How to Make Homemade Paper: A Fun DIY Project

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Creating sheets of paper is a fun, inexpensive hobby crafters of all ages will love. In fact, you probably have most of the supplies already! All you need is a blender, paper scraps, water, and a DIY deckle (don’t worry, we’ll teach you how to make that too). So, keep reading to learn how to make paper at home for all your artsy needs.

Things You Should Know

  • Make a deckle out of a wooden frame and window screen so that you can mold, press, and shape your paper.
  • Blend scraps of recycled paper with water to create a slurry and base for your DIY paper.
  • Add food coloring, seeds, or glitter to your slurry to make your paper even more unique.
Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Pulping the Paper

PDF download Download Article
  1. Attach a sheet of window screen to a wooden frame . Use a pair of sharp shears or scissors to cut the screen into a 12 in × 8 in (30 cm × 20 cm) rectangle. Then, place the cut section of screen over a wooden frame. Staple or nail the screen to the outer edges of the frame. [1]
    • This simple contraption is called a deckle and will help press, shape, and mold your DIY paper.
    • If you don’t have the materials to make a deckle, try shaping the paper by handing by pressing it between 2 pieces of cloth. [2]
  2. Newspaper may be the easiest source to start with, but you can also use old print-outs, notes, or phone books. Just about any un-waxed paper product will do. Keep in mind that the color of the papers you use and the amount of dark ink on the paper will affect the color of the paper you make. For instance, dark and inky materials will produce dark gray paper. [3]
    • To make white paper, collect white sheets of paper with little ink to no ink on them. Even the smallest amount of ink can turn your paper gray.
    • Avoid using glossy or shiny paper from magazines, photographs, or wrapping paper, as it doesn’t work well for papermaking.
    • 6 cups (768 g) of scrap paper can make a handful of pages, depending on the size and thickness of your paper.
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Paper at Home
    Especially if you’re using junk mail, your paper scraps are likely to contain plastic from envelope windows. If staples or other contaminants are left in the paper, they could damage your blender during the pulping process.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Paper at Home
    The pieces don’t have to be perfectly uniform, but they should all be around 2 in (5.1 cm) in size. [4] If you’re making a large amount of paper and don’t want to spend hours ripping up individual sheets, try putting the paper through a shredder.
    • If you’re doing this project with kids, they’ll love tearing the paper apart. Let them be in charge of this step!
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Paper at Home
    Put the shredded pieces of paper in a kitchen pitcher or a large plastic bowl until the container is roughly half full. Fill the pitcher (or plastic bowl) to the brim with warm tap water to ensure that all of the paper scraps are completely submerged. Let the scraps soak for 4 to 6 hours or overnight, so they become nice and soft. [5]
    • If all your paper doesn’t fit into one pitcher or bowl, no worries! Soak the paper in multiple containers at once or in one large plastic bucket.
    • If you want whiter paper, add 1 ⁄ 2 cup (120 mL) of white vinegar to the pulp mixture to “bleach” the paper scraps.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Paper at Home
    Blend the paper with water for at least 30 seconds to turn it into a slurry . Pour the soaked paper scraps into a blender until it’s about two-thirds full. Then, add 2 to 3 cups (470 to 710 mL) of water. [6] Run the blender on “slow” and blend for approximately 30 to 40 seconds. Blend until the mixture is smooth and there are no flakes of paper remaining. [7]
    • Try not to over-blend the paper, as a thin, soupy slurry won’t mold into paper well.
    • Blend your soaked paper scraps in batches if you soaked them in multiple pitchers or bowls. This way, the blender won’t be too full and can blend each batch evenly.
    • This thick, oatmeal-like mixture is called a slurry and is a combination of paper pulp (blended soaked paper clumps) and water.
    7. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Adding Unique Elements

