Making Paper

I was given a paper recycling kit for Christmas when I was 13 and I used it to recycle all the Christmas paper that year. My love of this craft was born and through trial and error and the help of some library books over the years I have got it down to a few easy steps that anyone can follow. A couple of people lately have asked me how to do it so here are those easy steps for you to try at home.

Getting Started

There are a few essential tools you will need before you start making your paper. The most important thing is a mould and deckle. This is what the sheet of paper will be formed on. I made my own using thin strips of wood and covering it with very fine net curtain mesh that I stapled onto the back of one of the frames. My frame makes A4 sized pieces of paper but you can make the frame to any size you want. In the USA and the UK there are specialist paper supply shops that sell ready made ones.

The next most important thing you will need is a blender to pulp the scrap paper. I just got a household one from Briscoes that I keep exclusively for papermaking.

You will also need a sponge, a roller (I am using a rubber lino cut roller available from art supply stores)

Heading 3