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Paper is really simple stuff–just pulped fibers, stuck together in a thin sheet.  Lots of different kinds of fibers have been used down through the centuries.  I read once of a young woman who made fine, delicate papers from garden vegetable fibers.  Linen and cotton have been used traditionally in manufacturing fine papers.  Wood pulp is probably the most commonly used in creating modern paper.

For home-made paper, probably the easiest method is to recycle used paper.  Old newspapers, ads, paid bills, school reports that have served their purpose, all are fair game for being remade into something new.

The process begins in much the same way as making papier mache.  First assemble the waste paper you plan to convert into new paper.  Cut or tear it into thin strips.  Next, soak it in a vat of plain water.  Adding oil of wintergreen or other essential oil will give it a pleasant scent and cut down on the chance of developing an evil smelling vat of mold; a tiny amount of white glue or library paste will aid cohesion.  A little bleach in the water can help prevent bad odors, and diminish the graying from the inks.

When the paper has softened (after a soaking of about 24 hours), stir, whisk or other wise agitate the mix to further break down the fibers.  I use a blender that I have designated just for this purpose.  The paper is very hard on blender blades and motors, so this is not a task for which you want to use an expensive kitchen tool.

Once the paper has broken down into fine bits, add enough water to make a thin slurry.  This slurry may be scooped up on framed peices of wire (which can be home-made from window screening and trim or purchased ready made from craft stores), or it can be poured out on a larger screen and spread thin.  Allow the paper to “set”so that it will stick together, then turn it out on a pad of newspaper or cloth.  A more profession paper may be produced if you have the means to press the paper using some type of screw clamp, thus creating a more even distribution of the fibers.  It also dries more quickly this way as the clamping process drives the water out of the pulp.

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If you do not have such a tool on hand (not many of us have an old-style printing press or similar item), a good effect can be achieved by putting a board on top of the paper, and stacking weights on it, and/or by using a hand iron (the kind used on clothing) to smooth the surface.

Home-recycled paper usually has a bit of a rough texture, and more nearly resembles cardboard than the paper we are are used to buying from the store.  However, it can be used effectively as water color paper.  Thanks to the dyes in the ink used in printing the on the original paper, it frequently has a dull gray color.  This can be over-come by adding bleach to the slurry water or by painting the finished paper with gesso.  Gesso will also alter the surface texture; making it more suitable for acrylics or oils than water color.

My primary experience with home-made paper has been quick recycle projects with elementary art students.  While some of them were less than impressed with the paper, all were rather proud to take home a painting on paper they had made themselves.