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Handmade Paper from Recycled Paper in 4 Easy Steps
One of the most satisfying things about being a mixed-media artist is discovering beauty in what others might discard. In this Tune in Tuesday, I spent an afternoon transforming old paper into gorgeous sheets of handmade paper, then experimented with three creative ways to make each sheet truly one of a kind.
It’s an eco-friendly, surprisingly easy process that gives you collage papers unlike anything you could ever buy. Every sheet tells a little story of your creative play.
What You’ll Need
Most of the supplies for making paper are things you probably already have at home. You’ll just need:
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A mould and deckle (two wooden frames, one with a mesh attached— very affordable online)
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A blender (thrift store versions work great — just don’t reuse it for food)
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A large plastic tub (mine holds about 19 quarts of water)
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“Couching” cloths for drying (I cut up an old sheet for mine)
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A sponge and towel
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Buckets for soaking paper scraps
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Clothes hangers or a drying rack
For paper, I used shredded printer paper (which makes soft gray paper) and leftover white scraps from my art table. Both were destined for the recycling bin, and now they’re beautiful papers that I can use to bring a unique texture into my next collage.
Step 1: Soak and Blend Your Paper
I tore my papers into small pieces, placed them in buckets, and covered them with water, about two-thirds full. Then I let them soak for a couple of days while I was away for the weekend.
When I returned, the shredded paper had softened beautifully. The water with the shredded paper was cloudy with ink, a sign that the fibers had released their pigments. I scooped handfuls into my blender with plenty of fresh water and pulsed until I had a soft, pulpy mixture.
The thinner the pulp, the thinner your paper will be. The more concentrated, the thicker your sheets. It’s all about experimenting!
Step 2: Forming Your Sheets
Next, I poured the pulp into my large plastic tub and added more water to thin it. Using the mould and deckle, I dipped the frame into the mixture, swirled gently, and lifted it out, letting the water drain away.
After sponging off the excess moisture, I lifted the frame and there it was: my first handmade paper sheet. A soft, cloudy gray that felt like magic.
I laid each sheet onto cotton cloths (aka couching sheets), blotted again, and later clipped them up to dry overnight on a clothes rack.
Step 3: Experimenting with Color and Texture
Here’s where the fun really begins. I decided to play with acrylic paint, alcohol inks, and even dried flowers to personalize each paper.
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Adding a few drops of acrylic paint directly into the pulp water gave me marbled color blends.
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A swirl of alcohol ink separated into tiny, speckled dots, like handmade confetti frozen into the paper.
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Pressing stencils, coasters, and natural bits like dried flowers into wet paper left delicate imprints that dried right into the surface.
Each sheet came out different (some thin and translucent, others thick and textured) all perfect for future collage play.
Step 4: Dry, Flatten, and Enjoy
Once dry, my papers curled slightly, which is totally normal. You can flatten them by stacking them between wax paper and pressing them overnight under heavy books.
What I Love About This Process
Making handmade paper from recycled scraps feels like alchemy. It’s slow, messy, and deeply satisfying while blending science, art, and surprise. I love that every sheet carries little imperfections and flecks of the original materials.
And because these papers were made in my limited color palette, they’ll fit beautifully into my future collages. Truly, what could be better than creating the very paper you’ll later turn into art?
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The Supplies to Create These Papers:
Mould and deckle
Plastic 19 quart container (to dip your deckle and mould into)
2 gallon bucket (to soak your paper scraps)
Blender – used
Couching rags (cut up sheets)
Sponges
Round rubber coasters
Recycled paper, including shredded paper
Assorted alcohol inks
Nova Acrylic Paint or any other soft body brand paint like Liquetex Basics
Are you interested in learning more about how to incorporate your collage papers into your art?
Check out my Collage Workshops!
