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How to Make Recycled Paper
Published: 2010-01-20 07:37:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 16583; Favourites: 481; Downloads: 0
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Description
Finished paper: [link]This is a tutorial that will show you how to make recycled paper out of things most everyone has.
I know it bothers me to throw away paper that has no use anymore, so I did my research on how to save it.
I apologize for the picture quality. I don't have my usual camera at the time. :/
This is my first tutorial, ever. So please be nice, but I would like to hear what you think about it, if it was useful, if you would like more information, or if it made no sense at all!
Hope you enjoy anyway!
Envelope and paper: [link]
The background is my own.
Thank you for the DD!
Thank you for featuring.Just so everyone knows, this was not originally intended to save the planet. It was an 'artistic experiment'. If we recycle along the way, is that such a bad thing?
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Comments: 107
sweet. I don't believe in that greenhouse effect bull, but deforestation is real. plus at the end of a semester I got the awfullest load of schoolwork papers that I don't need. I'll definitely give this a try
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What everyone believes is up to them and I leave it at that.
I'm sure shredding the schoolwork papers will be a good feeling as well haha
Have fun paper making.
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This is amazing! We've been shown how to make different kinds of papers in textiles class, but this wasn't one of the methods. I'm definitely going to try it out!!! The finished piece looks really interesting!
Well done on the DD! Although I sense you'll get/maybe already have people complaining about how its not going to make a difference to the environment.
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Thanks, I'm glad you like it!
Yeah, but everyone must have an opinion I guess
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True, but surely the opinion should be focussed more on the artwork itself and not the possible effects that it may or may not have on the environment?
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Did the same thing ~6 months ago, but... :
-bleached the paper to gain whiteness
-used a solution of water, wood glue and a tiny bit of soluble epoxy to make the paper stronger
-iron pressed (low temp) the paper while at the final drying phase to acquire a smooth sheet and even paper thickness (used med grit platters(120-200) to avoid over-glossiness)
-cut the sheet to A4 and used the scraps for the next sheet
You can print, write, paint on the final product with no problem.
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I was planning on making another tutorial with tips and tricks like such.
I like the look of recycled paper, so that is the only reason why I didn't bleach it.
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This sounds fun + I won't have to get anything for it. I think I'll try. ^.^ Thanks for the tutorial!
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No problem! Have fun paper making
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I think I remember doing something like this back in middle school. This is a great way to save paper!
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They used to show how to do this on kids shows!
Your tutorial is so colorful and easy-to-follow.
I really want to make some paper now!
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I think they should still show it on kid shows haha.
Thank you
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but it waste water and electric energy to make it...also time.
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But it gives a nice effect, also it would only be considered 'time wasting' if it was something you didn't enjoy doing, surely?
You could argue that anything in art wastes certain resources and time. Just my thoughts.
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well,i agree with you then.
if it can give a nice effect,ya,no matter what,worth it.
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Congrats on the DD, this is a great tutorial! I've never considered making my own paper before because it seemed like such a challenge-- but you make it look so simple! I might have to try this out!
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Thank you! The first time you try always seems to be experimental, but I think it is a fun process
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This sounds quite a bit easier than i expected... must try
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I'll try it. Thanks a lot for the tut :3
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No problem! Glad you like it.
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I've been wanting to do this with my kids. Thanks for the tutorial!
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No problem! I bet your kids would fun have doing this. My younger brother and sister did this and they seemed like they had fun. :]
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Whoa! Artists joke around killing thousands of trees in their process... This should shut em up
Awesome! DD well deserved!
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Haha yeah! Thank you so much!
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If I may suggest, I would add this: if you really want to write on it with ink or paint with watercolours, you should add either kaolin to the mix (that's the traditional way) or spray the sheets with starch (the one in cans for ironing works pretty well) after they are dry to prevent the ink from bleeding.
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Thanks for the suggestion.
I actually wrote on it with several different pens to see if it would bleed, and it didn't. But if anyone had that problem, this is a good solution.
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A lot of people I know (including me 
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Kaolin is a clay, right? (Wikipedia told me so, anyway.)
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Yes. If you want to try, you can probably get it in any arts & crafts shop that sells those frames you need to make paper. If they sell kits, it might already be included.
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Excellent, excellent. I'll definitely have to hunt that down then. Thanks!
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It's a bit tricky though to figure out how much to use. The starch spray cans are a lot easier for getting the job done. The starch is applied after the sheets have dried so if the kaolin didn't work you can always put it on the paper, too. It might get just little more brittle.
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Hmm! I'll have to try both! Starch is easier to get than kaolin, too.
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Generally, the energy used to recycle paper is far less than that used to make it new. New paper uses energy to cut and transport the wood and much more energy to process it into pulp.
You need some type of container and all containers need energy when produced.
I suppose you could make the pulp by hand instead of with a blender.
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I guess that was directed at the person posting before me, right?
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I know there is a lot of wasted paper in the world and it can add great pizazz to a piece of work with some great paper but wouldn't the energy used from creating the foil tin and the electricity used by the blender be more than the sheet of paper?
Just a thought.
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I understand what you are saying and I don't have facts to prove that you are right or wrong, but I get your point.
The reason why I made this tutorial originally was because I had a lot of scrap paper sitting around from other crafts and I thought it was a waste on my part to go buy more. So I use the paper I make to draw on.
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I'm not saying it's a bad tutorial, in fact as I studied as a 2D animator I know the importance of recycling paper. Suppose we're looking for the holy grail of 100% no impact paper recycling
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When my kids are at my place, they sometimes complain that they're bored...
On the other hand, they both love to draw...
I think I'll take this out next time they're around for the weekend - making paper with them would be a great adventure... Thanks a lot for this tutorial!
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No problem, glad you like it!
Handmade paper has a great texture for drawing too.
Have fun
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That's very cool, good stewardship of the earth!
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I already make my own paper, but it's a great idea to put this tutorial on dART!
Congrats on DD - well deserved!
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