Scrap paper--figure one cup (or 1/4 liter) of scraps per sheet of paper, loosely packed

An ordinary kitchen blender (well, it doesn't have to be ordinary...just perform like one).

A section of window screen--metal-wire screen is best, although synthetic screens will also work. You'll need a section slightly larger than the size of paper you'd like to make

A vat or tub large enough to accomodate the screen, 3/4 full of clean water--it should be at least a foot deep (30 cm) deep, and the screen should fit in it horizontally, with room on the edges for your fingers

2 large pieces of wool felt that are slightly larger than the size of paper you'd like to make (available at fabric stores--buy the thickest you can find)

A kitchen rolling pin

A laundry line and clothes pins (spring-loaded pins work best)

Optional:

Lint from a clothes-dryer lint trap

Small flowers, leaves, feathers or decorative threads

A drop of white glue

A hand press: this is a metal plate with a screw mechanism that lowers the metal plate, and compresses whatever's beneath it

An old-fashioned laundry machine with rollers and a bucket

About an hour to assemble and process the materials, and an afternoon (3+ hours) to dry

2torial #0697: Learn2 Make Homemade Paper The press is on! Bring the paper chase home to roost. Making your own paper is fun, easy, and a delightful project for the weekends. Note that this 2torial won't teach you to make printer-quality office paper (although you can recycle used office paper to make your own new paper)--it'll teach you to create pages of personalized pulp upon which to pen your powerful sentiments. Why? Homemade paper lends a distinctive personal touch to any project from greeting cards to a personal note or letter. And it's much easier than it sounds once you draw off a page or two. Historically, the best papers in Europe were first made from a processed sheep, goat, or calf skin. Other parts of the world used woven vegetable fibers pounded together: the Egyptians used papyrus, a long coarse grass; and the cultures of China and Japan are known even today for producing very fine rice papers, made from the rice leaves or shoots. When the development of the printing press created a demand for paper, Europeans used old rags and recycled clothing, and eventually wood pulp from trees. Most paper products today, from newspapers to packing boxes, is made from wood pulp, a poor-quality fiber requiring glues and bleaches to be added. These additives, called sizing, account for the yellowing effect you see in old newspaper clippings. The quality of paper is largely based on the fibers used. Look around your home for attractive scraps you've been saving. Many different colors can be mixed, but bear in mind what the paper will be used for. Keep the colors relatively uniform and light in hue if it'll be used for writing. A small amount of glossy, bright paper can be added to otherwise bland fibers to give a speckled effect. Use scrap paper which contains a minimum of writing and printed ink on it. These could tint the paper unevenly, or worse, an unintended memo from the past could find its way back to the surface. Step 1