Let's
Make a Recycling
Project
Papermaking
Materials:
one brown paper
bag; a big pan or
tub to hold water;
an electric blender;
a piece of fine-mesh
wire screen (window
screen is fine)
to fit in pan/tub;
one tablespoon of
liquid starch mixed
with two cups of
water; three pieces
of white blotting
paper * the same
size as the screen;
a rolling pin; an
electric iron
Optional:
colored thread,
leaves, sparkles,
food coloring
*Blotting
paper is used to
absorb ink. You
can buy it at art
supply stores. You
can buy papermaking
kits at art, environmental
or educational supply
stores.
Step
1
Make
sure there is constant
adult supervision.
Step
2
Tear
a quarter of the
grocery bag into
tiny pieces. Put
the pieces in the
blender. Fill the
blender three-fourths
full with liquid
starch-water mixture.
Put the lid on the
blender and turn
it on a high speed
for 30 seconds.
Never put your fingers
in the blender!
Step
3
Look inside the
blender and you
will see that the
paper bag has turned
into a watery mush
which is called
pulp. Put the screen
into the big pan/tub.
Next, pour the
pulp into the pan/tub
and add water.
Stir the pulp with
your fingers until
there are no lumps.
Step
4
Use your fingers
to move the pulp
around so it covers
the screen evenly.
If you want to decorate
your sheet of paper,
you can add a few
drops of food coloring
to the water, or
drop colored paper,
thread, leaves,
sparkles, confetti
or other decorations
onto the pulp that
collects inside
your screen.
Step
5
Slowly lift the
screen out of the
water, letting excess
water drip off the
screen.
Step
6
Set
the screen on top
of a piece of blotting
paper. Carefully
place another piece
of blotting paper
on top of the screen.
Turn the screen
upside down and
bang it hard so
the sheet falls
out onto the bottom
piece of blotting
paper. Remove the
screen. You'll see
your wet sheet of
paper. Put another
piece of dry blotting
paper on top of
the sheet and roll
it a few times with
the rolling pin
to squish out the
extra water.
Step
7
Put
your iron on a medium
setting (don't let
it get too hot, and
don't use the “steam” setting).
Iron your sheet while
it is still between
the blotting paper
to remove water. When
the sheet seems dry,
gently peel away
the blotting paper.
If the sheet is not
quite dry, you can
place the iron directly
on the sheet and lift
the iron back off
the sheet. DO NOT
move the iron from
side to side or your
sheet will tear.
Step
8
Now
you have a sheet
of hand made
paper. You can
trim the edges
with scissors.
Use it to write
a letter, or
fold it in half
and turn it
into a card for
a friend.
