How to Trace on Homemade Paper

Homemade tracing paper is a craft that you and your children do at home.

Tracing paper is light, transparent paper that you can use in a variety of ways. These sheets can be placed on other pieces of paper so that you can trace an image. You can also use them in arts and crafts such as in wrapping paper crafts or in gift bags. Making your own homemade tracing paper requires removing most of the paper grains from a sheet of paper by using cooking oil.

Things You'll Need

• Sheet of white paper
• Large pan
• Cooking oil
• Tweezers
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Pour your cooking oil into the pan and spread it out evenly. Add enough oil so that there is about a 1/8th of an inch along the bottom along the bottom.

2. Place your piece of paper in the pan until it is completely covered by the oil. Center the piece of paper in the pan so that it isn't touching any of the sides.

3. Leave the sheet of paper in the pan for several hours. Watch the paper as it sits and you should see the paper beginning to turn transparent.

4. Lay two layers of paper towels on a table. Pick out the piece of paper using your tweezers and lay it on the paper towels.

5. Take a sheet of paper towel and wipe the surface of the paper to remove the excess oil from the top side. Pick up the sheet of paper and replace the paper towels with more paper towels.

6. Place the side of the paper you didn't wipe face up on the paper towels. Wipe down this side to remove the excess wax. Let the paper dry for several hours before using.

References

• DLTK: ABC Tracing Page
• Pioneer Thinking: How to Make Paper
• "Mother Earth News": How to Make Homemade Paper; Marrianne Saddington; December/January 1993