Things You'll Need
15 sheets of newspaper
Large glass jar with lid
3 cups hot water
Plastic spoon
Large mixing bowl
3 tablespoons of cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
Small bowl
2 10-by-12-inch sheets of wax paper
Learn about the paper-making process by crafting it from newspapers without a blender. According to the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum, paper was invented in China between 140 and 86 B.C. and was made up of soaked and pulped plant fibers, such as bamboo and hemp. One way to craft homemade paper is to repurpose old newspapers. Much like the early Chinese, pulp the fibers and form usable paper for cards, decorations and other art projects.
Step 1
Tear up approximately 15 sheets of newspaper into tiny pieces so you have roughly 1 1/2 cups of shredded paper. Put the shredded paper into a large jar and pour in 3 cups of hot water. Screw the lid on the jar. Let it stand for 3 hours.
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Step 2
Shake the jar every 30 to 45 minutes to break up the newspaper pieces. Mix it with a plastic spoon to further break down the paper fibers. Add more hot water as the newspaper starts to absorb the water.
Step 3
Pour the newspaper and water into a large mixing bowl once it looks creamy and and pasty. Mix together 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and 1/2 cup of cold water in a small bowl. Pour it into the large mixing bowl and mix well with the spoon.
Step 4
Grab a handful of the mixture and squeeze out the water. Place it on a 10-by-12-inch sheet of wax paper. Continue grabbing handfuls of the pulp mixture, squeezing out the water and placing them on the wax paper until all of the mixture is done.
Step 5
Place another sheet of wax paper over the mixture. Press it down with your hands so it is evenly flat. Leave it in the sun to dry and then let it completely harden overnight. Use it for arts and crafts projects.
Tip
If you do not have a jar, you can pulp the newspaper with a food processor.
Add food coloring or colored paper to your project to create colored paper.
The pulp can be pushed through a fine screen to create a smoother finish.
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