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From rags to riches - how to make your own paper

My recent decision to combine my businesses left me with a surplus of old business cards, I couldn’t bear the thought of wasting them and trying to get them all used up was delaying my progress in building my brand. I began researching ways to reuse my cards or give them a new lease of life when I remembered about the time, I made paper in primary school. I’m not sure I actually made the paper as much as I observed, anyway I decided to delve into researching how to do that at home.



That’s when I reached my first obstacle – I didn’t have a ‘mould and deckle’ in normal language, that’s the frame and mesh part you need to make and shape your paper. Now in an ideal world you would maybe have the patience to go and buy one or order one online, or even watch some videos on how to make your own. That’s not my style, patience is not for me when I want to get busy with a new project. So, I googled a picture of one and kept staring at it until I had an idea of what I needed. A photo frame and an old dressing up costume. I found a metal photo frame I already had (I’m sure a wooden one would work just as well) and I removed the glass and backing until I was left with just the frame. I then got an old dressing up skirt a cut a piece of the mesh tutu to the same size as the frame. I got some super glue and glued it to the back. Voila!




The next is cutting up your paper into very small pieces, do this until you have used up all of your scraps – I used my business cards, some old envelopes and other paper packaging. Anything will do however, if the paper is particularly glossy or seems like it could have a plastic film, I wouldn’t recommend using it. then put all of the pieces into a bucket or tum and cover with water. As I was using strong business cards, I soaked mine overnight – 24hrs however if it is just thin paper you are using just a few hours will do. I used some unwanted children’s drawings this time and you can see how the ink came into the water; I definitely think this altered the shade of the paper – in the best way!



Now that you paper has soaked you can remove some of the water, it is important to keep some of it in there as that’s what helps to create the pulp. I initially remove most of the water and then top up my mixture with water as I am mixing as I feel it gives me more control on the texture. This is where you could add any colourants you would like to use; I personally don’t add these as I really enjoy seeing the flecks of colours throughout the paper from the different things I have used.


You can now either put the paper and water into a blender or, as I like to do, use a soup blender. Blend the paper into a fine pulp, its okay to have some lumps as they make nice accents however too many will mean the paper may not be the right consistency. Add water as you go until you have a fine mush – photographed bellow.





Get a large bowl, basin, or tub which fits your mould with space and roughly half fill it with water. Spoon plenty of the paper pulp into the water and give it a mix. Now, entering at an angle, submerge your deckle and mould into the water and shimmy it to the top. Hold it there for a moment while the pulp settles and the water drains, I also like to clean the edges of the frame and gently move pulp away from any corners where I think they may get stuck.




Then flip your paper onto an already prepared surface which will have a towel and a piece of soft fabric – I used a large scarf – on top of the towel. Now use a sponge to absorb as much of the moisture as you can. I squeezed my sponge after pressing once, then pressed a second time and finally I used a piece of absorbent cloth – such as face cloth, or hand towel. This eases the removal of the paper from the frame. Don’t worry if the paper breaks as you can always collect up the pieces, put them back in the water and try again! Keep repeating this process until you run out of enough pulp to make a strong piece of paper – the thicker the mixture in the bowl the thicker the paper! The opportunities this paper brings is endless! Once the paper has been removed from the frame place another piece of soft fabric over the top and roll it out with a rolling pin, this helps to keep the paper flat and even.



Once you have rolled out your paper onto pieces of fabric you can either leave these to dry just as they are or you can hang the pieces of fabric on a clothes horse. I have now tried both methods and I can say hanging them up definitely sped up the drying process. It does take a few days if not slightly more for the paper to dry thoroughly! Once dry simply peel the pieces of paper off the fabric.



And just like that you have your very own piece of paper, and you will never want to throw any paper away again (I hope). I have shown one of the ways I used my recycled paper, I cut it and used a personalised stamp to turn it into a business card. But really the possibilities are endless.



Don’t forget that if you try this at home, tag me in your photos and use the hashtag #happyhutmakes

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121040653_774894646411082_64224667509158

Hi, thanks for stopping by!

All of my life I have been creative, initially with D.I.Y birthday cards and presents for family, however, as I have grown so has my creative streak. In the summer of 2019 I started up a pet bandana business, I had recently gotten a new dog  who was rather shy and nervous,

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