Amate

Amate is a type of paper made out of tree bark. People in Mexico have been making amate paper for hundreds of years. It's usually used to make art and books, but you can use it for anything! To make amate paper, people first need to find a tree that has bark that is good for making paper. Then they cut off some of the bark and soak it in water until it's soft. Next, they soak it in a special chemical for a few days. Once the bark is ready, people spread it out on a big flat rock and mash it with a rock or a stick until it turns into a thick, sticky pulp. People add other materials like leaves and flowers to the pulp, then press it onto a big board or cloth to make it into the shape of a paper. Finally, they dry it out in the sun until it's ready to use!