With the threat of global warming and other environmental concerns looming over us these days, more people are turning to reusing and recycling things in their homes. It’s easy to find a new life for a milk jug, toilet paper rolls or even used clothing (did you know that you can make insulation out of old jeans?), but some household wastes are hard to find uses for.
Dryer lint may not have been on your list of things to reuse, but it can actually be a good base to use for making paper. (more…)
We’ve learned how to make paper, and even how to add a bit of grass to homemade paper to give it some texture or a nature look. But did you know that you can actually make paper out of plain old grass? While the smell from making paper out of grass isn’t for people with weak stomachs, it can still be a fun way to use up your grass clippings.
First, gather up all of your grass clippings. (more…)
Now that you have the consistency for the thickness of paper you want, be sure to remove any and all clumps that you can see. Make your paper-paste as smooth as you can.
If you plan on using your paper for stationary or other writing purposes, you will want to make it ready for ink use. To prevent ink from soaking into your new paper, simply add two teaspoons of liquid starch into your paste mix and stir it well. (more…)
Now that your preparation frame is ready, it’s time to pick out the medium for your paper. Different types of paper will give your finished product different looks, so be sure to select the look you want. For example, envelopes result in high-quality paper, while newspapers typically create gray paper. As long as the paper contains no wax, it should work.
Clean up your paper before you begin.
Making paper can be an enriching, creative hobby for anyone interested in creating their own paper. It’s easy enough for almost anyone to do, and provides a fun activity to use in teaching children about where paper comes from.
Homemade paper makes a very personal, unique addition to your stationary–as well as a beautiful gift. Since it’s acid-free, it’s also great for people who like to do scrapbooking. Results are also typically of high quality, perfect for elegant invitations, thank you cards and announcements. (more…)