Make Your Own Recycled Paper

Recycled papers could be used in many ways. It could be used as greeting cards, stationeries, gift tags, or even as gift wrappers! Recycling papers is so fun and easy to do. Here's how to do it.

You will need...
-a food processor or old blender
-electric iron
-old wire hanger
-old pair of panty hose
-newspaper or other paper torn into 2-inch squares
-white glue
-water
-insect screen or strainer (optional)
-food coloring
-a big sink or tub filled with about 4 inches of water

Your working place should be somewhere where you can make a big mess.

First, you have to make a frame out of the old wire hanger. You'll need a frame for each piece of paper you make. Stretch the hanger and bend it into a rectangle or a square shape. Take one leg of the panty hose and stretch it carefully over the hanger frame. Just make sure it is tight and flat.

Next, put a handful of the torn paper and some water into the food processor or blender. Blend the mixture on high until it becomes mushy. Keep adding paper and water until you have a big gray blob. You may have to add a little more water to keep things moving smoothly. Keep the food processor on until all the paper has disappeared. Then leave it on for 2 minutes.

For some color, add a handful of brown or red onion skin. Just the papery outer skin, not the onion itself.

After that, put 2 tablespoons of white glue in the sink water and all of the paper pulp you just made. Mix it really well. You may use your hands for this.

Scoop the frame to the bottom of the sink, then lift it slowly. Let the water drain out for about a minute.

Hang the frames on a clothesline or put them out in the sun. Wait until they are completely dry with no dampness at all. You can then gently peel off the paper.

Use the iron, set it on the highest setting to steam out your paper. You can keep making paper until the pulp is all strained out of the sink. Don't forget to mix up the sink every time you make a new piece.

You might want to try other things like using an insect screen over a wood frame, or a strainer instead of the pantyhose and hanger. Try adding lots of food coloring, for colored paper or try adding lint or leaves to the food processor. Your paper will surely have an interesting texture.

http://www.make-stuff.com/recycling/paper.html