Whether homeschooling or teaching in a classroom setting, teachers can get a lot of mileage out of a single paper making lesson. Making our own paper teaches us things from nearly every subject and helps us make sense of our world. Imagine if math teachers could have their students make rulers, or music teachers could make instruments in class–what a gateway to knowledge!
Here are ten great benefits to be had from making paper with students. Read the rest of this entry »
If you’re hoping to make some handmade paper gifts this holiday season for friends and family, now is the time to do it. With a little planning, hard work, and creativity, you can give your loved ones unique, heartfelt gifts that they’re not likely to get anywhere else.
Handmade paper can be gifted to nearly anyone on your holiday list. If you can’t think of something for that special someone, why not try… Read the rest of this entry »
Making paper is considered a very safe and enjoyable activity. However, like any craft, there are some dangers that can always be present. It’s important to take precautions before embarking on any new activity. Here are a few tips to do that when making paper.
Use caution when handling your screen. Remember, it’s made of wire and can cause a cut. If you make your own screen, you might even wish to wear protective work gloves until its edges are finished. Read the rest of this entry »
Paper can be used for just about anything. From scrap booking paper to gift cards, jewelry boxes to lamp shades, old paper can always be put to new use if given a little tender loving care.
Two citizens of Pune, India have been putting it to an even bigger use. The printers, Anil Gujar and Sunil Juneja, both of Pune’s leading printing press company, Inkfloat, are using discarded paper to create furniture. Read the rest of this entry »
From pilfering hotel shampoo bottles to using single squares of toilet paper at a time, we’ve all heard some pretty interesting, creative, and sometimes slightly unhinged ways to save money these days. At The Daily Green, handmade paper is considered one of many ways to re-localize the economy and go green.
They recently featured a piece on Adina Levin, the co-founder of Collab. Collab is short for collaborators, and is a Manhattan based company that plans on re-localizing the economy through helping designers, writers, artists, musicians and other creative people collaborate together to form a more sustainable world.
By enabling these innovative minds with the tools and space that they need to collaborate together, Collab hopes to get them inspired and working together, which will hopefully yield environmentally-friendly products and processes to help create localized economy.
One sustainable practice that Levin advocates–and is knowledgeable in–is making homemade paper. Levin uses a very similar process to the one posted here at Paper Making. She also promotes a messy, hands-on approach, often touching the paper pulp and getting very involved in the process. Her video and instructions are perfect for anyone who isn’t afraid to get messy and produce some truly amazing results.
Would using handmade paper really support a more local economy and a sustainable world in general? In a word, probably. By using 50% less energy and 75% less water–as well as creating up to 90% less wastewater and 70% less air pollution–than paper made from unused fibers, it definitely has less of an environmental impact.
Another fun use of recycled paper is paper mache. Paper mache is a great method of making three dimensional paper crafts, such as masks, ornaments, and figurines.
First, select your paper. Feel free to use any paper you’ve made for this project–or simply using any paper currently in your recycling bin. Newspaper is considered an optimal choice.
Tear (don’t cut) your paper into thin strips. One to three inches is a good measure, but you can vary the size however you like. Read the rest of this entry »
Founded in 1986, Hand Papermaking Inc. is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to carrying the legacy of handmade paper into the future.
The organization distributes a newsletter, sells Hand Papering magazine, and organizes events all in honor of making paper. They have also created an artist registry, as well as a limited-edition set of handmade paper portfolios.
On Sunday, October 4, the organization will be hosting a luncheon with the Boston Paper Collective near the city. Read the rest of this entry »
Many fans of recycled paper products like to use paper for all sorts of things. Reusing paper to make recycled, homemade paper is a fun way to conserve and create, but there are literally dozens of other ways to give old paper a new life.
Many of these ways include other paper products, many of which we’ve already discussed. But did you know that many non-paper products use recycled paper as an ingredient? Read the rest of this entry »
Though making your own paper and using it for personal projects is a fun and rewarding activity, handmade paper is not just for this purpose. On the contrary, handmade paper is used in the finest crafts and arts all over the world. From India to the United States, homemade paper is a staple in many artisan projects.
For your next gift or special purchase, you might consider buying one of these unique creations made by fine, handmade paper. Read the rest of this entry »
With so many ways to make paper out of recycled material out there, you may not have thought of making your own wood pulp paper. It can, however, be done.
All you need is the wood of your choice (the softer the better–scrap pine wood is a good choice), a wood plane, your paper frame, bleach, a pocket knife, a blender, a basin or sink, food coloring and water.
To keep it eco-friendly, you may wish to use fallen branches around your home. Read the rest of this entry »