How to Make Paper with Trash

Want to create something useful out of old magazines or paper? Read more to find out how you can do that!

During this quarantine, I’ve gotten more interested in getting crafty. More specifically, crafts that involve using garbage to make something entirely new.

This craft reuses something we all have: used paper. This doesn’t only include old notes and scrap paper, you can also use cardboard, old magazines, flyers, or really anything made out of paper.

In this blog, I will provide two ways to make this, the easy way and the hard way. The hard way is longer and requires more work, but is a good option for those who don’t have access to a blender or deckle.

Easier Method (requires deckle and blender)

Materials

- Used paper

- Water

- A blender or emulsifier

- A large rectangular container/bin (you could use a storage bin, food container, as long as it’s deep enough)

- A deckle OR chicken wire/window screening, 2 identical photo frames, and a staple gun

- A sponge

- Strainer

- Felt/fabric/an old shirt/microfiber towel

If you don’t have a deckle, here’s how to make one:

Remove everything from the photo frames so that you only have the actual frames.

Take one photo frame and put the wire/window screen on it. Cut the screen to the right size (leave around 1 inch extra on all 4 sides) and stretch the screening so that it’s nice and tight on the frame. Staple the screening on by stapling it on to the edges (or behind the frame if you left a lot of screening). Now, you place your other photo frame on top and you have your deckle!

Now, onto the actual paper making:

1. Shred your paper by hand, you don’t need to make it incredibly small, but just enough to not destroy your blender. Add the shredded paper to the blender. Next, add enough water to submerge all of the paper. Once you’re done with this step, blend until you’re paper is fully shredded.

2. Next, put your mixture through a strainer so that you’re only left with the paper pulp. (You can also skip this step)

3. Depending on whether or not you strained your mixture, you can add your pulp to the container filled with water or just pour the mixture in. Mix the water so that the mixture/pulp is evenly mixed. 

4. Take your deckle (hold on tight to make sure the frame on top doesn’t move too much) and submerge it in the bin, and let the water drip out as you take it out. Keep it over the bin and pat down the paper with a sponge, absorbing as much water as you can without breaking or ripping the sheet of paper. 

5. Then, remove the top frame and carefully flip the paper onto a felt, microfiber towel, shirt, etc. 

6. Let the paper dry under the sun. Once it’s completely dried you're finished! 

You can watch this video on it if you’d like some visuals to this tutorial. This video is really entertaining and even gives some ideas on how to spice up the paper:

https://youtu.be/rn9UsSafWHI

More Difficult Method (no deckle or blender needed)

Materials

- Old paper

- Scissors 

- A beaker/wide mug/bowl

- Water

- Rolling pin

- Microfiber towel

- Shirt/fabric

- A sheet of cardboard slightly larger than the size of the paper you wish to make

How to make the paper:

1. Shred the paper very finely. I did this process by hand and it took 10 minutes for 2 sheets of paper. I recommend having a family member or friend help you out. 

2. Next, place the shredded paper in your beaker or bowl and add enough water to completely submerge the paper. Let this soak overnight.

3. Cut the mixture for 15-30 minutes. Make sure you really shred the paper during this process. Strain the water from the mixture and add enough water to submerge your paper. Let this soak for an hour. 

4. You can cut the paper for another 5-15 minutes if you didn’t shred it finely enough before. Now, strain the water but leave enough for your pulp to be damp. It should have a paste-like texture.

5. Place your cardboard down, place the towel on top of that, and the shirt on top. Start placing your mixture on top slowly until you have a somewhat rectangular shape the size of your liking. Try to make it as even as possible and fill in all holes with your paste.

6. Take your sponge and absorb some water. Be careful to not rip the paper, but also try to absorb as much water as you can.

7. Place another towel on top of the paper and grab your rolling pin. Start rolling the paper and squeeze all the water out. Also try to flatten the paper out by adding equal pressure during the whole rolling process. Remove your paper and squeeze the water out of the towel and shirt. Repeat the rolling with the cardboard, towels and shirt 3-6 more times. 

8. Once your paper is less fragile, place your paper on the cardboard and start rolling it. Again, apply even pressure throughout. After doing this 3-4 times, roll out the paper on your countertop, desk, or really any completely flat surface. You can skip this step if you don’t mind the textured pattern the towels and cardboard might’ve left on the paper.

My paper I made the hard way before the drying process.

Let this dry near a window until it is completely dry. You can cut the edges to make your paper look cleaner. Add your trimmings and the wet cardboard to your next batch of paper paste so that you can make more homemade paper!

Have fun!