Long before paper was made in large manufacturing plants, paper was made by hand. Parents can take their children back in time and enjoy the art of paper-making with their children. In addition to creating a hand-made craft, making recycled paper provides an opportunity to teach children the importance of reusing, renewing and recycling.
Step 1
Place small torn-up pieces of recycled scrap paper into a blender so it fills it halfway. Fill the blender with warm water, and let the paper soak for about a half an hour. Blend the paper until it creates a smooth substance. This is called pulp. Make three to four batches of pulp.
Step 2
Stretch a piece of window screen tightly over a wooden frame. Affix the window screen to the frame using duct tape.
Step 3
Fill a deep pan halfway with water, add the pulp and stir.
Step 4
Put the screened frame over the pulp mixture in the pan. Submerge the screen in the mixture, and smooth out the mixture over the frame.
Step 5
Lift the framed screen out of the pan slowly and carefully. Let the water drain off of the screen into the pan. Use a sponge to press on the pulp mixture to remove excess water.
Step 6
Place the framed screen on a pile of newsprint, and cover with a second piece of window screen. Put a stack of newsprint on top.
Step 7
Turn an iron to warm setting, and carefully iron the newsprint. Doing so will help remove moisture from the paper.
Step 8
Remove the top stack of newsprint, and gently peel the handmade paper from the screen. Place the paper on a fresh piece of newsprint to dry.
Warnings
- After ironing the paper, the screen may be hot. Use caution when touching the screen to prevent burns.
