paper was invented in China, about 3,000 years ago, by Ts'ai Lun. He improved on the original 'papyrus scrolls' first made by Egyptians 2000 years earlier.
Ts'ai Lun made pulp from mulberry tree bark, bamboo fibres and water. By pressing out the liquid and drying the residue in the sun, he produced a quality, lightweight, writing surface that was easy to make. It started a revolution in communications.
Technology has transformed paper production but children can still enjoy crafting their own handmade version and, just like Ts'ai Lun, they can experiment with colours and textures, and express their creativity.
Basic Recipe
You will need:
* Aprons
* Blender
* Sponge
* Nylon tights
* Large embroidery hoop
* Large basin (into which the hoop must fit)
* Office paper to recycle
* Flannel fabric/clean tea-towels
* Water
* Starch
* Rolling pin
* Iron
What to do:
1 Stretch a section of the nylon tights over the embroidery hoop, stretching it tightly like a drum. Fix it in place and cut off any excess material, leaving you with a nylon-covered screen. This is your mould.
2 Rip the office paper into small pieces. Half fill the blender with the torn paper. Top it up with warm water.
3 With the lid firmly on, start the blender at low speed. As the paper begins to pulp, increase the speed until the pulp has a smooth soupy consistency and no flakes remain. This should take about a minute.
4 Half fill the basin with water. Add three blender loads of pulp. If the paper is to be used for writing, add two teaspoons of starch to stop ink from bleeding into the paper fibres. Mix thoroughly to disperse the ingredients evenly.
5 Submerge the mould in the basin. Let some pulp settle over the nylon screen. Then, holding the mould underwater, gently rock it from side to side until the pulp is spread evenly across the screen.
6 Carefully lift the mould out of the water, holding it flat. Let it drip over the basin until most of the water has drained off. The pulp should be lying in a uniform 'sheet' of paper across the screen. (If not, return the pulp to the water, mix again and repeat from step 5). Gently press on the screen to squeeze out any excess moisture.
7 Place newspaper on a flat surface and cover it with a clean piece of absorbent flannel fabric or tea-towels. Flip the mould paper-side down on to the fabric. Gently lift the mould, leaving the paper behind. Younger children may need some help and you may need to gently peel away the edge of the paper to start the separation. (If the paper still sticks you haven't pressed out enough water). Dab the sponge over the surface of the paper to soak up excess water. Wring the sponge out over the basin as necessary.
8 Place another tea-towel or more fabric over the paper and flatten out any bubbles or rough edges. Use a rolling pin to squeeze out any remaining moisture.
9 Place the paper on a flat surface to dry, preferably in the sun.
Depending on the thickness it may need to dry overnight.
10 If necessary, dry paper can be ironed gently (by adults or older children under supervision). Place a piece of clean fabric over the paper and iron it on a medium setting.
11 Leftover pulp should be gathered up. If it is strained and placed in a plastic bag it can be frozen for future use. Never dispose of pulp by pouring it down the drain.
Variations
To add colour and texture, try pulping:
* Old greeting cards
* Cereal boxes
* Egg cartons
* Magazines
* Newspaper (makes grey paper)
* Coloured craft or tissue paper
* Paper towels or coloured napkins.
Soak card in warm water for a few hours before blending. It makes heavier paper, while material such as tissue makes lighter paper.
Variations to the basic pulp recipe should be seen as experimental. Not every combination turns out well so start by replacing just a handful or two of ripped office paper with material from the list above. After some practice children could experiment more widely, for example by mixing lighter materials and card without the paper.
After the blending stage, you can give the paper texture by adding one or more of the following materials to the mixture:
* Whole flower heads
* Scraps of thread
* Scraps of tin foil
* Seeds
* Other items that the children suggest.
