A Special Way to Say "Thank-You"
Don’t throw out that junk mail! This holiday season, have the kids recycle old paper to make their own note cards.
By Marilyn Gragnolati

Turn the chore of writing holiday thank-you notes into a fun project for your kids. They will be excited to share their eco-friendly creations with others, while learning the importance of expressing gratitude for the gifts they’ll receive.

Step 1: Papermaking

Supplies

• A deckle and mold (a set that will help you form and flatten the paper). You can find one at your local craft store.
• Used paper, torn into small pieces. Good sources are junk mail, newspapers, grocery bags, cardboard egg cartons, coffee filters, old greeting cards and scrap construction paper.
• A plastic tub (larger than deckle and mold).
• Blender
• Sponge
• Old towels
• Old bedsheets, torn into pieces larger than deckle and mold.
• Strainer

To make sheet paper:

1. Pour water to halfway point of tub and to three-quarter point of blender.
2. Add 1 to 2 handfuls of torn paper to blender. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes at high speed until a smooth mixture (called a slurry) results.
3. Pour slurry into tub.
4. Repeat first three steps to create enough slurry to bring the level inside tub to three-quarters full. Some pulpiness should be visible. Stir by hand to mix fully.
5. Hold mold screen-side up and place deckle on top. Hold firmly and dip straight into side of the tub farthest from you, scooping and pulling the bottom edge toward you, gathering pulp onto the top of the mold screen as you go.
6. Carefully lift the deckle and mold straight up and gently shake left-to-right and forward-and-backward. Hold horizontally above tub to allow excess water to drain. Then tilt one corner slightly to drain. Hold until water stops.
7. Removed deckle from mold and set aside.
8. Carefully turn mold upside down onto a piece of the torn bedsheet, which you should place on atop folded towels. (Instead of towels, you can also use a stack of newspapers.) This process, which will remove the water, is called couching.
9. Press sponge onto the screen to draw off water. Wring water out of sponge and into a sink. Continue to do so until you can draw no more water.
10. To remove mold, grasp one corner of sheet while lifting the corresponding corner of the mold. The paper should begin to peel away from the screen. If it doesn’t come easily, try another corner.
11. Carefully peel the new paper from the wet sheet and place between two dry pieces of torn bedsheet. It may take several hours to dry. You can also set it out overnight.
12. Strain leftover pulp from the vat before discarding water in a toilet bowl. (Pouring into a sink may result in clogging.) Air-dry leftover pulp and reuse.

Step 2: Card-making

Card stock provides an ideal base on which to attach the paper you have just made. Cardstock comes in many colors and is very durable for decorating. Typically, card stock is available in sizes 8.5" x 11" or 12" x 12". Decide the size and shape you want your card to be. Trim the card stock accordingly and be sure you have an envelope to fit the finished size.

Embellish the front or inside of the card with the handmade paper. Other decorating flourishes include stickers, die cuts, stamps and sponge paint. For an extra- personal touch, attach a photo. It’s best to use a clear-drying glue or archival adhesive tape (found in the scrapbooking section of the craft store).

Step 3: Message-writing

Have your children write a note inside the card. If your kids have not yet learned to write, ask them do a drawing. Homemade cards can be used for any occasion, including holidays and birthdays. Make a few and stock them up for last-minute notes to friends, teachers or relatives.

When children create their own stationery it gives them the incentive to write letters, provides the recipient with a gift from the heart and on top of that, recycles. What more could a parent want?