The way listed in the instructions for making the paper scraps is the easiest with minimal supplies being just a water bottle. It can be switched out for a blender or food processor to create smoother paste and smoother paper.
In the instructions here the way of forming the paper uses a tray with fabric. You can replace this with a deckle. There are many diy deckle instructions online.
For this activity you will need paper scraps, a plastic water bottle, warm water, fabric, a tray, a sponge or towel, rocks that will fit in the water bottle (optional), dye (optional), dry flowers or leaves (optional)
Get paper from a newspaper or copy paper. Break it apart into tiny chunks. You can use a paper shredder or your hands to do this. Fill half of the water bottle with warm water and put some paper scraps into the water bottle. You want the water bottle to have about 3 parts water and 1 part paper, but keep space in the bottle. To create smoother paper add a couple rocks into the bottle to help grind up the paper. Leave the paper to soak for about 5 minutes and then shake it. Shake it for 5-10 minutes and take 5-10 minute breaks between the shaking. If the paper doesn’t become a nice pulp but the paper has soaked up the water, add water until you have the right consistency.
Take the rocks out of the water bottle and add any dye you want. Shake up the bottle until you have the right color. Take a tray and drape fabric over the frame. If you would like you can place dry flowers or leaves onto the fabric before pouring the paper pulp over it. Smooth out the paper pulp with your hand. Drape another piece of fabric over your paper pulp. Now take a sponge or towel and dap it on top of the fabric to get the excess water out of the paper.
You can leave the paper like this to dry or take it out of the tray. To take it out of the tray, lay another piece of fabric onto where you want to dry it. Flip the paper out of the try onto the fabric and peel the fabric that was on the bottom of the tray off. Leaving it like this will be fine, but if you feel brave you can try to flip the paper off the fabric onto the fabric you have laid out.
Line up all the paper you want to make to dry for a couple days. Now you can use the paper as paper or use it in the next section to make a book with it.
For this activity you will need cardboard, a plastic water bottle, warm water, fabric, a tray, a sponge or towel, rocks that will fit in the water bottle (optional), dye (optional).
Get cardboard from recycling bins that are thin like cereal boxes. Break it apart into tiny chunks. You can use a paper shredder or your hands to do this. Fill half of the water bottle with warm water and put some cardboard scraps into the water bottle. You want the water bottle to have about 3 parts water and 1 part cardboard, but keep space in the bottle. To create smoother paper add a couple rocks into the bottle to help grind up the cardboard. Leave the cardboard to soak for about 5 minutes and then shake it. Shake it for 5-10 minutes and take 5-10 minute breaks between the shaking. If the cardboard doesn’t become a nice pulp but the cardboard has soaked up the water, add water until you have the right consistency.
Take the rocks out of the water bottle and add any dye you want. Shake up the bottle until you have the right color. Take a tray and drape fabric over the frame. If you would like you can place dry flowers or leaves onto the fabric before pouring the pulp over it. Smooth out the paper pulp with your hand. Drape another piece of fabric over your paper pulp. Now take a sponge or towel and dab it on top of the fabric to get the excess water out of the paper.
You can leave the paper like this to dry or take it out of the tray. To take it out of the tray, lay another piece of fabric onto where you want to dry it. Flip the paper out of the try onto the fabric and peel the fabric that was on the bottom of the tray off. Leaving it like this will be fine, but if you feel brave you can try to flip the paper off the fabric onto the fabric you have laid out.
Line up all the paper you want to make to dry for a couple days. Now you can use the paper as paper or use it in the next section to make a book with it.