You will need:
- Apron or old clothing to wear.
- Scrap paper - you can use any of these: Office paper, Newspapers & Magazines, Tissue paper, Junk Mail, Coloured papers.
- A wooden frame with a fine mesh stretched across it - try using an old picture frame with some window screening (the kind that stops insects getting indoors) or thick tights secured to it.
- A second frame the same size as the first without any mesh.
- A large basin - big enough to fit your frame into and move it about.
- Washing up cloths.
- A sponge.
- A rolling pin.
- A food processor/blender (for making pulp).
- An Iron and Ironing board (you will need some help for this bit).
Instructions:
- Choose the paper to be recycled and tear it into small pieces no bigger than 2 cm; place the pieces in the blender with some warm water. Start to blend slowly at first then increase the speed. Blend until there are no large flakes of paper left. If the pulp is too thick (like porridge) add a little more water.
- Fill the basin with enough warm water to cover your frame completely, then add the pulp from the blender and give it a good stir. The water will appear cloudy with all the paper fibres floating around in it.
- Take your first frame with the mesh facing upwards and place the second frame neatly on top of it so you have a flat surface with an edge all the way around with the second frame.
- Pick up the two frames together and slide them under the water from one side to the bottom of the basin, give them a bit of a wiggle then slowly lift them out straight up keeping them flat.
- Hold the frames above the basin letting the water drain out through the mesh leaving the paper fibres behind; tilt the frame slightly as more of the water has drained away.
- Place the frames on top of a sheet of newspaper (to catch more water) and carefully remove the top frame (without the mesh) away from the bottom one, this should leave you with a nice edge all the way around your paper.
- Carefully place a washing up cloth on top of the paper and using the sponge start to squeeze more water out through the mesh.
- Once the water stops coming out replace the newspaper underneath with a dry sheet and turn the frame over so the washing up cloth is now flat on the newspaper and the frame is on top. Use the sponge on the mesh to draw out more water (empty the water from the sponge back into the basin).
- Now hold the washing up cloth and very carefully start to lift the frame up from one side leaving the paper stuck to the cloth. If it sticks to the frame try lifting slower or you may need to take out more water.
- Place a dry washing up cloth on top of the paper, turn it over and use the rolling pin to squeeze out any more water you can.
- Now ask someone to help you. Peel your paper gently off the washing up cloths, place it between two dry cloths and Iron it on a medium heat, once the paper is almost dry leave it to cool and then peel away the cloths. Congratulations you now have a sheet of your own recycled paper!!