I have a fun and creative craft for you today. I’m going to show you how to make paper from rags. The craft is a lot of fun…. a lot of work, but tons of fun. At different steps in this craft you will need parental help. There are quite a few parts where you will be using adult tools and they will need to help you through this…. each of these steps are marked in red. So, grab some white cotton or linen rags and the rest of the craft materials and let’s get started.
Materials Needed
White Cotton or Linen Rags
Scissors
Non-Aluminum Pot
Oven (Parental Help)
Baking Soda
Sink
Strainer
Blender (Parental Help)
2 Art Frames of the Same Size
Staple Gun (Parental Help)
Window Screen
Fabric or Felt
Sponge
Step 1 & 2
Use clean white cotton or linen rags.
Cut rags into small strips.
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Step 3
Cut strips of rags into smaller bits and pieces. (Parental Help) Place rag pieces in Non-Aluminum Pot with a lot of water. Add a few spoonfuls of baking soda. Let boil for at least an hour.
Step 4
Place fabric in a strainer. Wash all of the baking soda off of the fabric.
Step 5
(Parental Help Needed) Add soggy chunks of rags into blender with combo of 50% water and 50% rags. Grind these rag chunks into like a smooth paste.
Step 6
To make paper, we need a mold and deckle. To do this…. find 2 art frames that are exactly the same size.
(Parental Help Needed) Staple gun a window screen down on one of the frames.
Here you have your mold and deckle.
Dip up pulp unto the screen. Slush screen back and forth until water runs out.
Step 7
Firstly, place fabric or felt down. Then place mold face down on fabric with pulp between fabric and mold.
Use a sponge to press into the fabric to soak up the excess water. Then slowly lift up mold to leave the pulp that is left. To make more paper just re-do step 6d thru 7b with fresh, dry fabric or felt.
Step 8
Paper is done when it is completely dry.
And, there you have it….. you have just made paper from rags. Don’t you feel awesome?! That was a lot of work, but so worth it. Now, go enjoy your paper.
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