How to Make Paper for Cardmaking

Making cards is a fun and creative activity, but you can’t always find great paper to go use. This article will show you how easy it is to make your own paper for your cardmaking. It only takes a few supplies and a bit of time, and you have your own fun and creative homemade paper.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 identical wood picture frames
• Gauze fabric
• Staple gun
• Several pieces of colored craft paper (construction and tissue paper work well)
• Plastic sink basin
• Blender
• Warm water
• Paper towels
• Sink

1. To make the pulp for your paper, fill the plastic sink basin with about 1 inch of warm water. Tear the craft paper into 1-inch squares and place in the warm water. The more paper you plan on making, the more pulp you will need. The number of craft paper pieces will make about the same number of homemade paper, depending on the size. Let the paper soak for at least 2 hours, mixing it around occasionally.

2. Build the frame for the paper. Remove all backing and glass from the frame. Stretch the gauze fabric around the back side of the frame, keeping it as flat as possible and securing it with the staple gun. Pulling the fabric tightly around the frame as you staple it helps keep the fabric flat. You will only use one frame with the gauze fabric on.

3. To finish the paper mold, place the frame with the fabric gauze down with the back side and gauze facing up, then place the other frame back down on top of the other frame. The gauze fabric should be sandwiched between the two frames, with the stapled frame on the bottom.

4. After the paper has set in the water for at least 2 hours, add more warm water so that there is around 3 inches of water in the tub. With the blender, mix the paper up well. The blender will break the paper down into small pieces, creating the paper pulp.

5. Stir the pulp to distribute it evenly in the water. With the frames held tightly together, slide them into the plastic sink basin. Slide it in starting at one end, sliding it into the water from the end of the basin--this way the paper pulp will go on top of the frames and not be under the frame. Gently shake the frame back and forth under the pulp and then lift the frames straight out of the water without tipping them.

6. Set the frames in the sink to allow the excess water to run off. Dab the back of the gauze fabric with a paper towel to help remove any water on the back. Lay a few sheets of paper towel on a flat surface, remove the top frame and flip the one with the gauze fabric over and place the homemade paper on top of the paper towels. This will help remove any extra water that is still in the paper.

7. After a few minutes, turn the frame over and carefully pull the paper off the gauze fabric. Start at one corner and work slowly across so that the paper doesn’t tear. If the paper doesn’t come up easily, let dry on the paper towels for a few more minutes.

8. Repeat Steps 5 through 7 with the frames set together again if you want to make another sheet of paper.

Tips & Warnings

• The wood frames need to lay flat on the bottom of the plastic basin and be large enough to make a descent sized piece of paper--8-by-10 inches frames work well.
• You don’t have to toss the unused paper pulp--it can be frozen if you want to make more paper at a later date.
• You can add other things like glitter, dried flowers or leaves, cotton string or any other flat material to the paper pulp to give your homemade paper a unique look.