How to Make Decorative Paper

Give scrap paper a new life by blending it with water to make decorative paper. You will need a fine screen and a tub larger than the screen to do this project.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old Hosiery
• Baby Bathtubs
• Fine Window Screens
• Towels
• Towels
• Baby Clothes Hangers
• Baking Pans
• Blenders
• Rolling Pins
• Spoons
• Old Newspapers
• Scrap Papers
• Towels
• Spoons

1. Gather a pile of scrap paper and tear it into small bits.

2. Boil water, remove it from heat, and soak the paper bits in the hot water for 2 to 3 minutes. The ratio should be two parts water to one part paper.

3. Blend the water and paper bits in a blender. Run the blender for a few seconds at a time until the mixture is a very fine pulp.

4. Pour the mixture into a large plastic tub (a baby bathtub works well) or a large baking pan.

5. Use a large spoon or your hands to stir the mixture until the pulp is evenly distributed in the tub or pan.

6. Repeat with more scrap paper until the mixture in the tub is deep enough to dip the screen into.

7. Add some glitter to the tub and stir again until the glitter is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

8. Submerge the screen in the mixture, dipping it below the mixture at a shallow angle and then holding it in a horizontal position.

9. Use your hands to distribute the pulp on the screen evenly and then slowly lift the screen up and out of the tub, keeping it horizontal.

10. Hold the screen over the tub until water stops dripping from the bottom (this should take less than a minute). Gently turn it from side to side to make sure all excess water drains out.

11. Quickly flip the screen over and lay it pulp side down on a short stack of lint-free towels.

12. Gently lift the screen off the layer of pulp so that the pulp remains on the towels in one piece.

13. Place another stack of towels on top of the pulp layer to blot the pulp.

14. Press firmly on the stack with your hands or use a rolling pin to squeeze out the water.

15. Carefully transfer the pulp to a new, dry stack of towels if the original stack becomes soaked. Continue blotting until hardly any water comes out when the stack is pressed.

16. Gently remove the sheet of paper and place it on a flat, dry surface to air-dry overnight.

17. Once the paper is dried, use scissors to trim the edges as desired. Some people prefer to leave the edges naturally rough.

Tips & Warnings

• If the mixture is too thick, add more water to thin it out. If your mixture is too thin, add more paper bits. Then blend again.
• In place of glitter you can add sequins, slivers of aluminum foil, flower petals or waterproof ink to the pulp. Add these items to the pulp mixture in the tub before you dip in the screen.
• You can use stacks of newspapers to blot the paper instead of stacks of towels; however, the ink in the newspapers may run into the pulp.
• Young children will need help when using the blender.

on 11/22/2005 To make a piece of paper looked aged, spray some cooking grease (such as Pam) over the paper and allow it to dry for a bit. This will give the paper a worn look. You can also tear the edges for added effect.

on 11/22/2005 Sizing your paper will allow it to accept writing without allowing the ink or paint to bleed. You can use 1/4 cup of liquid starch per batch, or use spray starch on the finished paper (not a dry sheet of paper). Add a tablespoon or two of white glue to the water as you whiz your pulp. After you have blotted as much moisture as possible from each sheet, lay a clean white cloth over the sheet and iron it, turning it over every minute or so until it's dry.

on 11/22/2005 Burn the edge of the paper. Make the paper look very old by crumpling it up a little bit and then take a lighter and burn the sides a bit (not too much). You can do the inside of the paper for a more unique look, but don't let the flame stay for too long or you won't have much paper left.

on 11/22/2005 Try adding glitter, confetti, dried botanicals, leaves, herbs, bits of dryer lint (which add color), small bits of fabric, or other flatter objects when making your own paper. Color can be added by using food dye or soaking the skin of a red onion in with the wet pulp. Also, try adding a little fragrance (i.e. a spritz of perfume) to the drying paper.

on 11/22/2005 You can make the paper look aged with tea. It's inexpensive and convenient. Use green tea for dark yellow or "Earl Grey" tea for dark brown.