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A fun activity for all the family
Introduction
Making recycled paper at home is a fun and educational activity that you can share with children of all ages. In these times of environmental awareness, it's an excellent way of teaching younger children how to give a second life to objects that society often regards as waste. Used paper, for example, can be transformed into something new, convey an essential message, or even become a work of art. In this article, we'll show you how to create your own recycled paper without using a blender.
Making recycled paper - Step 1: Gather paper to recycle
If you've got piles of old paper gathering dust in the office, or useless files piling up, now's the time to collect them. Whether you're feeling creative or want to do your bit for the environment, you can turn them into new paper, or even paper for planting. Here's how:
Making recycled paper - Step 2: Cut paper into small pieces
Before you start, make sure the paper is free of staples and plastic residue. Tear it by hand to obtain pieces about 2 centimetres square, or use a pair of scissors to be more efficient. Children generally enjoy this step, but make sure that the small pieces don't scatter everywhere.
Making recycled paper - Step 3: Soak the shredded paper in water
Unless you're using an old newspaper, five to ten minutes soaking in water is usually enough to soften the paper. You can use lukewarm water in cold weather. The temperature of the water has no significant influence on the process.
Making recycled paper - Step 4: Pulping
This stage, without the aid of a blender, involves transforming the softened paper into a fibrous paste. Knead, tear and press the paper until you obtain a homogenous texture. The smaller the pieces, the more uniform the final paper.
Making recycled paper - Step 5: Dry it.
You can give your paper a regular shape by placing it in an empty photo frame. Squeeze out any excess water, remove the frame and place a cloth over the paper. You can then leave your sheets to dry in the sun or press them against a window until they are dry. Make sure you gently peel them off the cloth they've been drying on.
There are several possibilities here: you can hang your leaves with the fabric they're made of on a clothes peg, lay them out in the sun if the weather is fine, or even (which is quite fun and makes them really smooth) press them, wet side down, against a window until they dry.
The final step is to gently peel the edges of your sheet from the fabric on which it was laid, taking care not to tear it.
Parsemains regularly organises recycled paper-making workshops at the invitation of local players. The association Bagneux Environmentand the association The proof is in the pudding as part of theHigh school before high school"We are always delighted to be able to share the fruits of our discoveries with everyone. We're always delighted to be able to share the fruits of our discoveries with everyone. Contact us if you're interested!
Conclusion
Making recycled paper at home is a rewarding experience for the whole family. You can give free rein to your creativity by transforming this recycled paper into greetings cards, bookmarks, labels or personalised thank-you notes. Join the movement to protect the environment and have fun at the same time! If you'd like to find out more, or take part in one of our handmade recycled paper workshops, please contact contact us!
