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How to Make Paper

finished homemade paper in different colors and with different embellishments with the title 'how to make paper'
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Learn how to make paper with this easy step-by-step guide! I’ll show you what materials you need, how to use a paper making kit, and the process of creating your own custom paper in just a few minutes.

Table of Contents

I first tried paper making in elementary school and remember it being incredibly complicated and taking forever. I don’t know why this was the case and for quite a while I’ve been itching to try it again.

As I figured, the memory was likely influenced by other factors as the process for how to make paper is neither complicated, nor time consuming and is a fun upcycle project for both kids and adults. So here I am, excited to debunk the myth of complexity around paper making and guide you through this exciting journey of creating your own, unique sheets of paper. I show you how to make simple plain white sheet and then how to add fun colors and embellishments.

Note: Some links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I may earn a commission.

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showing the process of paper making and the finished homemade paper in different colors and with different embellishments with the title 'step by step tutorial - how to make paper, abcrafty.com'

Materials to Make Paper

Waterproof Paper Making Screen Kit to Craft Your Own Handmade A5 Paper: Wood Deckle, Mesh Screen, Plastic Grid, Confetti, Sponge, 4 Couch Felts & Video Instructions…
Waterproof Paper Making Screen Kit to Craft Your Own Handmade A5 Paper: Wood Deckle, Mesh Screen, Plastic Grid, Confetti, Sponge, 4 Couch Felts & Video Instructions…
OVENTE Immersion Electric Hand Blender 300 Watt Power 2 Mix Speed with Stainless Steel Blades, Handheld Stick Mixer Set with Egg Whisk Attachment Mixing Beaker and BPA-Free Food Chopper, Black HS565B
OVENTE Immersion Electric Hand Blender 300 Watt Power 2 Mix Speed with Stainless Steel Blades, Handheld Stick Mixer Set with Egg Whisk Attachment Mixing Beaker and BPA-Free Food Chopper, Black HS565B
Pigment Powder for Epoxy Resin Mica Powder for Epoxy Resin Candle Dye Bath Bomb Coloring Soap Making Resin Color Pigment Resin Dye Colorant Soap Dye Mica Powder for Candle Making Pearl Metallic
Pigment Powder for Epoxy Resin Mica Powder for Epoxy Resin Candle Dye Bath Bomb Coloring Soap Making Resin Color Pigment Resin Dye Colorant Soap Dye Mica Powder for Candle Making Pearl Metallic
Renfio 1.75 Oz 50g Holographic Mickey Mouse Confetti Glitter Mickey Mouses Shape Shiny Sequin Glitters Resin Sparkle Chunky Sequins for DIY Mold Art Nail Artwork Holiday Decoration - Laser Silver
Renfio 1.75 Oz 50g Holographic Mickey Mouse Confetti Glitter Mickey Mouses Shape Shiny Sequin Glitters Resin Sparkle Chunky Sequins for DIY Mold Art Nail Artwork Holiday Decoration - Laser Silver
GREATFISHING 8 Colors Combo Fly Tying Flash Binding Material Ice Silk Wing Nymph Binding Material Ice Silk Body Fiber Fly Tying Materials
GREATFISHING 8 Colors Combo Fly Tying Flash Binding Material Ice Silk Wing Nymph Binding Material Ice Silk Body Fiber Fly Tying Materials

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How to Make Paper

Prepare the pulp

The first step to making paper is actually tearing up other paper! This might seem counterintuitive, but in order to get the homemade paper look, you do actually use paper (and other embellishments). I saved the paper to some packages and used that to have a clean white base, but feel free to use whatever scrap paper you’d like!

Tear your scrap paper into small pieces and place them in a bowl. It’s easier to use a small amount at a time so add the equivalent of 1-2 sheets of paper at a time.

Then add 4 cups of water.

 

pouring water into bowl with ripped up pieces of paper

Use a hand blender to blend the paper and water, turning it into a fine pulp. (This is the blender I have)

Tip: The more blended the pulp is, the more uniform the final result will be. The less blended, the more uneven it will be so it depends on the look you’re going for.

using a hand blender to blend paper and water into pulp

Set up the frame

When you have your pulp ready, you’ll want to set up the frame. If you’re using the kit I have (this one), you’ll want to place one of the mesh screens on top of the white plastic grid.

Most paper making kits will have something similar – a rigid base with wide holes and then a mesh screen.

Then place the wooden frame (called the deckle) on top of the mesh.

placing the wooden frame on top of the paper making kit

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Dip the frame

Pour the pulp mixture into a dish with tall sides. In my case, I used a pyrex dish, but a plastic tub is also a good option. You want it large enough to be able to easily insert the frame and deep enough to fully submerge it. Give the pulp a stir so it evens out.