PDF download Download Article
  1. Put 5 to 6 drops of food coloring into 1 blender's worth of slurry. After you add the food coloring, stir the slurry with a spoon until the color is evenly distributed. If you'd like to make 2 different colors of paper, add drops of different colors to separate batches of slurry. [8]
    • If you mix more than 2 colors in a single pitcher, you'll end up with an ugly brown.
    • Try adding drops of brewed coffee to color and darken your paper with a natural dye.
  2. Create seed paper by adding a handful of wildflower seeds to your slurry. Pour half a packet of seeds into your slurry after you've blended it. This type of paper makes a great artistic and unique gift. Plus, the texture is fun to color on. [9]
  3. Add a pinch of glitter to the slurry to make your paper sparkle. For bright, glistening paper, drop 1 tsp (4 g) of glitter into the slurry after blending. Choose whatever color you’d like; just avoid adding too much glitter because it could dry out the slurry. [10]
    4. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Setting the Paper

PDF download Download Article
  1. Fill a large foil pan at least a third of the way full with warm water. Use a pan that’s at least 18 by 24 inches (46 cm × 61 cm) so you can make a large batch. Fill the pan halfway with water to make delicate paper, or fill it less than a third of the way full for tough, fibrous paper.
    • A large casserole pan or even a rectangular plastic bin works well for this step; just make sure the basin is a little wider and longer than your deckle.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Paper at Home
    Start by adding at least 5 cups (1190 mL) of slurry. The amount of slurry you add to the water will determine the thickness of the paper. If you’re new to making paper, experiment a bit with the amount of slurry you use. Change the paper thickness by adding more or less slurry to the pan. Stir the slurry around with a spoon or your hands until it’s evenly distributed throughout the pan. [11]
    • The more slurry you add, the thicker the paper will be. The less slurry you add, the thinner the paper will be.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Paper at Home
    Hold the frame at a 45-degree angle and submerge it into the basin with the screen side facing downward. Once the frame is fully submerged, tilt it back, so it’s level under the slurry. Lightly shake the frame from side to side until the pulp on top of the screen lies flat. [12]
    • If you don’t even out the pulp on top of the screen, you’ll end up with an uneven paper that has thinner and thicker spots.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Paper at Home
    Be careful not to tilt the frame as you lift it. Hold the frame over the basin for 4 to 5 minutes so the excess water can drip out of the pulp. Wait until most of the water has drained from the pulp. If you don’t want to tire out your arms, just rest the frame on 1 corner of the pan. [13]
    • If the paper is thicker than you’d like it to be, remove some of the pulp from the top. If it’s too thin, dip it into the slurry mixture again and pile more slurry on top of the screen.
    5. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Couching the Paper

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Paper at Home
    Flip the frame upside down and place it on top of 2 to 3 towels. Make sure the side of the frame you nailed or stapled the screen to is facing upward, so the paper is pressed against the towels. Gently press down on the back of the screen to transfer the sheet of paper from the screen to the drying towels. Then, use a sponge to press out as much water as possible from the other side of the screen, periodically wringing out the sponge as you do. [14]
    • If you don’t have towels, try using a large sheet of felt or cloth instead.
  2. Gently lift the towel out of the frame, leaving the wet sheet of paper on the towel. If the paper sticks to the screen, you may have pulled too fast or not pressed out enough water. [15]
    • Try drying out and flattening a thicker piece of paper by placing another towel on top of it and pressing down on it gently with your hands.
    • Consider using a hair dryer to blow hot air on the underside of the paper for 10 to 15 seconds to help it transfer.
    • Transferring the paper from the deckle to the towel is called couching (pronounced “coo-ching”).
    • Sometimes, thicker paper doesn’t transfer to the towel easily. If your paper gets stuck, gently peel it off the screen using your fingers. [16]
  3. Take the paper and lay it out to dry on a flat surface, or hang it up on a laundry line using a clothes pin . [17] Depending on the thickness of your paper, it can take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours for it to dry completely.
    • Try speeding up the drying process by blowing hot air from a hair dryer on the paper. Use the lowest setting, and keep the hot air on the paper for about 10 minutes.
    • Avoid leaving your paper to dry on a colored sheet of paper because it may take on the shape and color of the material it’s drying on.
  4. When your paper is completely dry to the touch, you can start using it! Try storing it in a closed book to keep it nice and flat until you’re ready to create, or start drawing, printing, or painting on it right away. Here are some creative ways you can use your homemade paper:
    • Send a friend or family member a letter using paper designed specifically for them.
    • Create name cards for weddings or parties.
    • Make a book or journal using the paper.
    • Print a picture or story onto the paper.
    • Scrapbook or create a collage .
    5. Advertisement



Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Can you actually write on the paper?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can write on the paper. Some markers may bleed on certain homemade papers, depending on how porous the paper is. As such, you just need to be mindful of which pens, pencils or markers you use to write on the paper with.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 53 Helpful 192
  • Question
    What amount of paper, lint, and leaves for the pulp is needed?
    Community Answer
    It's up to personal preferences. If you want a chunkier paper, or paper that visibly has more leaves, grass, bark etc., then feel free to add more. You may just have to take more time grinding and experiment with the amount of water added to your pulp. Paper making is very much a personal thing and it's easily modified -- add as little or as many different materials as you want! Additionally, the amount of pulp you may need will change, depending on how much paper you plan to make, so don't be afraid to experiment a bit with how much you use, how thick your paste is and how much water you add ,etc.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 55 Helpful 119
  • Question
    Can I add colored dye to my paper?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. Avoid adding too much, or your paper may end up too soggy or too dark. Start with about 1 teaspoon, then add more as necessary.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 55 Helpful 118
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Read Video Transcript

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Things You'll Need

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Plant Angel Trumpet Seeds
      How to
      Make Paper Look Old
      How to
      Create Papier Mâché
      The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Secret Note Square
      How to
      Make Paper Pulp
      How to
      Make Your Own Perforated Pages
      How to
      Make Papyrus
      How to
      Make Flash Paper
      How to
      Waterproof Paper
      How to
      Emboss Paper
      How to
      Make Tracing Paper
      How to
      Bleach Paper
      How to
      Make Recycled Paper
      How to
      Make Parchment Like Paper for Writing
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-crash-course-basic-papermaking
      2. ↑ https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-crash-course-basic-papermaking
      3. ↑ https://www.eekwi.org/activities/arts-crafts/make-your-own-paper
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/h8pv_p7jhQc?t=146
      5. ↑ ​​ https://shelburnefarms.org/sites/default/files/papermaking.pdf
      6. ↑ https://shelburnefarms.org/sites/default/files/papermaking.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.eekwi.org/activities/arts-crafts/make-your-own-paper
      8. ↑ https://www.eekwi.org/activities/arts-crafts/make-your-own-paper
      9. ↑ https://climatekids.nasa.gov/seed-paper/
      1. ↑ https://papermakingresources.com/basic_started.html
      2. ↑ https://shelburnefarms.org/sites/default/files/papermaking.pdf
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/rn9UsSafWHI?t=415
      4. ↑ https://papermakingresources.com/basic_started.html
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/h8pv_p7jhQc?t=362
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/h8pv_p7jhQc?t=402
      7. ↑ https://papermakingresources.com/basic_started.html
      8. ↑ https://papermakingresources.com/basic_started.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make paper, you'll need to make a paper pulp then lay it flat to dry. Start by tearing up some newspaper or notebook paper then soaking the pieces in water for 30 minutes. Put the soaked paper in a blender with some warm water and blend it for 30 seconds. Then, you'll need to spread the paste out on a framed mesh screen to dry. If there's any excess water, soak it up with a towel. Make sure it's completely dry before peeling it off the screen and let it lay flat overnight. To learn how to add fun decorations to your paper, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,659,554 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Wanda R.

        Jul 17, 2023

        "It explained step by step the process of making the paper. I plan on using the finished paper in my card making and ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement