Free Copy Paper? Another Pad Tutorial!

Office Max has another deal this week:

• Purchase a case (10 reams) of Boise copy paper – page $43.99 and get back $43.98 in MaxPerks Rewards.

Last year I had shared how to make Simple Pads by stapling together 10 or so sheets at a time.  I made over a thousand of those.

My fellow Operation Christmas Child connect volunteer, Heather Rowley, wrote the following great tutorial on applying binding to the edge and I knew I had to share it!  I must try it out for my pads this year.

How to Make Paper Padding Compound
Things you will need:

• 1/4 oz. unflavored gelatin
• 3 tbsp. boiling water
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• 1 tbsp. vinegar
• 1 tsp. glycerin (can be found in the pharmacy section of stores)
• Wide-mouth jar

1. Pour the gelatin into the boiling water. Use the whisk to stir the mixture until it has dissolved and no grains of powdered gelatin are visible. A couple drops of food coloring may be added if you wish the binding to be colored.
2. Add the vinegar and glycerin. Whisk for 1 minute or until thoroughly mixed.
3. Prepare the paper by stacking it with a nice even edge. Put a weight on top of the paper to get a nice tight stack. You can do this a ream or more at a time and divide after the padding compound has dried. (I made my pads about 50 sheets each)
4. Apply a very thin layer with a paintbrush to the paper where you wish the binding to be. Repeat when dry if needed.
5. After second coat has dried completely, divide the paper where desired and cut paper into size needed.

If the compound becomes too thick or hardens before using, put it in the microwave for just a few seconds.

One thing to keep in mind, if you are binding 8.5 x 11 paper, bind it on the 11″ side if you want it to fit in a standard shoe box. The binding is not very flexible.

Shown in the photo is a notepad made of 8.5 x 11 paper and one cut to about 5 x 7.  She inserted a colored piece of cardboard in between every 50 or so sheets to make notepads with a back. This is optional.

Thanks Heather!