces of paper remain.
• Grind the Paper. If you have a mortar and pestle (or similar tools, like a rolling pin and a metal bowl), you can manually grind the paper. Handle one handful of paper at a time, and aim for a pulp consistency similar to soaked oatmeal.

Prepare Half a Basin of Water. Choose a basin that is slightly larger than your mesh frame, ideally with a shape similar to the frame.

• If you're using the frame method, fill the basin with water and add the pulp before dipping the frame in.
• If you're using the tray method, place the mesh at the bottom of the tray before adding water and pulp.

Add Pulp to the Basin and Stir. The amount of pulp you add to the water will determine the thickness of the paper. You only need enough pulp to cover the mesh frame in the next step, so there's no need to make the basin too full. Experiment with it. The pulp consistency can be adjusted to create either thin or thick paper, depending on the amount of water added to the pulp.

Remove Clumps of Paper. Try to filter out any paper clumps; the smoother and finer the mixture, the more uniform your final paper will be.

Hardening the Paper (Optional). If the paper is intended for stationery, add 2 teaspoons of liquid starch to the pulp mixture. The starch prevents ink from soaking into the paper fibers.

• If you don't add starch, the paper will absorb moisture easily, and your ink will smudge quickly. If this happens, quickly dip the paper into a mixture of water and gelatin, then air dry.

Dip the Mesh Frame into the Mixture (For Frame Method). Place the mesh frame into the pulp with the mesh side down, then slowly lift the frame while it's still submerged in the mixture. Gently move the frame from side to side until the pulp on top of the mesh evens out.

Lift the Mesh Frame Above the Basin. Slowly remove the mesh frame from the water, keeping it over the basin to drain excess water. Wait until most of the water has drained out from the pulp, and you'll see a new sheet of paper gradually form. If the paper is too thick, remove some pulp from the surface. If it's too thin, add more pulp and stir the mixture again.

Remove the Excess Water from the Paper. After lifting the mesh frame from the basin, you'll need to get rid of any remaining water in the pulp. Here's how to do it, depending on the method you selected in step 1:

• Frame Method: Once the water has stopped flowing (or is nearly done), gently place a piece of fabric (wool or flannel works best) or a smooth Formica board (with the smooth side facing down) on top of the frame. Gently press down to squeeze out any remaining water. Use a sponge to press water from the other side of the mesh frame, occasionally wringing out the sponge.
• Tray Method: Lay a towel on a flat surface and place the mesh (with the paper on it) on half of the towel. Fold the other half of the towel over the paper. Using an iron on a low heat setting, gently iron over the towel. You’ll notice some steam coming from the paper.

Peel the Paper from the Mesh. Once the paper has dried sufficiently, carefully remove it from the mesh. You can press down on any bubbles or edges that haven't sealed properly at this stage.

• Gently lift the fabric or Formica board from the frame. The wet paper may have adhered to the fabric. If the paper is still stuck to the mesh, you might have pulled the fabric too quickly or not allowed enough drying time.
• You can press the nearly dry paper by placing another piece of fabric or Formica board on top and pressing gently. This will smooth and thin the paper. Leave the fabric or Formica in place while waiting for the paper to finish drying.

Carefully Peel the Paper from the Mesh. If you have difficulty removing the paper, you can try covering it with a towel and ironing over it once more.

Air Dry the Paper. Lay the paper flat to dry. Alternatively, you can use a hairdryer on a low heat setting to speed up the drying process.

• Remove the paper from the fabric or Formica board (for the frame method). Wait until the paper is fully dry, then carefully peel it away.
• Ironing (Optional): When the paper is still slightly damp but can be safely removed from the fabric/Formica, use a hot iron to help the paper dry faster and give it a glossy finish.

Repeat the Steps to Create More Sheets. Continue adding pulp and water to the basin as needed.

• To make the final product appear more artistic, you can add natural materials like flower petals, leaves, or grass to the paper. The visual effect will inspire you to create more sheets, each one with its unique charm.
• If you dry the paper on fabric, it will take on the color and texture of the material, so be mindful of the fabric you choose. A smooth Formica board is the best option for creating paper with a flat, smooth writing surface.
• To remove excess water from the paper, place a cloth on top of it and gently press with a piece of sponge – be gentle!
• Wax paper can be used instead of fabric or Formica boards.
• If you have trouble removing the paper from the frame, gently flip the frame upside down and try to peel the paper from the fabric or Formica.
• You can add fabric scraps to the pulp mixture, but avoid making paper solely from fabric scraps as it will lack firmness.
• For a bit of sparkle, you can mix in some glitter into the pulp.

• Any type of paper without wax (meaning non-glossy paper)
• Wooden frame or aluminum tray
• Mesh screen
• Container
• Blender or mortar and pestle
• Basin (if using a wooden frame)
• Water
• 2 teaspoons of liquid starch (optional)
• Sponge (if using a wooden frame)
• Towel (if using an aluminum tray)
• Iron (optional if using a wooden frame)