I enjoy making crafts from stuff that people generally throw away. When I make candles, I use wax left over from old candles. I reuse paper coffee cups or toilet paper rolls to make the candle molds . When creating mosaics, I use shards from broken pottery. I love recycling and reusing. It makes my art more meaningful to me.

One of my favorite things to make is paper. In fact, we made our wedding invitation from handmade paper. At the time I was lucky to be working with an AmeriCorps member who was stationed at the Women’s Studio Workshop, which has a wonderful paper making studio. Stacy was very patient, but also a perfectionist. She helped me make beautiful wedding invitations and some extra pieces that I later made into our Ketubah.

When Mathew was a little one he was enthusiastic about paper making as well. February was our time to make some paper for valentines to give to his classmates. It’s a great activity to do with kids.

You will need some supplies:

• Blender (do not use the same blender you use with food,  as some inks in paper may be toxic)
• Deckle (get an empty picture frame, then staple a piece of window screen to the inside of the frame)
• Shredded paper
• Colored paper
• Sponge
• Tub
• Water
• Old newspaper

 How to make paper:

• Fill blender 3/4 with shredded paper, do not pack.
• Add some colored paper.
• Fill blender with water, leaving about an inch and half space from the top.
• Cover and start blender on low setting and move to higher settings gradually. Do not leave blender on too long, since it may burn out the motor.

  

  blending paper into slurry

• Stop when the mixture has completely macerated and looks a little like oatmeal – now you have slurry.
• Add the slurry to the tub.

  

  pouring slurry into the the tub

• Repeat above one or more times.
• Once you have filled the tub half way, you are ready to make paper.
• The slurry will be thick; stir so there is an equal consistency throughout tub.
• Now you are ready to “pull” a sheet. Scoop the deckle down into the slurry towards the bottom of the tub at a 45° angle, totally submerging it. Slowly lift the deckle out of the water allowing the water to drain out (back into the tub) for about a minute. This may take some practice, no worries the paper is very forgiving.

  

  pulling paper

• If you do not like how it came out, simply turn the deckle over and “kiss” or touch the screen to the slurry, all the paper will go back into the slurry.
• Each time you put the deckle into the slurry make sure to mix the slurry again to disperse the fibers evenly.
• Once you have “pulled” a good sheet, cover the top of the deckle with old newspaper and flip quickly and lay the newspaper/handmade paper/deckle (in that order) on flat surface
• Start to tap screen so the handmade paper releases from screen onto old newspaper and slowly pull one side of the deckle away from handmade paper.
• Gently lay sponge on handmade paper and push with a flat level hand to absorb water. When done put in a place to dry.

  

  removing moisture

• Once handmade paper is totally dry, it will simply peel away from newspaper

  

  handmade paper drying

  Congratulations you now have a piece of handmade paper! It is ready to be written or drawn on, made into something, wherever your imagination takes you. Enjoy!

  

  handmade paper