Making your own paper is easy and a great way to recycle materials that might otherwise go to waste. I tear up newspapers, magazines, and used envelopes to produce pulp for my homemade paper. I especially like to use the colorful ads from the local grocery store. Lint from the clothes dryer can also be an interesting addition.
The only specialized equipment that’s needed for papermaking at home is a deckle kit. I bought an inexpensive deckle set online for $9.99. It came with three pieces: a wooden frame, a plastic grid about an inch thick that fits inside the frame, and a fine screen. During papermaking, you’ll pour the liquidy pulp over the screen, and excess water will seep through. The plastic grid supplies support for pressing out additional moisture.
You can also make your own simple frame with four dowels or narrow pieces of wood trim. The size of the device is up to you and depends on whether you want to produce 8-by-10-inch paper, a 4-by-6-inch postcard, or another size entirely.
The first step in the papermaking process is to create pulp. I place the equivalent of four or five sheets of coarsely torn paper into my kitchen blender, and I add water to cover it. My homemade paper is on the thicker side, because I prefer it to have texture, but you can add more water
