Even the simplest act of conservation can go a long way, not to mention providing some really interesting results. This is exactly the case with at-home paper-making. Making your own paper is a fun craft that not only helps use waste from oft unrecycled materials, but also gives a wealth of unique designs perfect for gift-wrapping, scrap booking, card-making, or printing.
To start you’ll need a variety of old papers, anything from tissue paper to junk mail. I like to add interesting fibers too, like fringed hemp or twine, or even flowerpetals (just make sure they’re not completely dry or they’ll crumble.) Colored tissue paper will add colour, while cotton fibers help give the paper a stronger consistency. In all; Experiment! It’s half the fun!
You Will Need:
1.Shred your paper into small bits either by tearing or using a shredder. For a unique look, mix the types of paper you use.
2. Put shredded paper into blender and blend with warm water.
3. Fill bowl or wash basin with warm water and pour in pulp. The greater the pulp to water ratio, the thicker your paper will be.
4. Lower the mold and deckle into the mixture with the mesh of your mould facing up and the deckle on top of it. Push the pulp away from you as you submerge, and then let it sit on the bottom of the basin. As the pulp settles, it should cover the mesh of the mold.
5. Now carefully remove from the basin and let the mold and deckle settle over the bowl, allowing the excess water to drain.
6. Move the mold and deckle to a dry surface. Remove the deckle so that you’re left with a pulp-covered mold. Roll the mold onto a clean piece of cloth and press down, squeezing the pulp between the mesh and the cloth. Using a sponge, work any extraneous pulp through the mesh onto the cloth.
7. Remove the mold, leaving your pulp sheet on the cloth.
8. Press down with another cloth to help the pulp dry. Wring the cloth and then place back over the paper, setting a heavy book on top to keep the paper flat.
9. After about half and hour, you can move your paper to a warm, dry place to finish the drying process.
Some companies, like Botanical Paperworks, have even gone so far as to mix seeds into their paper, which can be given in the form of a card and then planted to produce yet another gift- a live plant!
Others are using the same idea with different products, like reusing scrap fabrics for clothes and art. Other partner ideas include homemade paints, free of chemical components and employing the same spirit of experimentation. In all, there are a wealth of ways to impress your own style onto staying green.
