Making Paper

Over the past few weeks at school, my younger daughter has been working on a sustainability project.

As part of her project she wanted to try making her own paper.

She found this tutorial for making paper without a blender

 ( I didn't want newspaper in my only food blender!).

She made a 'deckle' using an old picture frame and a piece of old security screen mesh I'd kept 

(I knew it would come in useful for something!).

Then after ripping up some newspaper and soaking it in water overnight, she spread it over the deckle, adding a couple of leaves and a flower for decoration!

Then followed the drying process, after letting some of the water drip through the mesh, she flipped her paper over onto some felt, then sandwiched it between another piece of felt before putting a heavy book on top to squeeze and flatten the paper some more.

Finally she let her paper dry under the ceiling fan overnight.

It turned out pretty well don't you think?

A few days later, she started a new batch - this time adding some glitter!

Then this paper was cut, punched and tied into a small notebook as a gift for a friend!

I think there might be some more paper making and experimentation going on these school holidays....which start this afternoon!

Have you ever made you own paper?

Do you have any tips, hints or suggestions? We'd love to hear them!