There are two main ways to create paper: commercially and at home!

Here's a breakdown of both methods:

Commercial Papermaking

This is the large-scale process used by paper mills. It involves several steps:

1. Pulping: Wood chips or recycled paper are broken down into a watery slurry.
2. Refining: The pulp is further processed to create fibers of the desired size and consistency.
3. Forming the Sheet: The pulp is spread out on a fine mesh screen, allowing water to drain and fibers to form
a sheet.
4. Pressing and Drying: The wet sheet is pressed to remove excess water and then dried on large heated
rollers.
5. Finishing: The paper may be sized (coated) to improve printability or calendered (smoothed) for a specific
texture.

Homemade Papermaking

This is a fun and educational activity you can do at home with readily available materials. Here's a basic process:

1. Gather Materials: You'll need scrap paper, a blender, a deckle (a frame with mesh screen), a shallow
container of water, and absorbent cloths (felt, towels).
2. Make the Pulp: Tear scrap paper into small pieces and blend them with water in the blender until you have
a smooth pulp.
3. Form the Sheet: Dip the deckle into the pulp, swirling it gently to collect a thin layer of fibers on the screen.
4. Drain and Press: Lift the deckle and let water drain through the screen. Carefully transfer the wet paper
sheet onto an absorbent cloth.
5. Drying: Layer the cloth with the paper sheet between several more absorbent cloths and stack them under
a weight (books) to press out excess water. Let it dry completely, which can take a day or two.

Additional Tips:

 You can add dried flowers, leaves, or other small natural materials to the pulp for decorative inclusions.
 Experiment with different types of paper for the pulp to see how it affects the final product's texture and
thickness.
 Online resources like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqrD3ikUAOc provide detailed instructions and
variations on the homemade papermaking process.

Remember, homemade paper will be much less refined than commercially produced paper. However, it's a great way
to learn about the basic principles of papermaking and create unique, handmade paper!