Slide the assembled frame from the kit into dish. You can either do this at an angle as shown in the photo. Or I personally like to actually place the plastic base in first and then sliding the mesh at an angle on top (this prevents the mesh from forming a bubble).

Tip: If the pulp mixture isn’t high enough to cover the frame, add more water.

dipping the formed paper making kit into a dish with paper pulp

Let the pulp distribute evenly over the mesh.

Then slowly lift the frame out of the water, making sure to keep it as even as possible to ensure the pulp settles evenly,

Tip: If there isn’t enough pulp, you can remove the frame and allow the pulp to come in from the sides. Then place the frame back down.

Tip #2: If the pulp settled unevenly, lower the assembled frame into the water and give the pulp a stir to break it up and try again.

lifting the frame out of the paper pulp

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Remove extra water

Remove the wooden frame (deckle) and place the second piece of mesh on top of the pulp.

Then use the sponge to press down all over the screen. Be sure to wring out the sponge often as the goal is to remove the majority of the water from the pulp.

using a sponge to press the water out of the paper between the mesh

After you’ve removed most of the water, lift the top screen and place the cloth (called a couch) from the kit on top.

Then remove the plastic from underneath.

lifting the paper and cloth off the base of the kit

Place it cloth side down and remove the second screen.

peeling back the mesh off the paper

Place the other piece of cloth (couch) on top and use the wooden block to press. The goal is to remove more water, as well as compress the pulp together. The water will move from the pulp to the cloth.

using a wood block to press the water into the cloth

Iron the Paper

Move the couches (cloth) and paper to an ironing board or mat (this is similar to the one I have). Then use the iron on the highest setting (no steam) to iron on top of the cloth.

Tip: Apply pressure to continue to press the pulp together.

ironing the back of the cloth on a pink ironing mat

When the couches (cloth) are dry, remove them and iron directly on the paper.

ironing the back of the cloth on a pink ironing mat

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When it’s all dry, your paper is ready to use!

You should also still have pulp that you can use to make additional sheets. Or you can add more scraps and water to continue making more!

If you make your own paper, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @ab.crafty!

holding the finished homemade paper

Paper Making Variations

In the example above, I showed how to make paper in the most basic form – plain white paper. But you can get super creative and make different colors and even add in fun embellishments. Below are a few ideas to get you started, but definitely get creative with it and add your own flare! You can even use seeds to make your own seed paper that you can plant!

Another fun one is to used pressed flowers and petals – I have a whole post on how to press your own flowers in minutes.

finished homemade paper in different colors and with different embellishments

Dyeing the Paper

You can dye the pulp to make fun colors. You can use dyes, food coloring, or in my case I used pearlescent mica powder (Amazon) to not only dye it, but also give it a shimmer effect.

Add the dye right after blending the pulp.

pouring pink mica powder into a dish of blue paper pulp and water

Adding Embellishments

A fun way to customize your homemade paper is by adding fun embellishments. The best way I found was to add them right before lifting up the frame. This way you can also stir it into the pulp to secure it even better and make it look like it’s weaving in and out of the paper.

Here are some of the embellishments I used:

Pigment Powder for Epoxy Resin Mica Powder for Epoxy Resin Candle Dye Bath Bomb Coloring Soap Making Resin Color Pigment Resin Dye Colorant Soap Dye Mica Powder for Candle Making Pearl Metallic
Pigment Powder for Epoxy Resin Mica Powder for Epoxy Resin Candle Dye Bath Bomb Coloring Soap Making Resin Color Pigment Resin Dye Colorant Soap Dye Mica Powder for Candle Making Pearl Metallic
Renfio 1.75 Oz 50g Holographic Mickey Mouse Confetti Glitter Mickey Mouses Shape Shiny Sequin Glitters Resin Sparkle Chunky Sequins for DIY Mold Art Nail Artwork Holiday Decoration - Laser Silver
Renfio 1.75 Oz 50g Holographic Mickey Mouse Confetti Glitter Mickey Mouses Shape Shiny Sequin Glitters Resin Sparkle Chunky Sequins for DIY Mold Art Nail Artwork Holiday Decoration - Laser Silver
GREATFISHING 8 Colors Combo Fly Tying Flash Binding Material Ice Silk Wing Nymph Binding Material Ice Silk Body Fiber Fly Tying Materials
GREATFISHING 8 Colors Combo Fly Tying Flash Binding Material Ice Silk Wing Nymph Binding Material Ice Silk Body Fiber Fly Tying Materials
140 Pcs Dried Pressed Flowers for Resin, Real Pressed Flowers Dry Leaves Bulk Natural Herbs Kit for Scrapbooking DIY Art Crafts, Epoxy Resin Jewelry Molds, Candle, Soap Making, Nails Décor
140 Pcs Dried Pressed Flowers for Resin, Real Pressed Flowers Dry Leaves Bulk Natural Herbs Kit for Scrapbooking DIY Art Crafts, Epoxy Resin Jewelry Molds, Candle, Soap Making, Nails Décor
Saree Silk Fiber Multicolor Throwsters Waste for Felting, Spinning Fiber - 100 gm (3.52 oz)
Saree Silk Fiber Multicolor Throwsters Waste for Felting, Spinning Fiber - 100 gm (3.52 oz)
placing threads of different colors inside the paper making frame over purple paper pulp

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Make Paper

What materials are included in a paper making kit?

