Recycled Handmade Paper Crafts

Small sample of our recycled handmade paper.

I have a lot of relatives. Back in the ‘olden days’ we would be on the road nearly every weekend to attend an event. We love all our people But it got quite exhausting. Time and energy became invaluable to us. So, we started sending cards and letters in the mail for events we couldn’t attend when we needed a break. And that was fun for me, I liked going to the store to load up on cards to send during the week.

I’m a ‘word-lover’ so it was a joy to find cards that said exactly what I wanted to say.

However, I’m also a tree-hugger, so eventually the guilt of sending so much paper outweighed the need to share ‘words’ with all my loved ones.

I missed sending cards. And yes, some card makers have made sustainable efforts to save the forests and use recycled paper.

To which I thought, “Hey maybe I should try making my own recycled paper. It will solve several problems – help me keep in touch with loved ones, not cost money, or destroy any more forests.”

I have never thought of myself as a ‘crafter’. I don’t have great hand-eye coordination for intricate details. Nor do I have a flair for design. I’m more of a matter-of-fact, get-things-done kind of girl.

After a little online research, I found several ways to make recycled homemade paper.

The grandkids and I have been sharing this adventure.

We recycle all the old newspaper that gets shoved in our mailbox, by shredding it, adding water, and turning it into a ‘slurry’. Then using a screened frame, we gather some of the slurry, and turn it out onto wood boards to dry out. Sometimes our paper is thick and sometimes its thin.

We like to make homemade cards for the people we love. Oftentimes we pretty up our homemade paper by reusing old card parts, or whatever materials we have on hand.

We’ve experimented with many different paper designs.

Here’s a random assortment of paper projects we’ve put together using our homemade paper and reusing old materials.

The spool of lace is from my husband’s grandma. She has passed away, and I like to send a touch of her love to her relatives whenever possible.

The bridal dress was made from old paper doilies.

Ink stamps of little footprints and diaper pins completed this newborn card.

Thin sheets of old packing cardboard have made for some lovely old-fashioned cards.

A jam-packed showcase of our paper flower, snowflake, and star designs. I’ve dreamed of creating an entire wall covered in white paper flowers. A closer look at my pink Laundry board will show the quarters, nickels, dimes, and pennies I’ve collected when doing laundry.

Paper Sunflower and Paper Butterfly

Bonjour wreath made from scrap pink tissue paper I collected from one of my old factory jobs.

A little Christmas flower topper for gifts.

As you can tell we aren’t experts. This is a fun experimental project to enjoy with my grandbabies, and spread love to our loved ones.

Most importantly, it’s the thought and effort that counts.

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