How to Recycle Junk Mail into Handmade Paper

Drowning in junk mail? Don't throw it away - turn it into beautiful, handmade paper, instead. Handmade paper is easy and fun to make. You can use it for cards, gift wrapping or crafts. You can even wrap a stack of coordinated paper with a bow and give it as a gift.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Junk mail or other paper
• Blender
• A piece of window screen (fiberglass - not metal) and a an old picture frame
• Tacks or staples to attach the screen to the frame
• Sponge
• Clean piece of white felt
• A tub large enough to fit the deckle/mold, frame or coffee can and several inches of water.

Prepare the Paper

1. Choose uncoated (non-glossy) paper and tear it into roughly one inch squares. You can use different types of paper, but higher quality paper results in higher quality results. Keep in minds that colors will blend. As a general rule, use 1 1/2-2 times the amount of paper than you want to make. You can make it in stages if necessary.

2. Place paper in blender and add enough water for the paper to move easily (at least twice as much water). Do not overfill the blender.

3. Blend the paper into pulp. Starting with a low speed such as pulse and increase it slowly. You'll want to blend it enough so there are no large pieces remaining, but be careful not to over blend. It should be thinner than oatmeal, but thicker than soup. Add more water if necessary. This is your pulp.

4. Stretch the screen over the frame and attach with staples or tacks. It should be taut.

5. Pour the pulp into the tub and add more water until you have 3 or 4 inches of water or more.

6. Dip the frame into the tub in a scooping motion (like panning for gold). Holding the frame horizontally, slowly lift it out of the water. The pulp should be evenly spread over the screen. If not, re-dip. If you're having trouble getting a good coating, add more pulp. If it's too thick, remove some pulp from the bin and dip again.

7. Gently place the piece of felt on the pulp and turn the frame over (felt-side down) and place on a water proof surface. You can also place it on a stack of newspaper.

8. Use the sponge to soak up water from the paper through the screen. If the sponge is saturated, squeeze it out and continue until you have removed as much as you can.

9. Peel the felt away the frame as carefully as possible. The paper should stick to the felt. If it doesn't, you may need to remove more water.

10. Let the paper dry for a few minutes on the felt and then carefully peel it off. Place it on a rack to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add dried flower petals or herbs during the blending process. You can also add bits of string, glitter or petals into the tub before dipping.
• This paper will not be acid-free and should not be used for archival products.
• If you'll be making paper frequently, you'll want a separate blender for the process.

[STUFFellaneous]

on 7/26/2009 My kids and I love making paper. I've even gotten their cousins and neighbor friends involved. We like to use up all our junk mail envelopes.