A paper making kit typically includes a rigid base with wide holes, a mesh screen, and a wooden frame (or deckle), and two couches (cloth). This would be the most basic kit, but other kits (like the one I used) may also include a wooden block to help press out even more of the water.

Others may even come with additional embellishments or different size deckles to make different sizes.

What is the best way to ensure an even settling of pulp?

When lifting the frame out of the water, make sure to keep it as even as possible. If the pulp mixture isn’t high enough to cover the frame, you can add more water to ensure even settling. If there isn’t enough pulp, remove the frame and allow the pulp to come in from the sides before placing it back down. Lastly, if the pulp settled unevenly, lower the assembled frame into the water and give it a stir. This will help break up the pulp and ensure it settles evenly.

How do I make sure my paper is totally dry?

The paper will change colors when it’s completely dry. You’ll see as different sections dry out, they’ll become lighter. If different areas are still dark, iron those a little more until the full sheet is completely dry. It can also help to flip it over and iron on the other side.

What is the best method for preparing the paper pulp?

The best method for preparing the paper pulp is to blend a small amount of torn pieces of scrap paper with a good amount water. If you have too much then the blender will jam. It’s easier to blend and will make for a smoother final paper if you use a sufficient amount of water. Think 1-2 regular size pieces of paper to 4 cups of water.

How do I clean the mesh and deckle?

To clean the mesh and deckle, I’ve found the easiest way is to simply get it wet. Any paper pulp residue will typically come right off, but if needed you can use a soft brush to gently scrub away any remaining pulp.

What embellishments can be added to homemade paper?

There are a variety of embellishments that can be added to homemade paper. Some ideas include dye, glitter, confetti, string, ribbons, dried flowers, seeds, wool, and even small pieces of other paper. Simply have fun with it!

More Upcycle and Nature Crafts to Try

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finished homemade paper in different colors and with different embellishments

How to Make Paper

Learn how to make paper with this easy step-by-step guide! I’ll show you what materials you need, how to use a paper making kit, and the process of creating your own custom paper in just a few minutes.
Yield 2 pieces of paper
Print Pin Share Tweet
Project Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Materials
  

  • 1 Paper Making Kit
  • Scrap Paper
  • Mica Powder optional
  • Embellishments optional

Equipment

  • 1 Hand Blender
  • 1 Large Bowl
  • 1 Dish with high walls
  • 1 Sponge
  • 1 Iron and Ironing Board

Instructions
 

Prepare the Pulp

  • Tear paper scraps and add 4 cups of water
    Scrap Paper
    pouring water into bowl with ripped up pieces of paper
  • Use the hand blender to blend it into a fine pulp.
    using a hand blender to blend paper and water into pulp

Assemble and Dip the Frame

  • Set up the frame, which includes a rigid base, a mesh screen, and a wooden frame (or deckle). I recommend using a kit which has everything (this is the one I used)
    1 Paper Making Kit
    placing the wooden frame on top of the paper making kit
  • Dip the frame into the pulp mixture in a deep dish, allowing the pulp to distribute evenly over the mesh. Gradually lift the frame, ensuring the pulp settles evenly.
    dipping the formed paper making kit into a dish with paper pulp

Remove Excess Water

  • Press a sponge over the screen and squeeze it out as necessary to get out most of the water.
    using a sponge to press the water out of the paper between the mesh
  • Remove the mesh and place one of the cloths (couches) on top. Do the same for the other side.
    peeling back the mesh off the paper
  • Take the wooden block from the kit and press to remove additional water.
    using a wood block to press the water into the cloth

Finish Drying the Handmade Paper

  • Move your paper (still between the couches) to an ironing board and iron it until it's dry (first over the cloth and then remove the cloth).
    ironing the back of the cloth on a pink ironing mat
  • When it's dry, your homemade paper is ready to use!
    holding the finished homemade paper
Keyword Paper Making, Transfer Paper, Upcycle
Picture of Daniela Kretchmer

Daniela Kretchmer

Daniela is a lifelong crafter who loves to share her passion for crafting. Through classes or learning on her own, she likes to say she'll do pretty much any craft aside from scrapbooking. Her current personal obsessions include garden crafts, felting, and spinning yarn.

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