Discover how to make your own recycled paper the easy way with this tutorial. This is a fun craft to do with kids at home using materials you already have on hand. I hope you enjoy!
Did anyone else make paper at summer camp? I always loved making my own paper, but I don’t have a frame with screen in it and all that technical stuff. (The real names for the equipment you’re supposed to use are “mold and deckle.”)
I don’t have those items and my husband, the one who knows how to actually build things, is out to sea, so I decided to make my own paper using items I already had at home.
The paper isn’t as uniform in size or thickness as it would be with the ‘right’ equipment, but I like its rustic appearance and think it’s a great way to use some paper scraps!
This post may include affiliate links, which means I may make a commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Supplies to Make Recycled Paper
- Paper scraps
- Scissors
- A medium bowl
- Water
- A blender or immersion blender
- A grease splatter screen
- A rimmed baking sheet
- A pie pan or glass baking dish
- A hair dryer (optional)
- Add-ins like glitter, bits of ribbon, seeds, etc. (optional)
How to make recycled paper
1. Cut or tear your paper scraps into small pieces. They don’t need to be super tiny, but try not to make them too big, either. Most of my pieces were about an inch long and maybe 1/4″ wide. My scraps were irregular, but mostly I just made little parallel cuts in the paper as if I were creating a fringe and then cut the fringe off to easily make small pieces. Place the pieces in a medium bowl as you cut them.
2. Pour enough cool water into your bowl to just cover your paper and push the scraps down into the water if it’s trying to float. Let the paper soak for a couple of hours, or until it’s soft and mushy. You can put the bowl in the fridge, if you’d like, but it really isn’t necessary unless it’s very warm in your house.
3. Once the paper is mushy, either transfer it to a blender or use an immersion blender to process it until it forms a thick pulp. I used my immersion blender and it worked just fine – I really liked that I could see how processed the paper was becoming and could leave some larger scraps intact. If the mixture is too dry to form a pulp, add a little extra water.
4. Place your splatter screen on your cookie tray.
5. Scoop the paper pulp out of the bowl and spread it out on the splatter screen. You want to make the pulp layer thin enough that the paper isn’t super thick and lumpy, but thick enough that the paper can actually stick together without holes in it.
6. Once you’ve transferred all the pulp, use your hands, a spatula, or even a pie pan to carefully press out as much water as possible.
7. Pour out the excess water, if you’d like, and allow the paper to drain/air dry until it’s, well, dry! You can speed this up a little by using a hair dryer. It may take a day or two to dry fully if you don’t use a hair dryer and it’s particularly humid. You can carefully use an iron *not* set to steam if you want to get a little extra moisture out. Just don’t burn your paper!
8. Use your paper for crafts, personalized notes, or whatever else you’d like! I enjoy the way it looks with natural edges, but you can trim them up, if you’d like.
I always feel awful about throwing away perfectly good paper scraps just because I can’t think of a way to reuse them. This project is the perfect way to put those totally cool bits and pieces to work!
Of course, it does result in a somewhat ‘rustic’ piece of paper. I have to admit that you do need the real equipment to make super ‘nice’ paper, but sometimes a homemade piece of paper that isn’t factory perfect is exactly what the situation calls for.
I think this paper would be great for personalized notes, scrapbooking, and even mixed media creations. This paper can be particularly beautiful if you include leaves, flowers, or even scraps of fabric or yarn.
Have you ever made your own paper? What inclusions are your favorite?
DIY body products on The Artisan Life
Take the guesswork out of creating safe, healthy, homemade body products for your family with these tutorials!
DIY Pumpkin Spice Body Wash
This pumpkin spice body wash is so creamy and smells like fall!
3 Nourishing Oatmeal Bath Salts Recipes for Dry Skin
3 nourishing oatmeal bath salts recipes to heal your dry skin.
Goat Milk Bath Soak Recipe
This lavender and goat milk bath soak recipe makes a great homemade gift idea.
Homemade Honey Almond Lip Sugar Scrub
This honey almond lip scrub is food safe and delicious!
Lavender Frankincense Pillow Mist Recipe
Drift off to dreamland with this pillow mist recipe.
Easy Melt & Pour Lavender Soap Recipe with Frankincense
This easy melt and pour lavender soap is a joy to use or gift!
Moisturizing Oatmeal Honey Soap for Dry Skin - The Artisan Life
This moisturizing honey oatmeal soap for dry skin is easy to make with a melt and pour soap base!
Lavender Mint Cooling After Sun Spray
This soothing after sun spray is perfect for wind or sun burned skin.
Pumpkin Face Mask for Dry Skin Recipe
This pumpkin and clay face mask rejuvinates dry skin.
Toni
Just ordered seeds to make paper note lets. Thank you for the idea
Stacey
Your post, really spoke to me.
My Dads a merchant Seafarer Mum and I ad libbed more than a few DIY type of things because Dad wasn’t home. ☺☺
Also, this is how I am currently going to be making paper. Only, I put the “slurry” into a heap of water. And then kind of shake the screen under the water to catch the pulp.
If that makes sense.
Anyway, just thought I would stop by to leave an extremely long winded comment. And to let you know… hmm… I’m not too sure how to word it…
That I feel you, with someone being away at Sea. I understand how it feels.
Not a lot of people actually ever will/do.
All the best
Stacey
xoxo