Background
Homemade paper is great way to teach about recycling and learn about a technology.
Materials and Tools
- Paper pulp made from soaked white paper then blended until the fibers are loose
- windows screen on wood frame
- deckle frame identical to window screen frame without the screen
- felt
- towels
- basin big enough to fit screen
- pizza pan or other flat surface
Directions
Place the deckle frame onto the screen with the screen pinched between the decal frame and the paper making screen. Submerge it in the water deckle side up. Add a few cups of pulp into the frame, and distribute as evenly as possible. Shake it to spread it out and fill the frame evenly. The more pulp you add the thicker your paper will be.
Now you can place objects of interest leaves or materials in your paper. Place them on the surface and add a little bit of pulp on top of these objects to seal them into the paper.
If pulp completely covers the object you won't be able to see the object very well. Carefully lift the screen out of the water and shake it a little bit and tilt it to let the water drain off.
Asit drains the paper will begin to hold together and you can then remove the deckle frame and then place a piece of felt on top of the paper. The felt acts as an absorbent to get more of the water out and and provides a support to hold the paper as you transfer it off the screen.
Rotate the screen upside down on to a towel to absorb more of the water. Press another piece of felt on the screen to absorb as much water and force water into the towel.
Now the piece of paper is clinging to the felt and you can carefully pry up the screen and lift it off the felt. The paper has a rough edge left by the deckle frame when it was removed.
Now you can add more felt to wick up more water, wring it out and continue until the paper is fairly solid.
Flip the felt and paper over onto a flat surface and then gently peel back the felt by rolling it off at sharp angle and then let the paper dry.
