Make Your Own Recycled Paper
Teach your kids (or let them teach you) about the importance of trees and recycling paper by making your own paper. It’s creative, it’s hands-on, and it’s messy…so it’s sure to be a hit with kids of all ages. Here’s how it’s done:
Materials:
- Scrap paper: Think junk mail, used construction paper, or newspaper…but stay away from magazines…the glossy paper makes the mixture slimy
- Deckle: You can purchase a deckle, use a strainer, or make a deckle from aluminum pans and a piece of screen (check out the video for a demo).
- Blender
- Water
- Plastic Tub or Old Sink
- Newspaper
- Tear scrap paper into small pieces.
- Add paper to the blender until it is about 2/3 full. Add water.
- Blend mixture until it is about the consistency of oatmeal.
- Add about 3 inches of water to your tub or sink. Pour in paper mixture and mix with your hands.
- Scoop up mixture with your deckle and allow water to drain. Press gently with your hand or a damp sponge.
- Transfer deckle to newspaper. Remove paper from deckle.
- Flip a piece of newspaper of paper and gently press out water with your hands or a rolling pin.
- Allow paper to dry in the sun.
Need a demo? Check out the video:
This is awesome! I have not “made” paper since I was a kid. I know my 3 yr old will love this!
Thanks the video is just what I needed. I’m planning a wedding and my fiancee is a newspaper boy. We plan on making our on invitations, right down to the paper.
Thanku so much for posting a really helpful movie on you tube. u are a very eco friendly mom, i have a project about paper making and i couldent find a deckle, but in this movie u showed me how to make my own deckle . thanku