Paper making at home is fun and easy. You will need water, fiber and a screen. Get water from your sink. Wastepaper will provide you with all the fiber you’ll ever need. A paper making screen is usually part of a handmold. The screen is sandwiched between a deckle on top (usually a wooden frame) and a support below.

There are two ways to make paper:

1. Pour Method
2. Dip Method

Generally, a pour handmold offers the simplest way to make paper. It's easy to set up, clean up and each sheet made can be different. However, if you want to make many sheets that are the same, the dip handmold may be the best choice.

Read through the basic directions below to decide if you want to 'pour' or 'dip' to make paper.

 Pour to make paper                                                       

click here for classroom kits

Dip to make paper                                                       

A 'dip' handmold has a deckle (frame) with shallow sides. It is dipped into a dishpan filled with 3-4 inches of pulp.

Advantages of the dip method: Fastest way to make many similar sheets, considered a 'traditional' method

 

Arnold Grummer's offers a full line line of dip handmolds for home and classroom use.

 
click here for classroom kits

For more details on the pour and dip method, instructions on how to build your own equipment, techniques, projects and more, pick up a copy of Arnold Grummer's TRASH TO TREASURE PAPERMAKING.