Homemade Paper

[Porch Witch]

I realize that this has nothing to do with cooking. But, as several of us have
young children, I thought this would be a fun family project :)

You will need:

* a bundle of scrap paper equal in mass to two full newspaper pages

* A blender or food processor

* 2 tbs. white glue

* 2.5 cups of water

* sink filled with 4" of water

* old pantyhose and coat hanger (or framed screening)

* iron

Optional Additives--These are put into the mixture after you've made the pulp
for your paper.

* food coloring

* essential oil

* dryer lint

* confetti or feathers

* sequins or glitter

* threads or lace

* cut up bits of ribbon or colored paper

* finely ground or diced dried herbs, flower petals, fruit fibers, or vegetable
pieces

* tea leaves or coffee grounds

The Process

Take a coat hanger or another long piece of sturdy wire and bend it into a
frame. The size of the frame should be equal to the size you want your paper to
be when completed.

Stretch the hose over the frame so it's flat and secure. Or use framed
screening like that for a door. I suggest making several frames so you can
create more than one piece of paper at a time without a waiting period in
between.

Once the frames are put together, get the blender out (or food processor). Put
one-third of your scrap paper into the blender with a little bit of water. Use
the high setting. Slowly add the rest of the paper and water until it's
completely incorporated. At this point, run the blender for two to three more
minutes. If you want to add any of the optional ingredients that provide
texture and/or darker colors, do so now and mix it by hand until the chosen
substance is equally dispersed.

Put your frames in the bottom of the sink filled with water. If you want to add
food coloring (which makes a faintly tinted paper) or scents, this is the time
to do so. Sprinkle the food coloring (or plant juice) and essential oil into
the water, then pour your paper into the sink water, add the glue, and mix them
together. For best results, pretened you're kneading bread. Now, take the frame
and slowly lift it through the water so it collects an even covering of paper
fiber. Do this with each frame until all your paper pulp is used up. If you run
out of frames and have leftover pulp, this can be frozen or stored for up to a
week in your refrigerator and used again in your next batch.

Each frame has to dry completely. You can set them in a warm window, hang them
off the clothesline, or whatever. When dry, the paper will peel away easily and
you can reuse the frames for more sheets. Put the completed sheet on the
ironing board with a cloth underneath it and iron using the high setting. this
removes the last bits of water from the paper. Let it dry again for at least
forty-eight hours before using.

Porch Witch
Porch Greeter with Smiley Face Stickers
Maker of Blueberry Margaritas
Member of PBKA
"There are three things something you say can be. Honest, necessary or nice,
if it's not 2 out of the 3 then you probably shouldn't be saying it"

[Traci & Jeff Poole]

cool!!

Traci
"Porch Witch" <southern...@aol.com.pagan> wrote in message
news:20000514210252...@ng-fg1.aol.com...

[Posieden]

Junk mail works well for this and is colorful.

[Porch Witch]

>Junk mail works well for this and is colorful.
>

Veryy cool tip! :)

Melinda
Porch Door Greeter with Smiley Face Stickers
Maker of Blueberry Margaritas