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We’ve provided a straightforward step-by-step guide below on how to make your own unique paper. You can be creative and add non-paper materials after blending, such as, tin foil, flower heads, yarn and even seeds. It depends on what you want your paper to look and feel like. Just experiment to see what works best for you.

Suggestions for paper types you could use:

Office paper, computer paper rolls, listing paper, old greetings cards (for heavy paper), tissue paper (for finer paper), napkins, paper bags, newspapers (for a grey-coloured paper), egg cartons, magazines, toilet paper

To make the paper, you’ll also need:

• Blender/food processor
• Wooden frame/ an old picture frame
• A sponge
• A big plastic tub/basin that’s big enough to totally immerse the frame
• Window screening (mould)
• White flannel/felt
• Staples/tacks

 

1. Choose the different papers you want to use, don’t be afraid to mix different types (see suggestions above).

2. Tear the paper up into small parts and drop into the blender. Only fill the blender container to half-way point. Then fill up the rest of it with warm water. Turn the blender on slowly and gradually speed it up (for about half a minute). The mixture should now be smooth- if you see flakes of paper, blend it for longer.

3. To make the mould, stretch the window screen over the wooden/picture frame as tightly as possible. Secure it in place using staples or tacks.

4. Half fill the basin/tub with water, and then put into it 3 blender loads of pulp. Then stir the mixture. (Optional: if you want to use your paper for writing then add 2 teaspoons of liquid starch into the mixture at this point.)

5. Submerge the mould into the pulp and move it around gently until the pulp looks level. Lift the mould out of the water, and wait till the water’s drained away from the paper. If you find that the paper is too thick, then remove some of the pulp within the tub; if it’s too thin, then add and mix some more pulp.

6. When the mould finishes dripping, align one edge of the mould with one of the edges of the felt/flannel fabric. With the paper directly facing the fabric, carefully ease the mould down. Try to press out the remaining water in the paper using the sponge. Wring out the sponge when you need to.

7. Holding down the fabric square, carefully life the edge of the mould so that the wet paper stays onto the fabric. Don’t pull the mould off too fast and make sure that you press as much water out as possible, or else the paper may stick onto the mould. Practice makes perfect! Press out possible bubbles now.

8. Repeat all the above steps and stack your felt squares onto a baking tray. Place in a bathtub and use another baking tray to squeeze the rest of the water out.

9. Lastly, separate the sheets gently. You can dry them on a clothesline or by spreading them out on newspaper sheets. Peel them off the fabric when they’ve dried.

 

To get started, check out the great range of office paper that we stock, varying in sizes and colours.