Make your own Paper!

How many times have you thought 'I'd like to make my own paper' ? With this kit and the instructions below now you can.
Every year we throw away tonnes of paper, of which the majority is recyclable. So grab those old newspapers and yesterday's junk mail and let's see how to make it back into useable paper.

* A blender with at least a litre capacity,
* 2 rigid and non absorbent boards about 32cm x 33cm (for A4 paper making),
* A large container large enough to submerge the frame in,
* Sheets of felt,
* A rolling pin,
* A wooden frame and sieve frame,
* And of course lots of soaked paper - soaked for at least 2 hrs - to which you can add wallpaper paste, PVA, china clay, dried flowers, leaves etc.

Soak small pieces of paper in water (shredded paper works well) for at least 2hrs - but preferably overnight.
Add 75ml of warm water to the blender and add a handful of wet paper.
Mix for about 10 to 20 seconds to achieve the consistency of porridge.
Tip out the blender into the big container - which is your moulding vat, and add warm water until half full.
Mix well and assemble the frame by placing the open frame over the sieve frame

Place the assembled frame vertically into the container, sieve side towards you.
Bring to horizontal underwater and rock the frame back and forth.
Gently lift the frame to collect pulp.
Let the frame drain for a few minutes - you can also sponge off the underside of the frame to remove moisture quicker.

Remove the outer part of the frame and place to one side.
Place a felt over the wet pulp sitting on the sieve,
Roll once with the rolling pin,
Place one of the boards over the felt, then keeping them tightly together turn quickly over.
Once upside down, remove the sieve frame by starting with one edge and peeling back slowly - be careful not to tear the wet sheet - it's still very fragile at this stage!
Place another felt over the damp sheet avoiding creases and repeat the process.

Remove the top board, then take off the felt sandwiches one at a time - each time you should lift this configuration

Felt
Sheet of paper
Felt

Hang or lie these out to dry like washing.
The felts will peel off the sheets after about 24hrs, or whenever the sheets are completely dry - try and do this too early and the sheets will tear.

Tips:

Newspaper gives a slightly grey paper, financial times a nice peachy grey, copier paper off white - especially if heavily used. Magazines make quite dark paper as all inks mix to form a near black colour.