Do you want to recycle old newspapers, flying letters to make your own paper? Your girlfriend just left you and now you want to do something artistic and destructive with her love letters? Are you simply looking for a rewarding project to dedicate yourself to during the gloomy days?
If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, you should try making your own card. All you need is some recyclable paper, water, a bowl, a frame and even a blender.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Prepare the necessary
Step 1. Prepare the necessary materials
To make the paper you will have to mix, pulp, wet and spread on a sieve. Here are several options to get you started:
- Frame Method: Spread a mosquito net on a wooden frame (an old painting is fine if you can't make a custom one) and secure it with staples or pins. The mosquito net should be stretched to the maximum. Make sure the frame is large enough to hold the size of paper you want to get. Plus, you'll need a basin, bucket or pan that is wider than the frame.
- Pan method: Buy an aluminum pan or find one you no longer use. Cut a portion of the mosquito net that is a couple of inches wider than the bottom of the pan.
Step 2. Find some recyclable paper
Newspapers are the easiest source to start with but you can also use phone directories, old printed documents, notebooks etc. provided they are made with non-greaseproof paper. Remember that the color of the cards and the amount of ink present will affect the "gray" of your creation. Avoid using glossy paper - it doesn't perform well.
Paper can also be made entirely of grass and leaves - that's how most paper was made up until the 20th century! You have to cut everything into small pieces, dip it in caustic soda to "digest" it, drain it and melt it into a pulp. Then pour it on the press. After it dries, you can proudly say, "This book contains no trees!"
Part 2 of 4: Pulp the Paper
Step 1. Clean the paper
Remove plastic, staples, and more. Especially if you use old mail, you are likely to find bits of plastic in the envelope windows. Try to carefully remove any impurities.
Step 2. Make lots of pieces
Don't waste too much time on this step. A couple of tears should be enough.
Step 3. Soak the paper in water
Place the pieces in a bowl or cup and cover with water. Leave to soak for half an hour, 45 minutes.
- If you want to make colored cardstock, use the paper with the least amount of dark ink, use lots of "mush" and some liquid food coloring. The resulting paper will probably be opaque on one side and shiny on the other. Depending on your intended use, either side may be suitable, but the bright one will probably work best for writing.
- If you wish to have a whiter paper, you can add half a cup of white vinegar to the mash.
Step 4. Turn the paper to mush
Now that the recyclable paper is moist and malleable, you can start pulping it into a thick, viscous, slightly watered substance that will eventually become your sheet of paper. Here are two possibilities:
- Blend Tear up the paper and place it in a blender, filling it halfway. Add hot water. Turn on at low speed then turn it up until the pulp is smooth and well blended (takes about 30-40 seconds) - that is, until there are no more confetti.
- Stepping on If you have a pestle and mortar (or something similar like the handle of a rolling pin or large bowl) you can grind the paper by hand. Do it a little at a time and try to get the consistency of liquid oats.
Part 3 of 4: Prepare the Charter
Step 1. Fill the basin halfway with water
It should be a little wider and longer than the sieve but about the same shape.
- If you use the frame method, fill the bowl and add the pulp before soaking the sieve.
- If using the pan method, insert the mosquito net into the bottom of the pan before adding the water and pulp.
Step 2. Add the pulp to the bowl and mix
The more pulp you put in, the thicker the sheet will come and, as much as it takes a nice layer of pulp to cover the whole mosquito net, you don't need to make everything a pulp. Try it out. The density can be different depending on whether you use paper or cardboard and the amount of water added.
Step 3. Remove any lumps
Try to collect them all: the smoother and thinner your pulp, the more uniform the final product will be.
Step 4. Customize paper use (optional)
If you're going to use it for writing, mix two teaspoons of liquid starch into the pulp. Starch helps prevent ink from being absorbed by the fibers.
If you don't add starch, the paper will be highly absorbent and the ink will probably smudge easily. In this case, briefly dip the dried paper in a mix of water and gelatin and let it dry again
Step 5. Dip the frame into the mixture (only for the frame method)
Place the wooden frame in the mash with the screen side down, then level what emerges. Move gently to the side until the mash that will cover the sieve becomes uniform.
Step 6. Lift the sieve from the pan
Slowly, lift it out of the water. Drain onto the bowl. Wait until most of the water has drained and you will see the outlines of your new piece of paper. If the paper is very thick, remove some of the pulp from the surface. If it is too thin add some and mix the mixture again.
Step 7. Remove excess water
Once the sieve is raised you will need to remove excess water from the pulp. Depending on the method you've chosen, here's how:
- Frame Method: As soon as the water stops dripping (or almost), carefully place a piece of fabric (preferably felt or flannel) or formica (the smooth side down) in the frame above the "paper". Very gently press to squeeze out the water. Use a sponge to squeeze out as much water as possible from the other side of the sieve, squeezing it every so often.
- Pan method: Place half of the towel on a flat surface and place the sieve (with paper) on top. Fold the other half over so that it covers the paper. With a low-temperature iron, gently iron the towel. You should see a wisp of steam rising from the paper.
Part 4 of 4: Run out of paper
Step 1. Remove the paper from the sieve
Once it is drier, you can lift it. Gently press any bubbles and raised edges.
- Lift the fabric or formica, removing it from the sieve. Damp paper should stick to the fabric. If it sticks to the frame, however, you probably pulled too fast or didn't clear enough water.
- You can dry a sheet by placing another piece of fabric or formica on top of it and pressing gently. This will make the resulting paper smoother and thinner. Leave the second piece there while it dries.
Step 2. Slowly separate the paper from the sieve
If it doesn't come off easily, try ironing it a second time always with a towel, of course.
Step 3. Put the paper to dry
Take the new sheet and let it dry on a flat surface. Alternatively, you can speed it up by using a hair dryer, but with a low air jet.
- Separate the paper from the fabric or form (frame method). Wait until the sheet is completely dry then gently remove it.
- Ironing (optional): When the paper is damp but ready to touch, remove the fabric or heat and use the very hot iron to dry it quickly and give it shine.
Step 4. Repeat the steps to create more sheets
Continue adding pulp and water to the bowl as needed.
Advice
- For a more artistic look you can also incorporate plant parts such as bits of petals, leaves or grass. The result will be beautiful and will entice you to create other pieces, each of which will still be unique.
- If you dry the paper on the fabric, it could take on the color and texture of the material so be careful with your choice. Smooth fòrmica can be the solution if you want a flawless sheet to write on.
- Greaseproof paper can replace fabric or formica.
- To remove excess water you can put the rag on top and press with a sponge, but gently!
- If you have trouble removing the paper from the sieve you can turn it over gently and try to remove it from the fabric or form.
- You can add cheesecloth to your mush but don't try to make paper out of it alone because it has no body.
