Getting Crafty With Office Paper
Author: Gloria Diaz

You know how much damage the making of new paper costs our
environment. However, there is hardly any substance that can
replace the function of paper. Even high-tech computers are not
able to eliminate the need for paper. But there is one thing we
can do to lessen our use of paper in our own way. You can
segregate white office paper from other office trash for
recycling. But with a bit creativity and effort, you can turn
recycled paper supplies to a profitable business.

Paper recycling is old news, but it seems to be an on-and-off
venture for most people. Making recycled paper crafts into a
business provides fuel to the recycling machine. If you look at
bookstore displays, you'll find coarse looking stationery and
specialty papers. Even if these look old and rough, they are
more expensive than those smoother and printed papers. Those
coarse specialty papers are handmade and use natural fibers and
recycled paper. You don't need to buy a truckload of waste paper
to get started. In fact, look around your house. Sort through
your old files and see if there's anything in there that you
don't need anymore. White office paper like bond papers are
great for this recycling project.

After sorting the white papers from the rest of your office
supplies, shred them in a document shredder or just tear them
to little pieces. Throw in colored paper if you like a bit of
color and different textures. Place the shredded papers in a
blender or food processor with hot water in batches. Blend for
a couple of minutes until the mixture looks fine and in one
color. Add food color or dye if desired. For a touch of
ingenuity, a few drops of essential oils like lavender or rose
water make for lightly scented papers.

The blended pulp will be the base for your homemade paper. But
to form and harden it, you must have a screen and mold. These
materials are available in paper supplies stores or made at
home using wooden frames and fiberglass screen. Meanwhile, soak
the pulp in batches in a soaking solution made of water and
liquid starch. The starch will prevent the ink from softening
the paper. The amount of pulp per batch depends on the desired
paper thickness. More pulp means thicker paper. Stir amd make
sure that the starch is well incorporated in the pulp. Scoop
the paper out using the molds and tap it to drain excess water.
Level the surface of the pulp until smooth. Do this repeatedly
until the right thickness and texture is achieved. Cover the
mold with a fabric and invert it, making the pulp slide onto
the cloth. Squeeze the pulp to remove excess water and dry it
out. Stack the prepared pulp together with fabric in between in
each layer. Press excess water out and separate the individual
sheets. The sheets can be air-dried or laid out in newspapers
to dry by sunlight.

When dried, the handmade paper can be cut into desired sizes
and bound by natural fibers like hemp rope to form a journal.
When cut into tiny pieces, the sheets also make lovely note
cards. To add a touch of elegance, dried flowers and leaves can
be added during the molding process. The use of office paper is
not limited to the office. With this project, you can start
your own paper supplies business.


About The Author: For more valuable information on office paper
and paper supplies, please visit http://www.papercopier.com