Paper making is quite an easy process. And it you have a lot of flexibility with it. In this tutorial we make a very large sheet of paper (almost three feet wide). We make this for an upcoming project on how to make a map of a fantasy world that will go on the wall.

I do have a tutorial for beginners on how to make paper right here. I show you how to make normal sized sheets of paper.

Will has a youtube channel with over 600 videos on projects you can make. Check it out right here

Overview - You need a few supplies to make paper of this size. And you can improvise a whole lot of stuff. Once you understand the basic concept of how this is done you can substitute stuff with what you have.

Here is a quick overview:

1. We recycle old paper by tearing it up, adding water to it and blending it
2. We then pour this pulp onto a screen. The screen is so that the water can drain out.
3. We gently remove all the water from it by squeezing, sponging and even ironing
4. That's it!
5. How does this work? Well, the fibers in the paper are freed by the water and the blending. Then when we press and screen it the fibers are reformed into a new shape, tightly interlocking into a new sheet of paper.

Materials and Tools Used in this tutorial

1. Scrap paper in the color you want to make your paper. You can mix and match colors too. I use brown paper bag and brown packing paper because I am making a large medieval wall map of a fantasy world
2. Water
3. Blender
4. A paper shredder (optional but makes it easy)
5. Sponges, paper towels, shammy's a towel, anything else you can use that will absorb water
6. A big screen taken from a window (Is not damaged at all)
7. A small piece of screen (About a foot square and it is optional)

This big piece of paper is going to be a fantasy map. So it is an early stage of a bigger project. I wanted to know how this paper would take paint. Would it look good? Work well as a map? So I made a test batch and tried some various paints on it. Yes it has a wonderful look.

Will's Tips on Creativity Are you interested in the creative process and how a project like this comes about? This paper making is part of a larger project (The Fantasy Wall Map) which in turn is part of an even larger project. Learn about the creative process in this project right here. The Creativity of it: The Big Paper

To Make our paper we are going to recycle old paper. I want a nice brown medieval style map and I have lots of paper bags and brown packing paper. Perfect. Let's shred it up. I ran mine through a paper shredder.

If you don't have a shredder that is quite ok. You can shred up paper by hand like this. Make smaller pieces than I made. And make lots of them. Fill up at least three bins like this. Of course how much you need depends on how big the paper you are making is.

We are using the shredder paper. Now add lots of hot water to your paper shreds. This will loosen it up and unbind the cellulose. Lots of water and stir it up.

Okay! Let's continue with the tutorial

Watch the video tutorial here:

Arnold Grummer's Econoly Large-Dip Handmold Papermaking Kit

Makes an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper. The remarkably affordable price of the dip handmold makes it a perfect choice for classroom use. Includes deckle, a packet of dried flowers and illustrated directions for making paper and using botanicals.

Trash-to-Treasure Papermaking: Make Your Own Recycled Paper from Newspapers & Magazines, Can & Bottle Labels, Disgarded Gift Wrap, Old Phone Books, Junk Mail, Comic Books, and More

Transform junk mail, newspapers, comic books, wrapping paper, food can labels, and old phone books into beautiful hand-made paper in just minutes! "Trash-To-Treasure Papermaking", the ultimate guide for crafty recyclers, is every family's answer to the problem of too much paper waste. With just a blender, paper scraps, and water, people of all ages will discover the fun of whipping up sheets of unique handmade paper in a variety of shapes, colours, textures, and sizes. From cards, invitations, and little bound books to paper bowls, wreaths, and ornaments, this book features dozens of creative projects for using the newly made paper.

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