I've been making paper mache bowls this week and hope to make other paper mache items. Whenever I've mentioned this people make two remarks
I used to do that at school.
Is that where you paste strips of paper over a balloon?
Yes - that's paper mache but there are other methods and lots of potential. I've been making pulp to make bowls. You can used strips of paper and glue over chicken wire frames to make objects.
You can add to existing items to change their look or use or to decorate them. It's a lot of fun and not as messy as it sounds. Also inexpensive too. I would avoid magazine paper as they don't absorb well and newspaper if pulped gives a grey sludgy pulp. Coloured paper is more rewarding. In the bowl in the picture I used odds and ends of decorative paper from a craft class. There was more red than anything and this is what I got. No need to paint it. I'll enhance the surface with some gold acrylic paint and then varnish with marine paint.
paper mache craft
Chinese makers used paper to make glossy, highly decorated furniture and decorative items of a very hight standard and durability. You can look at them on line and often can find examples in museums.
chinese paper mache furniture
For your own bowl you'll need 100g of paper ripped into pieces and steeped in warm water for a couple of hours. Boil it, blend it with a hand held blender and get rid of excess water. Mix in 2 dessert spoons of PVA glue and it's ready to use. Line a bowl with cling film and press the pulp into place. Use cellulose cleaning cloths to help you to press it into shape and dry it further. Leave it to dry thoroughly then remove from the bowl to paint and varnish.
Great fun - have a go.
I used to do that at school.
Is that where you paste strips of paper over a balloon?
Yes - that's paper mache but there are other methods and lots of potential. I've been making pulp to make bowls. You can used strips of paper and glue over chicken wire frames to make objects.
You can add to existing items to change their look or use or to decorate them. It's a lot of fun and not as messy as it sounds. Also inexpensive too. I would avoid magazine paper as they don't absorb well and newspaper if pulped gives a grey sludgy pulp. Coloured paper is more rewarding. In the bowl in the picture I used odds and ends of decorative paper from a craft class. There was more red than anything and this is what I got. No need to paint it. I'll enhance the surface with some gold acrylic paint and then varnish with marine paint.
paper mache craft
Chinese makers used paper to make glossy, highly decorated furniture and decorative items of a very hight standard and durability. You can look at them on line and often can find examples in museums.
chinese paper mache furniture
For your own bowl you'll need 100g of paper ripped into pieces and steeped in warm water for a couple of hours. Boil it, blend it with a hand held blender and get rid of excess water. Mix in 2 dessert spoons of PVA glue and it's ready to use. Line a bowl with cling film and press the pulp into place. Use cellulose cleaning cloths to help you to press it into shape and dry it further. Leave it to dry thoroughly then remove from the bowl to paint and varnish.
Great fun - have a go.
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