Wednesday: Making Our Own Paper

Materials and tools we are using:
- Tissue paper, for making the pulp
- Photo-frame and net, for making the sieve
- Large bowl/bucket/tray
- Sponge/paint roller
- Blender
- Cloth/towel

Steps:
1. Cut up strips of paper (tissue/newspaper), which will be used to make the pulp.
2. Place paper in a blender and add water. Blend the paper until it is dissolved in the water.
3. Empty the dissolved paper/pulp into a bucket or tray, and immerse your handmade sieve* into the water. Use your fingers to press the pulp down on the net, within the water.
4. Lift the screen out of the water. Use a sponge or paint roller to press the pulp and expel any excess water. Make sure the pulp is evenly spread.
5. Press a cloth down onto the frame, press down into all the corners. Turn the frame over and use your fingernails to scratch the net. This will expel the pulp onto the cloth.
6. Let it dry fully, then carefully peel your new paper off the cloth.

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* To make the handmade sieve, you need a wooden or other solid photo frame, and a net that lets water through. Place the net over the frame and fix down, making sure that the edges are sealed, so the pulp does not bleed out.