Making Paper- fun craft for kids

I can't believe its been a month since my last post!!  Life moves quickly!  At the end of February Caroline had a science and art fair. So, to bridge the two we decided to make recycled paper. I remembered doing it in art class as a child... Caroline really enjoyed it and was very proud of her project at the fair. Essentially, there are a few steps:

1. tear the paper (we used tissue paper- but any would do)

2. Put in the blender along with some water, blend and make pulp.  You'll have to repeat this step several times.

3. Fill a basin or sink with the water/pulp mixture.

4. Take a screen that you have stapled onto an old picture frame and place it in the basin or sink. Swish it around until the pulp is evenly distributed.

5. Remove the screen with the pulp from the basin, and place a piece of cloth (cut to the size of your frame- We used left over fabric from an old project).  PLace it over the pulp and carefuly flip the screen over onto a tray or cookie sheet.

6. Take a sponge and dab it all over the flipped over screen.  Absorb as much water as you can. 

7. Slowly remove the screen, leaving the pulp onto the piece of cloth.

8. Lay the pulp covered cloths on a flat surface to dry overnight.  I placed ours next to the heater in our laundry room.