How to Make Your Own Paper

What You Need:

• Old newspapers
• Scraps of construction paper
• Blender
• Water
• Window screen
• Seeds

What You Do:

1. Start by researching the paper making process with your child by either visiting your local library or going online. Paper is made from trees that have been broken down into a pulp and then put through a straining and pressing process. Encourage your child to be as involved as they can with the research, depending on their age and ability. 
2. Invite your child to go on a scavenger hunt around the house for old newspapers and bits of construction paper to use for making her own special paper.
3. Now your child can tear the paper into one-inch strips and place into a blender, tearing enough to fill the blender.
4. Invite your child to fill the blender about three-fourths of the way with water and then pulse until the paper blends with the water, creating paper pulp! Make sure there is a grown-up there to assist with the blender at all times.
5. Help your child find a sunny spot outdoors with good drainage where she can place the window screen. A driveway or picnic table works great!
6. Now your child can pour the paper pulp over the window screen and gently press and spread the pulp with her hands, creating an even layer of the pulp on the screen.
7. Don’t forget those seeds! To make her recycled paper even cooler, she can sprinkle her seeds on top of the paper pulp and press with her hands, securing those seeds.
8. Allow the paper to dry in the sun for a couple of hours, or as long as it takes to dry, and then gently pull away from the window screen.
9. Now your child can cut the seedy paper with scissors and use sections for making unique bookmarks, decorating the front of cards, or as decorative paper for the front of notebooks!

Tip: Any ink or dyes in the papers you use will have an effect on the color of your final paper product.